Physiotherapy
What Hurts?
Click the icon where you are experiencing pain to learn about what is causing it and how physiotherapy at Flxme can help.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when the head is jerked forward and then backward, stretching the soft tissues of the neck beyond their limits. Rear-end automobile collisions often result in whiplash, as can contact sports injuries and ski/snowboard falls.
Your physiotherapist will examine your neck, and test your range of motion and muscle strength. Working with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to you, to help you improve your neck's strength and movement. Treatment may include strengthening and stretching exercises, and hands-on therapy to reduce pain and restore mobility.
Poor Posture
Poor posture or sitting at a computer for too long causes strain in the muscles in the neck, leading to neck pain. Just one inch of forward lean of your head can increase the load on your spine by ten pounds.
Your treatment may include postural and ergonomic education and training; hands-on treatment to reduce pain and improve range of motion; and exercises to improve flexibility and strength.
Degenerative disc disease
Wear and tear on a spinal disc can cause neck pain. Studies show that physiotherapy can provide both short-term and long-term relief from degenerative disc disease. Your physiotherapist will work with you to design a program tailored to your specific needs to help relieve your pain and allow you to move more freely without expensive surgery or the side effects of pain medication.
Headaches
Headaches are often caused by a stiff neck. The muscles, ligaments, and vertebrae of your neck support your head. Damage to any of them can cause muscle tension in your neck, leading to pain.
Your physiotherapist will start by evaluating your posture and asking you about your symptoms and medical history, in order to determine the biomechanical origins of your headaches. Your physiotherapist will work with you to formulate a treatment plan that may include hands-on therapy and exercises to loosen, lengthen and relax the muscles of the neck in order to ease the spasms that set off tension headaches.
Shoulder
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain arises from within the shoulder joints and the muscles, ligaments and tendons that surround them. It occurs as a result of exercise, age, overuse injuries or trauma and is extremely common. It is the 3rd most common musculoskeletal condition that presents to physicians and physiotherapists.
Your physiotherapist will evaluate your shoulder and work with you to determine the best treatment plan. This may include exercises to improve shoulder strength and movement; manual hands-on therapy to ease stiffness and pain, and advice on how to modify or avoid certain activities that may cause irritation to the shoulder.
Rotator Cuff Injury
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help anchor your shoulder in its socket and allow you to move your arm in a circle. A rotator cuff injury includes any type of irritation or damage to those muscles or tendons. Poor posture, falling, lifting heavy objects, and overhead arm activities such as throwing a baseball or placing items on high shelves can lead to a rotator cuff injury.
Physiotherapy can be very effective in managing rotator cuff injuries. Your treatment may include manual hands-on release of tight muscles, exercises to strengthen and stabilize your supporting muscles, and stretches to improve the range of motion of your shoulder joint.
Bursitis
Bursitis is a painful inflammation of the bursa (the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the rotator cuff and provides lubrication and protection from the bony shoulder tip). Bursitis is most often caused by overuse, or repeatedly bumping or putting pressure on the area.
Your physiotherapist will evaluate the movement of your shoulder to identify contributing influences such as poor posture, muscle tightness, and muscle weakness, working with you to design a treatment program which may include stretching along with strengthening and movement retraining exercises to improve the function of your shoulder joint.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a painful condition characterized by stiffness in your shoulder joint. You are at higher risk of developing frozen shoulder if you have had a shoulder injury or surgery that requires you to keep the shoulder from moving by using a shoulder brace or sling. The pain usually recedes after several months, but the shoulder becomes “frozen” and may take two to three years to “thaw”.
Frozen shoulder usually responds well to physiotherapy. The goal of physiotherapy is to regain range of motion to prevent long lasting limitations. Your physiotherapist will work with you to design a treatment plan which may include stretching your shoulder joint to improve its range of motion and to relieve pressure on the joint, and gentle stretching exercises that you can perform at home.
Instability/Dislocation
Injury can push one of the shoulder bones out of place. When that happens, the shoulder becomes unstable and is at risk for partial or complete dislocation. Repeated dislocations cause pain and unsteadiness when raising the arm or moving it away from the body, and a feeling that the shoulder is “slipping out of place” when reaching overhead. Your physiotherapist will work with you to design a program of exercises to strengthen the muscles that stabilise and support the shoulder joint.
