Is your kid complaining about a persistent knee pain under their knee? Does it bother them the most after physical activity, especially basketball, volleyball, soccer player or other sport? If so, they might be dealing with a condition called Osgood Schlatter’s Disease. Dont’ worry, it sounds scary but it’s very common and manageable with Physiotherapy! What is Osgood Schlatter’s? To put it in simple terms, Osgoode Schlatter’s is the inflammation of a part of the tibia (shin bone), right where the tendon attaches. Repetitive and high force contraction of the tendon puts pressure on the growth plate, causing irritation over…

It’s a dull, aching pain around your kneecap that you can’t quite touch. Runner’s knee, or clinically known as patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), is a very common cause of knee pain. The good news is, it us very treatable especially if you catch it early. In this blog, we’ll break down what runner’s knee is, how it happens, and tips to avoid it whether you’re gearing up for a marathon of just getting into running. What is runner’s knee? Runner’s knee isn’t as specific of a diagnosis as say, a hamstring strain. It is an umbrella term for pain where…

Most of us have experienced a muscle strain at some point in our lives. It might have been after running too fast, changing directions quickly, picking up something too heavy. Muscle strains, especially in the hamstring, groin and calves, are common occurrences for soccer players. What about soccer stretches these muscles to and beyond their limits? Why do soccer players experience muscle strains? Muscles are composed of many different fibres that work together as a unit. Muscle strains occur when muscle fibres get overstretched or experience too much force. Due to the nature of soccer, these movements happen regularly. For example, the quick starts, stops, and pivots all require muscles to be firing at full blast to generate and resist huge amounts of power. As these changes have to occur in split seconds, the muscles have to absorb then create this power in a very short amount of time, and…

With the World Cup in full swing, the soccer season is in full swing. Even if you’re not a professional athlete, whether you’re playing in a league, drop in, or registering for a friendly tournament, you should always be on the lookout for overuse injuries. Most of us are familiar with that bone-deep fatigue after the final whistle blows or the timer hits 0, and the adrenaline comes to the end. It’s that legs shaking feeling, a pain that you didn’t notice or were able to ignore before that we call a post-tournament or post-game fatigue. In this blog, we’ll…

If you’ve ever had that nagging pain during or after your runs, or if you find yourself having to change how you’re running, this guide is for you. For many of our patients that are passionate runners, it can be hard to know when to push through and when an injury might be serious. In this blog, we’ll go over the most common injuries we see, and how to overcome them. First, let’s start with how they develop. How do running injuries develop? Trail running is easier on the tissues due to a softer landing. With running injuries, running surfaces,…

Custom Knee Braces are a helpful tool in many knee injuries and degenerative conditions. If you’ve been dealing with knee pain, then you know how frustrating and life altering it can be. You want to play sports, you want to take the stairs, you need to go get groceries, but all of these things are difficult because of your knees. In this blog, we’ll discuss who benefits from custom knee braces and how they differ from off the shelf braces (pre-made). What is unique about a custom knee brace? Unlike a standard brace which is made to predetermined measurements, a…

A “bucket handle” tear is a serious type of meniscus injury occurring in the knee. Unfortunately, these typically require surgery. Let’s explore why. What is a meniscus? The meniscus (singular) or menisci (plural) are a pair of C-shaped cartilage structure which sits in our knee joints, between our femur and tibia bones.  There lies two menisci in each knee, the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) meniscus. The main function of the menisci is to absorb shock, making them an essential protector for our knees. For example, whether it’s a sport or just walking our menisci are helping to safely disperse…

Is joint pain connected to the weather? Many people are surprised when their knees ache before it rains, or when their back feels tight on cold mornings. At PhysioNow, we hear these concerns every single week, especially during seasonal transitions in Canada. Us Canadians know just how our weather can swing back and forth. While some people assume it’s “just age” or “just arthritis,” the truth is more complex: Weather changes can genuinely influence your joints, muscles, and nervous system. Importantly, this does not mean your joints are damaged. Rather, it means your body is reacting to subtle environmental changes,…

The Winter and Summer Olympics are awaited eagerly by both viewers and athletes across the world. We get to witness amazing feats of athleticism and elite performance across all kinds of sports! For a competing athlete, the Olympics can be everything to them. It’s the ultimate goal, allowing them to push through pain, injuries and intense stress, all for the chance to prove themselves on the world stage. For one incredible Team USA athlete, their leadup into the Olympics was one of resilience and determination. This is the story of Lindsey Vonn. What is Lindsey Vonn’s story? Lindsey Vonn is…

What’s the difference between leg extension and squats, and which ones better for you? If you find are an avid gym goer yourself, you’ve probably heard some version of this argument. When discussing leg workouts, there is much debate surrounding the importance of leg extension versus squat movement. Although both of these exercises can be performed in a gym setting, they provide different results based on how each exercise incorporates various types of movement patterns into your workout regimen.  Breaking down leg extensions vs squats Let’s begin with understanding the basis of these two exercises. Leg extensions are a targeted…