Physiotherapy Oakville: Plantar Fasciitis

by glenabbey

One of the most common causes of foot pain that we see in our Oakville Physio clinic is PLANTAR FASCIITIS. The following article will outline the anatomy, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, risk factors, complications and treatment of PLANTAR FASCIITIS.

Oakville physiotherapy Plantar Fascitis treatment

Anatomy of Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a flat band of connective tissue that connects the heel to the toes in your foot. Its purpose is to provide support to arches of the foot. Many people are not aware that there are actually three arches in the foot. There is one on the inside, outside and an arch that runs transversely across the middle of the foot.

Learn How Acupuncture Can Help

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia acts like a shock absorber, supporting the arches of the foot. If stresses and tension become to great, small tears can arise in the plantar fascia. Repetitive stresses and tension can cause the plantar fascia to become inflamed and irritated. There are many diagnosed cases of plantar fasciitis but sometimes a clear cause cannot be determined.

Risk factors of heel pain and plantar fasciitis

As stated often there can be no clear cause for someone getting plantar fasciitis. However there are factors that may increase your risk of developing plantar fasciitis, they may include any or all of the following:
• Age. Most common between the ages of 40-60
• Excessive pronation or your feet roll inwards thus flattening the medial arch
• High arches or supination
• Certain types of exercise that place a lot of stress on the heel and attached tissue ie; running, dancing, jumping activities
• Improper foot wear
• Obesity
• Occupations that keep you on your feet.
• Tight calf muscles and achilles tendon

Symptoms of plantar fasciitisphysiotherpay oakville plantar fasciitis treatment

• Pain first thing in the morning upon walking for the first few steps
• Pain after sitting for long periods on the first few steps
• Pain during or after activity
• Pain with prolonged standing
• Tenderness over the heel or medial arch and into the forefoot
• Generalized ache during the day or at night

Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis

Based on someones subjective complaints its fairly easy to come up with a diagnosis for plantar fasciitis. A regulated health care professional should do an objective examination to confirm the diagnosis. Looking at the foot structure and mechanics, palpation for tenderness and gait analysis.
Sometimes imaging maybe requested. An xray may reveal a bone spur, which was commonly thought to be a cause but the spur is usually a result of the plantar fasciitis. Diagnostic ultra sound may also be requested.

Complications

As with any soft tissue condition, not having early intervention to the condition, plantar fascitis can lead to chronic heel pain, bones spurs and have a major affect on regular activities. It may also lead to pain in other area such as ankles, knees, hips, and the spine.

Treatment in Oakville for plantar fasciitis

  • Plantar fasciitis responds to conventional rehabilitation treatment. The KEY as with any soft tissue injury is early diagnosis and treatment. Treatment may include some or all of the following.Medication
    Acupuncture
    Shockwave Therapy
    Therapies: Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Massage Therapy
    Self treatment: heat,ice, foot roller, self massage
    Night splints
    Orthotics
  • More invasive treatment may include; Injections, shockwave therapy, removal of scar tissue, and surgery to remove the plantar fascia.
    If you suffer from any of the signs and symptoms mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to contact a local regulated health care professional for early diagnosis and treatment of your condition.

 

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Oakville Physiotherapy: Rotator Cuff Injury

by glenabbey

Oakville Physio and Rotator Cuff Injuries

Do you have shoulder pain or discomfort? Worried you may have a rotator cuff injury? In the following article our Oakville Physiotherapist will discuss signs, symptoms and types of rotator cuff injuries.

The Rotator Cuff is made up of four  muscles:

  • Supraspinatus
  • Infraspinatus
  • Teres minor
  • Subscapularis

These four muscles help move and stabilize the shoulder joint. They are dynamic stabilisers and help adjust the position of the humeral head and scapula during movement.  Our Oakville physiotherapy clinic treats shoulder injuries everyday!

Damage to any one of the four muscles can occur because of acute injury, chronic overuse and gradual aging.