Fracture
A fracture of any of the bones in the shoulder and upper arm is extremely painful and restricts your range of motion. Injury to the shoulder from a fall, sports injury, car accident or any direct blow to the shoulder can result in a shoulder facture. After a fracture, individuals lose range of motion and strength, and often develop different movement patterns caused by injury limitations.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan to help you return to the activities you love. The plan may include range of motion exercises to address stiffness, exercises to strengthen the muscles round the shoulder, and manual therapy to gently move your shoulder joint and surrounding muscles to improve their motion, flexibility, and strength. These techniques target areas that are difficult to treat on your own. Physiotherapy post-fracture aims to regain range of motion and prevent long lasting functional limitations.
Post-shoulder-surgery Rehabilitation
Most patients have their shoulder immobilized in a sling after the operation to help it to heal. This is especially important for rotator cuff surgery, as it as vulnerable to re- tear. But immobilization is a double-edged sword as it results in decreased loading through the joints, ligaments & muscles. Studies have shown that a few days of immobilization can result in significant weakness and stiffness, which is why physiotherapy is so critical to the return of function.
A typical Physiotherapy session would be tailored around your specific issues and may use soft tissue techniques and stretching to regain mobility and decrease pain. You will also be given a custom home exercise program tailored to your mobility and strength impairments depending on the time frame of your recovery.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan which may involve leading you through passive exercises, supporting your arm as she moves it gently, and then moving on to active exercises where you use your muscles to move your shoulder and arm. As you progress, the plan may provide for weightlifting exercises and gentle stretches to help you with your range of motion and to regain endurance and strength.
Post-breast-cancer-surgery Rehabilitation
Many people report experiencing upper body issues after a mastectomy or reconstructive surgery, including loss of shoulder mobility, arm weakness, pain, lymphedema, and reduced ability to perform daily activities.
Your physiotherapist can help you prevent and minimize these problems, working with you to develop a plan of treatment based on strengthening and stretching exercises and hands-on treatment. The objectives of the treatment plan will be to prevent shoulder stiffness and help you to regain full movement and function of your shoulder; encourage your circulation and help your scar to heal; improve symptoms of tightness and cording, and help to reduce the risk of lymphedema.
Low/Mid Back Pain
Your physiotherapist will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms and a detailed movement examination of your spine, to determine the root cause of the pain. During this exam she will also look at other body systems to see if they may be influencing the pain.
After assessing your range of motion, flexibility, strength and causes of symptom flare-ups, working with you she will create a treatment plan designed to strengthen core muscle groups, improve stability and flexibility, and promote good posture.
Sciatica
Sciatica is the medical term for pain that travels down the sciatic nerve that starts in your buttocks and runs down the back of your leg. It is a relatively common form of back pain and is usually caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve from a bulging (herniated) disc. Sciatica is a common problem for manual workers, sedentary office workers and pregnant women.
Working with you, your physiotherapist will develop a treatment plan designed to reduce pain, restore movement, and strengthen weakened muscles. This may include back movement and spine stabilization exercises, and hands-on therapy. It may also include discussion of the factors that worsen the condition such as poor sitting position, sleeping position, and lifting/carrying technique, and appropriate activity modifications.
Spinal Stenosis
Stenosis means narrowing. Spinal stenosis happens when there is degeneration of the discs, ligaments, or joints between the vertebrae. This can cause the spinal canal to narrow, resulting in pressure on the nerves and pain. Research shows that physiotherapy works just as well as surgery to treat spinal stenosis, with fewer complications.
Working with you, your physiotherapist will design a treatment plan to relax the soft tissues around the nerve openings and to improve the position of the spinal column, in order to take pressure off the nerves. The plan may include manual therapy (stretching, soft tissue release and joint mobilization) and exercises designed to strengthen the glutes and abdominal muscles.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease affects the discs that separate the vertebrae in your spine. Over time, these discs may lose fluid and shrink as a result. This puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and causes pain.
Studies show that physiotherapy can provide both short-term and long-term relief from degenerative disc disease and that patients with low back pain due to degenerative disc disease can do so well with physiotherapy that they can avoid spinal fusion surgery. Your therapist will work with you to design a program tailored to your specific needs to help relieve your pain.
Post-surgical Rehab
Your therapist can help you regain your range of motion and core strength and ease your post-surgical back pain, speeding your return to your pre-surgery lifestyle, working with you to develop a treatment plan that may include gentle stretches, strengthening exercises, and movements that you can do at home to encourage continuous improvement and progress.
