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Endometriosis and Pelvic Physiotherapy

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What is endometriosis?

 

Endometriosis DiseaseEndometriosis is a condition where tissues which is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus which can affect nearby organs including the bowel and bladder. The tissue thickens
and does shed with the monthly cycle.  At times when tissues get trapped and does not exit the body it can progress to form cyst called endometriomas. At last, it results in irritation to surrounding tissues and organs forming scar tissue and adhesions.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms includes,
Firstly, Pelvic pain.
Secondly,  Heavy periods.
Infertility.
Abdominal bloating.
Urinary and bowel concerns.
lastly,  Fatigue.
However, endometriosis can be mistaken for other conditions such as Irritable bowel syndrome, Inflammatory pelvic disease. Therefore, early diagnosis will help in managing the symptoms.

Treatment options available:

There is no cure for endometriosis currently. Although, treatments to manage the symptoms includes,
1. Hormone therapies.
2. Over the counter medication.
3. Pelvic physiotherapy.
4. Surgery.

Pelvic health physiotherapy in Endometriosis

Pelvic health physiotherapy can help to reduce the symptoms, improve the function, improve the flexibility and improve the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. The techniques help to relax the muscles which ultimately help to ease the symptoms. How does pelvic floor physiotherapy help in endometriosis,

  • Relieve endometrial pain: Approaches to down train the pelvic floor muscles and introducing bio-psychosocial approach to help in relaxing the pelvic floor muscles.
  • Reduce painful sex: Helping with stretches and breathing techniques, dilators, and hands on techniques to reduce the tension and resistance in the pelvic floor area.
  • Reduce abdominal bloating or endo belly by helping in assisting venous and lymphatic drainage
    in our body.
  • Painful urination: by educating on proper water intake, and voiding techniques and by
    maintaining a bladder diary to reduce the effects pressure causing pain when bladder fills up.
  • Painful bowel movements: Education and advices on diet and positions on easy bowel movements along exercises to manage the situation.

Also, pelvic floor therapy post endometriosis surgery would help to retrain pelvic floor muscles to relax and to coordinate contractions. This helps to reduce spasms during menstruation.

Lastly, Bio psychosocial component of pelvic floor physiotherapy helps in identifying and addressing the psycho social aspects and its influence on normal function of your body. Relaxation techniques and hands on techniques to calm down the senses that could be the trigger to pain can be managed to a great extent.

Take away message – If you are suffering from endometriosis and are finding difficulty to manage its symptoms, our team of qualified Pelvic PT will help you assess and guide through the whole treatment. Book your appointment today!

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Is your ankle sprain not healing? Know what’s wrong.

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Why is your ankle sprain not healing?

ankle injuriesAn ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation, or the RICE rule, will be the go-to’s for ankle sprains. In most cases, ankle sprains heal between 4-12 weeks depending on the severity of the injury. Though many people will have them to heal with time. However, a failure to seek treatment and physical rehabilitation for your ankle after just one injury is enough to leave it weak. This makes your ankle more vulnerable to future sprains or chronic instability.

What causes you chronic instability after an ankle sprain?

After an ankle injury, there is damage to the ligaments, tendons, and potentially even the ankle joint itself. Here, the function of the ligament is to limit abnormal movement in the joint. Because of the injury, they will get lax (stretched out), making the ankle more unstable. Additionally, this will also result in a loss of strength in the muscles, further increasing the instability of the ankle. Also, sensory receptors are impaired which communicate to our brain where your ankle is or where it is relative to the rest of our body. At last, this decreasing sensation makes it hard to balance and control the ankle which will have contributes to ankle instability.

How do you know if you have instability post ankle sprain?

Consider the questions below if you ever sprained your ankle and feel weak.

• Does your ankle ever give out?
• Avoid walking on uneven surfaces out of fear of falling?
• Feel like you can’t “trust” the ankle?
• Try to avoid putting all your weight onto one ankle?

If you said yes, to these questions and you may have chronic ankle instability.

Is it permanent?

Chronic ankle instability is not permanent. You can improve your ankle stability with the help of a physical therapist and an individualized exercise plan. But, If the injury is left treated it results in chronic instability and vulnerability to injuries. In this case, the first step to treatment will be a proper rehabilitation program with a health professional.

How to treat your unstable and weak ankles?

