Physiotherapy Blog

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…

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a therapeutical approach to deal with balance issues, dizziness caused due to vestibular dysfunction. It is an exercise-based program to help with: Gaze stability. Postural stability. Vertigo. Balance Gait. Improving daily activities of living affected due to vestibular dysfunction. Conditions treated: Vertigo. Post concussion related dizziness (MVA/Head injury). Dizziness seen in Elderly due to vestibular hypofunction. Psychogenic vertigo. Dizziness with uncertain cause. Conditions that would not benefit from Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: Meniere’s disease. Labyrinthine pathology. Techniques used for Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: CRP / Canalith repositioning procedure: It is a technique used when a client experiences vertigo…

Runner’s Knee Runner’s knee or patellofemoral pain, is a common condition that often affects many individuals, especially of the active and athletic population. The knee pain can be minor to severe and may be felt during only certain activities such as sports, or with day-to-day tasks like climbing up and down stairs. In this blog, we will talk about the causes, symptoms and most importantly, how to treat this pain with physiotherapy. Cause of Patellofemoral Pain For most individuals, the pain is caused by a misalignment of the patella (knee cap) within the femur (thigh bone).…

Fracture Rehab: What To Expect? A fracture is a very serious injury which has severe impacts on your life. It can be a very stressful and overwhelming time as you get used to your new injury and the difficulties it may create in your everyday life. However, with proper care and commitment the the rehabilitation and recovery process, you can regain your strength, mobility, and function. In this blog, we’ll go over the different stages of recovery from a fracture and what to expect from each one. 1. Immediate medical attention at the time of fracture …

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…

Beyond the Physical: How Physiotherapy Affects Mental Well-Being When people are asked to imagine physiotherapy, they think of physical rehabilitation involving exercises, stretches, and manual therapy. While these are undoubtedly the defining aspects, engaging in physiotherapy can also lead to benefits in your psychological well-being and overall quality of life, leaving you feeling better both mentally and physically. In this blog, we will cover the lesser-known benefits of physiotherapy on your mental health. 1. Increased Self-confidence and empowerment In physiotherapy, we aim to give patients the tools and knowledge to manage their injury or condition. Living with an impairment can…

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joint affecting the articular cartilage and bony structures and tissues involved. It starts with changes to the surrounding tissues of the joint and in advanced stages it affects the articular cartilage thereby reducing and narrowing the joint space causing structural bony changes. Osteoarthritis Signs and symptoms of Osteoarthritis in hand and wrist: Swelling of the joints or knuckles. Morning stiffness in fingers and wrist. Pain with movements. Difficulty with gripping and handling objects. Decreased strength. Enlarged joints or deformed joints in more than one or more area. Heberden’s nodes,…

Orthotics Orthotics are specially designed equipment that provide support to the feet and ankles to improve your lower body’s alignment. Since the body is all interconnected, misalignment at the feet can lead to compensation at the knees, hips, and lower back and contribute to pain and dysfunction in those areas. Thus, orthotics are a great tool to help correct this and alleviate pain and discomfort in the body. In this blog, we will go over how they work and how they can improve your quality of life. 1. Relieving Pain with Orthotics [caption id=”attachment_6107″ align=”alignnone”…