Oakville Physiotherapy rotator cuff pain treatment

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES

  • Acute or chronic pain
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Tenderness
  • Spasm
  • Functional difficulties such as; getting dressed, household maintenance and work related tasks

Pain maybe felt in the front, top or back of the shoulder and there can be difficulties with elevating the arm, reaching behind such as into the back pocket or doing up a bra strap.

The muscles of the rotator cuff maybe damaged in a variety of ways. Damage may occur from an acute injury ei; fall, accident or sports related, chronic overuse or from gradual degeneration with aging.

TYPES OF ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES

Grade 1 Strain

Involves overstretching, overworking of the rotator cuff that sets off the inflammatory process.

Grade 2 Strain or Partial Tear

There is some partial tearing of some of the tendon fibers.

Grade 3 Strain or Complete Tear

In this situation there is a full thickness tear in the tendon.

TENDONITIS/Impingment Syndrome

This is usually a result of long standing inflammation in the rotator cuff tendons with the development of scar tissue. As the arm is elevated there can be a sharp pain from about 90 degrees through to about 120 degrees.

Physiotherapy TREATMENT FOR ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES:

Early intervention is important as it is with any soft tissue injury. An early and accurate diagnosis is critical in order to obtain optimum recovery.

Physiotherapist are regulated health care professionals who can assess, diagnose and treat rotator cuff injuries. NOTE YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR FIRST IN ORDER TO SEE A PHYSIOTHERAPIST.

Sometimes further diagnostic testing is needed to determine the extent of the damage to the tissue. These test could include an xray, ultrasound or MRI. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE THESE TEST DONE FIRST IN ORDER TO START TREATMENT.

Once an assessment and diagnosis had been established the physiotherapist can initiate treatment.

Treatment could involve the following:

Acute Grade 1 Strain:

  • Ice
  • Therapeutic ultrasound
  • Laser
  • Electrical stimulation
  • Acupuncture
  • Shockwave Therapy
  • Specific exercises
  • Manual therapy: graded mobilization, myofascial release, active release.

Tendonitis:

Sometimes rotator cuff tendonitis presents as an acute strain. Treatment for this condition is similar to that of an Acute Grade 1 Strain. Care should be taken with exercises not to aggravate the condititon.

Grade 2 Strain or Partial Tear

Many of the treatment modalities and manual techniques used to treat Acute Grade 1 Strain and Tendonitis can be used to treat a Grade 2 Partial Tear. Care should be taken in the administration of exercises and manual techniques so as to not make the partial tear any worse.

Grade3 Strain or Full Thickness Tear:

With a Full Thickness Tear more often than not a referral is made to an orthopedic surgeon. They will look at all results and discuss whether surgical intervention is warranted.  More often than not it is!

After surgical  reapair to the Rotator Cuff  there is a long period of rehab.

There is a set protocol that must be followed to allow for optimal recovery post surgery.

REHAB FOR ROTATOR CUFF REPAIRS IS EXTENSIVE AND A LOG PROCESS … 6 MONTHS AT LEAST.

Acupuncture For Shoulder Injuries

Acupuncture helps to increase blood flow to injured areas, and help alleviate pain by alleviating nerve irritation.  Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for painful injuries.

If you suffer from shoulder pain contact our clinic and make an appointment to see our Physiotherapist for an assessment, diagnosis and treatment.

 

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Oakville Physiotherapy: Muscle Treatment

by glenabbey

STAGES OF HEALING IN SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

Oakville Physiotherapy broken bone treatment

Oakville’s Physiotherapy Clinic — Glen Abbey Physiotherapy

EARLY INTERVENTION AND ONGOING TREATMENT

 

 

One of the big misconceptions at our Oakville physiotherapy clinic is that soft tissue injuries will heal spontaneously in a period of time between four to eight weeks, leaving no long term residual damage and that treatment is not required. This information can be extremely misleading, confusing and lead to permanent and chronic  soft tissue pain and dysfunction. It is important to understand the stages of healing that takes place during soft tissue injuries to comprehend why  these injuries require early intervention and ongoing treatment to get the best possible outcome.