Physical therapists are the first step in the conservative management of chronic ankle instability. Due to loss of strength and proprioception, rehabilitation is very important. They perform a complete assessment of your ankle range of motion, strength, and balance assessing for any laxity, or any abnormalities, and guide you through the management.

Balance exercisesExercises re-strengthen the muscles, increase ankle stability, and balance, and retrain the body awareness of the ankle. Moreover, Brace and/or taping may be recommended to support the stabilization of the ankle, especially for individuals who are engaged in high-risk activities like sports.

Next, surgery may be an option to repair the injured ligaments if there is any tear or fracture is sustained.

What happens if your ankle sprain and injury are left untreated?

The instability may worsen over time and you will have a much greater risk of reoccurring injuries. In addition, it results in damage to the bones and cartilage within your ankle joint as the muscles weaken and fail to sufficiently support the joint. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you seek treatment from an expert to treat the issue before it results in a severe injury.

If you are having any instability or weakness with your ankle, which is stopping you from pursuing any hobbies book with PhysioNow today for an initial assessment and treatment. We have a team of highly qualified physical therapists that will be able to help your ankle recover!

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Thumb Pain? Is it DeQuervain’s Tendonitis?

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Why do you have thumb pain?

Thumb Pain

DeQuervain’s Tendonitis or thumb pain? There could be several potential factors why you have thumb pain. For instance, arthritis, trigger thumb, or DeQuervain’s Tendonitis. Though, the location of pain and difficulties performing activities can determine what is causing your thumb pain. However, the most common reason for thumb pain could be DeQuervain’s Tendonitis. Let us know something more in detail whether you have DeQuervain’s Tendonitis.

What is DeQuervain’s Tendonitis and Thumb Pain?

Thumb Pain

De Quervain’s Pain

It is an inflammatory condition, where the sheath around the tendon gets constricted. As a result, it affects the tendons of the thumb and thumb side of the wrist causing pain. Therefore, it gives the inability to use the hand and wrist to their total functional capacity.

What do the symptoms of DeQuervain’s Tendonitisfeel like?

Firstly, there is severe pain with thumb movements like gripping, lifting, twisting, and even a simple handshake.

Second, there might be swelling at the thumb aspect of the wrist.

Third, catching or snapping feeling with the movement of the thumb.

Lastly, limited thumb and wrist movement especially lifting the thumb up and in.

What are the causes?

There could be several reasons which cause you to DeQuervain’s  Synovitis.

  • Chronic repetitive strain to wrist and thumb in activities like typing, or doing hobbies like hammering, and gardening.
  • It is also commonly seen in clients with Rheumatoid arthritis, Overuse, or repetitive strain to the wrist and the thumb.
  • Pregnancy and post-partum are associated with breastfeeding and handling the baby.
  • In women 40 and over.

What are the treatment options available?

DeQuervain’s Tendonitis responds well to treatment. The treatment options include Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for pain relief and reducing the inflammation of the tendons. Although, in chronic cases of pain and disability, cortical steroid injections are the most commonly used.

thumb splint

Thumb Spica

Also, resting the wrist in a splint and doing exercises like stretching and strengthening help relieve pain and gain functions back. At last, surgical release of the tendons. This is done in cases where they do not respond to conservative management.

How to choose the best treatment for yourself?

Anytime you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, always get yourself a detailed physiotherapy assessment. It could be done after your thumb surgery as well. However, they will identify the cause of your pain and tailor the best treatment strategy customized to your needs. Treatment for a conservative approach will focus on the points mentioned below,

  • Education on the condition, what to expect throughout the rehab process, the normal healing period, and goals to achieve at various stages are provided.
  • Advised on movements and activities to avoid to help in the healing process.
  • Advise on using the correct splint or brace is given.
  • Modalities such as ICE, heat, Ultrasound, and Laser and their effect on pain management are provided.
  • Mobility exercises, which involve stretching and range of motion exercises are given to maintain the flexibility of the tendon.
  • Hands-on technique to improve pain, and flexibility, and improve mobility of the joint is introduced at the appropriate time.
  • Progressive Strengthening exercise which is client specific for the thumb and wrist is started once pain and mobility improve.
  • Functional training and activity modification is taught to avoid recurrence.

Physiotherapy after surgical intervention: After surgery, the following are practiced.

