How to Meet WHO Physical Activity Guidelines
The World Health Organization released their Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in November. Gill Deacon of CBC Radio’s Here and Now spoke with exercise physiologist Martha Garrick from Propel Physiotherapy on her program on Tuesday, December 1 to ask her for tips on meeting the WHO physical activity guidelines.Gill Deacon:Guidelines from the World Health Organization suggest we might be doing that a little too much for the last eight or nine months. We need to move a lot more than we currently are. The WHO released a report late last week expressing concerns over a second pandemic of [...]
Health for the Holidays: 4 Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas
With restrictions on gatherings, travel, and indoor dining, shopping and other activities across the country, this holiday season will undoubtedly feel a lot different than seasons past. The pandemic has created increased stress and anxiety levels for many people. In addition, it has created barriers to accessing important services that can help people take care of their mental and physical health. Your physical and mental well-being are always our top priority at Propel Physiotherapy. But this year, in particular, we have been reminded of the importance of self-care, and how educating our clients and empowering them to be more active [...]
Laminectomy: Purpose, Post-Surgical Care & Rehabilitation
A laminectomy is a common spinal decompression surgery that can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to recover from depending on the age of the patient and the number of vertebrae involved. In this article, we will help to provide an overview of what laminectomy surgery is and what it hopes to achieve. We will also discuss how physical therapy can help manage pain, function, and mobility after surgery. What is a Laminectomy? A laminectomy is a surgical procedure used to increase the space within the spinal canal by removing the lamina from the vertebral arch, also [...]
Transverse Myelitis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Transverse myelitis is a rare neurological condition that can occur at any age. Band-like sensory changes at the thoracic level of the spinal cord that are typical with this condition make it unique. Symptoms can present suddenly, including sensory changes, weakness, pain and bladder and bowel impairments. In this article, we examine the causes, signs and symptoms of transverse myelitis, and how physical therapy can help mitigate functional impairments resulting from this neurologic condition. What is Transverse Myelitis? Transverse myelitis is a neurologic condition resulting from inflammation in the spinal cord. Transverse refers to the common clinical finding of sensation [...]
How Virtual Yoga Therapy & Mindfulness Can Benefit You More Than In Person Sessions
Many healthcare providers have been forced to pivot to online services in order to provide ongoing care to clients throughout the pandemic. Virtual modes of treatment can be offered easily and effectively in many cases. Research indicates that virtual yoga therapy and mindfulness are just as beneficial to clients as in person sessions. In this article, we will look at how yoga and mindfulness can provide the same positive effects through a virtual platform and even provide some added benefits during this pandemic crisis. The pandemic has created increased stress and anxiety levels for many people. Fear, anxiety and feelings [...]
Client Appreciation Month 2020
On behalf of the Propel Physiotherapy staff and management, I would like to thank our clients for continuing to persevere in the face of the challenges this year has presented us. Your resilience and resolve have not gone unnoticed; it has inspired us to continue to do what we do with passion in the face of a global pandemic. We have seen clients move out of their comfort zone to embrace technology and try new activities they had never considered before. We have also heard from clients who were feeling isolated by the pandemic that mobile physiotherapy sessions improved [...]