 

There are THREE STAGES OF HEALING that take place when soft tissue is injured

1.ACUTE INFLAMMATORY STAGE

2.SUB ACUTE REGENERATION STAGE

3.CHRONIC REMODELING STAGE

There is relevant treatment applicable during each stage in order to reach optimum recovery for these injuries.

  1. ACUTE INFLAMMATORY STAGE

 

  • 0 -48 HOURS POST INJURY
  • SWELLING
  • PAIN
  • LOSS OF FUNCTION
  • INTERSTITIAL BLEEDING INFLUX OF FIBROBLASTS

 

During this stage one of the most effective recipes for care is R.I.C.E (rest ice compression elevation).

It is important to get an accurate early diagnosis as to what the injury is, what tissues are affected , the mechanism of the injury and if possible the severity. Sometimes the severity cannot be determined without diagnostic tests such as xrays , ultrasound and or MRI. The only test that is immediately available to the general public  at this stage is an xray, which will not show soft tissue damage.

Our Oakville Physiotherapist  are qualified healthcare practitioners  who can assess ,diagnose and initiate treatment at this stage. Too often the initial contact is the physician who usually prescribes rest, drugs, maybe an xray  and no referral for any kind of treatment except a return visit.

Depending on the mechanism of the injury, severity and the tissues affected ,treatment such as ultrasound , electrical  stimulation, gentle range of motion exercise, taping, self care advice is useful to optimize recovery during the first 48 hours of these injuries.

2. SUB-ACUTE REGENERATION STAGE

 

  • 48 HOURS TO 14 DAYS(dependent on severity)
  • PAIN
  • SWELLING
  • DECREASED SWELLING
  • DECREASED PAIN
  • IMPROVED FUNCTION
  • REGENERATION OF TISSUE DISRUPTION OF INJURED TISSUE IS BRIDGED

 

 

This stage is where the body begins to regenerate the damaged tissue.  Special connective tissue cells are brought to the area and begin  to form a  “SCAR “in the damaged tissue. This tissue is laid down in a “HAP HAZARD” formation and bridge the gap in any tissue that was torn. Sometimes the tears are microscopic, but tears nonetheless.

During this stage treatment should continue, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, any other modality, range of motion exercise, taping, possible strengthening depending on the severity of the damage, soft tissue and joint  mobilization maybe initiated and continued self care advice. Further diagnostic tests maybe initiated at this point.

3.CHRONIC REMODELING STAGE

 

  • 14 DAYS – ON WARDS DEPENDING ON SEVERITY UP TO 12 MONTHS
  • STIFFNESS
  • DECREASED PAIN
  • DECREASED SWELLING
  • CHRONIC PAIN
  • CHRONIC SWELLING
  • IMPAIRED FUNCTION
  • INCREASE STRENGTH
  • INCREASED RANGE OF MOTION
  • FULL RECOVERY

 

This remodeling stage starts near the end of the regeneration stage. This is where remodeling of the connective tissue cells happens. These connective tissue cells are laid down and remodeled in the direction of stress and strain of the tissues. A pattern more like the original undamaged tissues.

Treatment at this stage is important  to get the best end product of healing of the tissue. It is has been established that remodeling takes place as a direct product of the stress and strain put on the tissues during this stage, thereby giving  a stronger more elastic end product of healing.

EARLY INTERVENTION AND ONGOING TREATMENT

During each stage of healing there is relevant and applicable treatment that can be done in order to enhance optimal healing of the injured tissue. The consequences of not having early and ongoing treatment of soft tissue injuries can have chronic and permanent consequences. Such as CHRONIC PAIN, CHRONIC SWELLING, STIFFNESS, and LOSS OF FUNCTION.

The reason for this is as the soft tissue is regenerating and remodeling, it is important for the connective tissue to be worked, stretched, strengthened, mobilized according to the lines of stress to produce a strong and elastic end product of healing.

What happens when soft tissue injuries are left to “ HEAL ON THERE OWN” without treatment is they become FIBROTIC.