  • Methods and positions to control swelling or inflammation.
  • Usage of splints.
  • Exercises to improve ROM and flexibility in all joints in the hand, elbow, and shoulder.
  • Exercises and activities to rebuild strength and function in the hand and upper extremities.
  • Safe returns to previous activity levels are taught.

What will be the precautions to avoid the reoccurrence?

  • First, avoid overuse of hands.
  • Avoid excessive use of thumb and hand.
  • Avoid forceful use of the hand.
  • Lastly, taking frequent breaks from repetitive tasks.

To conclude, if you are suffering from the thumb, the wait is over. Our qualified team of Physiotherapists at PhysioNow will help you get better. Book your appointment today!

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Sciatica? 10 warning signs

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What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a pain in the back, neck, or buttock that radiates to the leg or arm. Sciatica is also quite common and affects almost 40% of adults. It travels through the sciatic nerve, which starts in your lower back and extends to run down your leg.  A proper diagnosis that confirms and best sciatica treatment is all that you need to lead a pain-free life.

Sciatica

Sciatica pain

10 signs which confirm the diagnosis

Before knowing about sciatica treatment, one needs to understand the nature of pain. The symptoms of sciatica are as follows: –
  1. Calf pain – pain that stretches down the lower leg and back of the knee.
  2. Lower back pain running down the leg.  A pull sensation from your lower back to buttocks and thigh, that further extends from calf to the foot.
  3. A pain in your butt or leg that worsens while prolonged sitting.
  4. Numbness in your leg or foot.
  5. Tingling sensation in your extremity (lower body).
  6. Persistent pain on one side of your butt.
  7. Muscle weakness in the distressful leg or foot.
  8. Shooting pain down the leg which makes it tough to stand up or extend the knee.
  9. Pain in one part of the leg while numbness in another part.
  10.  Lastly, a sensation of pins and needles only in the toes or feet

Early Symptoms Of Sciatica

 Apart from the 10 signs above, sciatica pain often starts in the back. However, occasionally, pain may start at the hip or knee; which may not look like sciatica. Although, you may feel isolated symptoms like feet numbness, knee pain, buttock pain, tingling, etc.

What contributes to Sciatica?

There are many factors that can lead to sciatic pain but the most common ones are listed below,
 • Strain and Occupational Stress: People in more physically demanding jobs as a result affect your nerve.
 • Obesity and genetic factors: The excess weight in the body put prolonged pressure on the backbone, leading to a slipped disc.
 • Accidents and Injuries: Unexpected physical damage from accidents can crack the vertebrae and irritate the nerve.
 • Gender: Studies have shown that men are more prone to slipped discs than women.
Treatment options available
Moreover, depending on the severity of the case, sciatica pain can be treated in the following ways:
 • First, medication and pain management: Pain can be controlled with various pain relief treatments including medication.
 • Second, surgery: In rare cases, the pain doesn’t subside for a prolonged period (6 weeks or more), and surgery can help relieve the pressure on the sciatic nerve endings caused by Sciatica.

 • Third, spine rehabilitation:

Sciatica

Effective exercises for Sciatica

There are multiple approaches to physical therapy in spine care and they can stabilize the spine and help patients with disability or restricted physical movement. This helps improve the mechanical functioning of the spine, manages pain, promotes regeneration of the affected tissue and disc, and with functional training, improves strength and flexibility.

 • Lastly, even in the case of surgery, follow-up rehabilitation helps sustain and improve the results.
If you are experiencing any such symptoms, our team of qualified physiotherapists at Physio Now will help you diagnose and guide you through your treatment. Book your appointment now!
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5 reasons you might need walking aids

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Why do you need a walking aid?

Quality of life

Elderly man independent in walking

Restricted and reduced ability to walk and perform your daily chores can impact your quality of life. Walking aids are devices designed to help people walk and can be used by individuals of any age. As a result, this improves your quality of life by making you independent and confident. Here are some reasons that will indicate you need walking aids.

  1. difficulties walking whether it’s due to pain.
  2. frequent falls or fear of falling.
  3. tiring quickly.
  4. decreased balance.
  5. difficulty putting weight on a body part, post-surgery, or any other reason.

What types of walking aids are available?

The categories of walking aids include crutches, canes, and walkers, and has their own pros and cons. Below are general overviews of the most common types of walking aids.

