Tag Archives: acupuncture

Trigger Point Dry Needling: A Physiotherapy Tool

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Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN) is a therapeutic technique that has gained popularity for its potential to relieve muscle pain and discomfort. Often compared to acupuncture, dry needling is a distinct approach to addressing muscle knots and trigger points in the body. In this blog, we’ll explore what trigger point dry needling is, how it differs from acupuncture, how it works, its potential pain level, and what to expect during and after the treatment.

What Is Trigger Point Dry Needling?

TDN is a therapeutic procedure that involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific points in the muscles known as trigger points. Trigger points are tight knots of muscle fibers that can cause pain, limited range of motion, and discomfort. Consequently, this technique aims to release these knots, providing relief to the patient.

How Is Trigger Point Dry Needling Different from Acupuncture?

While both TDN and acupuncture involve the use of needles, they are fundamentally different in terms of their principles, goals, and techniques.
1. Theory and Philosophy

Firstly, acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice. It based on the belief that the body has a network of energy channels, or meridians. Thus, the needles are used to balance the flow of energy (qi) within these channels.

On the other hand, TDN is rooted in Western medicine. Specifically, it targets muscle knots or trigger points believed to cause pain, muscle dysfunction, and other symptoms.

2. Needle Placement

Primarily, Acupuncture needles are often inserted along the meridians, which may be quite distant from the pain site.

On the contrary, TDN needles are inserted directly into the trigger points or tight muscle bands responsible for pain or discomfort.

3. Goals:

Overall, acupuncture aims to address a wide range of health issues, not just musculoskeletal problems.

Conversely, TDN primarily focuses on musculoskeletal issues, targeting trigger points and relieving muscle tension.

How Does it Work?

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TDN works through several mechanisms:
1. Stimulation and Relaxation: Essentially, the insertion of needles into trigger points stimulates the muscle fibers, causing them to twitch and relax. This helps reduce muscle tension and improve blood flow.
2. Pain Reduction: Additionally, this technique can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Consequently, this may provide immediate pain relief.
3. Improved Range of Motion: Furthermore, by releasing tight muscle knots, TDN can enhance joint flexibility and range of motion. As a result, it is a valuable therapy for athletes and those with mobility issues.

 Is it Painful?

The level of discomfort experienced during TDN can vary from person to person. Some individuals may feel minimal discomfort, while others may experience a temporary, sharp sensation when the needle is inserted into a trigger point. However, this discomfort is typically short-lived and subsides once the muscle relaxes. It’s important to communicate your comfort level with your therapist during the treatment to ensure adjustments can be made if necessary.

What to Expect During and After Treatment

During the Treatment:
  •  Initially, you will be asked to lie down, and the therapist will locate the trigger points through physical examination
  • Next, sterile needles will be inserted into these points, and you may feel a mild discomfort or twitching sensation
  • The therapist may gently manipulate the needles to stimulate the trigger points
  • Overall, he entire session can last from a few minutes to around 30 minutes, depending on the number of trigger points being treated
After the Treatment:
  • Some people experience immediate relief from pain and improved mobility
  • You may also experience temporary soreness or bruising at the needle insertion sites. Usually, it resolves within a day or two
  • Later, i’s recommended to stay hydrated, rest, and avoid strenuous activities on the day of treatment to allow your body to recover
In conclusion, Trigger Point Dry Needling is a Western-based therapeutic technique that focuses on addressing musculoskeletal issues by targeting trigger points in the muscles. While it involves the use of needles like acupuncture, the two practices differ significantly in their philosophies and goals. TDN can be an effective way to alleviate muscle pain and improve mobility, with the level of discomfort during treatment varying from person to person. If you’re considering TDN, consult with a qualified physiotherapist to discuss your specific needs and expectations.

Fibromyalgia

FIBROMYALGIA

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition. It is often associated with widespread symptoms including fatigue, pain and sleep disturbances.

 

Causes and Risk Factors

It is unclear as to what causes fibromyalgia. However, there are some causes which might be increasing your risk of getting fibromyalgia:


Genetics-

You could be ay a higher risk for fibromyalgia if it runs in your family

Stress-

Emotional or physical stresses have been known to aggravate or cause this condition

Age-

Women have been found to be at a higher risk


Symptoms of Fibromyalgia:


The symptoms may vary from individual to individual but, following are some of the commonest symptoms-

Fatigue-

One of the commonest symptom is fatigue

Pain-

Pain that lasts > 3 months and widespread pain at several sites in the body

Sleep disturbances-

 You could have sleep disturbances or non restorative sleep (sleeping for long but not feeling rested)

Reduced exercise tolerance and morning stiffness.


