New systematic review Identifies risk factors for achilles tendonitis. Elite running athletes have a 52% lifetime risk of developing achilles tendonitis; however, about a third of all patients with achilles tendonitis also have a sedentary lifestyle. This suggests that there may be many risk factors for developing achilles tendonitis. According to a 2019 systematic review […]
5 Evidence based tips for runners to avoid injury
With the beginning of a new year come new goals, many which include starting a new exercise program or setting new goals in existing programs. Runners often set goals of running a certain mileage (ie marathon), or goals of a personal best time. Here I’ve compiled some tips for runners to avoid injury when starting […]
Physiotherapy for knee osteoarthritis
Your physiotherapist will address problems of pain, loss of joint range of motion, weakness, gait, and exercise tolerance. We can’t reverse the damage done to the cartilage, but we can reduce pain, improve your mobility and function and slow down joint deterioration. If you’re not a candidate for a knee replacement, then we can do plenty to help you get back to your life and control the symptoms of knee arthritis.
Osteoarthritis and the Weather
“Blame it on the rain” -Milli Vanilli, 1989 Is all this rain getting to you? I suspect it is getting to some more than others. Many physiotherapy patients are certain of the link between joint pain and the weather and some have even stated that not only can they predict the weather based on their […]
Bicycle Fit
With the start of summer we try and get outside to become more active. Cycling is a great sport for people looking for low impact activity to improve endurance and cardiovascular health. In Ajax we have a lot of trails throughout the town and the waterfront across Durham Region attracts cyclists from all across the […]
ACL Tears
A retrospective pair-matched follow-up study found that after 20-years, there was no difference in knee osteoarthritis between operative versus nonoperative treatment when treatment was allocated on the basis of a patient’s response to 3 months of physiotherapy.
How to walk on ice
With more freezing rain in the forecast, I thought it prudent to post some information on how to walk on the ice. At our physiotherapy clinics in Ajax, Whitby and Brooklin, we’ve seen a lot of slip and falls this year resulting in various injuries: arm, shoulder and wrist fractures, knee sprains, meniscal injuries, and aggravation of some pre-existing conditions such as arthritis.
Early Physiotherapy Cuts Opioid Use
Very often we see people in the clinic with musculoskeletal pain that has been ongoing for weeks, months, and sometimes years. It can take time to get a diagnosis as physicians order imaging, refer to specialists, and prescribe medications. Because of this prolonged time to diagnosis, many people suffering from musculoskeletal pain don’t get to […]
Surgery vs Physiotherapy for Osteoarthritis and Meniscal Tear
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common reasons for visits to the physiotherapist by individuals over the age of 50. Meniscal tears are also very common among this age group and can occur in people that don’t complain of knee pain. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine challenges the thought that […]
Physical Therapists’ Knowledge
Using our physical therapists’ knowledge we treat the source of your problem. Here’s what a physiotherapist can do for you – proper diagnosis comes first: 1. A big part of the picture is your voice. We need a clear picture of your story, when and why your pain started, how your pain behaves. The more […]
Should I exercise when I have a cold?
Anyone that works with the public will know that this year has been a particularly brutal one in terms of colds and influenza. With the new year upon us we are trying to lead healthier lives, keep resolutions, and ride the wave of enthusiasm that a new year can bring. Becoming more active, whether that […]
Benefits of Exercise
The major objective in training is to cause biologic adaptations in order to improve performance in a specific task. This requires adherence to carefully planned and executed activities. Attention is focused on factors such as frequency and length of workouts, type of training, speed, intensity, duration, and repetition of the activity. To enhance physiologic improvement […]
Low Back Pain -One size doesn’t fit all
Epidemiological studies show that 80% of people will experience low back pain in their lifetime; approximately 25% of people report having had pain in the previous 3 months, and up to 80% of individuals with back pain will have pain that recurs.1 Because of this, the amount of research into appropriate care of nonspecific low […]
Running and osteoarthritis of the hip/knee
Patients often ask if there is a relationship between running and osteoarthritis of the hip and knee due to the high impact involved; yet, running is an activity that benefits cardiovascular fitness, mood, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight loss, bone density, etc. Prior studies have linked running to the development of hip and knee arthritis […]
Dry Needling vs Acupuncture
Western medical acupuncture, as it is practiced in Canada by physiotherapists, is a therapeutic modality that uses the insertion of needles. This practice is also known as dry needling or intramuscular stimulation. This acts by directly stimulating the nervous system utilizing the mechanisms of antidromic reflexes, and neuromodulation, amongst other central effects. Its use in […]
Calcific Tendonitis
Ultrasound helps calcific tendonitis. Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder causes pain that is not activity dependent and often severe. Calcium deposits around the shoulder most commonly develop in the supraspinatus tendon. The condition typically occurs in persons between the age of 30 and 50 but a literature search revealed no data on its incidence or […]
Burners
“Burners” or “stingers”are a nerve injury one commonly experiences in contact sports such as hockey and football. 70% of college football players will experience a burner in their 4 year career. 1 These are injuries to the nerves that result from a hit to or a fall on the head, shoulder, or neck. Common symptoms […]
Backpacks and Back Pain
While the evidence is still out on whether heavy backpacks cause back pain in children, it is still something that is being investigated. Anecdotally, there appears to be a relationship between back packs and kids’ lifestyles, other factors, and back pain. A study in 2006 found that the weight of a child’s backpack was directly […]