Tag Archives: massage therapy

Headaches? See how Physiotherapy can help you!

How do Headaches occur?

There are many different types of headaches with many different causes. Many people may blame it on the weather, stress, or work, and feel like it is out of their control and that nothing can help their headaches. If this sounds like you, there is treatment available and you do not have to live with your pain. Headaches that stem from your neck or jaw are treatable through physiotherapy and can result in a decreased intensity and frequency or even stop them completely. However, migraines can also be manageable with rehab.

What are headaches from the neck?

Cervicogenic Headache

Headaches that stem from the neck are known as cervicogenic headaches and are a type of referred pain. Referred pain means that the pain actually originates from another part of the body, and not the place where you actually feel the pain. Moreover, the head pain is actually coming from problems in the tissues and/or joints in the neck.

Common symptoms of cervicogenic headaches include:

  • Firstly, one-sided headaches
  • Second, neck stiffness
  • Decreased motion in the neck
  • Radiating pain to the eyes, shoulder, or arms
  • Lastly, they are triggered by certain neck positions or movements

What are headaches from the jaw?

TMJ Pain HeadacheHeadaches stemming from the jaw result from dysfunction in the jaw joint, anatomically known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint connects your lower jaw to the skull and is used in actions such as talking and chewing as it allows the opening and closing of the mouth. Therefore, headaches are one of the common symptoms of jaw dysfunction. Though they are lesser known, it is commonly missed as a source.

Common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include:

  • Clicking on the jaw
  • Pain or tenderness with jaw movements (biting, talking, chewing, etc)
  • Headaches, especially in the morning (due to grinding and clenching of the jaw during the night)
  • Also, neck stiffness

How can physiotherapy help?

Your physiotherapist will provide a comprehensive assessment of your neck and jaw to determine a specific treatment plan for you. The evaluation may include observing your resting posture, and the way your jaw and neck move. Also,  how much movement is available in your jaw and neck, and more.

Your treatment plan may include strengthening weak muscles, correcting posture and faulty movement patterns, stretching and mobility exercises, manual therapy techniques like soft tissue massage and joint mobilizations to reduce pain and increase range of motion. They may use modalities like heat, electrotherapy and acupuncture as well depending on your condition and goals of treatment. Your physiotherapist will work closely with you to develop an individualized plan of treatment including a home exercise program, and education on self-management of your condition at home.  They can also inform you and help you get in contact with other healthcare practitioners that may need to be involved in your care.

If you are experiencing persistent headaches, book with PhysioNow today for your first assessment and treatment!

Shoulder Pain and Treatment

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is a common problem for many people.  It can happen to people of all ages from children to the elderly.  The pain can be very severe and cause a lot of limitations with work and activity.  Shoulder pain is one of the top 5 reasons why people seek out physiotherapy and massage treatments.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

There are several reasons why people suffer from shoulder pain.

Trauma

Any type of direct or indirect trauma can produce shoulder pain if the arm and/or shoulder is involved

Shoulder trauma

    • Motor vehicle accidents
    • Falls
    • Sports injuries
    • Violent incidents

Poor office ergonomics

Many people who work in offices spend majority of their time sitting  in front of a computer for long periods of time.  Additionally, many offices do not always provide optimal ergonomic setups for their staff.  Over time, as a result, this may lead to the development of pain and stiffness in the shoulder.

Examples of poor ergonomics include:

    • poor desk and screen height
    • poor positioning of the keyboard and mouse
    • inadequate chair height and support

Poor workplace ergonomics

Poor day to day posture

Shoulder pain related to posture usually develops over time with certain habits.  For the most part, some of these habits we just adopt over time.  For instance, examples include looking at our phones for long periods of time or spending hours playing video games.  In other words, shoulder pain can develop from poor posture if we do not make an effort to be more active during our day.

Repetitive activities

Many people perform tasks that are repetitive at work and/or home.  For instance,  overhead lifting, sorting on an assembly line and typing are examples of repetitive activities.  These repetitive activities can certainly take their toll if it has been going on for a long period of time.  Therefore, if the shoulder is not strong enough to support the work that it’s having to do, then injury may occur.

