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 in [...]
Sport in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
Within a physiotherapy context, sport is often used as a motivator or end-goal for people recovering from an injury. Returning to one's sport is viewed as milestone objective and it provides clinician and client a concrete direction for their purpose at physiotherapy (or during physiotherapy sessions). Sometimes, however, sport is part of the therapy and it gives the client meaningful, fun, and productive tasks/movements that can aid in their recovery. The act of participating in a sport can contribute to improving overall physical wellness, and it also provides a mental outlet for people recovering from injuries that have longer-laster [...]
Gross Motor Milestones for Children with Down Syndrome
What is Down Syndrome? Down syndrome (also known as trisomy-21) is a congenital disorder which occurs when there is an error in chromosomal development, and an extra copy of chromosome 21 is made. Individuals with Down syndrome commonly display certain features including variations in their cognitive and physical development. Physical characteristics often seen in people with Down syndrome include: low muscle tone, ligament laxity, short stature, a protruding tongue, and a flat nasal bridge. What is “Low Tone”? How it Impacts Gross Motor Development. Low tone or low muscle tone occurs when the length of the resting muscle is longer [...]
Decrease the Risk of Osteoporosis with Exercise
When you think of ways to decrease the risk of osteoporosis, you probably think of eating your greens, consuming protein, and supplementing calcium. However, you may not think of exercise and movement as a way to decrease the risk of osteoporosis. In fact, exercise along with proper nutrition are the two best ways you can help prevent or delay the onset of osteoporosis. In Canada, 1 in 3 women are likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis versus our male counterparts (who have a 1 in 5 chance at breaking a bone), meaning 33% of the female population [...]
Exercises to Prevent Osteoporosis
While Osteoporosis can affect people at almost any age, it is most common among Canadians 50 years of age or older.¹ Two million Canadians are affected by osteoporosis.² In fact, fractures from osteoporosis are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined.³ One of the things we can do to prevent or delay the onset of osteoporosis is exercise. I have put together these general exercise prescription guidelines with exercise program options for osteoporosis prevention: General Exercise Guidelines for Osteoporosis Prevention Perform some sort of exercise daily. Strength train at least twice a week (moderate to vigorous intensity). [...]
Women’s Health Services
Propel Physiotherapy’s trusted healthcare team provides leading-edge services to special populations. When it comes to women, we offer customized programs tailored to address their unique conditions and specific needs to provide effective treatment at every stage of life. Learn more about our integrated health services for women and the therapists who provide them at our Etobicoke and Pickering clinic locations. Perinatal Massage and Doula Services Perinatal massage is a treatment focused on the changes that happen to a woman’s body during the perinatal period — generally beginning between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation and ending between the first and [...]