Tag Archives: Erin Mills Physiotherapy Ltd.

Baseline Testing Concussions

Baseline Testing

Why is baseline testing Concussions important?

There are no  special tests to diagnose and gauge the severity of concussions.  Athletes are recommended to undergo baseline testing before the beginning of the sports season. Baseline test results are helpful  for most healthcare professionals  involved in an athlete’s concussion care. This includes Physiotherapists, Physicians, Concussion Specialists, and Vision Therapists.  Baseline tests let the Physiotherapist compare the before injury  function to the results of post concussion baseline testing. It’s a great tool  to measure the severity of concussions.  It helps therapists to make  treatment goals.  Safe return to sports following concussions can be determined with this tool.

 

Components of Baseline testing  Concussions

 

  • Impact Test, This is the gold standard test.  It  looks at different functions of your brain before and after concussion. It is a computer based test. It usually takes about 30 minutes. The test assesses your ability to process information, and remember things.  It also tests how quickly you can follow  instructions/tasks. It’s the most scientifically validated test and recently got approved by the FDA.

 

  • Visual Coordination screening 
    Visual Coordination screening
     Following concussion, functioning of the visual system  is greatly affected. This involves the eyes and part of the brain that processes visual information.   Correct vision and clarity of  vision is not affected. However, the ability of your eyes to move together is affected. This usually leads to symptoms like dizziness, difficulty focussing,  and headaches. Testing the visual system before the sports season provides valuable information about the function of the visual system.  It allows for treatment of any problems.

 

  • Balance and Postural stability– With Post-concussive injury, both static and dynamic balance is affected. You can feel dizzy with standing, change in position or with certain movements. Most sports require an intact balance system to improve performance.

 

Registered Physiotherapists at PhysioNow are trained to conduct baseline testing before the beginning of  the sports season and following concussive injury. Registered Physiotherapists at Mississauga are skilled to assess any deficits in your baseline testing and treat them. Visual coordination exercises  will be done to help you  return to sports faster .

Please call today to get your baseline testing done or to treat your concussion.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis

Prostatitis

Prostatitis or Prostatodynia Physiotherapy

Prostatodynia or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) is a pelvic pain condition in men. This means ‘inflammation of the prostate’. There are two basic types of prostatitis, acute and chronic.

Acute Bacterial Prostatitis

Acute Bacterial Prostatitis is an infection of the prostate. This type of Prostatitis causes chills and fever. In this case, you need your Doctor’s attention promptly!

Nonbacterial or Chronic Prostatitis

The other is Nonbacterial or Chronic Prostatitis. This can be treated with alternative treatments such as Pelvic physiotherapy, exercises, lifestyle modifications etc. Investigations in this case show that bacteria and yeast are negative. The physical examination does not usually show anything unusual. However, the prostate may be swollen. What can make the problem even more confusing is that often young, otherwise healthy men develop this condition. Antibiotics, pain-killers, and medications prescribed are often not effective. Many men have been told that they must learn to live with the symptoms because a cure is not available.

Symptoms may include a few or all of the following:

• Pain in the testicles, or tip, shaft or base of the penis
• Pain at the perineum (the area between the testicles and penis)
• Urination Causes Pain
• Increased pain in sitting
• Pain or discomfort with sexual arousal, or during or after ejaculation
• You May notice Pain or discomfort above the pubic bone
• Urinary frequency
• Urinary urgency
• Pain before, during or after a bowel movement
• Decreased interest in sex

Treatment

The Pelvic Health Physiotherapist creates an individualized treatment program. Treatment is based on pelvic floor dysfunction, symptoms, and response to the treatments.

The following treatment programs and techniques may be involved in Pelvic Physiotherapy for Prostatitis:

Trigger point release therapy

Trigger point release therapy is also known as myofascial trigger point release. Trigger point release therapy is an alternative treatment for chronic prostatitis. It is often helpful for treating CP/CPPS symptoms that are associated with stress and tension of the pelvic floor muscles.

Trigger point release therapy is often combined with paradoxical relaxation therapy. This exercise method involves autonomic self-regulation. This decreases pelvic floor muscle tension. It teaches you how to release this tension. Paradoxical relaxation involves a specific breathing technique to help relieve anxiety.

Total body

Total body (exercise, chronic stress management, lifestyle) changes help relieve pain. It is important to know which foods make the symptoms worse. Try to avoid those foods. The most common foods that have been found to trigger symptoms include:

• Spicy foods
• Hot peppers
• Alcoholic beverages
• Acidic foods
• Wheat
• Gluten
• Caffeine

Check out this patient’s experience.

Please call PhysioNow today to get started on your recovery from Prostatitis.

Golfers elbow

Golfers elbow

Golfers elbow

Golfers elbow is the overuse injury to the wrist flexor muscles. The muscles travel from the inside of the elbow leading to pain with resisted wrist flexion and resisted pronation of the forearm. The cause of the Golfers elbow is repeated wrist bending, improper lifting, throwing and swinging movements. People involved in racquet sports, using tools as screwdrivers and working on computers are usually affected.

Symptoms

Symptoms include pain and tenderness around the inside of the elbow. They often also include pain with making a fist, stiffness of the elbow, and a weakened grip with downward movement of the forearm. Pain typically gets worse with a tight fist and picking things up with the wrist in a bent position.

Check out this article for more information about Golfers elbow.
Diagnosis

The condition is usually diagnosed through special tests such as wrist flexion against resistance. Differential diagnosis from other conditions such as cervical radiculopathy, ulnar neuritis, strain of flexor-pronator muscles is usually done by the physiotherapist.

