Physiotherapy Blog

Have you ever felt like the room is spinning after you roll over in bed, look up at a shelf, or bend forward? It may feel like the world is moving around you even though you are still, and this is called vertigo. One of the most common causes is a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). The good news: BPPV is not dangerous and is very treatable with vestibular physiotherapy. At PhysioNow, we help treat many cases of this condition, often within just a couple of sessions! How does BPPV occur? On the very right side are the…

As another year comes to a close, it’s time to get the most of your benefits! At PhysioNow, this is a busy time for our clinic and we encourage all of our patients to take advantage and get the care they need. If you’re like most Canadians, your extended health care benefits reset at the end of the year. Maybe you’ve told yourself you’ll book that physiotherapy session “next week,” or you’ve been meaning to replace those worn-out orthotics but keep putting it off. The truth is, those benefits are there for a reason, to help you stay healthy, pain-free,…

Are you getting headaches from a stiff neck? Cervicogenic headaches (CGH) are a common but often misunderstood type of headache. Unlike typical tension or migraine headaches, CGHs originate from issues in the cervical spine (the neck) and affect the upper part of the body, including the head. As physiotherapists, we play a key role in identifying, diagnosing, and treating these headaches. In this case, treating the neck is the key to alleviating cervicogenic headaches. What are cervicogenic headaches? A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache, meaning it’s a symptom of an underlying issue rather than a condition on its own.…

Now that the hottest days are behind us, running outdoors is possible again. If you’re a runner, whether casual or marathoner, your feet are your most valuable training partners. Namely, they take the full impact of every stride, supporting several times your body weight with each step. But when your feet start to ache or feel tight, it can throw off your training and may be the precursor to an injury. The good news? With a few smart habits and guidance from a physiotherapist at PhysioNow, you can keep your feet ready to go the distance. Find out how to do foot care for runners! Why does foot care for runners matter? Running is repetitive and high impact by nature. Unfortunately, repetitive tasks are where our bodies tend to struggle. Over time, even small imbalances in running gait, strength, flexibility, or footwear can build up stress on the feet and…

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…

Most of us don’t think twice about our feet until they start to hurt. Yet our feet work harder than almost any other part of the body. Everyday, they carry our weight from the moment we get out of bed to the second we crawl back in at night. They let us walk, run, balance, jump, and absorb high forces with every step. Ultimately, it’s no wonder foot injuries are among the most common problems we see at PhysioNow. If you’re dealing with sore heels, painful arches, a sprained ankle, or more, you’re definitely not alone. Let’s take a closer…

ACL REHAB is very important for you to get back to your normal life! Injuries, even minor ones, can lead to pain, inflammation, instability and a risk of further harm. What is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)? The ACL is a very important ligament in your knee that prevents your tibia (shin bone) from moving too far away from your femur (thigh bone). This ligament is used extensively in all our daily movements including walking and standing. During sports, it must withstand huge amounts of forces during acceleration, deceleration, cutting, pivoting, jumping, and more! As a result, it is crucial…

Physiotherapy for kid’s sports injuries is becoming more and more relevant. Recently, we have seen that children and teenagers are becoming more active than ever. Whether it’s taking part at the level of competitive, clubs, camps, or recreational activities, most children are involved in some way. As we know, physical activities are great for their physical, mental and overall development. However, it also puts them at risk of certain injuries. As a child’s bones, muscles, and ligaments are still growing and developing, this makes them vulnerable to certain injuries that can be different from adults. Sports physiotherapy plays a vital role in helping young athletes recover fast, return to sport safely, and prevent future injuries. What are common sports injuries in children and teenagers? Concussions are traumatic head injuries are very common in contact sports, and an increasingly large body of research continues to support how serious these types of injuries…

Pregnancy is an exciting journey, but it can be nerve wracking as well when it comes with many changes in the body. Unfortunately, these changes usually have side effects which include nausea, discomfort, fatigue, soreness, and pain. This alongside a disruption in your normal lifestyle can be very hard to adapt to. Many will wonder whether there is anything that can help. As a result, a common question that comes up with expecting mothers is it safe to do exercises and if yes, what can I do?   The good news is that, with the right guidance, doing exercises not only…

When it comes to foot health, many people don’t know how much their feet impact the rest of their body. Sore knees, tight hips, even lower back issues can sometimes trace back to how your feet move and support you. That is why in physiotherapy, we focus on the interconnections of the body to find the source of your issue. As a result, if you’re dealing with foot pain, or pains related to your foot posture, you should try custom orthotics! Let’s break down how physiotherapists use custom orthotics as part of their treatment plans. What are custom orthotics? Think…