Other symptoms include trouble with concentration/memory. It is also called ‘fibro fog’ or ‘brain fog’. Headaches and depression are also common. It is common to have fluctuations in the symptoms. You may experience pain that may range from a mild discomfort/ache to an unbearable pain.

Although it may mimic more like an arthritis/ bone related pain, it actually comes from the soft tissues. Fibromyalgia can start at any age. However, mostly it is by early to middle adulthood that people start feeling it.


Diagnosis:


Your doctor will take a detailed history to understand all of your symptoms. There is no definitive test to diagnose this condition. However, the doctors may prescribe you to do other tests like blood work or X-rays to rule out other conditions that show similar symptoms.


How do you treat it?

Drugs-

The treatment is usually focused on relieving the symptoms. For instance, your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants, pain killers, anti-depressants or sleep medications,

Acupuncture-

To help relieve pain

Acupuncture: Neck pain

Fibromyalgia. Acupuncture

Cognitive Behavior Therapy-

Cognitive Behavior Therapy can help to reduce stress. Can be individual or group therapy.

Nutrition-

A healthy balanced diet is good because it helps to keep your body healthy and keep the energy levels high. 

Massage therapy-

Helps in relaxing the muscles and relieve pain

Activity pacing-

There may be good and bad days in this condition. Thus, it is important to make sure you prioritize your activities for the day. This is helpful in order to reduce excessive fatigue.

Physiotherapy-

Physiotherapy can help to firstly, reduce your pain. Secondly, they can give guidance on modifying activities and finally, prescribe exercises. In addition, aerobic fitness and strengthening exercises  help in this condition.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Low back pain

Physiotherapy for fibromyalgia


How can we help?

Our physiotherapists will take a detailed history followed by a thorough evaluation of all your symptoms and problem areas. Then, they will formulate and discuss a treatment plan for you. Also, we have massage therapists and therapists who do acupuncture. Thus, if you are having fibromyalgia or know anyone who needs help with the same, contact us today at PhysioNow!

Physiotherapy Etobicoke

Physiotherapy Etobicoke

Physiotherapy Etobicoke

How do I know what physiotherapy clinic to choose?

Physiotherapy is an important health care service in  Mississauga, Etobicoke and Oakville.  Many people need physiotherapy treatment to help with their pain and recover from their injuries.  Physiotherapy can help improve the quality of life for many people of all ages.

What are the problems that people run into with choosing a clinic?

In large cities like Mississauga, Etobicoke and Oakville, there is a lot of demand for physiotherapy.  As a result, there has been an increased number of clinics.  However, the problem that a lot of people have is that there are too many different clinics to choose from.    Unfortunately, there are quite a few clinics that do not provide good service and care for their patients.  Therefore, it becomes a guessing game as to which ones are actually good.

Things to consider

As someone who has never had physiotherapy before, it’s really hard to know which clinic to choose.  Is it important that it’s close to your home?  Should you choose the one that your family doctor recommends?  Do you ask your family and friends?  What about just searching on google?  There are so many options out there.  However, like many things in our lives, you have to find a good fit between what you need and what the clinic has to offer.

What are some of the characteristics that patients look for in a physiotherapy clinic?

  • Physiotherapists who are properly licensed
  • Multi-disciplinary practice
    • The team includes other health care professionals who complement physiotherapy
    • Examples include massage therapists, kinesiologists, osteopaths
  • Clean and organized
  • Easily accessible location
  • Direct billing to extended health care providers
  • Extended hours available to accommodate patient schedules
  • Pleasant and friendly team to provide a positive patient experience
  • Positive online reviews
  • Community recognition
  • Positive reviews from family and friends

Why choose PhysioNow?

PhysioNow is a company that meets all these characteristics.  The company has been in business for over 15 years and has brought high quality services to the community.  We strive to go above and beyond to offer the best possible care for our patients.

What does PhysioNow Offer?

