Click on the following photos to enlarge.

Sports Physiotherapy

Sports physiotherapists are interested in helping individuals to maximize their potential and safely enjoy sport, athletics, recreation, exercise, and healthy physical activity.

Sports physiotherapists are focused on the prevention and treatment of injuries. They analyse the risk of injury for an individual participating in a specific sport. To do this, it is important that they understand different medical conditions or previous injuries, so they can identify specific individual risks to the athlete. They also have in-depth knowledge of the sport or exercise, including specific movements, hazards, equipment, and environments. Sports physiotherapists use this knowledge to design and implement strategies that aim to reduce the risks of injury.

A second important role of the sports physiotherapist starts when an injury or illness occurs during training or competition. This is called “acute intervention” as the sports physiotherapist must rapidly recognise the symptoms and take action. In severe cases this may require basic life support. More frequently, the sports physiotherapist must work independently, or with other medical personnel, to decide whether or not the athlete can safely return to play. They may decide that the athlete must be referred for further treatment or observation. In that case the athlete must be safely transported to a medical facility. The sports physiotherapist communicates with other health care professionals and ensures that they are protected from further injury during transfer. They have to be careful to ensure privacy and confidentiality for the athlete.

The sports physiotherapist is very involved in the athlete’s recovery from injury or illness. They use their therapeutic knowledge to determine the main problems for the athlete and work closely with other medical and sports professionals to help the athlete overcome these problems. This requires an understanding of the physical and psychological demands of the athlete’s goals. They design strategies to help the athlete return to an optimal level of function, while minimising the risk of re-injury.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is a specialized form of physiotherapy involving skilled hands-on techniques to assess and treat movement restrictions in spinal and peripheral joints and surrounding soft tissues.

Our manual physiotherapists are highly trained in using their hands to provide manipulations and mobilizations to problematic joints and soft tissues.

A manipulation is a small amplitude quick thrust force applied to a joint. Mobilizations are repetitive, gentle, and rhythmical manual pressures applied to joints with graded amplitude.

The purpose of both manipulation and mobilization is to relieve pain and to restore proper movement and function to restricted joints and associated soft tissues. Additionally, they help to decrease or resolve soft tissue swelling, inflammation or restriction; reduce muscle spasm and tension; and improve tissue extensibility.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatment originated more than 3000 years ago in China.  In theory, acupuncture is said to work by regulating energy flow in the body called Qi, pronounced chee, a central principle to Traditional Chinese Medicine.  The Qi travels along pathways or channels called meridians.  Disturbances in the flow of Qi are believed to be responsible for all illness and dysfunction after injuries.  Acupuncture helps to balance and maintain equilibrium of Qi.  It helps to promote drug-free natural healing of illness and injury.

Acupuncture stimulates points on or under the skin called acupuncture points or acupressure points, releasing the Qi. There are more than 400 acupuncture points throughout the body. These points can be stimulated with pressure, heat, laser, electricity and the insertion of needles.  Acupuncture needles are made of very thin stainless steel filaments.  They are sterilized and disposed of after each use.

Western medical societies explain the effects of acupuncture through concepts of neurosciences.  Western practitioners view acupuncture points as points in muscle, nerves and connective tissue that can be stimulated to increase blood flow and release of the body’s own natural painkillers (endorphins) and anti-inflammatory biochemicals.

During an acupuncture session with one of our practitioners, a comprehensive assessment will be performed.  This is followed by insertion of needles into specific acupuncture points.  Initial needle insertion may feel like mosquito bite or without any sensation at all.  Upon deeper insertion of the needle to specific depth, a deep ache may be felt, but should dissipate very shortly.  After insertion, the needles will stay in for 15-30 minutes in duration to take effect.

For more information, please view: www.afcinstitute.com

Intramuscular Stimulation

Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is an effective treatment for acute and chronic pain of neuropathic origin. It is based on scientific neurophysiological principles. IMS involves the insertion of fine acupuncture type needles into the body where muscles have shortened or contracted. Problems at these points are often at the root of long term pain.  While a muscle is tight and contracted it can’t heal properly and with IMS you are stimulating a healing process and helping the muscles to relax.

