IASTM, or Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, is a manual therapy technique used by physical therapists, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals. It is used to diagnose and treat various musculoskeletal conditions. In this blog, we’ll explore what IASTM is, how it works, and the conditions in which it can be beneficial. What is IASTM? The hawk tool is a type of IASTM instrument that we frequently use at PhysioNow IASTM involves the use of specially designed instruments, like above, often made of stainless steel or plastic, to assess and treat soft tissue abnormalities. These instruments have various shapes and edges that allow the practitioner to detect and treat adhesions, fascial restrictions, and other soft tissue abnormalities. Additionally, IASTM practices have been further refined into methodologies to be followed by clinicians, an example of which is called the Graston Technique. How does it work? The process typically involves…

Image by Freepik Physiotherapy for children, also known as pediatric physiotherapy, diagnoses and treats a wide variety of conditions and disorders, just like in adults. For example, the usual pulled muscles, sprained ligaments, and broken bones are treated in children very similarly to adults and physiotherapists treat these with expertise. Additionally, some conditions are exclusive to, or more likely to be seen in infants, children, and adolescents. Thus, some physiotherapists specialize in pediatric physiotherapy, to treat these more chronic conditions. In this blog, we discuss the most common conditions seen in physiotherapy, and how a session may be structured differently in adults versus children. Most Common Conditions and Disorders 1. Osgoode Schlatter’s Disease: Firstly, pain is caused by inflammation of the patellar (knee cap) tendon at the bone below the knee. It most commonly affects adolescent, athletic males. 2. Orthopedic conditions: Includes conditions affecting bones, muscles,…

Pelvic floor muscle training, when done in a structured way, helps to prevent certain complications during pregnancy and labour. These changes occur due to hormonal and anatomical changes. The complications that usually occur are incontinence, perineal tears, pelvic organ prolapse, less active pushing required during second stage of labour. Why is pelvic muscle training important? Pelvic Floor Muscles The pelvic floor is a set of muscles attached to the spine at the back and to the pubic bone at the front.  Importantly, these muscles are the key supporter for the uterus, bladder and bowel. Some activities of daily living help women maintain their pelvic floor strength to functional level. Unfortunately, pregnancy and childbirth lead to the potential injury and weakening of these muscles. As a result, pelvic floor dysfunction is common after childbirth. This includes urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapses, dyspareunia and perineal tears. Significantly, this…

Herniated discs may also be referred to as slipped discs, or disc bulges. They can be a source of pain and fear for many people.  To understand a herniated disc, a quick anatomy lesson is needed, we have included a picture below to help. Between each of our vertebrae in our spine, there is a disc with a soft inner core (nucleus pulposus, and tougher outside (annulus fibrosus). The herniation refers to the soft layer protruding out, and may vary in size. In larger protrusions, it may put pressure against other structures in the area like the nerves, causing a variety of symptoms in the areas the nerve root gives sensation and motor function to. Herniated discs can occur anywhere along the spine but are are most common in the lower back (lumbar) region. What are the causes of a herniated disc? Firstly, age-related degeneration. With age, the intervertebral discs get…

What is Parkinson’s Disease? Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological condition resulting in difficulty starting and maintaining movements in the body. Importantly, there is a loss of some neurons (brain cells) that contribute to coordinating muscles and creating smooth movements. As a result, individuals with this condition experience a range of symptoms that impair their strength, mobility,  flexibility, and posture. 4 hallmark features Tremors: Firstly, tremors are usually the initial symptom. The tremor is mostly when the body is resting, such as sitting, but may worsen over time to affect the individual while they’re performing other tasks like writing, eating, or shaving. Rigidity: Secondly, rigidity refers to stiffness of the muscles and joints. In Parkinson’s, it can affect the arms, legs, trunk, and even the face. Bradykinesia: Next, bradykinesia means slowness of movement which may include stopping or hesitating during movements. Postural Instability: Finally, difficulty balancing and correcting postural faults…