  • Registered Physiotherapists
    • Our physiotherapists are registered and in good standing with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
    • The team at PhysioNow is very experienced and able to work with a variety of different injuries, including motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries and sports injuries
    • Our therapists also have extensive training in specialized areas of practice, including:
      • Concussion Rehabilitation
      • Vestibular Rehabilitation
      • Pelvic Health
      • Acupuncture
      • Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy
      • Neurological Rehabilitation
      • Custom Knee Bracing
      • Custom Orthotics

Multidisciplinary Clinic 

      • All of our clinics are multi-disciplinary and offer both physiotherapy and massage therapy services to our patients
        • A lot of our patients see both our physiotherapists and massage therapists
        • These 2 health care services are complementary, and patients do well with their recovery when both services are incorporated into their treatment plan

Clean and Safe

        • Our clinics are also very clean and hygienic to make our patients feel safe and comfortable
        • We have taken extra Covid-19 precautions to meet all of the province guidelines
          • Firstly, we have installed plexiglass in our office space
          • Secondly, our beds and equipment are all sanitized after each patient
          • Additionally, we have our treatment rooms spread out so there is a safe distance between patients
          • Lastly, our on-site laundry allows us to keep our linens and towels fresh and clean
          • Our physiotherapy assistants do a wonderful job of keeping the clinic sanitized and organized

Easily Accessible  

        • All 4 locations are in easily accessible areas of Mississauga, Etobicoke and Oakville
          • They are close to major intersections and highways
          • All the locations also offer free onsite parking for our patients

Direct Billing  to Insurance Companies

        • PhysioNow also offers direct billing to most insurance companies
          • This is a very convenient service for patients because they do not have to worry about submitting their own claims
          • There are some exceptions depending on the insurance company and the patient’s specific policy
          • But for most patients, the insurance company will pay us directly and that saves the patient from having to pay out of pocket
          • Our staff can help with the details of a patient’s insurance plan

Convenient Hours

          • All the locations also offer convenient hours so that patients can make it work around their busy schedules
              • We have morning and evening hours available
              • The Mississauga locations also offer Saturday hours for those patients who are unable to attend during the week

Positive Patient Experience 

            • One of the biggest compliments we receive at PhysioNow is our commitment to providing a positive patient experience
              • All our staff members including administrators, physiotherapists, massage therapists and physiotherapy assistants are very friendly and outgoing
              • We all try to make every patient feel comfortable and enjoy their treatment experience
          • Positive Patient Reviews

            • All our clinics have great online reviews on Google
              • Our reviews are honest and from current and past patients
              • One of PhysioNow’s biggest source of referrals is through our existing patients who refer their friends and family
              • There is no higher compliment than someone referring their friend or family
              • It is a great sign of their trust in the care and services we provide

Community Recognition 

            • Since there are so many physiotherapy clinics across Mississauga, Etobicoke and Oakville, it is a special honour when there is community recognition
              • Specifically, our Etobicoke location was nominated for a 2019 GEM award
              • We were nominated by our patients who are residents of the Etobicoke-Lakeshore area
              • Unfortunately, we did not win the award, but it was an honour to be nominated and thought of so highly by our patients
              • In addition, our clinics have also been nominated for the Top Choice Awards for 2019 and 2020

Choose PhysioNow

All these wonderful aspects of our company have allowed us to succeed and grow over the last 15 years.  Therefore, we continue to work hard to make sure that we provide the best possible care for our patients.  As a result, our patients see results and finish their course of treatment feeling overall better and stronger.  In conclusion, PhysioNow ensures that our patients are able to get back to their life including home, work and play.

Call today to book your appointment at PhysioNow!

 

 

 

 

 

Neck Pain Treatment

Neck Pain Treatment

Neck Pain Treatment

Pain in your neck can happen for several different reason  . Neck Pain Treatment can help get you back on your feet quickly.  It can happen suddenly from an accident or fall.  Even sleeping in an awkward position can cause neck pain. Other times it can build up over several months or even years and gradually get worse. And sometimes, it may seem like there is no reason and you just wake up one day with neck pain.

Neck Pain Treatment:  Possible symptoms you may feel

  • The way you feel the pain can also vary depending on how the  injury happened.
  • Some neck injuries will have just pain as the symptom.
  • Other neck injuries will include pain but also have weakness and pins and needles as well.
  • Sometimes you will have pain that is just in the neck itself. In other cases, pain is felt more in the arms or hands.  When this happens,  you might not think that there is anything wrong with your neck at all.
  • Neck pain Treatment can be difficult mostly because it can be difficult to properly diagnose. It is important to find an experienced Registered physiotherapist to make sure that appropriate treatment is received.