Elbow
Your elbow is a complex joint with a wide range of motion that operates on many planes. You move your elbow by relying on four sets of muscles that are attached by thick tendons to the elbow bones. Damage to any of these or to the associated nerves and ligaments can result in elbow pain. Because you use your elbow in so many ways elbow pain can be disruptive to daily life.
Golfers’ elbow occurs when the tendons of your forearm muscles are irritated by overuse. You will feel pain on the inside of your elbow, possibly radiating to your forearm and wrist. It is similar to tennis elbow, which occurs on the outside of the elbow. These conditions are not limited to tennis player and golfers - anyone who repeatedly uses their wrists or clenches their fingers can develop them.
If a nerve gets trapped in or near the elbow this can cause elbow pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness of the arm, wrist, or hand. Most commonly the ulnar nerve is trapped or pinched, as it passes through the elbow.
An elbow fracture is usually caused by trauma such as falling on your elbow, falling on your outstretched hand, or a motor-vehicle accident. Fractures of the bones that make up your elbow prevent normal elbow joint movement, impeding the function of your hand, wrist, and forearm.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to create a treatment plan designed to restore elbow joint mobility, flexibility and strength, so that you can return to normal activity. You may be prescribed a series of stretching and strengthening exercises that you will learn to do at home. These exercises may include the use of light weights for resistance work of your wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Your therapist may use hands-on therapy to mobilize your joints, helping your elbow to move gradually into its normal range of motion. Particularly in the case of a fracture, early mobilization and range of motion exercises are important as without them, your elbow can stiffen and lose important range of movement, limiting your ability to do simple daily activities.
Hip Pain
Hip pain can be caused by many different areas of the body, from the lower back and pelvis to misalignment in the knee or foot.
Your physiotherapist will help improve your hip’s range of motion with hands-on manual therapies and stretches, and will guide you through an individualized exercise program to increase your strength and address muscle imbalances.
Piriformis Syndrome
The piriformis muscle lies deep in your buttock. It connects the lower spine, or sacrum, to the femur (big leg bone). When this small muscle tightens up or becomes irritated, it can cause pain in the buttock. In addition to pain in the buttock, the sciatic nerve can become irritated and symptoms of sciatica such as pain down the back of the thigh, leg and foot can appear.
After a thorough assessment of your back, pelvis and hips, your physiotherapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that could involve a stretching program for muscle length and flexibility; hands-on therapy to help decrease pain or piriformis spasm; and hip strengthening exercises to stabilize your hip, pelvis and spine.
Bursitis
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that help to reduce friction between the moving parts of your body's joints. Hip bursitis is inflammation of one of the bursae in your hip. It occurs with poor posture, overuse and weakness of the surrounding muscles.
Your physiotherapist's focus will be on determining the factors that contributed to the bursitis and alleviating the pressure on the bursa, and examining you to identify problem areas such as muscle weakness, soft tissue tightness, and poor movement patterns. Working with you, your physiotherapist will establish a treatment plan which may include strengthening exercises, manual (hands-on) therapy, and stretching.
Strains
Several muscles around the hip joint are responsible for large movements. A hip strain occurs when any of the fibres that make up these muscles is stretched beyond its limit or is torn. Hip strains are mainly caused by sports injuries involving kicking and running, as these movements place additional pressure on the muscles of the hip. Often times strains can occur without a single known cause, stemming from tiny micro tears over time.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that may include gentle stretches, hands-on therapy and strengthening exercises that you can do at home to return to your pre-injury state.
Fracture
The risk of hip fracture rises with age, because our bones weaken as we get older. Poor vision and balance also place older individuals at a higher risk of falling - the most common cause of hip fractures.
Your physiotherapist will examine you to make sure you are placing a safe amount of weight on your foot when standing or walking, working with you to develop a treatment plan that will help you maximize hip strength and restore a normal walking pattern. This may include a personalized exercise program, hands-on therapy, and stretching. The objective is to help you return to your pre-fracture activities without risking further injury.
Pre and Post-surgical Rehab
A hip replacement is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged hip joint with a prosthetic implant. A study recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that individuals who began physiotherapy prior to surgery had significantly better outcomes following their surgery. Physical therapy before and after surgery reduces recovery time and restores hip joint function more quickly.