FIBROSIS

 

  • TISSUE IS FUNCTIONALLY DIFFERENT
  • WEAKER
  • LESS ELASTIC
  • ADHESIONS
  • CHRONIC PAIN

 

Acupuncture For Muscle Pain

One of the most effective treatment for soft tissue injuries is acupuncture treatment.  Our Oakville acupuncture provider, Dr. Jenn, provides contemporary medical acupuncture for all your aches and pains.

If you are suffering with any kind of pain or injury, contact us today to book an acupuncture appointment.

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Bird Dog Cross Crawl Exercise Physiotherapy Oakville

by glenabbey

Oakville Physiotherapy Core Treatment

Hi Dr. Steve Knighton here from Physiotherapy Oakville. Thank you for joining us again for another healthy living tip from our Live Pain Free series. In today’s health tip we are going to show you a basic stretch called the Bird Dog Cross Crawl Exercise that can help you maintain good posture and strengthen your overall back.

If you are in a lot of pain right now we do not recommend you doing this exercise, this is more for when we are trying to prevent the pain from coming again. Our Oakville physiotherapist loves this exercise!

 Bird Dog Cross Crawl Exercise:

  1. 1. Starting on your hands and knees: You want your hands directly under your shoulders nice and straight, your knees hip width apart (not further not too tight).
  2. Lift up your right leg first as straight as you can and then bring up your left arm. At this point make sure your pelvis is nice and straight. Hold this position for 10-12 seconds.
  3. Then come back down to the 1st position.
  4. Now you are going to rotate: Lift your left leg as straight as you can, followed by your right arm. Again, hold for 10-12 seconds. At this point, you can really get into it and concentrate on contracting the up side glut, or just flexing your bum and try to lift your arm as high as you can as well as your head to a straight neutralized position so you have a straight line throughout

Once again this is called the Bird Dog Cross Crawl and it definitely helps strengthen your lower back and activates some of those muscles that are right against your spine that we need for day-to-day posture and to prevent pain.  Our Oakville physiotherapist will help!

Interested in acupuncture to help your pain?  Click here

If you are experiencing lower back pain, acupuncture can help!  Acupuncture treatment will increase blood flow to the affected area, and help to relieve tight muscles and decrease pain.  Acupuncture is a pain-free modality that will help get rid of your lower back pain!  Learn about acupuncture treatment here.

Be sure to sign up for our free educational series about living a healthier pain free life.

Simply click there now => Get My Live Pain Free Video Series

If you or a family member need immediate treatment for pain or injury please call us right away to schedule an appointment 905-827-3593.

How you can stretch our piriformis and glutes!

by glenabbey

Physiotherapy Oakville Approved Piriformis and Glutes Stretch

Our Oakville physiotherapy team are here to help! One of the most common causes of low back pain and sciatica is a tight piriformis muscle. Thank you for joining us again for another  healthy living tip from our Live Pain Free series. In today’s health tip we are going to talk about stretching your piriformis and glutes with our Oakville chiropractor.

Today we are going to show you a piriformis and glutes stretch with Stephanie. We recommend this stretch to all our healthy patients and this can be done as a preventative stretch but especially good if you are experiencing a little bit of pain. We are going to show you 2 variations of this stretch to help you loosen up the butt and lower back region. If your suffering from back pain in Oakville choose our physiotherapy clinic for treatment.

  1. First take a position lying flat on your back ( if you are in pain and need something to lay on, that’s fine as well )
  2. Next bend one leg over the other leg connecting your ankle to your knee.
  3. Take your hands and reach through and under your crossed leg and grab your straight leg behind your knee.
  4. You pull gently back toward your chest. You can keep your straight leg bent at the knee if you like. If you want to be a little more advanced you can straighten the leg up towards the ceiling. You want to hold the stretch for about 30 seconds. Now, as you gently pull back you should feel the stretching right in the side of your butt (glute) muscle and maybe even into your lower back. If you notice a shooting pain down your leg when you do this STOP IMMEDIATELY ! We recommend you immediately seek the advice of a medical professional.
  5. Stop, change leg positions and do the other side. Repeat this 3 times on each side.