See this link for possible causes of Neck Pain.

Neck pain Treatment options:

There can be a variety of treatment options that can be successful at managing neck pain.

  • Modalities such as heat and IFC/TENS can help with reducing pain temporarily.
  • Manual treatment techniques like soft tissue work and mobilizations help with improving mobility and reducing stiffness and tissue tension.
  • Doing the appropriate exercises will also help stretch and strengthen the affected areas.
  • Acupuncture is another modality that can help with reducing pain and improving stiffness.
  • Massage therapy is another treatment approach that can greatly alleviate pain and stiffness and help further the patient’s recovery.
  • Ultimately, there are a variety of treatment options available to treat neck pain. It is up the treating therapist and their expertise to determine the best treatment approach to correct the pain and achieve the patient’s goals.

Neck pain can be very painful  and really affect a your quality of life. It is important to seek help as soon as possible so that the pain and limitations can be addressed and recovery can be achieved quickly!

Call PhysioNow today to get started!

Acupuncture: Neck pain

Acupuncture: Neck pain

Acupuncture: Neck pain

Almost everyone will experience some sort of neck pain or stiffness during their lifetime. However, certain occupations appear to be predisposed to neck symptoms.  Acupuncture: Neck pain may be able to help.

Manual laborers, for instance, have more symptoms than office workers.  The type of work seems to affect the risk. A person’s age and a history of twisting and bending during work can also contribute.

Studies have shown acupuncture: Neck Pain to be effective in relieving certain types of neck pain.  This is especially true for neck pain  caused by whiplash. Some studies suggest acupuncture can treat degenerative neck disorders such as ankylosing spondylosis and cervical spondylosis.  In many cases, acupuncture: Neck pain has worked for patients whose conditions could not be solved using conventional approaches.

¬ Mechanism of action of Acupuncture: Neck pain

  • Release of opioid peptides.Opioids are naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that have apain killing effect. The release of these opioids plays a large role in the reduction of pain. There has been lots of evidence to show that acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system.  This causes the release of these pain killing chemicals.
  • Alteration in the secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones.Acupuncture is said to activate the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. This changes the release of these chemicals. These particular chemicals play a direct role in the feeling of pain. It also affects the activity of an organ . Evidence has shown that acupuncture alters this secretion in a manner that reduces pain.
  • Stimulation of electromagnetic points on the body. The 2,000 points of the body that acupuncture focuses on are thought to be special conductors of electromagnetic signals. Stimulation of these areas is believed to start the flow of endorphins—the body’s natural painkillers.¬ Indications for Acupuncture: Neck pain
    • Sudden Force/Automobile Accident
    • Degenerative Disc Disease
    • Overuse/Improper Use
    • Osteoporosis
    • Neck Strain
    • Degenerative Arthritis
    • Whiplash
    • Muscle Tension or Spasm
    • Bone Spur
    • Herniated or Protruding Disk
    • Pinched Nerve
    • Ligament/Muscle Tears
    • Cervical Spondylosis
    • Ankylosing Spondylosis

    ¬ Contraindications of Acupuncture: Neck pain

    There are very few situations where acupuncture is not advised:

    • When someone has a hemophilic condition
    • When a  patient is pregnant – certain acupuncture points and needle manipulations should not be used during pregnancy
    • If a patient has a severe psychotic condition or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol

    Check out this link for a bit more information about the use of Acupuncture: Neck pain.

    ¬ Types of application of Acupuncture: Neck pain

    • Basic needlingNeedles are inserted to a depth of 4–25 mm and left in place for a period of time (from a few seconds to many minutes). There are often 6–12 needles (and sometimes more) inserted at different acupoints at the same time. The sensation is often described as a tingling or dull ache at the entry point. Many people say they feel very relaxed or sleepy, and some report increased energy levels afterwards.
    • Electro acupuncture (EA)A tiny focused electric current is applied to the skin at the acupoints or can be applied to the needle itself.

    If you would like to meet with a Registered Physiotherapist that is trained to do Acupuncture: Neck Pain,   please call PhysioNow today! Our experienced physiotherapists would be happy to help !