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,…

In a world where we have a wealth of information available at our fingertips, it can be hard to know what is real and what is just gossip. This is true for many things in Physiotherapy as well, and a lot of what we do in clinic is educating our patients on what the science actually says. Today we’ll go over 5 common things we hear from our patients, and what the truth actually is! Hopefully, you can use this information to make more informed choices about your health. Physiotherapy Myth 1: Physiotherapy is going to be really painful The…

Soccer is a demanding sport. The quick sprints, sudden pivots, and powerful kicks that make the game exciting also put a lot of stress on your body. As the weather starts to warm up in the GTA, we know more of you will be getting outside and returning to the field. As a result, we always expect to see more injuries during this time, especially for our soccer players. Here’s what you need to know about soccer injury rehab, and how to stay off the sidelines this spring and summer. Why do injuries happen at the start of the season?…

Many people use the terms warm-up and stretching interchangeably when preparing for exercise. However, they are not the same thing and serve different purposes in preparing the body for movement.  Understanding the difference between warming up and stretching can help improve performance, reduce injury risk, and make exercise more effective. The National Strength and Conditioning is dedicated to the research and science of athletic performance, check them out for more detailed information! What is a warm-up? A warm-up is a period of low-intensity activity performed before exercise or sport that prepares the body for more demanding movement. The goal of a warm-up is to gradually increase: Heart rate…

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…

Many of us have been watching the Winter Olympics eagerly for the past couple of weeks. We’ve watched our athletes showcase thier speed, power, precision, and skill. However, the same forces that allow elite athletes to perform at world-class levels, also create predictable injury patterns. For physiotherapy clinics, winter sports Olympics injuries are not limited to Olympians. Recreational skiers, snowboarders, hockey players, and winter runners frequently present with similar conditions. Below is a summary of the five most common Winter Olympic injuries and how physiotherapy manages them. 1. ACL Tears (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Common in: Skiing, snowboarding, ice hockeyMechanism: Rotational…

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…

Ankle mobility, or rather the lack of it, is often overlooked. Many people assume ankle problems only matter if they’ve had a sprain or fracture. In reality, limited ankle mobility can affect your entire body, from your knees and hips to your lower back. At physiotherapy clinics, it is very common to see patients with knee pain, hip pain, or back pain where the root cause is actually poor ankle movement. Understanding ankle mobility and how it ties into the whole body can help you proactively prevent pain and reduce your injury risk. What is ankle mobility? Ankle mobility refers to how well your ankle joint moves. Normally, the ankle joint moves into dorsiflexion (bringing the foot closer to the ankle), plantarflexion (pointing the foot away from the ankle), inversion (sole of the foot towards the middle), eversion (sole of the foot away from the middle), and a combination of…

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…

When knee pain shows up, it can impact everything from walking, climbing stairs, playing sports, even just sitting comfortably. One of the most common reasons people feel that sharp or nagging pain inside the knee is a meniscus strain. The good news? Many meniscus injuries heal well with the right care and guidance. Let’s break down what the meniscus does, how strains happen, and how physiotherapy helps you get back to moving confidently. What is the meniscus? The menisci are optimally located between the 2 bones to provide support and cushioning. The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage inside…