If you have had a sprained/rolled ankle recently, you may have felt like it isn’t quite the same anymore. Usually, after an injury, there is a loss in strength and coordination of the ankle. While this may not affect you as much in your day-to-day life just walking around, you can notice a difference when you play your sport. The following are a list of 5 potential exercises that may help your ankle get back in tip-top shape! Ankle Alphabets After an injury, the ankle loses some fibers called proprioceptors. These proprioceptors give us our sense of proprioception, which is…

Anatomy of the “back” In order to understand a lower back strain/sprain, a small anatomy lesson must be done. The back is a complex structure of bones and muscles, supported by cartilage, tendons and ligaments. “Back” is a common term which can include portions of the neck, thoracic spine and lumber spine. The back—especially the lumbar, or lower portion of the back—bears much of the body’s weight during walking, running, lifting and other activities. Defining a strain vs. sprain A strain is a general term for an injury that affects a muscle or tendon. Then, the location of the injury…

What is the rotator cuff? The rotator cuff is made up of a group of 4 muscles which control shoulder movements in all directions. Each rotator cuff muscle takes part in a slightly different anatomical shoulder movement like flexion, abduction, or rotation. In addition, they are all used in combination for movements like sport=specific movements. For example, in overhead, throwing, and racket sports such as badminton, tennis, volleyball and basketball. The 4 muscles involved in the rotator cuff are as follows: 1) Supraspinatus 2) Infraspinatus 3) Teres major, teres minor 4) Subscapularis What is rotator cuff tendinitis? Rotator cuff tendinitis…

Shockwave therapy has been gaining popularity in the field of physiotherapy as an effective treatment modality for various sports injuries. Athletes and sports enthusiasts alike are turning to shockwave therapy to help alleviate pain and promote healing. Why choose shockwave therapy for athletes? One of the key benefits of shockwave therapy is its ability to target specific areas of injury with high-energy acoustic waves, stimulating the body’s natural healing process. This non-invasive treatment option can be particularly beneficial for conditions such as tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and other soft tissue injuries commonly seen in sports. By incorporating shockwave therapy into their…

  What is the ACL? The ACL stands for the anterior cruciate ligament, which is one of the stabilizing ligaments in the knee joint. It is located behind the kneecap and connects the femur to the shin bone (tibia). Importantly, this ligament prevents excess forward and backwards movements of the femur and tibia overtop each other. When people say their ACL is injured, this refers to either a sprain or tear of the ACL ligament. How is the ACL injured? Ligaments work as a connective, stabilizing band for two bones. The ACL, one of two ligaments that cross in the…

What is shockwave therapy? Shockwave therapy is also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy. It is a treatment which uses low energy acoustic wave pulsations. The modalities can be directly applied to the area of injury using a gel as a medium. Lately, it is becoming one of the common treatment modalities seen in physiotherapy clinics. Why is shockwave therapy used? Importantly, shockwave can be beneficial in treating many musculoskeletal conditions, especially chronic ones. Firstly, it is used to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. Additionally, it can help you to decrease your pain levels by stimulating the nerves around an…

Sports injuries can vary widely depending on the type of sport, the level of competition, and the mechanisms of injury. Some of these injuries you may have experienced yourself while others you may have heard of or even seen them happen on television. Our team at PhysioNow has treated many athletics and sports injuries over the years and would love to share our experiences with them! 1. Ankle sprains/tears Rolled ankles are very frequently seen sports injuries Often, injuries to the ankle ligaments are seen as a result of a running or jumping sport. In most…

What is a shin splint? Shin splints are a common complaint in runners or athletes with sports that involve a lot of high impact movements like dancers, volleyball, basketball players, etc. Usually, it presents as pain in the front of the lower leg, or the shin area. Sometimes, it may be called medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS). Oftentimes, it’s caused by irritation of the tissues between the tibial bone and the muscles, and/or overuse of a lower leg muscle called the tibialis anterior. It can happen to just a single leg, or both simultaneously. The muscle,…

  Our physiotherapy clinic PhysioNow has 9 locations to serve you across the GTA, from Burlington to Etobicoke Physiotherapists can improve your health by being champions of fitness and wellness. They are experts in a wide variety of topics and can help in many different areas. The following is a list of ways your physiotherapist can improve your health! 1. Prevention Physiotherapists work to prevent injuries and physical health issues through education and awareness. For example, they may provide guidance on proper ergonomics, posture, and exercise habits to reduce the risk of developing pain, injuries and chronic conditions. 2. Rehabilitation Sometimes, accidents happen and injuries can’t be avoided. Physiotherapists help individuals recover from injuries, surgeries, and medical conditions. They use various techniques, therapeutic exercises, and treatments to restore physical function, mobility, and strength. 3. Pain Management Physiotherapists help manage and alleviate pain, whether it’s caused by…

What is Frozen Shoulder? Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, involves stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. The shoulder joint is enclosed in a capsule of connective tissue. Then, frozen shoulder occurs when this capsule thickens and tightens around the shoulder joint, restricting its movement. What does a typical case look like? Often, signs and symptoms begin slowly, and start getting worse. Over a long period of time, symptoms get better, usually within 1 to 3 years. Additionally, having to keep a shoulder still for a long period increases the risk of developing frozen shoulder. For example, this might happen after having surgery or breaking an arm. Treatment involves range-of-motion exercises. Sometimes, treatment involves corticosteroids and numbing medications injected into the joint. Rarely, arthroscopic surgery is needed to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move more freely. It’s unusual for this condition r to reoccur in the…