Your physiotherapist will focus on rebuilding hip strength, improving range of motion, and reducing pain. Your treatment plan may include strengthening and stretching exercises that you can do at home, and hands- on therapy to help reduce pain.
Hand/Wrist
Your wrist is a complex joint made up of two rows of bones between the bones in your forearm and your hand. Your wrist bones connect to each other and to your forearm and hand bones by ligaments. Tendons connect those bones to your muscles. Damage to any of these mechanisms can cause pain and make it difficult to use your wrist or hand.
The most common wrist injury occurs if you fall forward onto your outstretched hand. Strains and even fractures can result. Any activity that involves repetitive use of your wrist — including golfing, playing a violin or using a laptop — can irritate the tissues around joints or cause stress fractures, especially when you repeat the movement over a long time with no break.
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when there is increased pressure on the median nerve, which passes through the carpal tunnel, a passageway in the palm side of your wrist. This pressure can cause numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and arm. Any squeezing or irritation of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. A wrist fracture can irritate the nerve, as can the swelling and inflammation that is associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Dupuytren's contracture is a deformity of your hand that progresses over years. In later stages of Dupuytren's, cords of tissue form under the skin on your palm and can extend up to your fingers. As these cords tighten, your fingers can be pulled toward your palm, sometimes severely.
Trigger Finger is another deformity of the hand where one of your fingers is pulled towards your palm. Your finger may snap when it bends or straightens. It occurs when inflammation narrows the space surrounding the tendon in the finger. Eventually, your finger may be stuck in a bent position.
Your physiotherapist will examine your hand and wrist to determine the root cause of your symptoms and, working with you, will develop a course of treatment to address the underlying issues. Your treatment may include manual therapy to improve the movement of the joints in your wrist/hand; strengthening and stretching exercises, and a plan to improve your daily functioning so you can avoid future wrist/hand injuries. If you have fractured your wrist or finger, it is important to start mobilization and range of motion exercises as soon as possible. Otherwise, the joint can stiffen and lose range of movement. Your physiotherapist can help you regain normal wrist or finger movement, strength, and function. If you suffer from Dupuytren’s or trigger finger and have it surgically released, your physiotherapist can help you to regain range of motion in the finger, and decrease the likelihood of it occurring again.
Knee
Knee Pain
Knee pain can afflict people of all ages. Arthritis is the usual cause of knee pain, but sports, dance and genetics can also be contributors, as can growth spurts as bones growing faster than muscles can cause malalignment.
When it is not treated, knee pain can be debilitating, restricting mobility and making something as simple as walking unbearable. Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that may include exercises that can help build strength, improve flexibility, and reduce knee pain. By strengthening the muscles that support the knee joint and preventing stiffness through stretching, your knee will be better able to support your body.
Sprain
A knee sprain is an injury of one of the four major ligaments that connect the bones of the upper and lower leg at the knee joint. Knee sprains are very common, especially among competitive athletes. In Canadian high schools, the knee is the joint most likely to be injured among athletes who compete in football, soccer or wrestling.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to create a treatment plan designed to rebuild strength and flexibility; restore full range of motion to your knee, and reduce your pain. Stretching your knee and thigh helps restore your range of motion, and strengthening your thigh and leg muscles provides support for your knee. As your knee and muscles grow stronger, your physiotherapist will guide you in returning to more vigorous activity.
Patellofemoral Syndrome
Patellofemoral Syndrome occurs when the tendon that connects your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone is injured, usually through overuse. The patellar tendon, together with the muscles at the front of your thigh, allow you to extend your knee so that you can kick, jump, run and walk. Patellofemoral syndrome is known as jumper's knee, being common in jumping sports such as basketball and volleyball. However, even people who don't participate in those sports can get patellofemoral syndrome.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the knee, and decrease your pain. Strong thigh muscles in particular help to handle the stresses that can cause patellofemoral syndrome.
IT Band Syndrome
The iliotibial band is a band of connective tissue originating from the hip region and extending down to the outside part of the knee. When this band is tight, it can cause irritation on the outside of the knee, the thigh and the outside of the hip.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan with a strong focus on improving mobility, flexibility, strength, and function of the IT band. The plan may include stretching exercises to help improve the mobility of the knee joint; strengthening exercises for hip muscles, and hands-on treatment to reduce pain and mobilize joints.
