Physiotherapy Blog

Pelvic health in men is a topic lacking attention, recognition, and research.  More specifically, issues with the pelvic floor affect many men and can be very disruptive to their lives.  Consequently, pelvic floor physiotherapy helps us accept, understand and treat the pelvic related issues for men. Causes of pelvic health issues for men There are several pelvic health issues for men.  For example, some of the common problems faced by men are: Incontinence 1 in 9 men are incontinent Incontinence means loss of urine in small volume or dribbling by coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, exercise or transitional movements. Risk Factors for incontinence include Obesity, Chronic illness, Medication, Smoking, Chronic straining, Radical Prostatectomy, and Prostate enlargement Consequently, there are a lot of social issues related to incontinence, including: Decreased self esteem Depression Isolation Reduced social activity Reduced/Disrupted physical activity Erectile dysfunction  There may be physical or psychological factors that could cause…

There are more and more people who are using physiotherapy services to help them recover from their injuries and pain conditions.  However, there are also a lot of people who do not understand what physiotherapy can offer.  Physiotherapy plays an important role in keeping people healthy and active. What is physiotherapy? Physiotherapy is a health care profession that helps people regain their strength and function.  A Registered Physiotherapist will do an assessment that helps them understand the nature of the patient’s problem.  They will then develop a treatment plan.  More specifically, the treatment plan will address the limitations that is not allowing them to live out their best quality of life.  The main goals of physiotherapy is to restore, maintain and improve strength, function and movement. What kind of symptoms can physiotherapy help treat? Pain Decreased range of motion Weakness Limited flexibility Loss of function Poor balance Dizziness/Vertigo What kind…

The custom knee braces are useful for many reasons.  The most common reasons are to correct alignment or stability of the knee.  Therefore, the brace allows people to continue to be mobile and active despite their knee injury or pain.  At PhysioNow, we have custom knee braces available from DonJoy, Breg and Ossur.  A Registered Physiotherapist with training in knee braces  will recommend and measure the brace that’s the most appropriate for the needs of the patient. Types of Custom Knee Braces There are different types of braces for different types of knee conditions.  The custom knee brace needs to be specific to the condition for it to be effective.  Some examples of the types of custom knee braces include: Brace for ligament instabilities The main ligaments of the knee that give the knee stability are the ACL, PCL, MCL and LCL.  These injuries occur during sports or recreational activities…

2021 is definitely an interesting year to reflect on.  The Covid-19 pandemic certainly creates a new and different challenge for physiotherapy.  Let’s have a look at the most popular reasons why people came in for treatment at PhysioNow in 2021! Reason #1:  Neck & Back Pain Neck and back pain are definitely the most common symptom that led people to PhysioNow in 2021.  This was due to several different factors.   The most important being that majority of office staff shifted to working from home.  This means that they are working in home offices that are not always ergonomically correct.  Additionally, most people who work from home end up spending more time sitting in front of their screens without getting up and moving around.  As a result, stiffness in the back is produced and continues to progress and become painful. Reason #2: Shoulder Pain Shoulder pain is another popular reason for…

What is a total knee replacement? A total knee replacement is a surgery where the damaged portions for your knee joint are replaced with metal prosthesis.  The damage to the knee joint is usually as a result of arthritis.  These changes to the joint have likely accumulated over several years.   A total knee replacement is considered if pain is no longer manageable or if function is severely restricted. How do I get the best outcome after a knee replacement surgery? There are many factors that can influence the surgery results and make it more likely that you have a successful outcome. Surgery without complications Firstly, the surgery itself has to be successful in replacing the damaged joint without resulting in any surgical complications.  The most common complications that can happen after any surgery include infection and blood clots. Pain management Next, it is important to have good pain management after…

What is Low Back Pain? Low back pain physiotherapy is one of the most commonly sought out treatments.  More specifically, low back pain can be very debilitating.  Consequently, people want to find ways to help manage their symptoms so that they can return to their usual lifestyles. Research says several reasons have been identified as possible causes of low back pain.  For example: Sedentary life-style Industrial work Poor posture Depression High body mass index Poor ergonomics at work More specifically, 60-70% of people are suffering from mechanical low back pain. Importantly, it is important to realize that low back pain is a condition and not a disease.  Therefore, the exact cause of the pain is often difficult to chase.  However, despite this, physiotherapy treatment for mechanical low back pain is very effective. What is a low back sprain/strain? Low back strain/sprain can happen suddenly or with doing repetitive movements overtime. …

What is a concussion? Concussion management is important for the recovery of a concussion, which is a form of a traumatic brain injury.  A concussion results from getting either a direct or indirect trauma to the head.  The trauma to the brain produces changes in the brain chemistry that can result in a wide variety of symptoms.  These symptoms can clear up within a couple of weeks.  However, for some people the symptoms can last for several weeks and months. How do you know that you have a concussion? A concussion injury results in a unique set of symptoms and limitations.  The signs and symptoms of a concussion include: Headache Dizziness Nausea and/or vomiting Sensitivity to light Sensitivity to sound Sleep disturbance Excessive fatigue Poor concentration Feeling frustrated or impatient Visual disturbances Poor balance Taking longer to think Restlessness Fogginess These symptoms require some form of concussion management to improve…

Tendonitis is a common diagnosis for many people.  Tendonitis means that the tendon structure has been altered in some way resulting in weakness in the structure.  There are different degrees of severity of tendonitis. What are tendons? Tendons are found at the end of the muscle and act like a flexible cord.  Tendons connect muscles to other body parts, usually bones.  The function of the tendon is to pull on the structure that they are attached to when the muscle is working.  For example: When you do a biceps curl, the biceps tendon pulls the forearm bones up, bending your elbow. As you are walking, the Achilles tendon pulls the heel bone up which moves the foot downwards. When you raise your arm, the rotator cuff muscles pull on the shoulder bone and move your arm up Therefore, the main function of tendons is to carry load and produce movement.  As…

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a very debilitating condition that affects the use of your hand.  It is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist.  The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of the hand.  The median nerve passes through this tunnel, along with tendons and blood vessels.  This small area allowed for the median nerve, makes this a prime location for nerve compression to happen. What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome results in a characteristic set of signs and symptoms.  More specifically, these include: Pain, tingling, numbness or burning into the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers Pain on the palm side of the wrist and forearm Weakness into the hand, thumb and fingers Inability to grip strongly through the hand and a tendency to drop things Loss…

Falls prevention programs play an important role in the health of the elderly population.  Falls and the complications associated with them are a huge issue.  It affects many aspects of society including health care spending and caregiver stress.  Furthermore, the resulting injuries and effects from a fall can be very serious, both for the patient and the family involved.  At PhysioNow, our Registered Physiotherapists can help protect your loved ones from falls.   Causes of Weakness & Frailty in the Elderly The reasons for weakness, loss of function/mobility and frailty in the elderly may include: Genetics Some physical characteristics or conditions may have a strong genetic component For example, osteoarthritis may be influenced by genetics and can significantly affect a person’s ability to be mobile and active Disease/Conditions Any disease that affects the strength and/or mobility of a patient will place the individual at risk of falling as the condition…