When most people think about physiotherapy, they usually think about getting treated for a muscle pain, or other strain or sprain. However, the benefits of physiotherapy extend beyond just the musculoskeletal tissues of the body. In this blog post, we discuss through some of the lesser known conditions or symptoms that can improve with physiotherapy Pelvic health physiotherapy for pelvic pain or dysfunction Firstly, pelvic health physiotherapy may be right for you if you experience pain or dysfunction in the pelvic area. This may include but is not limited to pain during intercourse, and pain or abnormal control over urination and bowel movements (urgency, incontinence, retention) and prenatal and post-natal care. Both men and women may benefit from pelvic health physiotherapy. Cancer rehabilitation Secondly, physiotherapy can help manage the many side effects of cancer treatment after surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Addressing these side effects can help you increase the quality…

Hip bursitis is a common yet painful condition that affects many individuals. This condition often leads to discomfort, limited mobility, and decreased quality of life. Fortunately, physiotherapy can be an effective approach to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance strength. In this blog, we will explore what hip bursitis is, its symptoms, and how physiotherapy can help in managing and treating this condition. Understanding Hip Bursitis Hip bursitis is the inflammation of one or more bursae in the hip joint. Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion and reduce friction between bones, tendons, and muscles around joints. In the hip, two bursae commonly become inflamed: the trochanteric bursa on the outside of the hip and the iliopsoas bursa on the inside. Diagram showing greater trochanteric bursitis Causes of Hip Bursitis Repetitive Overuse:  Firstly, continuous activities that involve repetitive hip movements, such as running, cycling, or climbing…

Image by wavebreakmedia_micro on Freepik Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN) is a therapeutic technique that has gained popularity for its potential to relieve muscle pain and discomfort. Often compared to acupuncture, dry needling is a distinct approach to addressing muscle knots and trigger points in the body. In this blog, we’ll explore what trigger point dry needling is, how it differs from acupuncture, how it works, its potential pain level, and what to expect during and after the treatment. What Is Trigger Point Dry Needling? TDN is a therapeutic procedure that involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific points in the muscles known as trigger points. Trigger points are tight knots of muscle fibers that can cause pain, limited range of motion, and discomfort. Consequently, this technique aims to release these knots, providing relief to the patient. How Is Trigger Point Dry Needling Different…

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…

Osgood-Schlatter’s disease (OSD) is a fairly common condition in adolescents that results in knee pain and loss of function. Typically, it is characterized by pain and inflammation just below the knee, especially in individuals that are active and engage in sports and other physical activities.  As a result, this condition can be quite disruptive to a young athlete, who suddenly finds themselves unable to participate fully in practices or games due to pain. Specifically, in this blog, we will discuss causes, symptoms, and effective physiotherapy treatment of OSD.   What causes Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease? OSD is primarily an overuse injury causing the tendon under the knee, the patellar tendon, and the part of the bone it attaches to, the tibial tuberosity to become painful and inflamed. Eventually,  the tendon and bone experience repetitive traction and strain through high intensity movements such as running and jumping, and the tendon pulls on the…

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) Injury The TFCC is a combination of ligament, tendon and cartilage and therefore name as Triangular Fibrocartilage complex. This ligament has a major function of stabilizing and supporting the wrist. It is an important structure connecting the forearm bones to the small bones in wrist, thereby giving you the mobility when you grip object tightly or rotate the wrist. The TFCC provides these movement more support and range while behaving as cushion in the area. What causes TFCC strain or tear? There are two ways your TFCC can give up – either due to injury or any degeneration of these ligament. Injury – most often when you fall on outstretched hand is a common precursor of the TFCC injury or tear. The mechanism could be a sudden impact or a twisting injury. Older adults are more vulnerable as there can be thinning of these ligaments with…