Repetitive lifting

Consequently, it is not uncommon for people who do a lot of repetitive manual labour to hurt their shoulder at work.  In Ontario, if workplaces are registered with the WSIB or the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, they may qualify to get physiotherapy treatment.

Congenital or Developmental changes

Some people are born with a unique bone structure that may place them at increased risk of injury. For example, if the acromion of the shoulder blade has a hooked shape, there is more potential for a rotator cuff injury.  Similarly, your genetics may influence the shape of your bones in the shoulder.  This may lead to an increased risk of shoulder pain as a result.

Some Basic Shoulder Anatomy

Having some knowledge of basic shoulder anatomy will help with understanding why shoulder pain develops.  The shoulder joint is quite complex.  Specifically, there are a lot of structures that attach to or present around the shoulder.  For example, these structures include tendons, ligaments, bursae, cartilage and the joint capsule. Furthermore, the shoulder joint is held together by mostly soft tissues without a lot of bony protection.  This setup specifically allows for a lot of movement.  However, as a result there is less stability through the area.

What structures makes up the shoulder joint?

The shoulder is made of 4 separate joints that work together to allow function:

  • Glenohumeral (GH) joint – this is a ball and socket joint and is where majority of our arm movement happens. The socket is made up by part of the shoulder blade and the ball is made up of the humerus, which is the long bone of the upper arm.
  • Acromioclavicular (AC) joint – joint between the acromion of the shoulder blade and the collar bone.
  • Sternoclavicular (SC) joint – joint between chest bone and the collar bone.
  • Scapulothoracic joint – the joint between the shoulder blade and the ribs at the back of the chest.

Why is the shoulder joint prone to pain?

The shoulder is held together by many soft tissues including ligaments, muscles and tendons.   Other important anatomical structures include the joint capsule surrounding the ball and socket joint and the subacromial and subdeltoid bursae.  The function of the joint capsule is to protect the joint and produce a lubricating fluid.  The bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that act as a cushion between the bone and other moving parts.

What are some of the injuries that can happen to the shoulder?

  • Sprains/Strains of any of the muscles, tendons and ligaments
  • Tears/Ruptures of any of the muscles, tendons and ligaments
  • Tendonitis/Tendinosis
  • Fractures
  • Bursitis
  • Dislocations
  • Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Nerve entrapments/injuries

Signs and Symptoms of Shoulder Injuries

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Restricted range of motion
  • Weakness
  • Instability
  • Bony deformities

Healing Times for Shoulder Injuries

The healing time for shoulder injuries will vary depending on the injury.  Most simple sprains and strains will take anywhere from 6-8 weeks to get better.  On the other hand, other types of injuries may need more time to recover.  For example, muscle or tendon tears can take 6-12 months to improve.  And similarly, frozen shoulders can take well over 1 year to improve.  Therefore, the timeline for healing really depends on the nature of the injury.  Additionally, there are a lot of individual differences in healing time even for similar injuries.  Some of these factors include:

  • Age
  • Level of fitness and/or mobility
  • Commitment to treatment
  • Consistency of doing home exercise program
  • Ability to modify workplace or home environment to allow for optimal treatment response
  • Presence of other injuries
  • Amount of time that they injury/pain has been present

Treatment for Shoulder Pain

The treatment for shoulder pain will depend on the type of injury and the structure(s) that has been injured. Most importantly, it is important to understand that the shoulder is made up of 4 different joints.  Additionally, these 4 joints are all interconnected with each other.  Therefore, treatments needs to target the whole shoulder complex and not just the individual structures involved.  Consequently, this will allow the shoulder to return to its full potential and reduce the risk of re-injury.

The main goals of any shoulder pain treatment will be to:

  • Reduce pain
  • Regain full range of motion
  • Regain strength and stability
  • Return to pre-injury activities

What is the typical treatment for shoulder pain?

