Tag Archives: Sports Physiotherapy

Shockwave Therapy, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy

Top 5 Sports Injuries Treated with Shockwave Therapy

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Shockwave therapy has been gaining popularity in the field of physiotherapy as an effective treatment modality for various sports injuries. Athletes and sports enthusiasts alike are turning to shockwave therapy to help alleviate pain and promote healing.

Why choose shockwave therapy for athletes?

One of the key benefits of shockwave therapy is its ability to target specific areas of injury with high-energy acoustic waves, stimulating the body’s natural healing process. This non-invasive treatment option can be particularly beneficial for conditions such as tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and other soft tissue injuries commonly seen in sports. By incorporating shockwave therapy into their treatment plans, athletes can accelerate their recovery time and return to play quickly. Physiotherapists and sports therapists are increasingly recognizing the value of shockwave in managing sports injuries effectively.

Shockwave therapy and sports injuries

Sports injuries are a common occurrence among athletes and can range from minor sprains to more serious conditions like tendonitis or stress fractures. One effective treatment option for certain sports injuries is shockwave therapy. Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate the healing process in injured tissues. It can help alleviate pain, improve blood circulation, and promote tissue regeneration.

Here are some sports injuries that could benefit from shockwave therapy:

1. Plantar Fasciitis: This is a common overuse injury among runners and athletes that causes heel pain. Shockwave therapy can help reduce inflammation and promote healing at the origin of the plantar fascia at the bottom of the heel.

Shockwave therapy applied to the heel for plantar fasciitis

Shockwave therapy applied to the heel to treat plantar fasciitis

2. Tennis Elbow: Also known as lateral epicondylitis, this condition results from repetitive use of the forearm muscles. Shockwave therapy can target the affected area to relieve pain and improve mobility.

3. Achilles Tendonitis: A common injury among runners and athletes involved in jumping sports, Achilles tendonitis causes pain and stiffness in the back of the ankle. Shockwave therapy can stimulate healing in the damaged tendon.

4. Rotator Cuff Injuries: Athletes who participate in sports that involve overhead movements, such as baseball or swimming, are prone to rotator cuff injuries. Shockwave therapy can help reduce pain and improve shoulder function.

Woman experiencing tennis elbow/lateral epicondylalgia

Shockwave therapy can be used to treat lateral epicondylitis, more commonly known as tennis elbow

5. Shin Splints: This condition is characterized by pain along the shin bone and is common among runners and athletes who engage in high-impact activities. Shockwave therapy can help accelerate the healing process and reduce pain.

Can I get shockwave therapy for my injury?

It’s important to note that while shockwave therapy can be effective for certain sports injuries, it may not be suitable for every case. It’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider or a sports medicine specialist. Then, they will help you determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your specific injury. Additionally, some pre-existing medical conditions like cancer, bleeding and blood clotting disorders are contraindications for shockwave therapy.

Try PhysioNow!

In conclusion, shockwave therapy is an effective treatment option for various sports injuries. It offers patients a non-invasive and effective way to manage pain and promote healing. By incorporating this innovative therapy into their rehabilitation programs, patients can potentially expedite their recovery and return to their active lifestyles sooner. Shockwave Therapy is offered at our Applewood location of PhysioNow by qualified physiotherapists. Contact us today to book your first treatment!

ACL Rehabilitation, ACL Tear, Knee Pain, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy

ACL Tears: Understanding Your Knee Pain

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ACL Injury to knee

What is the ACL?

The ACL stands for the anterior cruciate ligament, which is one of the stabilizing ligaments in the knee joint. It is located behind the kneecap and connects the femur to the shin bone (tibia). Importantly, this ligament prevents excess forward and backwards movements of the femur and tibia overtop each other. When people say their ACL is injured, this refers to either a sprain or tear of the ACL ligament.

How is the ACL injured?

Ligaments work as a connective, stabilizing band for two bones. The ACL, one of two ligaments that cross in the middle of the knee, connects your thighbone to your shinbone and helps stabilize your knee joint.

