Concussion Rehabilitation: A Multi-Systems, Integrated Approach
As a physiotherapist with many years of experience working in concussion rehabilitation, I am always updating my skills and knowledge based on the latest evidence-based research and cutting-edge techniques. I recently participated in and completed an informative and innovative course called the ‘Athlete Brain Rx: Rehabilitation Course’ by Katie Mitchell at Thrive Neurosport. The course showed me a number of new ways to think about concussion assessment and rehabilitation. In this article, I discuss a few take-aways from the course that have changed the way I will be treating clients after concussion and other injuries going forward. How Does [...]
Hip Replacement Rehabilitation
The hip absorbs great stresses and forces as it bears weight while we are standing and walking. As a result, hip pain is common in structures including the joint and muscles surrounding the hip, ligaments or the hip capsule or labrum. More than 63,000 hip replacements were performed in Canada in 2019–2020.[i] Hip replacement rehabilitation in both the pre and post operative phases has been shown to improve patient outcomes. The hip is a complex joint. Maintaining its health and stability can lead to increased function and decreased pain in the long term. In this article we will look [...]
ACL Rehabilitation & Injury Prevention
While the overall incidence of ACL tears is low, the ACL is the most commonly injured ligament of the knee.[i] Proper diagnosis is crucial in the treatment of ACL injuries. ACL rehabilitation is often seen as the first line of treatment independent of the severity of injury. Therapy is important whether preparing or recovering from surgery, or with conservative management. A research review found that long term supervised rehabilitation programs resulted in more favorable outcomes (knee strength, joint stability, pain) in patients after ACL reconstruction.[ii] In this article, we will look at how ACL injuries occur and how treatment [...]
Lifestyle Approaches for Better Brains and Bodies Speakers Series
Brain injuries can have lifelong, lasting effects on almost every sphere of life. They can result in impairments of neurological, cognitive and physical functions leading to activity restrictions and lack of participation in all aspects of society. Acquired brain injuries currently impact about 1.5 million Canadians, and every year another 160,000 people experience an acquired brain injury (ABI).[i] These rates continue to rise as more Canadians are experiencing and reporting incidents of ABI. The Brain Injury Association of Windsor & Essex County, in collaboration with Brain Changes Initiative, Beyond Disability Network, and Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare presented a free 6-part, [...]
How to Manage Neurological Fatigue
Fatigue is a commonly reported symptom of many neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s and traumatic brain injury. This type of fatigue is known as neurological fatigue. Neurological fatigue can have a huge impact on quality of life and disability. People who live with this type of fatigue can experience shortness of breath, slower speech, forgetfulness, irritability and withdrawal. Despite its huge impact on a person’s well being, fatigue is still not well understood. In this article, we will look at the prevalence, triggers and effects of neurological fatigue and discuss management options. What is Neurological Fatigue Fatigue [...]
Stroke Advocate Pam Spence’s Journey
I first met Pam Spence in January 2020, after her course of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation post-stroke. At that initial session, Pam was already clear on her goals and very thoughtful in her approach to physiotherapy and the expected outcomes. She understood that recovery would take a lot of hard work and persistence and she was all in. Pam’s stroke journey began in June 2019. She began experiencing a series of unexplained headaches, which led to a diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis (a narrowing of the large arteries in the neck) and atrial fibrillation (an irregular and often very [...]