Physiotherapy Blog

Athletes put their bodies to the test daily by playing the sports they love. However, high-impact athletics can take a heavy toll on your body. Practices like athletic therapy provide prevention, rehabilitation, and maintenance care to improve athletes’ physical outcomes. What is Athletic Therapy? Athletic Therapy specializes in the prevention, evaluation and management of neuromusculoskeletal injuries (muscles, bones and joints, etc.), especially sports injuries. Their focus is on athletics and physical activity to help athletes return to their sport or individuals to return to an active lifestyle. They work with individuals of all ages and abilities, from amateur and professional athletes to the general population. During a session, they use a variety of techniques to help their patients manage and recover from injuries, improve their physical function and performance, and reduce the risk of future injuries. These techniques include manual therapy, exercise prescription, and modalities such as ultrasound and electrotherapy, and more. They…

What is turf toe? Turf toe is a type of sports injury that occurs in athletes with a lot of pushing off or changes in direction in their sport. Anatomically, turf toe is a hyperextension injury of the joint of the big toe. Essentially, the toe is forced past its normal range of motion. Unfortunately, this results in injury of the joint and tissues around it. How does it happen? The big toe is one of the most important joints for generating speed and power in our lower body. When we land on or push off from a surface, the…

Achilles tendinopathy is a common condition that affects the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. This tendon plays a crucial role in walking, running, and jumping, making it essential for various physical activities, especially high intensity ones. Achilles tendinopathy can be significantly painful and uncomfortable and disrupt not only your athletic performance but daily life as well. In this blog, we’ll explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for Achilles tendinopathy. What Causes Achilles Tendinopathy? Diagram showing the different stages of Achilles tendon problems   Achilles tendinopathy occurs when the Achilles…

What is the Pelvic Floor? Pelvic floor muscles attach to the pelvis bone The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that span the bottom of the pelvis. Importantly, these structures support the pelvic organs, including the bladder, rectum, and in women, the uterus and vagina. The pelvic floor plays a crucial role in maintaining continence (control over bladder and bowel movements), supporting pelvic organs, and contributing to sexual function. What are the most common signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction? There are several signs and symptoms for pelvic floor dysfunctions. They can be further…

Manual osteopathy has been gaining increasing recognition and popularity in Canada. In fact, at PhysioNow we are now happy to have welcomed some professionals to our team that offer manual osteopathy services! Many of our patients have not had experience with this profession before, so here’s what you should know about manual osteopathy, and why you should try it! A Brief Summary In a nutshell, manual osteopathy is a holistic approach to healthcare that emphasizes the interconnectedness of the body’s structure and function. They believe that the body is designed to be self-regulating and aim to restore bodies back to…

So you’ve decided to be part of the 1% that completes a marathon, an incredible achievement! Training for a marathon is demanding on both your physical endurance and mental resilience. One of the most common dangers comes from experiencing a sports injury during your training. This could be overuse injuries, strains, sprains, and more. Ultimately, these can hinder your progress and even affect you on race day itself. To help you keep your body as healthy as possible, here are some essential tips to avoid sports injuries while training for a marathon: 1. Start Slow and Build Gradually Tip: Avoid…

Sports injuries are an unfortunate but common occurrence among athletes of all levels. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, injuries can interrupt your training and competition plans. However, with the right approach to rehabilitation, you can get back to doing what you love with confidence. In this blog post, we’ll explore how physiotherapy plays a crucial role in managing and preventing sports injuries. Understanding Sports Injuries Before diving into how physiotherapy can help, we should understand the nature of sports injuries. Firstly, they can range from acute injuries like sprains, strains, and fractures to more chronic conditions…

Oftentimes, people can be scared to move their backs certain ways, or that some movements are bad, and they will injure themselves if they do them. Truthfully, the more we avoid these movements, the harder they become to do which can actually lead to a greater chance of injury. Keeping the spine mobile and strong with exercises every day is the best way at minimizing the risk of injury. Ultimately, it helps our bodies build resiliency. There are many gentle movements and stretches to choose from that are great for keeping a healthy spine! Getting Started Firstly, these exercises may…

What is a torn meniscus? Different types of meniscal tears, depending on location and orientation The meniscus is a C shaped fibrocartilage in our knee joints, located between the tibia and femur. Importantly, they work as shock absorbers for the knee joint. Our knees are weightbearing joints and as a result, must withstand a lot of force. On each side of our body, we have one meniscus on the inside (medial), and one on the outside (lateral). Unfortunately, the medial meniscus tear is more common torn. Especially, in individuals who play contact sports and high impact sports. How does a…

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…