ACL injuries often happen during sports and fitness activities that put high shear and stress forces on the knee:

  • Suddenly slowing down and changing direction (cutting)
  • Pivoting with your foot firmly planted (plant and twist)
  • Landing awkwardly from a jump
  • Stopping suddenly from a run/sprint
  • Receiving a direct blow to the knee or having a collision, such as a football tackle, dashboard injury etc

During the moment of injury, you may sometimes hear and feel a popping kind of sound inside the knee. Afterwards, the knee swells, bruises or becomes red, and is difficult to walk and put pressure on it. When the ligament is damaged, there is usually a partial or complete tear of the tissue. A mild injury may stretch the ligament but most of the tissue is still intact.

How do I know if I’ve injured my ACL?

Signs and symptoms of an ACL injury usually include:

  • A loud popping sound at the time of the injury
  • Severe pain and inability to continue activity
  • Rapid swelling
  • Loss of range of motion
  • A feeling of instability or “giving way” in the knee with weight bearing

However, it is best to get checked by a healthcare professional like a physiotherapist if you suspect an ACL injury.

Can this injury be prevented?

Accidents happen and sometimes they are unavoidable such as an accidental collision of players during a game. However, proper strength and conditioning and athletic training can minimize the risk of an ACL sports injury occurring. This may include:

  • Strengthening of core, glute, and knee muscles. Especially hamstring and quadriceps which are the main movers of the knee joint.
  • Co-ordination, balance, proprioception, mobility training and drills
  • Improving pivot shifting or other sport specific techniques

How is an ACL injury managed?

In acute injury of ACL tear or sprain, the RICE protocol will help minimize pain, swelling, inflammation, and risk of further injury.

1)The RICE protocol is as follows:

  • Rest: Avoiding exercise will allow muscles to recover and allows space for healing
  • Icing: Icing over top of the knee can help manage swelling, inflammation, and pain
  • Compression: Compression bandages or braces will reduce the stress on the muscles, help manage swelling and minimize pain.
  • Elevation: Elevating the leg on few pillows will reduce swelling from the leg

2) Modalities: TENS and ultrasound will help reduce pain and inflammation and increase the efficiency of healing

3) ACL brace: ACL braces will prevent further damage to the ACL and give more stability to your knee

Brace for ACL Injury

An example of an ACL brace by DonJoy, they are often made to custom fit each knee

4) Orthotics: Proper footwear will improve mechanics and reduce extra stress in knee joint

5) Strengthening of knee and hip muscles: Strengthening of those muscles will support the ligament and makes knee stronger to resist the injury.

6) Balance and co-ordination training:  Oftentimes, training the specific movement is the best way to improve it. Therefore, training of cutting, pivoting, suddenly starting and stopping, landing from a high jump etc in sports that use these movements is essential to minimizing the risk of an ACL injury.

Need help with a knee injury?

If you think you may have an ACL injury or are experiencing any other type of knee pain, look for PhysioNow! We are a clinic that operates in the GTA from Burlington to Etobicoke with 9 different clinic locations. Our Registered Physiotherapists are highly experienced in sports injuries and knee injuries. Book with PhysioNow today for your first assessment and treatment!

Registered Physiotherapy Mississauga, Sports Injuries, Sports Physiotherapy, Sports Taping

Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease

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Osgood-Schlatter’s disease (OSD) is a fairly common condition in adolescents that results in knee pain and loss of function. Typically, it is characterized by pain and inflammation just below the knee, especially in individuals that are active and engage in sports and other physical activities.  As a result, this condition can be quite disruptive to a young athlete, who suddenly finds themselves unable to participate fully in practices or games due to pain. Specifically, in this blog, we will discuss causes, symptoms, and effective physiotherapy treatment of OSD.

 

What causes Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease?

OSD is primarily an overuse injury causing the tendon under the knee, the patellar tendon, and the part of the bone it attaches to, the tibial tuberosity to become painful and inflamed. Eventually,  the tendon and bone experience repetitive traction and strain through high intensity movements such as running and jumping, and the tendon pulls on the still developing bone. As a result, OSD is one of the most common causes of knee pain in adolescents.

Risk factors include:

  • Participation in sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, track and field and similar activities
  • Males 12-15, girls 8-12
  • Experienced a recent growth spurt

In summary, here is a link that you may find helpful: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/osgoodschlatter-disease

What are the signs and symptoms of Osgood Schlatter’s Disease?