 

Oakville Physiotherapy Piriformis Stretch if you are in PAIN!

Now for people in Oakville with crippling lower back pain and can’t do too much stretching at all. What we recommend is:

  1. Move close to a wall while lying on your back. Close enough that you can put one foot up on the wall so that your leg is at a 90 degree angle.
  2. Now take the other leg and cross it so that your ankle connects with the opposite knee. In this case you would not feel as much of a stretch, but if your in pain that’s fine. Only try to stretch about 30 to 40% of your max to make sure you don’t over do it. You will be able to hold this position longer. We suggest holding for 3 – 4 minutes, you can do this while watching t.v.
  3. Change sides and repeat 3 times on each side.

Again this is the piriformis and glutes stretch. We recommend everyone do this stretch on a daily basis for back pain prevention.

 

Physiotherapy options in Oakville for Sciatica – Low Back Pain – Gluteal Pain – Piriformis Pain.

If you are suffering with bum or low back pain get into our Oakville physiotherapy clinic as soon as possible. Too many times our physiotherapists see crippling bum or low back pain that started a couple months ago as a dull ache in the glutes or piriformis muscle that turns into full blown sciatica. Sciatica, if you have it, take 6 weeks to 6 months to correct, get in now before its too late. Treatment for sciatica, glute or pirfirmis pain will include physiotherapy and can include Oakville’s best acupuncturist or shockwave therapy.

 

If you or a family member need immediate treatment from our Oakville Physiotherapist for pain or injury please call us right away to schedule an appointment 905-827-3593.

 

Physio Rescue Position For Back Pain Relief in Oakville

by glenabbey

Physiotherapy Oakville Guidelines For Severe Back Pain

Our team of Physiotherapists recommend the rescue position if you are in severe acute pain!

Hi, Dr. Steve Knighton here from Glen Abbey Physiotherapy here in Oakville. Thank you for joining us again for another healthy living tip from our Live Pain Free series. In today’s health tip we are going to talk about how to use the rescue position for relief of back pain. If you are suffering from severe low back pain, grab your phone, call the Oakville Physiotherapy Clinic, get and ice back and get into the position recommended below.

What we are looking at today is a person who injured their back. What they can do at home and what they can do to help them out before they come see a medical professional or if they even need to. Here is a tip of a simple stretch they can do to help reduce the pain before they come to see us at the office. If you have pulled your back doing any thing at all and have back pain, this is a great thing to do first.

Physiotherapy Oakville: We call this the rescue position:

1. First you want to lie on a hard surface like the floor with your feet up on a couch or chair. You can move your bum a little closer or further away from the couch to make sure you have a 90 degree angle behind your knees. This will give a little bit of relaxation to the back muscle, especially if it’s in a lot of pain. More stretches for stretches for back pain can be found HERE.

Physiotherapy rescue position for low back pain. Back on the floor, knees bent at 90 degrees on a chair or couch, ice pack under the back. Breathe !

2. Next what you can do is to get an ice pack – ( NOT HEATED ) Make sure you wrap the ice pack like you learned in the previous lesson How to ice and injury information can be here. Place the ice pack directly under your lower back and keep it there for 15 to 20 minutes.

3. After that point you remove the ice pack, try to get up slowly and walk around and see how much better the pain feels.

ice pack for rescue position

Wait about 15 to 20 minutes and go back into the rescue position and re-apply the ice pack as well. Keep this on for another 15 to 20 minutes, then remove the ice pack, get up and walk around. If after 2 times you do not see an improvement you should seek the advice of a medical professional.

Want to prevent your pain from coming back try this one physiotherapy recommended exercise every morning.

If your pain and swelling does not decrease from the rescue position for back pain relief make sure you see a medical professional right away.

This information can help relieve severe acute back pain, but we still suggest you to check out more helpful tips from our best acupuncture provider. Oakville Acupuncture Treatment HERE

 

If you or a family member need immediate treatment for pain or injury please call us right away to schedule an appointment 905-827-3593.

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