  1. crutches, often prescribed to individuals following an injury or surgery to the lower body. They are usually used on both sides of the body but can be used on just one side. The benefits of crutches include complete non-weight bearing on the injured leg, can be used on stairs, and lastly near to normal walking speed can be achieved.  However, it needs good upper body strength, cannot use for longer distances and must have a higher level of balance.

    Walking Aids

    Different types of crutches

  2. Canes are used on a single side. Helpful for individuals with minor balance issues or weakness in the legs or body. You can either get a single-point cane or 4 points which provides additional stability. But, on another side, it gives an unstable base of support.

    Types of Canes

  3. Walkers are the most stable type of walking aid. The most common are 2-wheeled walkers and rollator or 4-wheeled walkers. They are good for longer distances and more stable but cannot be used on stairs or smaller occupancies. 
  4.  

    Types of Walkers 

How to choose a walking aid?

If you think you need a walking aid but are unsure which one is best for you, a physiotherapist can help assess your needs and recommend the right one. An unfitted walking aid or improper use of one can be a safety hazard and increase the risk of a fall.

At PhysioNow, we are a qualified team of Physiotherapists that would love to help you! We do a full assessment which will include your balance, strength, and the way you walk to determine whether need of a gait aid and which one is suitable. Also, provide resources on how to acquire one. Lastly, we will also teach you how to use it in your everyday life including sitting and standing up, walking, and navigating stairs and obstacles with your aid.

Book with us today for an initial assessment and treatment at PhysioNow! Improve your Quality of Life.

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Few things to know about your heel pain

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What is heel pain?

Heel pain

What causes your heel pain?

Heel pain could be from any reason either your inflamed plantar fascia causing plantar fasciitis or any abnormal bony growth causing heel spurs. To get in further details plantar fasciitis is an irritation and inflammation to the tissue that runs at the bottom of the foot extending from the heel to the toes, causing heel pain. It supports the arch of the foot which helps in shock absorption. On other side, heel spur is when a bony outgrowth forms on the heel, which causes heel pain while walking and standing.

What are the causes of heel pain?

Causes are not limited to high and low arches causing irritation to the plantar fascia with running, jogging, playing any sports, prolonged standing and walking. Also, any strain or tear to the fascia. As a result, if this condition is left untreated can lead to bony growth causing heel spurs.

5 Most common risk factors of pain

  • Improper foot wear: The foot wear without proper arch support or worn-out shoes.

    Causes of heel pain

    Improper footwears

  • Weight gain leads to changes in arches and support and affects the weight transmission and shock absorption.
  • Foot mechanics: flat feet or high arches, stiff mid foot and ankle.

    Risk factors for plantar faciitis

    Types of Arches

  • Age: commonly seen between 40 – 60 years old.
  • Occupation: commonly seen in clients with jobs that requires long standing.

What are the symptoms:

With plantar fasciitis it is like a stabbing pain felt at arch of foot and near the inner part of heel whereas pain with spurs is in the center of heel and also feels like a stabbing.

Heel spurs and plantar fascia

Location of pain

Pain is usually worse in the morning taking first few steps with plantar fasciitis. It usually gets better with walking but comes back with long hours of standing and sitting. On other hand pain with spurs gets worse as the day progresses with long hours of standing and walking. Sometimes, there could be swelling present over the heel area.

How will Physiotherapy help you with heel pain?

Your physiotherapist after a detail assessment would be able to identify the cause of the problem and give you advice on how to modify and handle the situation and life style which will help in the road to recovery. Advice would include,

Arch supports

Foot insoles for arch support

  • How to modify activities of daily living.
  • Advice on foot wear.
  • Suggestions on arch supports and custom-made orthotics, night splint.

Apart from this, treatment sessions will include:

  • Hands on techniques to release the tight plantar fascia, calf, mobilization of foot and ankle manually or with a tool.  Stretches for the tight surrounding structures.

    Techniques to release plantar fascia

    Hawk tool to release plantar fascia

  • Strengthening exercise for the supporting structures and muscles that maintain the arches and functional training
  • Kinesiotapping to relieve stress from the affected structures.

Don’t let your pain affect your quality of life and stop you from doing your activities. Book your assessment session now with qualified physiotherapists of PhysioNow. We have various locations to serve the communities in Mississauga, Oakville and Etobicoke. Contact us and get started today!

