Shoulder injuries from rotator cuff tears are something we commonly see in the clinic. Whether it’s from playing a sport, an overuse injury from work or daily life, or just lifting something too heavy, rotator cuff injuries can happen for a wide variety of reasons. Unfortunately, there is a lot of fear around shoulder injuries, especially after getting an ultrasound done and seeing words like “tear,” “degeneration,” and “tendinosis.” Understandably, the question then becomes, will I need surgery? Thankfully, surgery is only reserved for very specific and severe cases of shoulder injury. In the vast majority of cases, conservative management…

Getting that x-ray back with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee or hip can be alarming. Maybe you’ve also started to notice some persistent pain, and daily movements like stairs are starting to become harder. Rest assured, surgery is not the immediate next step. Physiotherapy treatment and conservative management is the first line treatment for hip and knee OA. Understanding hip and knee OA Simply put, OA involves natural wear and tear in the joints over time. The cartilage and joint surfaces change over time and show signs of degeneration. Thankfully, we now know that these structural changes…

If you’re awaiting a total hip replacement (THR), you probably have a lot of questions. Surgeries are nerve-wracking events, but the more you learn about a THR, the more at ease you will feel. Research and developments in the medical surgery field have made THRs easier than ever. If you’ve heard about previous surgeries you may have heard some scary things, spending long times in a bed or unable to move your leg in certain ways. Now, thanks to improved techniques and knowledge, movement and rehab start on day 1! What happens during a THR? The left shows a normal…

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…

Preventative care is emerging in the health world as a bigger and bigger area of interest. Historically, our care system has been reactive, after the injury or illness, after someone feels pain, or after they have issues with mobility. For example, surgeries are becoming extremely common, and there is still a misconception that things like arthritis and surgery are inevitable. While it is true that in some cases, especially after traumatic accidents, surgery can be unavoidable and lifesaving, there are other considerations. To name a few, surgery can be invasive, expensive, puts burden on the health care system, and also…