  • Occasionally, a bigger bump than normal at the tibial tuberosity
  • Painful to put pressure on the tibial tuberosity
  • Knee pain located just below the kneecap
  • Pain that worsens with pressure around the tibial tuberosity and with physical activities
  • No acute trauma, pain came on slowly over time

How does physiotherapy help?

If you think that your child is experiencing OSD, consulting a physiotherapist is essential for an accurate diagnosis. Your physiotherapist will perform a complete assessment including evaluating the knee strength, range of motion, functional abilities like squatting, and will help you rule out other potential issues.
Next, your physiotherapist will assist your recovery using some of the following treatments. Notably, treatment will vary depending on each individual.

1. Firstly, education on rest, and how to modify the sport and other high impact activities to give the knee
time to heal

2. Secondly, a home exercise program: They will address any muscular imbalances in the body and will assign
a variety of stretching and strengthening exercises to help recovery.

3. In addition, a brace with a patellar strap to relieve tension on the tuberosity (as shown above)

4. Equally, taping may help provide additional support to the knee and reduce strain

5. Additionally, a movement assessment may be necessary to teach the proper ways to perform skills and correcting form to minimize the stress on the knee

6. Lastly, a return to sport plan: Will be graduated and closely monitored to ensure safe and effective return to sport while preventing the risk of injury

In conclusion, if you think your child is experiencing Osgood-Schlatter or any other type of knee pain, PhysioNow has many experienced physiotherapists that would love to help! Meanwhile, book with PhysioNow today for you or your child’s first assessment and treatment!

Custom Knee Brace

Runner’s Knee? How Physiotherapy Can Help!

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Runner's Knee

Runner’s Knee

Runner’s knee or patellofemoral pain, is a common condition that often affects many individuals, especially of the active and athletic population. The knee pain can be minor to severe and may be felt during only certain activities such as sports, or with day-to-day tasks like climbing up and down stairs. In this blog, we will talk about the causes, symptoms and most importantly, how to treat this pain with physiotherapy.

Cause of Patellofemoral Pain

For most individuals, the pain is caused by a misalignment of the patella (knee cap) within the femur (thigh bone). Usually, the patella glides along the groove during movement of the knee but muscular imbalances around the knee or postural misalignment may contribute to improper tracking of the patella. Some of the most common causes of runner’s knee are:

  1. Improper training/running mechanics such as overpronation or rolling in of the feet can contribute to increased stress at the knee joint
  2. Overuse or overtraining can overload the knee joint if there is not sufficient rest or recovery.
  3. Muscular imbalances, especially of the quadriceps and hip muscles
  4. Sudden increase in activity/unaccustomed activity
  5. Biomechanical issues such as misalignment of the kneecap, leg length discrepancies, foot posture etc.

Recognizing the Symptoms

  1. Dull aching pain around or behind the knee cap
  2. Pain is worse squatting, walking downstairs, or after sitting for long periods of time
  3. Swelling around the kneecap
  4. Popping or clicking of the knee, especially with straightening the knee
  5. Discomfort or pain after high intensity physical activities such as running
  6. Recent increase in intensity or change in training program

Physiotherapy for Runner’s Knee

Physiotherapy for Runner's Knee

Physiotherapy for Runner’s Knee

Once in physiotherapy, your physiotherapist will conduct an assessment to determine the exact cause of your knee pain. Most likely, your assessment and treatment will include:

  • Tailored exercise plan focusing on the hamstrings, quadriceps, and hip muscles to help stabilize and strengthen the knee joint.
  • Stretching exercises for the tight muscles around the knee that may be contributing to increased strain and imbalance at the knee
  • Biomechanical analysis including watching you walk, move, and your posture to identify any abnormalities that may be increasing stress at the knee. Common postures associated with knee pain include pronated flat feet, or knees that fall in when you move.
  • Recommendation or prescription of orthotics and other footwear. These can help correct any postural abnormalities found in the above biomechanical analysis
  • Taping and bracing. This can help provide support to the knee to improve stability and alignment while the knee has time to heal.