Meniscus Injury
The meniscus is a crescent-shaped length of cartilage inside your knee. It acts as a shock absorber, improving the knee’s stability and mobility. It can tear as a result of muscle imbalances causing increased pressure on the knee joint, or as the result of trauma, usually a twisting motion of the knee.
Research shows that physiotherapy is as effective as arthroscopic surgery for tears of the meniscus. Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan with the objectives of restoring range of motion of the knee; reducing pain, and strengthening the muscles that control the hip, knee and ankle.
Bursitis
Bursitis of the knee is the inflammation of a small sac of fluid located in front of the kneecap. It can result from trauma, (falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries) or from activities that require extended period of kneeling on hard surfaces, such as installing carpet or tile, or scrubbing floors.
With your input, your physiotherapist will develop a treatment plan designed to reduce pain and swelling; improve flexibility and range of motion, and address any associated weakness in your knee or leg.
Pre and Post-surgical Rehab
A knee replacement is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged knee joint with a prosthetic implant. A study recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that individuals who began physiotherapy prior to surgery had significantly better outcomes following their surgery. Physical therapy before and after surgery reduces recovery time and restores knee joint function more quickly.
Your physiotherapist will focus on rebuilding knee strength; improving the range of motion of your knee, and reducing pain. Your treatment plan may include strengthening and stretching exercises that you can do at home and hands-on therapy to help reduce pain. Progressive physiotherapy after ACL, appropriate for the different phases of rehabilitation in accordance with an established protocol, helps to strengthen the muscles around your knee and improve flexibility.
Foot/Ankle
Foot/Ankle Pain
Your foot contains over 20 bones, 30 joints, and 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. There are many complicated structures that allow your feet and ankles to do the work we expect of them. Pain in those areas is a common affliction.
Together, you and your physiotherapist will develop a treatment plan to help you return to your usual activities, pain- free. The treatment plan may include hands-on manual therapy, exercises and stretching, in order to restore joint mobility, improve balance, and strengthen the foot and ankle muscles.
Sprains/Strains
A sprain occurs when the ankle or foot is forced beyond its normal range resulting in injury to ligaments and or muscles.
Your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment of your injured ankle or foot and work with you to develop a treatment tailored to your level of activity that will help reduce swelling and pain, and promote healing and recovery. The program may include exercises to improve the strength of the calf and ankle muscles, stretching to improve range of motion, and hands-on therapy to decrease pain and mobilize joints.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a strip of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from the heel to the toes. Plantar fasciitis occurs when there is degeneration or tightness in the plantar fascia that affects its flexibility and ability to carry a load. This leads to pain on the bottom of the foot, usually in the heel.
Working with you, your physiotherapist will develop a plan of treatment that may include exercises to strengthen foot and ankle muscles for proper shock absorption; stretching exercises to normalize biomechanics around the foot and ankle, and hands-on treatment to decrease pain.
Achilles Tendinopathy
Achilles tendinopathy is an injury of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue that connects calf muscles at the back of your lower leg to your heel bone. The Achilles tendon gets weaker with age, which can make it more susceptible to injury — particularly in "weekend warriors" (people who play sports only on the weekends). Achilles tendinopathy can weaken the tendon, making it more vulnerable to a tear - a painful injury that usually requires surgery.
Working with you, your physiotherapist will develop a treatment plan. The plan may include stretching exercises as these are key to helping your tendon heal without shortening and causing long-term pain. It may also include strengthening exercises to help protect you from another injury, and hands-on therapy to reduce pain.
Fracture
An ankle fracture can occur from a direct blow to the ankle or severe fall. Ankle fractures result in pain, swelling and loss of ankle function.
Working with you, your physiotherapist will develop a treatment plan designed to help you return to your pre-injury activity as soon as possible. Because you will not have been using your ankle, it will be stiff and your leg muscles weak. The treatment plan may include a program of stretching and strengthening exercises to address this stiffness and weakness, and hands-on soft tissue work around the ankle to help alleviate pain.
Post-surgery Rehab
After foot or ankle surgery, due to limited post-operative movement and inflammation from the surgery, your range of motion and strength will be diminished. This loss of strength and range of motion may make it difficult for you to stand even for short periods of time, or to climb stairs.
Your physiotherapist will work with you to create a treatment plan designed to restore pain-free range of motion in the ankle or foot while maintaining surgical rehab protocols. The plan may include exercises to improve your walking coordination, balance, strength and flexibility. It may also include hands-on therapy to decrease your pain.