Work from home
General Category, Headaches: Neck Pain, Low back Pain, Neck pain Treatment Mississauga, Neck strain, PhysioNow, Physiotherapy, Wrist pain

Work from Home?

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Work from Home? Be active from home too!

With changing times , continuing  to work from home  seems very appealing. But is it really safe for your body? Excessive sitting behaviour has increased more than ever since Covid times in the comfort of your home. This increases the risk of Low back and upper back pain, wrist pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches and other overuse injuries.

How many breaks do you take from your chair? Are you using a chair while you work from home?

At Physio Now it’s our mission to help you get more active and also guide you with ergonomics for Work from home.

5 simple things you could do to stay more active and maintain a good posture during your work hours:

 

1- Opt for Sit to Stand desk– this helps you switch positions and doesn’t load your joints for too long.  In addition, it also improves alertness and productivity. You can consider asking your supervisor for investing in an ergonomic chair or adjustable table. We could help the process by writing a letter for the same after assessing your injuries.

2- Put timers to stretch every hour- this will help you stay on track even if you get very busy with work, again making sure to redistribute the load on your joints thus preventing injuries.

3- Learn some basic Postural exercises from your Physiotherapist at Physio Now. This will keep you in a good posture enabling reduced tightness in your muscles

4- Keep the documents/files required for your day’s meeting around the house so as and when you need it will keep you moving.

5- Opt for a separate keyboard if you use a laptop and an ergonomic mouse- these will help prevent neck, wrist and elbow injuries.

Work from home

Sitting posture

Work from home is so much more common now because of the pandemic.  We at Physio Now are focused on Postural Assessment and Treatment. This includes stretching and strengthening exercises, endurance training for postural muscles, Manual therapy for sore muscles and stiff joints, electrotherapy for pain relief, tapping, cupping and acupuncture.

Book a consultation at PhysioNOW

If you are interested in learning about more postural tips, check out this site: https://www.spineuniverse.com/wellness/body-mechanics/heads-posture-dont-slouch

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Physiotherapy – 5 things to expect from your appointment

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There are more and more people who are using physiotherapy services to help them recover from their injuries and pain conditions.  However, there are also a lot of people who do not understand what physiotherapy can offer.  Physiotherapy plays an important role in keeping people healthy and active.

Physiotherapy

What is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a health care profession that helps people regain their strength and function.  A Registered Physiotherapist will do an assessment that helps them understand the nature of the patient’s problem.  They will then develop a treatment plan.  More specifically, the treatment plan will address the limitations that is not allowing them to live out their best quality of life.  The main goals of physiotherapy is to restore, maintain and improve strength, function and movement.

What kind of symptoms can physiotherapy help treat?

  • Pain
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Weakness
  • Limited flexibility
  • Loss of function
  • Poor balance
  • Dizziness/Vertigo

What kind of injuries can physiotherapy treat?

How do you go about seeing a Registered Physiotherapist?

Most people have at least one friend or family member who has received physiotherapy for an injury.  For example, people will usually ask their friends or family for clinic recommendations.  If none are available, then most people will do a quick google search to see their options.  Once they find a clinic that appears reputable and is easily accessible, then the next step is to call the clinic and book an assessment.  A lot of first-time patients feel some anxiety about starting physiotherapy because they do not know what to expect from the appointment.

What is a physiotherapy assessment?

The assessment is an important first step in starting your physiotherapy program.  During the assessment, the patient will meet with a registered physiotherapist who will assess the patient’s condition.  What are some of the typical things to expect during a physiotherapy assessment?

1. Conversation with the physiotherapist.

The physiotherapist will ask some details about the patient’s pain or injury.  This helps the physiotherapist gain an understanding of their specific condition.  More specifically, the answers will help the physiotherapist form some potential diagnoses.  For example, some questions the physiotherapist may ask include:

  • When did the pain start?
  • Was there a specific incident that started the pain?
  • Has the pain changed since it first started?
  • Is your pain better in morning, afternoon or evening?
  • What activities or positions make the pain feel worse?
  • What activities or positions make the pain feel better?
  • Have you had this type of pain in the past?
  • Have you had any other injuries in the past?
  • What kind of work do you?
  • How is your general health?