Management

Early management helps to prevent loss of grip strength and mobility of the elbow. Management includes physiotherapy treatment and in rare cases surgery depending upon the severity of the condition. Your Physiotherapist at PhysioNow will work to stretch the common flexors of the wrist, do deep friction massage to break the scar tissue, and mobilize your elbow joint or cervical spine if pain is referred from the neck. They will also plan grip strengthening exercises, do tapping and educate you regarding the precautions to help in quicker healing. This will help to prevent any recurrence of Golfer’s Elbow. In many instances, a golfer’s elbow brace is beneficial. We carry these braces at all PhysioNow locations. Lastly, Golfer's Elbow may also be beneficial as a treatment for Golfers elbow.

In addition, the use of Laser therapy,application of a ‘Hawk tool’ and cupping can be used to reduce pain and promote healing. Your physiotherapist will educate you regarding these physiotherapy treatment options. So, don’t wait, book your appointment at PhysioNow today to get started on your treatment!

Foot Pain Treatment Mississauga

strong>Foot Pain Treatment Mississauga
Trending Now: Blue Jays’ Jose Batista on 15 day disabled list

Foot Pain Treatment Mississauga

Blue Jays’ Jose Batista hurt his big toe during a June 16 game against Philadelphia. After running into the outfield wall, Bautista had to leave the game early because of pain. An MRI showed that he had suffered a sprain of his left big toe. He had to be in a walking boot for the time being. It may seem like it’s an excessive treatment plan for just a simple sprain. In reality sprains can sometimes be more complicated than a fracture.

What is a Ligament?

A ligament is a soft tissue structure that connects two bones together. Ligaments do not receive a good blood supply like muscles or tendons and as a result, they cannot heal as well.

Types of Sprains

A sprain is defined as a stretch or tear of a ligament.
Furthermore, sprains can be classified into three groups based on the severity of injury. A grade I sprain means that there is mild damage to the ligament and the joint is stable. A grade II sprain means that there is a partial tear in the ligament and the joint is overall less stable or loose. The most severe type of sprain is classified as grade III and it means that the ligament has completely torn or ruptured and the joint has lost stability.

How can a Registered Physiotherapist help with Foot Pain treatment Mississauga?

A Registered Physiotherapist helps with all three types of sprains. The treatment for sprains starts with rest and reducing inflammation. Depending on the type of sprain, it may be necessary for immobilization in order for this to occur. For example a grade II sprain you can get a removable walking boot. A grade III sprain you can get a cast. Once inflammation is reduced and pain is better, treatment seeks to improve range of motion and strength and a return to activity or sport.

Since Jose Batista has been wearing a walking boot, it seems that his injury is at least a grade II. Considering the poor blood supply of ligaments and the severity of his particular sprain it is definitely best for him to be out of the game for at least 2 weeks. Proper foot pain treatment Mississauga in the early phase of injury is very important so that the ligament is well protected and given the best chance for healing. Once the walking boot comes off, his injury will be re-evaluated and the Blue Jays’ medical team will decide on his further treatment plan and eventual return to play.

Jose Bautista’s toe injury improving

If you have been injured, call PhysioNow today! They can help with Foot Pain treatment Mississauga!

Physiotherapy : Total Hip Replacement

Physiotherapy : Total Hip Replacement – Do I really need it?
Physiotherapy: total Hip Replacement

Surgeons often recommend that patients seek out community Physiotherapy

Surgeons often recommend that patients seek out community Physiotherapy : Total Hip Replacement services to continue with your recovery after you have had a total hip replacement (THR). You may wonder how doing extra treatment would help? – isn’t the surgery enough to correct your hip pain?

What is important to remember is that the surgery does take care of the affected joint. However, there is still work to be done to get you back on your feet and back to your desired activities. The surgery involves a cut through the muscles that stabilize the hip. Also, the body has to relearn how to move and function with a new joint.

Normally, the usual process for Physiotherapy: Total Hip Replacement surgery involves:

• Receiving Physiotherapy : Total Hip Replacement as an in-patient for 3-4 days for learning to walk with a walker, using the stairs and initiation of strengthening exercises for the hip
• You also receive education with respect to their precautions and how to ensure you are protecting your new joint and preventing dislocation
• Once you are safe to return home, you will be discharged
• At home, you are usually entitled to receive home care physiotherapy sessions for a few sessions.
During these sessions, the physiotherapist will re-assess your ability to move and progress your exercises as able.

After receiving homecare treatments, it’s then usually up to you to continue with your exercises. This includes progressing your strengthening and conditioning. However, a lot of people have difficulty doing this on their own and need help to further progress. It can be difficult to assess your own strength and safely progress your exercises. Seeking help from a Registered Physiotherapist will help with this process. It will get you back to your optimal function. The physiotherapist can assess where there are still remaining limitations. They will prescribe the necessary treatments to address the issues.
Please check out this link for further information regarding Physiotherapy: Total Hip Replacement.

In addition, we often see patients that have had a Total Hip Replacement, develop Low Back Pain. This happens because the muscles in the hip get very tight after surgery, and tend to tighten up into the Low Back. It is also caused by increased sitting during the recovery process. The good news is that we can help! Registered Physiotherapy and Registered Massage Therapy will help these symptoms to go away.

At PhysioNow, we have well trained Registered Physiotherapists and Registered Massage Therapists available to help you with your recovery. We will help to find the areas that you need in order to walk properly without an aid and get back to all the things you like to do. Call today to get started on your full recovery!