Fibromyalgia
The symptoms of fibromyalgia include widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure; fatigue that affects normal activities; sleep problems and troubles with memory.
Working with you, your physiotherapist will develop a treatment plan designed to help control your pain so that you can enjoy your normal activities and lifestyle. Increasing flexibility and strengthening muscles through a sustainable exercise routine are key in reducing fibromyalgia pain, and your physiotherapist can help you with both. Your physiotherapist can instruct you on the proper way to stretch. and help you embark on an aerobic exercise program, focusing on low-speed and low-impact activities (as they are less stressful on the joints). Relaxing hands-on treatments will help reduce pain and mobilize stiff joints.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a common disorder in which your bones begin losing their minerals, leaving them brittle and prone to fractures. Your bones are constantly changing as they respond to the demands you place on your body. As your muscles strengthen, the bones underneath them also strengthen. As your muscles get weaker, the bones underneath them weaken too.
Together with you, your physiotherapist will create a treatment plan with two main objectives. The first is to educate you on proper posture and safe ways of moving and lifting, so that you can avoid unnecessary load on your bones to prevent fractures. The second is to provide you with customized strengthening exercises you can do at home to help retain and build bone mass and avoid fractures. The exercises will focus on activities that help to maintain or improve your balance. Optimum balance decreases your risk of falling, as falls can result in fractures. Your physiotherapist will also suggest flexibility exercises to reduce the risk of falls.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a disorder of your joints characterized by inflammation, pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis results from wear and tear of your cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system attacks your own body's tissues. Arthritis is the most common chronic illness in Canada. Arthritic pain can negatively impact your mobility and quality of life. Research shows that physiotherapy for arthritic pain is highly effective.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic and progressive condition. It cannot be cured but research shows that physiotherapy can delay its progress and prevent joint replacements.
Exercises that improve flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance are an integral part of the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis, especially in people ages 65 and over. Not getting enough exercise may make your osteoarthritis worse, as it causes supportive and shock-absorbing muscles, such as those surrounding the knee, to atrophy.
Working with you, your physiotherapist will develop a plan of treatment designed to improve the mobility of your arthritic joints, increase strength to support those joints, reduce pain and preserve the ability to perform daily activities. In order to prevent injury and aggravation of the osteoarthritis you will be prescribed exercises that are individually tailored to you. The activities recommended and advice on how much and how often to exercise will depend on various factors, including which joints are involved, the severity of your pain, your level of fitness, and whether you have other medical conditions.
Balance and Falls Prevention
One in three Canadians over the age of 65 fall annually. These falls can have debilitating physical, emotional and social consequences. But regardless of age, your chances of staying upright can be greatly improved with an exercise program that focuses on balance and strength training.
Working with you, your physiotherapist will create a treatment plan incorporating exercises that challenge your ability to keep your balance and recover from a loss of balance, and strengthening exercises. Strength is a key element in falls prevention particularly when combined with balance exercises. If you have a fear of falling your physiotherapist will work with you to build your confidence and help you get back to the activities you are avoiding because of your fear.
What to expect
Your first appointment is all about you: your pain, your medical history, your desired results. Your physiotherapist will evaluate your condition and working with you, will develop a treatment plan designed to get you back doing the things you love.
IMAGINE BEING PAIN FREE
Most of our physiotherapy clients come to us because they are in pain stemming from an injury or disease. Your physiotherapist will determine the source of your pain and help you understand why it is occurring; work with you to create a program to allow you to return quickly to your pre-injury status, and will get you involved in your own recovery.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The first step is the assessment, to determine how your body is moving and the root cause of any restrictions. Your physiotherapist will ask you in detail about your health history; evaluate your posture, movement, strength and flexibility; and provide you with:
A clinical diagnosis and plan of care, helping you establish your short and long term goals.
Relaxing, hands-on physical therapy treatment. Your physiotherapist will treat not just the site of your injury, but your whole body.
A program of stretch and strengthening exercises you can do at home to help you function more safely and effectively.
The treatments together with the exercises prescribed will help reduce pain, promote healing and prevent further injuries.
Flxme offers online physiotherapy if you don't feel comfortable attending in person. Virtual sessions come to you via a screen but the objective is the same: to get you moving again, pain free.