Physiotherapy Blog

What is a total knee replacement? A total knee replacement is a surgery where the damaged portions for your knee joint are replaced with metal prosthesis.  The damage to the knee joint is usually as a result of arthritis.  These changes to the joint have likely accumulated over several years.   A total knee replacement is considered if pain is no longer manageable or if function is severely restricted. How do I get the best outcome after a knee replacement surgery? There are many factors that can influence the surgery results and make it more likely that you have a successful outcome. Surgery without complications Firstly, the surgery itself has to be successful in replacing the damaged joint without resulting in any surgical complications.  The most common complications that can happen after any surgery include infection and blood clots. Pain management Next, it is important to have good pain management after…

What is Low Back Pain? Low back pain physiotherapy is one of the most commonly sought out treatments.  More specifically, low back pain can be very debilitating.  Consequently, people want to find ways to help manage their symptoms so that they can return to their usual lifestyles. Research says several reasons have been identified as possible causes of low back pain.  For example: Sedentary life-style Industrial work Poor posture Depression High body mass index Poor ergonomics at work More specifically, 60-70% of people are suffering from mechanical low back pain. Importantly, it is important to realize that low back pain is a condition and not a disease.  Therefore, the exact cause of the pain is often difficult to chase.  However, despite this, physiotherapy treatment for mechanical low back pain is very effective. What is a low back sprain/strain? Low back strain/sprain can happen suddenly or with doing repetitive movements overtime. …

What is a concussion? Concussion management is important for the recovery of a concussion, which is a form of a traumatic brain injury.  A concussion results from getting either a direct or indirect trauma to the head.  The trauma to the brain produces changes in the brain chemistry that can result in a wide variety of symptoms.  These symptoms can clear up within a couple of weeks.  However, for some people the symptoms can last for several weeks and months. How do you know that you have a concussion? A concussion injury results in a unique set of symptoms and limitations.  The signs and symptoms of a concussion include: Headache Dizziness Nausea and/or vomiting Sensitivity to light Sensitivity to sound Sleep disturbance Excessive fatigue Poor concentration Feeling frustrated or impatient Visual disturbances Poor balance Taking longer to think Restlessness Fogginess These symptoms require some form of concussion management to improve…

Tendonitis is a common diagnosis for many people.  Tendonitis means that the tendon structure has been altered in some way resulting in weakness in the structure.  There are different degrees of severity of tendonitis. What are tendons? Tendons are found at the end of the muscle and act like a flexible cord.  Tendons connect muscles to other body parts, usually bones.  The function of the tendon is to pull on the structure that they are attached to when the muscle is working.  For example: When you do a biceps curl, the biceps tendon pulls the forearm bones up, bending your elbow. As you are walking, the Achilles tendon pulls the heel bone up which moves the foot downwards. When you raise your arm, the rotator cuff muscles pull on the shoulder bone and move your arm up Therefore, the main function of tendons is to carry load and produce movement.  As…

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a very debilitating condition that affects the use of your hand.  It is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist.  The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of the hand.  The median nerve passes through this tunnel, along with tendons and blood vessels.  This small area allowed for the median nerve, makes this a prime location for nerve compression to happen. What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome results in a characteristic set of signs and symptoms.  More specifically, these include: Pain, tingling, numbness or burning into the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers Pain on the palm side of the wrist and forearm Weakness into the hand, thumb and fingers Inability to grip strongly through the hand and a tendency to drop things Loss…