2.  The physical assessment.

During this part of the assessment, the physiotherapist will ask the patient to do certain movements and tests.  The physiotherapist will observe what happens to their pain in response to these tests.  The type and amount of testing that is done will depend on the specific injury.  The physiotherapist may also check a patient’s strength levels, neurological signs, balance and any other tests that will help them arrive at a potential diagnosis.

3.  The patient should expect to do a fair amount of movement during the appointment and should be dressed in comfortable clothes.

Comfortable clothing, such as gym or yoga wear, is recommended for physiotherapy sessions.  For patients who have knee injuries it is suggested that they wear a pair of shorts.  Patients who are coming in for shoulder injuries, should wear a sleeveless top.  This will help give the physiotherapist better access to the injured areas so that they can see and feel what’s happening.

Physiotherapy is an active treatment program and patients should be dressed the part!

4.  The physiotherapy treatment.

Once the physiotherapist understands the patient’s condition, they can develop a treatment plan to address their limitations.  In most cases, treatment is started immediately after the assessment.  Furthermore, the exact type of treatment that the physiotherapist will provide will depend on the patient’s condition.  For example, a physiotherapy session may consist of a number of different treatments, including:

  • Education

    • The physiotherapist will help explain their assessment findings and their impression of the condition
    • Additionally, the physiotherapist will explain some of the DOs and DON’Ts to help the patient achieve their best recovery
    • They will also educate on best postures and the use of ice or heat for pain management

  • Manual therapy

    • The physiotherapist may find it beneficial to do some hands-on work for the injury
    • More specifically, manual treatment may include soft tissue releases, joint mobilizations and passive stretches

  • Exercise therapy

    • A key component of physiotherapy is helping to regain mobility and strength
    • The physiotherapist will provide exercises that will help regain any lost range of motion and strength
    • The physiotherapist will also continue to progress the exercises as the patient shows improvement with their exercise program
    • The goals of the exercise program are to improve the functional abilities of the patient and help them get back to their regular activities

  • Electrical modalities

    • A physiotherapist may use some electrical modalities to help manage pain or promote healing depending on the injury
    • Some examples of electrical modalities include Interferential Current, Ultrasound and Laser

5.  The patient should expect to be present at the clinic for at least 1 hour for their assessment.

The amount of time that it takes to complete the first visit can range anywhere between 45 mins to 1 hour.  More specifically, if the condition is very complex or the patient has a lot of movement limitations, the assessment may take longer.  The physiotherapist needs a good amount of time to do a thorough and accurate job of understanding the patient’s injury.

Once the assessment and first treatment are complete, the physiotherapist will make recommendations for future appointments.  For most patients, it is recommended that they book at least two appointments a week for 3-4 weeks and then depending on their recovery, they can start to wean off.  Some patients will have a quick recovery and may not need a lot of treatments.  Others may have more chronic or severe injuries that may need several weeks or months to improve.  The physiotherapist will make sure that the patient is receiving the amount of treatment that they need to get the fastest possibly recovery.

Physiotherapy has an important role to play in the recovery and management of a lot of conditions.  Its focus on active participation and exercise makes sure that patients maintain their function and experience a better quality of life.  Call PhysioNow today to book your physiotherapy appointment!

 

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What is the best treatment?

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What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a very debilitating condition thatCarpal tunnel syndrome affects the use of your hand.  It is caused by pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist.  The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway on the palm side of the hand.  The median nerve passes through this tunnel, along with tendons and blood vessels.  This small area allowed for the median nerve, makes this a prime location for nerve compression to happen.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome results in a characteristic set of signs and symptoms.  More specifically, these include:

  • Pain, tingling, numbness or burning into the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers
  • Pain on the palm side of the wrist and forearm
  • Weakness into the hand, thumb and fingers
  • Inability to grip strongly through the hand and a tendency to drop things
  • Loss of muscle bulk in the affected hand
  • Sleep disturbances due to night symptoms

These symptoms usually start off without a specific injury.  However, repetitive tasks with the hands and wrists can be a risk factor for this condition.  Commonly, the symptoms usually start off gradually over time and then may continue to worsen and become more constant.  Furthermore, if the pressure on the median nerve continues, then there may be ongoing loss of strength and function in the hand as a result.  Therefore, it is important to seek treatment early to prevent any permanent problems.  At PhysioNow, our Registered Physiotherapists have the expertise to identify and treat this condition to help improve your symptoms.

Can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome improve on its own?