Treatment for shoulder pain usually has multiple components.  The Registered Physiotherapist will start with a thorough assessment.  Firstly, this allows them to identify the source of the shoulder pain.  Secondly, based on the assessment, the physiotherapist is able to provide the most appropriate treatment.  Specifically, examples of physiotherapy treatment can typically include:

  • Manual therapy
    • soft tissue work
    • mobilizations
    • assisted stretching of the shoulder and associated areas

  • Modalities – these are usually used in the acute phase for pain relief
    • Ultrasound
    • Laser
    • IFC or TENS
    • Acupuncture
    • Heat/Ice
  • Exercises
    • Range of motion and strengthening exercises that are specific to the injury
    • It is important that the patient completes the prescribed exercises on a regular basis at home.  Firstly, this allows the patient to make the necessary changes with movement and strength.  More importantly, however this allows the patient to be independent and provide self treatment on a daily basis.

  • Education
    • Explanation of the condition
    • Rationale for the treatment choices
    • Do’s and don’ts to help the injury along

In conclusion, shoulder pain can be quite debilitating for many people.  Therefore, it is important to seek out a registered physiotherapist for assessment and treatment sooner than later.  Similarly to most other injuries, the longer an injury is left untreated, the more chronic it becomes.  Consequently, this makes it more difficult to resolve in a timely manner.  Call PhysioNow today to get treatment for your shoulder injury.  Our experienced physiotherapists and massage therapists in Mississauga, Etobicoke and Oakville will help you recover!

Posture

IS POOR POSTURE THE CAUSE OF YOUR PAIN?

Did you know that current research suggests 80% individuals will experience back pain at some time in their lives? There are several causes that can lead to back pain-degenerative changes, herniated discs, poor posture, pulled/torn muscle /ligament around the spine, kidney stones or many other pathological causes. Of all these various causes, there is one thing that can be controlled and taken care of by you-POSTURE!

 

WHAT EXACTLY IS A POOR POSTURE?

Any position that places our spine in unnatural curves (most often a C shape) instead of the normal S shape curve is a poor posture (see picture below). S shaped curve allows for equal weight distribution as well as flexibility of the spine. Poor posture is known to affect not just the spine but also the surrounding ligaments and muscles. Prolonged poor postures lead to a lot of pressure on these surrounding tissues thus increasing the damage and pain.

Posture. Physiotherapy Mississauga

Good-Posture-vs-Poor-Posture

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO POOR POSTURE:

Improper workstation design :

Could be a wrong chair, monitor height or distance of yourself and the monitor. Lack of enough breaks specially in a desk job also contribute to poor posture in the long run.

Repetitive movements/postures as a part of work/occupation:

Bending repeatedly and working.

Lifestyle:

Current technology has made people to bend down and look into their electronic devices for several hours every day. High heels, sitting with the wallet in the back pocket and heavy bags/purses also lead to malalignment of the spine.

Muscle imbalance:

Due to certain sports that we play or our basic posture leading to weakness in some groups and tightness in others thus affecting the curve.

Poor core stability and strength

Age:

As age advances, it leads to lesser flexibility and strength. If we keep thinking that doing exercises will cause more discomfort than what we currently have, the muscles become weaker and weaker and without enough muscle strength, the spine cannot stand erect

Habit:

The habit of poor posture is very difficult to change like sitting slouched on a couch for several hours or just slouch sitting or standing in day to day activities. Sure, everyone loves to sit in a relaxed position but, if you do not make the effort of trying to change it, it will keep creating more and more problems for the body.

 

EFFECTS OF BAD POSTURE:

Since childhood we have been asked to sit straight or stand tall and not slouch. Mostly everyone did that as a compulsion and rather grudgingly. However, it has many important reasons instead of it just being better for our appearance!

Back pain:

That is the most obvious one! Poor posture leads to stretching of the muscles of the back and the surrounding structures thus making them weak which in turn reduces the support it gives to the spine – taking us back to poor posture! As it becomes more of a chronic habit, you then have to take care of your posture and make your muscles stronger as well.

Neck pain, headaches and jaw pain:

Sometimes when there is no trauma or injury to your jaw and it starts clicking, popping, paining or going into spasm. There is a possibility it might be coming due to malalignment of the neck. A forward head posture has been known to cause jaw pain and headaches.

Hip, knee and foot pain:

Yes, the body is a closely connected structure. Any malalignment or change at one point like the foot or knee does affect the spine and leads to pain and vice versa.