IMS is able to treat this neuropathic pain by desensitizing affected nerves and muscles using fine acupuncture needles.  The mechanical stimulation that occurs with the insertion of the needle into the affected muscles provides the therapeutic effect. The needle activates the H-reflex which causes the muscle to release and in doing so, eases the pain.  Inserting the needle also creates a minor therapeutic injury to the area, and stimulates the body to increase local circulation and activate its healing systems.  Supersensitive areas can be desensitized and the persistent pull of shortened muscles released, thereby restoring motion and function.  The technique is particularly effective for deep muscles that can be difficult or impossible to reach with other forms of treatment.

IMS treatment is best suited to treat soft tissue pain that shows no obvious sign of ongoing tissue damage or inflammation, such as many forms of: neck/back pain, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder and fibromyalgia, amongst others. It is often effective when other forms of therapy have failed.

The effects of IMS are cumulative-each needling session stimulates a certain amount of healing, until eventually the condition can more fully recover and pain dissipates as muscles loosen. It is often successful in breaking the chronic cycle of pain because it permits accurate diagnosis of muscle shortening in deep muscles. It provides lasting relief and has few side effects.

Follow this link to find out more information regarding treatment techniques and the benefits of IMS: http://www.istop.org

Pre- And Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

It is crucial to start a comprehensive rehabilitation program at the earliest possible date pre and post surgery to regain all the strength, Range of motion, and function necessary to participate in the activities you want to do.

All of our therapists are very diligent in following surgeons surgical protocols. As a result surgeons trust us and refer a great number of clients directly and specifically to our clinic.  Our 2,000 sq ft gym houses all the equipment necessary to get you back in action!

GLA:D Canada Program

 

GLA:D Canada is an exercise program for people with symptoms of hip and/or knee osteoarthritis. This program consists of 2 – 3 education sessions, 12 exercise sessions, and measures your outcomes to monitor your improvement. The goal of the program is to reduce your symptoms so you can do the things you want to do. Call our clinic for more information and to book an information session, or visit, http://gladcanada.ca/. 

Modalities

Physiotherapists attempt to promote healing of injured tissues by increasing blood supply to those tissues, reducing inflammation, and/or relieving pain and spasm.

We utilize various electrical modalities to reach that end goal.

• Low Level Laser Phototherapy
  • BIOFLEX
  • MedX
  • Bosch
• Interferential Current
• Ultrasound
• NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
• Surface Electromyography (EMG) Biofeedback
• Active Pneumatic Cold Compression Therapy (Gameready)

Pediatric Orthopedics

Youngsters are special and treating them takes special skills. Our therapists all are comfortable dealing with youngsters and are knowledgeable in the many varied injuries and conditions they encounter. From acute torticollis on the six week old to Osgoode Schlatter’s disease of the young adolescent to assessing if orthotics are needed,  we are capable of assessing the injury and developing a rehabilitation program suitable and specific for the clients’ age. Experience in dealing with youngsters/adolescents is a crucial factor in developing their trust, and we have that experience.

Core Strengthening Programs

Core strengthening is the training of muscles that provide body stability during movement and activity. The muscles that make up the ‘CORE’ are located in the back, abdominal wall and pelvis. These muscles also affect alignment and posture. Basic core strength training can be done without equipment, while advanced core strengthening may combine the use of swiss balls, elastic bands, and balance boards. Core strength training is vital in both the recovery and prevention of injury.

Rehabilitation Programs

Provide an early return to sports and/or work activity as a result of our focus on active, not passive modalities. A program is established for improving strength, balance, coordination, proprioception, endurance and flexibility. All our programs are specifically tailored to the client’s particular sport or occupation.

Low Level Laser Phototherapy

Low level laser therapy is a medical treatment which uses light emitted from low intensity laser diodes to treat various musculoskeletal injuries, chronic and degenerative conditions, and wounds. The laser light is placed over the skin to allow energy to penetrate tissues where it interacts with several cellular molecules and biochemicals to improve the body’s healing process and stimulate normal cell function.

Orthotics

Orthotics are specialized devices placed in footwear to support or correct musculoskeletal deformities and/or abnormalities of the human body. We provide the expertise to analyze gait and assess the biomechanics of the feet, lower extremities and trunk to determine your need for custom fit orthotics. We offer high quality orthotics from The Orthotic Group and Footmaxx.

Mechanical traction

There are three mechanical traction units in the clinic. These are used primarily to reduce the pressure on a disc or nerve in the lower back and neck. They are very effective for most disc or degenerative disc disease type of injuries.

Hydrotherapy

Ideal for extremities, contrast baths used to decrease swelling and increase range of motion for acute and post-operative conditions.