Unfortunately, if you have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, you will most likely need some form of management to improve your symptoms.  If the condition is not addressed, it may continue to worsen as more and more pressure is placed on the median nerve.  Unfortunately in extreme cases, the condition progresses to the point of needing surgery.  However, surgical correction of carpal tunnel syndrome is not always successful.  In contrast, if the condition is diagnosed early, then physiotherapy treatment can help prevent more serious medical interventions.

How can physiotherapy help treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Physiotherapy is an important way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.  At PhysioNow, treatment has to focus on certain key aspects to address the concerns with this condition.

 Reducing tension around the carpal tunnel.

-Tightness in the forearm muscles often produces stiffness around the carpal tunnel.
-Additionally stiffness can also be created from reduced movement of the small wrist bones that surround the carpal tunnel.
-A Registered Physiotherapist will help to reduce the tissue and joint stiffness by using hands on techniques to mobilize these areas.

Reducing inflammation in the carpal tunnel.

-Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs from inflammation in the carpal tunnel.
-The inflammation leads to swelling and places pressure on the median nerve.
-Physiotherapists commonly use ultrasound or laser therapy to help alleviate inflammation and swelling through the carpal tunnel.

Acupuncture for pain relief.

-Importantly, acupuncture is another tool that can help to facilitate pain relief and reduce inflammation in the carpal tunnel.
-Specifically, at PhysioNow, we have several physiotherapists who have training in acupuncture
-Therefore, they are able to incorporate acupuncture into the treatment plan for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bracing to help manage night symptoms.

-During sleep, we may keep our wrists in prolonged bent positions, which will increase the carpal tunnel symptoms and disturb sleep.
-A Registered Physiotherapist can recommend the appropriate brace to help keep the wrists in a more neutral position throughout the night.
-Furthermore, the physiotherapist will also provide the instructions on how to effectively wear the brace.

Exercise program to help manage wrist stiffness.

-A Registered Physiotherapist will prescribe exercises to help manage the stiffness of the wrist muscles and wrist joint.
-Additionally, exercises will also include strengthening to improve the endurance and gripping ability of the hand over time.

Education

-An important component of physiotherapy treatment is the getting the knowledge to best manage the recovery of carpal tunnel syndrome.
-More specifically, physiotherapists will provide lots of information on how to best support your recovery.
-For example, activity modification is an important part of symptom management.

Registered Massage Therapy

-Commonly in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, there is a lot of potential tissue stiffness through the whole arm, shoulder, neck and upper back.
-Therefore, Registered Massage Therapy is a great option to address these additionally tight areas.

In conclusion, the combination of these different elements of treatment is very effective in helping to improve symptoms and increase function.  However, the timeline of recovery will vary from person to person.  It will depend on how long they have had the condition and the extent of function loss.

At PhysioNow, our Registered Physiotherapists will everything they can to help patients with their recovery and regain their function.  Call today to book your appointment at PhysioNow!

 

 

Accident Rehabilitation Mississauga, General Category

Why should you get Accident Rehabilitation?

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Car accidentAccident rehabilitation refers to the treatment that is provided to treat the injuries from a car accident.  A motor vehicle accident (MVA) can be a scary experience.  There is so much stress that happens during the whole process, including dealing with the insurance company and damages to the car.  However, the most important aspect of getting into a motor vehicle accident is your health.  More specifically, a car accident can result in a whole host of different injuries.  Ensuring that you are safe and getting the care that you need to recover is so important.

What are the common factors that influence a motor vehicle accident?

A motor vehicle accident can result in a whole host of different injuries depending on the nature of the accident.  There are a number of different factors that can influence the impact of an accident on your body.  For example:

  • Speed of the vehicles involved
  • Location of accident, such as highway or local roads
  • Type of vehicles involved, such as size and make of vehicles
  • Body position during impact, such as leaning forward or head turned
  • Weather conditions such as snow or rain

What are the most common injuries from a car accident?

The type of injuries that people get from a car accident will depend on the seriousness of the accident itself.  In the worst possible scenario, a motor vehicle accident can result in fatalities.  These types of accidents usually happen at high speeds, or with poor visibility and weather conditions.  However, most accidents result in a variety of different injuries.