How to avoid Runner’s Knee

  1. Gradually increase training load and intensity
  2. Incorporate cross training, and general strength and mobility training into your routine
  3. Take time to do a proper warm up and cool down
  4. Listen to your body, runner’s knee is usually a stress/overuse injury, so don’t push through the pain and take rests when you need it.
  5. Ensure that you have proper footwear for your activity

Runner’s knee can be a tricky problem to resolve, but with the support from a physiotherapist, your pain can go away! By taking care of the problem earlier on, you will experience less interruptions from your regular routine and can get back to doing what you love sooner. If you are experiencing runner’s knee or any sort of knee pain, PhysioNow has many qualified registered physiotherapists that would love to help you out. Book with PhysioNow today for your first assessment and treatment!

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Say Goodbye to Knee Pain with Orthopedic Custom Knee Brace!

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Say Goodbye and Beat knee pain with an Orthopedic Custom Knee Brace!

Here at PhysioNow, we can help you recover from your knee pain faster by providing you with a Custom Knee Brace. There are many types of knee braces available for purchase. Therefore, it can be overwhelming to know which brace is best for you so does the type of knee pain. In this article, we will give you an overview of custom knee braces. Also, provide instructions on how to start the process of ordering your custom knee brace.

Who can get a custom knee brace for knee pain?

Custom knee braces are most used for individuals with/after:

  • Post-operative recovery
  • Knee instability
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Ligament or meniscal injuries

Moreover, the brace is constructed using precise measurements taken from your leg. It is designed to only fit you.

Why get a custom knee brace? Is it worth it for knee pain?

Many patients have found that bracing has returned them to a level of function that they were previously thought to be unattainable after their injury. Some of the benefits of a custom knee brace include:

  • Firstly, get you back to doing the activities you love.
  • Second, reduce pain and increase the function of the knee.
  • Support and prevent further injury while you await imaging, surgery, or after surgery.
  • Individualized to your needs and level of activity ex. Lifestyle vs performance braces.
  • Ideal for long-term use.
  • Lastly, lightweight and can fit underpants for a subtle look.

What types of custom knee braces are there?

The most common type of custom-made knee brace is a rigid knee brace. They are usually made of metal, with a hinge to allow the knee to bend, and are the most supportive type of brace.

They are designed for individuals who need moderate-maximum support. The conditions that require a rigid custom knee brace include moderate to severe osteoarthritis, and athletes that need more support after an injury. Also, pre and post-surgical repair of ACL, MCL, PCL ligaments, or menisci.

Moreover, under the umbrella of rigid knee braces, there are unloader braces for osteoarthritis. These braces provide more support to the painful, arthritic side of the knee to offload it. This can preserve the joint space while reducing knee pain and increasing knee function.

Another category of rigid knee braces is ligament braces for ACL, MCL/LCL, and PCL injuries, including pre and post-surgical repair. These provide knee support to the sides of the knee to prevent any unnatural twisting or movements. However, our PhysioNow team of physiotherapists will be able to determine which brace is best suited to your goals and lifestyle.

How can I get a custom knee brace?

Follow these simple steps below to get one.

  1. Contact us at PhysioNow to book an appointment time for a custom knee brace assessment.
  2. On the day of your appointment, your PhysioNow Brace Specialist will perform a series of tests and ask you questions to determine which type of brace is right for you.
  3. Make sure you tell your Physiotherapist what activities you are currently doing, and any activities that you would like to get back to doing (ex. Golf, running, walking)
  4. Your PhysioNow Brace Specialist will measure and take recordings of your knee, and discuss any considerations like the desired weight of the brace, special features (ex. Straps and clips), materials, colors, etc
  5. Lastly, we will be able to make inquiries to determine whether your custom knee brace can be covered by extended health care coverage. Care plans that include physiotherapy service coverage will usually have coverage for a custom knee brace as well. This process requires a physician’s note, but our clinic will be able to walk you through the process and provide you with the documentation needed to send to your insurance company for inquiry.

Once ordered, delivery will normally take around 7 business days but can be expedited upon request. We will ensure that the brace fits properly and can make adjustments if needed once delivered. So get your own customized brace NOW!