Gastrointestinal system problems:

A slouched position/poor posture may compress the internal organs of the abdomen. It also affects the movement of the intestines thus leading to numerous gastrointestinal troubles like acid reflux or constipation. Over time it can also affect the metabolism and the way food is processed in the body.

Psychosocial impact:

In general, a person with a good upright posture seems more approachable and confident compared to the one who is slouching. This in turn leads to less motivation or mood issues in social situations. It has also been known to cause more fatigue and sleep problems as the body has to work harder and spend more energy to maintain itself when it is clearly not aligned well.

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIX A BAD POSTURE?

  • Avoid prolonged sustained positions. Make sure you take frequent breaks, if possible, try getting up from your chair after every 30-45 minutes .
  • Get into the habit of sitting well- always sit with your buttocks touching the back of the chair. This, in turn, will promote an erect posture and your back will get enough support
  • While you are standing try to distribute your weight evenly on both legs and do not lean on one side.
  • Use a backpack instead of a one sided bag if it is heavy so there is equal weight distribution on the shoulders. While sitting remove the wallet from the back pocket
  • Do a chin tuck- if you have a poking chin and rounded shoulders, straighten your upper back and do a chin tuck and repeat it 10 times. You should also stretch your chest muscles if you have rounded shoulders
  • If you have to use the phone for a long time, try holding it with your hand. You can also use a hands-free device instead of cradling it with your shoulder

 

HOW DOES PHYSIOTHERAPY HELP TO SOLVE POSTURE RELATED PROBLEMS?

Physiotherapists can help you by assessing exactly where your problem begins and then helping you to understand and modify habits that lead to bad posture. There are also various other treatments like manual therapy, taping and exercises that are aimed at stretching the tight muscles and strengthening the weaker muscles around the spine. They can also advice you regarding your work station modifications, if required.

 

PhysioNow

If you or anyone you know has posture related aches and pains or wants to get an assessment done to find out more about how you can improve your posture, call us today for an appointment!

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

Physiotherapy Mississauga

Physiotherapy Mississauga

Why choose PhysioNow for Physiotherapy Mississauga?

• Over 16 years of providing top rated Physiotherapy Mississauga
There are 4 convenient locations- Erin Mills, Applewood, Lorne Park and Long Branch

• Awards/nominations? PhysioNow: nominated for a Top Choice Award in 2020.

• A team of highly qualified physiotherapists and massage therapists

All of our physiotherapists and massage therapists have several years of experience in their field and are registered in good standing with the College of Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy.

• Services we offer

Services are provided for all ages and for a variety of conditions. For instance,  our therapists are specialized in several areas including manual therapy, acupuncture, vestibular rehabilitation, concussion , sports injuries, pelvic health and soft tissue techniques.

Physiotherapy Mississauga

Lower Back Pain Treatments

Physiotherapy Mississauga

Donjoy Defiance ACL Repair Brace

Physiotherapy Mississauga

Return To Sport After ACL Ligament Repair

In addition, we  do custom orthotics and braces.  For your convenience, we are currently also offering our physiotherapy services virtually .

• Direct billing available

In addition, Direct billing is available to most of the insurance companies so it is convenient for you.  For instance, we also deal with third party insurers like MVA and WSIB.

• Flexible hours and free parking available

Above all, we are open for extended hours ( ) to help you at a time that is best for you.

What to expect at Physiotherapy Mississauga?

First, you have an assessment with our physiotherapist.  They will do a full check up of the problem area .

Next, the physiotherapist will then prescribe a treatment plan especially for you.

Further, they can also help you understand more about your condition.

We will answer your questions .

Lastly, changes may be made  in your daily routine.

As a result, this will  help you to get better faster.

COVID considerations: We take excellent precautions!

 

• Providing a face mask and use of 70% alcohol hand sanitizer for each patient upon arrival into the clinic

• Installation of sneeze guards at the front desk

• In addition, Sanitization of treatment beds after before each patient use

• Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces between every patient

• Switching out pillowcases with each patient use

• All staff will wear a gown and mask and wash hands between each patient contact

  • Social distancing throughout the clinic.
  • Lastly, no visitors are sitting in reception

If you are in need of Physiotherapy or Massage Therapy, Contact PhysioNow today.