Physiotherapy for Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects
Breast cancer accounts for 25% of new cases of cancer with 1 in 8 women expected to develop breast cancer during their lifetime.[i] With early detection, advances in research, greater prevention efforts and advanced treatment options, there is a greater survival rate than ever before. The female breast cancer death rate has decreased by nearly 50 percent since the mid 1980s.[ii] Breast cancer survivors are living longer and fuller lives, while still dealing with the impacts of treatment. In this blog we take a closer look at some breast cancer treatment side effects and how physiotherapy can help with management [...]
Strength Training for Women Over 50: Counteract the Effects of Aging
While aerobic exercise such as running, biking and walking have numerous benefits on our cardiovascular system, strength training is the type of exercise that can have the biggest impact on our bodies as we age. In fact, strength training for women over 50 is a prescription for a younger, stronger and more functional body. Research has clearly demonstrated that strength training, particularly in women, has the effect of reducing some of the physiological effects of aging. In this blog, we look at the effects of aging on the musculoskeletal system, the unique effects on women, what women can do [...]
PoNS Therapy™ for MS: Case Study on Improving Walking Ability
People with multiple sclerosis face challenges with mobility and quality of life. As rehabilitation professionals, we know that the options for MS treatment are limited. While many treatments focus on managing symptoms or slowing the progress of the disease, few provide the hope of improving function and mobility. The PoNS™ (short for Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator) is an innovative medical device that gently stimulates the surface of the tongue, exciting the neural network flowing to the brain. This neural activity is believed to enable neuroplasticity, which has the potential to improve walking and balance in individuals with deficits due to [...]
Nutrition for Recovery
When we think of recovering from an accident, injury or illness, we tend to only think of working with a physiotherapist to devise a physical rehabilitation program that will optimize recovery and function. Nutrition for recovery is not always considered as critical in the process. However, research supports that nutrition should, in fact, play a key role in this recovery plan. As both a registered physiotherapist with Propel Physiotherapy Peterborough and a certified nutritionist with Koru Nutrition, I understand that optimal nutrition is crucial for energy production, inflammation control as well as tissue growth and repair from bones and muscles [...]
Percussive Therapy Combined with Massage Therapy
Percussive therapy is not a new concept in the world of massage therapy. However, the attention around it has grown in the last year with the launch of advertising around a popular device called the Theragun. At Propel Physiotherapy, our team of registered massage therapists use percussive therapy devices in combination with other massage therapy techniques, where it is appropriate and can be an effective treatment. In this article, I examine the benefits of percussive therapy, what it can and can’t treat, as well as the potential side effects. What is Percussive Therapy? During localized percussive therapy, your therapist [...]
The Benefits of Physical Activity & Mindfulness on Women’s Mental Health
Women have been especially vulnerable to the physical and mental health effects of COVID-19. As we mark International Women’s Day, we want to highlight the need for policies and programs that address the inequalities that have led to less favourable outcomes for women. And as physiotherapists and exercise professionals, we also want to provide some education around the benefits of physical activity and mindfulness on mental health, as well as some useful and accessible resources. The pandemic has had a negative impact on communities beyond the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. According to Statistics Canada, more than 1 million [...]