Physiotherapy Blog

Concussions are still a very misunderstood injury. For years, the standard advice and image people would get in their head after a concussion, is the patient sitting in a dark room, unable to do anything. Thankfully, much more research has been done in this field today, and an active, symptom-based treatment is the gold standard. Exercise has been shown to have very beneficial and protective effects on the brain. As a result, concussion treatment with a Physiotherapist is essential for the quickest recovery of both the cognitive and physical abilities. How does a concussion happen? Usually, a direct blow to…

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…

Watching your child grow up is an incredible and fulfilling experience. Whether it’s crawling, sitting up on their own, or walking, it is all a joy to witness. However, when your little one doesn’t reach their milestones or are a bit behind their peers, it can be concerning. Helping children hit motor milestones is a specialty of Pediatric Physiotherapy. Strengthening the foundational muscles, especially the core, and turning it into fun exercises and activities is a job for Pediatric Physiotherapists. What are motor milestones? Motor milestones are key skills that infants and children typically develop and hit as they grow. They are general markers in strength, coordination, and balance of a child. A motor milestone is generally around a similar age in all children, making them a good tracker of overall health and development. Usually, they are split into 2 categories: Gross motor skills: Larger skills such as sitting, crawling,…

The new school year has started and our children are excitedly starting up their intramurals, school sports team, gym classes and more. Whether your child is jumping into soccer, cross-country, basketball, or something else, we have to take caution when transitioning from spending summer on the couch to intensive practice. Autumn always marks an increase in young athletes in the clinic with conditions like muscle strains, Osgoode Schlatter’s, shin splints, or others. Taking your child to a specialist in Pediatric Physiotherapy can help keep them healthy and pain free prior to an injury. Otherwise, a Physiotherapist can help them recover…

Leaning over a desk doing homework or studying puts a lot of pressure on the muscles and joints at the back of the neck. Maybe you’ve noticed that your child spends a lot of time hunched over their homework or leaning forwards at their computer. You may have noticed them rubbing their neck or complaining about soreness. This is a very common phenomenon in both adults and children, and has been becoming known more and more as “tech neck”. This refers to the slouched and forward head posture many people take when looking at their laptops, phones, or reading something…

As our children head back to school, the backpack becomes a source of many complaints. Filled to the brim with textbooks, water bottles, laptops, and lunches, backpacks can put a lot of stress on the neck, shoulders and back. As Physiotherapists, it is a common issue we see causing postural fatigue and spinal strain. Thankfully, it can easily be alleviated through treatment and some modifications. Here’s what you and your child should know about backpacks and how to resolve their pain. Can backpacks affect their posture? An example of forward head posture. While our children are still growing and their…

If you’ve ever felt a sharp, catching pain at the base of your thumb or along the side of your wrist when gripping your water bottle, holding a newborn, or lifting weights, you might be dealing with De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, or some call it DQ for short. This wrist condition is exceptionally common among athletes, manual laborers, new parents, and anyone who uses their hands repetitively. Let’s look at what’s happening inside your wrist, how to test for it, and how physical therapy can help you get back to normal. What is DeQuervain’s? A quick anatomy lesson first. De Quervain’s…

Each day, more and more Physiotherapists are using acupuncture and needling techniques alongside the usual treatments to create the best outcomes for their patients. Maybe you are struggling with some persistent pain and the usual techniques don’t seem to be working, acupuncture or dry needling might be worth a shot! For some people, the idea of using needles to treat pain sounds counterintuitive. How can such small needles help pain? In this blog, we’ll discuss the science behind needling techniques and how Physiotherapists use it in their practice. If you’re worried, we’ll walk you through the process to help you…

It can be a nagging pain, an ache, or a sharp sensation at the back of your heel. The Achilles tendon and it’s associated injuries is one of the most common running injuries, especially in men. Our Achilles is the strongest tendon in our body, giving us the ability to store and release injury during runs, jumps and all kinds of athletic activities. Due to these high amounts of forces our Achilles must undergo, it makes it prone to overuse. In this blog we’ll cover the basics from what Achilles tendonosis is, how to treat it, and training + shoe…