Sport Physiotherapists are registered physiotherapists who have completed post graduate education. They have developed expertise in sports therapy and the special challenges that occur with all athletes – elite to the weekend warrior. They are on-field experts with advanced first aid and concussion assessment skills. They also have extra training in many areas needed for returning to sport at the best level and with a decreased risk of reinjuring. To truly be ready to return to sport and to perform at your best, your physiotherapist should look not only at the area of injury but how it relates to the whole body’s movement. Many of us have heard that a soccer kick comes from the hip, or we have practiced winding up for a slap shot. An example of a this is how the forces travel from the hip through the knee and into the soccer ball. A Sport Physiotherapist…

Athlete Stretching-  Knee Pain As we start into the fall and winter sports seasons, many people have asked about knee pain in their early teenaged or pre teen children. This pain is at the front of the knee and is not usually due to falls or sudden injuries. The most common cause is something called Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. This is swelling and pain in the joint between the knee cap and the thigh bone. Often it will start at the beginning of a new activity or if the amount of training is suddenly increased. However, knee pain can also happen after a growth spurt or for no reason at all. The cause of the knee pain is the kneecap is not tracking properly. In a healthy knee, there is a groove in the thigh bone,  that the knee cap travels up and down as we straighten or bend the knee. If…

Knee Injury, Custom Knee Brace You’ve fallen or slipped and fallen on your knee. You’ve had a knee injury! Maybe you felt or heard a snap or maybe it just swelled up after the injury. If you heard a large snapping sound when you fell, its quite possible that you have done some damage to the cartilage in your knee. Possible damage can include the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), or either the Medial Collateral Ligament/ Lateral Collateral Ligament. Other possibilities include the medial or lateral meniscus. No matter what, your knee will likely hurt and swell up. Swelling is a normal response to an injury to your knee. In general, the more swelling, the more internal damage that exists. The good news is that most knees can get better conservatively with proper physiotherapy care. The most important part of treatment is to make sure that there…

ACL Tear Do you have an ACL tear?  Should you have surgery to repair your ACL tear? This is one of the most common knee injuries. It is typical that if you have only a partial ACL tear- no surgery is recommended. Even if you have suffered a full ACL tear – the decision to have surgery is not always clear. Factors to consider include: are you a competitive athlete in the prime of your life and do you plan to continue competing in your sport of choice? If the answer is yes, then more than likely, you are going to be advised to proceed with an ACL surgical repair. If you have a full ACL tear, but are not a competitive athlete, then the decision to proceed with a surgical approach becomes less certain. For many people, treatment with a skilled physiotherapist can help you to strengthen your muscles…