Physiotherapy Blog

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…

Why do I have back pain? If you have had low back pain, you are not alone.  Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor or miss days at work.  Even school-age children can have back pain.  Having some tips for back pain will help people manage their symptoms on a regular basis. Back pain can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp or shooting pain.  It can begin suddenly as a result of an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time as we age. Low back pain is caused by common causes like: Poor posture Sitting for long hours Awkward movements Excessive use of lower back muscles causing overuse injuries Inappropriate ways of lifting weights Trauma Frequent Bending Forward Degenerative conditions What are the types of back pain? There are two types of back…

  Physiotherapy for ankle sprains is an important part of recovery.  There are many different types of ankle injuries.   Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries that lead people to seek out treatment at PhysioNow.  However, some people choose to let an ankle sprain recover on its own without the help of a Registered Physiotherapist.  Unfortunately, this can prevent full recovery of the injury and result in long term issues with the ankle. What is an ankle sprain? An ankle sprain happens when there is injury to one of the ligaments of the ankle.  More specifically, a ligament is a soft tissue structures that connects a bones to bones.  Ligaments provide stability to the ankle joint.  This means that they keep the ankle secure and able to react to a variety of movements and forces. There are 3 main sets of ligaments that help stabilize the ankle: Lateral ligaments…

What causes knee pain? Managing knee pain is a common concern for many people.   It can feel too difficult and there is always a fear of making the pain worse. Especially, when knee pain can be caused by several different reasons.  For example: Muscle and tendon strains Ligament sprains Bursitis Osteoarthritis Meniscus tears Patellar-femoral pain Dislocations Post-Surgery What can I do to help manage my knee pain? There are several things that you can try to help reduce or solve your knee pain on your own.  Apply heat or ice An easy home remedy for managing knee pain at home is applying either heat or ice to the area.  However, there is always some confusion about whether heat or ice is the better option.  As a general rule of thumb we say:  If there was a sudden trauma and the area is showing signs of inflammation, such as swelling and…

What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese and Western Medicine.  It involves inserting very thin/fine needles into certain points on your body targeting the nerves or energy points in the body.  This treatment helps to reduce pain and improve function.  At PhysioNow, many of our physiotherapists perform acupuncture treatment for many orthopedic conditions.  One of the most common reasons, patients seek out acupuncture is for the treatment of headaches. Types of Acupuncture and its benefits for headaches There are 2 types of acupuncture: Chinese Acupuncture This approach stimulates specific pressure points, which restores the flow of positive energy throughout your body and removes the negative energy that is causing pain. Western/medical Acupuncture This type stimulates various systems of your body (for example, the nervous system and vascular system) to promote a healing response. The points where needles are inserted stimulate the nerves to release hormones such as…

What is Massage Therapy?   Massage therapy offers many benefits for recovery.  This type of treatment involves the hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body.  These tissues include:  Muscles Tendons Connective tissues Ligaments What is the purpose of massage therapy? The purpose of massage therapy is to help improve the physical condition of the body.  This is achieved through by improving: Tissue flexibility Joint movement Circulation Stress Are there different types of massage therapy? Swedish Massage Most common type of massage therapy It involves soft, long and kneading strokes of the muscles This type of treatment may also include joint movement and stretches The focus of Swedish massage is the relaxation of the muscles Deep tissue Massage This type of massage aims to get into deeper layers of the soft tissues It uses deeper pressure and may be more painful than a Swedish massage but can be helpful…

What is arthritis? The medical and rehabilitation world uses the term ‘arthritis’ all the time.  However, what exactly does it mean to have this condition?  Simply put, arthritis refers to painful joints or joint disease.  However, this is a very simplistic definition of the term.  More specifically, there are over 100 different types of this condition.  Arthritis affects millions of people around the world, including men and women and people of all ages and ethnicities.  Additionally, because it affects the joints of the body, it is a leading cause of disability and affects a lot of the most basic day to day tasks.  Individuals who have severe forms of the disease have a significant loss in their quality of life. What are some important statistics? A good resource for information on arthritis is the Arthritis Society website.  According to their website, about 6 million people across Canada have arthritis.  That…

What is a Total Hip Replacement?   A Total Hip Replacement (THR) is a type of surgery where a damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial hip joint.  Doctors can use metal, ceramic or plastic replacement parts for the surgery. When is a Total Hip Replacement necessary? A Total Hip Replacement surgery is done when there is so much damage in the hip joint.  These joint changes cause severe pain and interference with daily living.  The damage in the hip may be as a result of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis.  Total hip replacement is recommended when: Walking, going up stairs, and bending to get in and out of chairs is difficult Pain is moderate to severe even while resting and disrupts sleep Joint degeneration has caused stiffness that severely affects the range of motion and function of the hip Conservative treatments such as medication, physiotherapy or using…

Accident rehabilitation refers to the treatment that is provided to treat the injuries from a car accident.  A motor vehicle accident (MVA) can be a scary experience.  There is so much stress that happens during the whole process, including dealing with the insurance company and damages to the car.  However, the most important aspect of getting into a motor vehicle accident is your health.  More specifically, a car accident can result in a whole host of different injuries.  Ensuring that you are safe and getting the care that you need to recover is so important. What are the common factors that influence a motor vehicle accident? A motor vehicle accident can result in a whole host of different injuries depending on the nature of the accident.  There are a number of different factors that can influence the impact of an accident on your body.  For example: Speed of the vehicles…

What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones of the body.  It involves processes where the body is losing too much bone or is making too little bone.  Additionally, it can also be a combination of both.  As a result, the affected bones become weakened.  Physiotherapy for osteoporosis is an important treatment tool to prevent fractures and improve a person’s quality of life. How can osteoporosis impact a person’s life? Normal and healthy bones can withstand a lot of stressors.  However, osteoporotic bones, on the other hand, may break with just minor incidents.  For example, a person with osteoporosis may fracture a bone from a simple fall or a minor bump.  Furthermore, in very severe cases, just a sneeze may be enough to cause fractures to a bone. The term osteoporosis means “porous bone”, which refers to the look of the bone under a microscope.  Normal or…