The most common injuries sustained in a car accident include:

  • Whiplash
    • Occurs when the force of the impact pushes the neck into hyper-extension and hyper-flexion positions
    • This causes a sprain/strain of the associated muscles and ligaments of the neck
    • Symptoms range from pain, stiffness, numbness/tingling into the arms and hands, headache and loss of motion
  • Thoracic & Lumbar strains
    • The impact causes the joints and muscles of the spine to be over-stretched
    • The mechanism is similar to whiplash
    • Symptoms include pain, limited movement, numbness/tingling into the arms and/or legs, weakness
  • Shoulder strains
    • Because the driver is holding onto the steering wheel using their arms, it is common for the shoulder to get injured in a car accident,
  • Concussion
    • Concussions are a form of a traumatic brain injury and can vary from mild to severe
    • Concussions occur as a result of either direct or indirect trauma to the brain
    • The most common symptoms of a concussion are dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, headache, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and fogginess
    • Fractures
      • The impact of a car accident can lead to broken bones
      • Some fractures will require surgery while others will require only casting to heal
    • Injuries requiring surgery
      • Some muscle and tendon tears will require surgery to completely recover
      • Additionally, motor vehicle accidents can cause injury to internal organs, which may require surgery

Who is entitled to receive accident rehabilitation?

Any person who has valid vehicle insurance is entitled to receive accident rehabilitation benefits through their insurance company.  However, if the injured individual does not have their own insurance, they can still apply for accident benefits.  The circumstances of the accident will determine which insurance company will pay for the benefits.

How much accident rehabilitation benefits are available?

The amount of the benefits that the person is entitled to depends on the nature of their injuries.  There are two categories of benefits available:

  • Minor Injury Guideline (MIG)
    • This pathway is for those individuals who have minor injuries including whiplash and sprains and strains.
    • Majority of motor vehicle accident injuries fall within this category
    • This pathway is standardized across all of Ontario in terms of its entitlement
    • The maximum benefit under the MIG is $3500
  • Major Injury Guideline (non-MIG)
    • This pathway is reserved for individuals who have suffered serious injuries from the accident
    • Examples include fractures, surgeries, major neurological trauma and concussions
    • The maximum entitlement under this plan will vary depending on the injuries

What is the process of receiving accident rehabilitation benefits?

When reporting the accident to the insurance company, the insurance adjuster will ask if there are any injuries from the accident.  They will then initiate the process of the accident benefit claim.  The adjuster will send the injured person a package of forms that they have to complete and send back.  The adjuster will also likely put the injured individual in touch with a physiotherapy clinic in the area closest to the patient.  The clinic will then contact the patient to schedule an initial assessment.

 

What can I expect from my Initial Assessment with the physiotherapist?

Once all the intake paperwork is complete, the Registered Physiotherapist will meet with the patient to start the physiotherapy assessment.  Firstly, the physiotherapist will start by asking some questions to get an understanding of the injuries.  Some examples of questions can include:

  • The details of the accident and how it happened.
  • Questions that will screen the patient for serious injuries that may require further medical attention
  • They will go through all the painful areas and injuries that have occurred
  • They will request details about past medical and injury history

Secondly, the physiotherapist will do a physical assessment once they have all the necessary information.  They will check all the affected areas for range of motion and strength.  This will start to give the therapist an idea of the severity of the symptoms.

Additionally, the physiotherapist will use the information collected to determine whether the patient will be classified as either MIG or non-MIG. The physiotherapist will then fill out the required treatment plan for the patient and go over what the plan will look like with the patient.  Furthermore, they will discuss treatment timelines and treatment goals with the patient.  Lastly, at PhysioNow, there is always time allocated at the end of the assessment to start some light treatment to give the patient some pain relief.

What kind of treatment is provided for accident rehabilitation?

The types of treatment provided for patients after vehicle accidents are similar to non-vehicle injuries.  The specific treatments provided will depend on the nature of the injuries and what the physiotherapist feels is most appropriate for the patient.  The treatment plan will involve a combination of different treatments including:

  • Modalities – US, Laser, IFC
  • Manual therapy – soft tissue work, mobilizations, assisted stretching
  • Exercises – range of motion, postural and strengthening exercises
  • Education – explanations of the injuries and do’s and don’ts to help the recovery process

Left untreated, the injuries from a car accident can produce chronic pain and limit your function.  Do not let your injuries from a motor vehicle accident keep you from living your life.  Call PhysioNow to book your assessment today!