HEALTH ARTICLES
Sharing insights and tips on therapies, exercises, activities, health products and what we’re doing in the clinic and community.
Cross-Training Program for Cyclists
Cross-training can help address some of the issues and most common cycling injuries that our clients and the cycling community experience. Cross-training can involve simple body weight exercises; it doesn't have to involve a lot of heavy lifting or a lot of big equipment. Many of the exercises that we would be prescribe to cyclist clients actually focus on the core. In our post Exercises to Prevent the Most Common Cycling Injuries, we provide an outline of the types of exercises and direction that we would take with clients to prepare them for or repair them from the demands [...]
Exercises to Prevent the Most Common Cycling Injuries
Physiotherapists tend to see some common cycling injuries and issues when clients come into the clinic, whether they are beginner cyclists, avid cyclists, or competitors. Many of these issues stem from being in a forward flexed position or crouched position with the hips bent towards the stomach for prolonged periods of time; and looking forward with the neck curved back. From a physiotherapist’s perspective, it is really important that anyone playing a sport or doing an activity that puts them in the same position or repeating the same motion for prolonged periods of time undertakes appropriate cross training measures. [...]
Equipment to Prevent Common Cycling Injuries and Accidents
Summer is cycling season in Canada. You may have noticed an increased number of cyclists on the road or shared paths over the last few weeks and now with school out, the kids will join the enthusiasts and commuters. So we thought it was a good time to review cycling equipment for injury prevention so you can have as safe a ride as possible this summer. Cycling for leisure or transport is a great form of exercise. The benefits can include: increased cardiovascular fitness increased muscle strength and flexibility improved joint mobility decreased stress levels improved coordination strengthened bones [...]
Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for Stroke Rehabilitation
When recovering from a stroke, a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, and/or a kinesiologist with experience in stroke rehabilitation can provide insights on some of the leading treatment options available. In addition to being adept in the conventional ways that physiotherapy can help in stroke recovery, we are well versed on the latest research into non-conventional therapies, and how they impact stroke recovery like Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy. What is Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy? Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, CIMT for short, is a treatment protocol created by a man named Edward Taub. During his research, Taub performed surgeries on monkeys that left them paralyzed [...]
Incontinence Treatment without Surgery
As a pelvic physiotherapist, I treat clients who are experiencing urinary leakage or urinary incontinence, and dealing with the discomfort and inconvenience that comes along with it. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a conservative management approach to incontinence treatment and yet many people are not aware of it as an effective alternative to surgery. I am sure you have heard the expression, ‘I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants!’ It’s a common turn of phrase that makes light of what is actually a common problem that can be quite emotionally painful and isolating. Unfortunately, many people simply accept [...]
Physiotherapy Treatment for ALS Symptoms
Although there is no known cure for ALS, there are some ALS symptoms that are treatable, and physiotherapy is an integral part in the course of care. A physiotherapy program that is customized to the individual’s needs, goals, and stage of the disease, can help the quality of life for those living with ALS. What are the signs and symptoms of ALS? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS a.k.a. Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is a neurodegenerative disease that results in a host of symptoms including: muscle weakness muscle wasting muscle spasms muscle twitching fatigue The signs and symptoms of ALS often start [...]