By Athlete's Care on November 15, 2023
The answer is yes. Physiotherapy can help you manage symptoms and improve your quality of life as part of a multi-faceted treatment plan. Here’s a look at how.
After a thorough assessment by your treating physiotherapist or other sports medicine specialist, a range of options and goals for improvement will be suggested and discussed. That evaluation will include elements such as ease of movement, basic physical condition, among others.
Along with specific treatment options, your Toronto physiotherapist can give you the benefit of their expertise and advice. That may include issues such as correcting posture imbalances, lifestyle elements, and straightforward advice such as how to pace your activities and modify them to avoiding overusing an arthritic joint.
Your physiotherapist can give you practical advice you can use everyday.
When you have arthritis, are feeling in pain and fatigued, exercise may be the last thing on your mind. But, staying active helps keep you mobile. It’s that simple.
Strong muscles support joints in a balanced way, and avoid putting too much stress on areas with arthritis. An exercise regimen that’s been customized to your current condition will keep you mobile longer.
Keeping your joints moving as much as possible, while also avoiding overuse, is your best approach. In some cases, walking aids or a brace may be a good option.
They will also look at any barriers to your recovery, which may include other medical conditions as well as other issues. They’ll help you not only devise an exercise regimen, but advise you on how to correctly perform them for the maximum benefit.
In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, which is an autoimmune condition, causes painful joints and notorious morning stiffness. Physiotherapy can help in a number of ways.
Understanding your illness, and its progression, will help you set everyday goals as well as adjust your lifestyle in areas that will help.
If you live with arthritis, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Toronto physiotherapy, chiropractic and sports medicine clinics today for a consultation. Our sports medicine specialists are waiting for advice on how to help you minimize the symptoms and get on with your life.
By Athlete's Care on October 03, 2023
The piriformis muscle is located deep within the structure that makes up the buttocks. It begins along the lower spine, and stretches to the thighbone, just below the gluteus maximus muscle. Another name for Piriformis Syndrome is Deep Gluteal Syndrome.
Despite the muscle’s small size, it plays a key role in the flow of movements from the hips and pelvis.
When the piriformis becomes irritated, it can also cause pain and numbness by pressing on the sciatic nerve along the back of the thigh. It may in some ways feel quite similar to sciatica.
The common symptoms of piriformis syndrome include:
You will usually feel the condition on one side of your body. Sitting for long periods of time, and activities involving the hips, such as climbing stairs, or any twisting motion in particular, tend to make the pain worse.
The root cause is often either sudden or repetitive injuries that cause the small muscle to spasm or tighten up. It may also swell. All of these reactions may cause pain.
Physiotherapy is typically the first line of treatment for piriformis syndrome. The pain and discomfort from a mild case of piriformis syndrome may last only a day or two. More serious cases can persist for weeks. The research tells us that the vast majority (about 85%) of cases can be treated without invasive surgery.
After a thorough examination to determine not only the causes, but your current condition and lifestyle, your Toronto physiotherapists can initiate treatment, which may include:
On your own, ice pack and/or heat, as well as over-the-counter pain medications, can help less serious cases. Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen will be of the most help.
If you are experiencing pain the buttocks, legs, hips or lower back, our Toronto physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors and other sports medicine specialists are ready to help. Don’t hesitate to contact one of our Toronto physiotherapy clinics today for a consultation.
By Athlete's Care on September 07, 2023
Well, runners and many athletes alike, can reduce pain, and increase flexibility by receiving treatment on the spot. But in order to boost overall recovery time, a deep tissue massage is often recommended ideally a few days after any extreme physical action because it can target key problem areas before they become seriously troublesome.
During a deep tissue massage, the therapist applies acupressure, trigger-point work (focused on all those tiny muscle knots) and “deep transverse friction” where scar tissue is broken by back and forth movement over muscle. Due to the nature of this treatment, you will likely leave feeling more pain than usual, however the long-term benefits cannot be disputed.
Here’s why athletes, especially marathoners, should schedule a deep tissue massage:
In a study published by the journal Science Translational Medicine, 11 men were exercised to exhaustion and given 10 minute leg massages immediately afterwards. Following an analysis of the recorded muscle biopsies prior, during and after the workout, scientists discovered that the massage prompted the production of mitochondria, an energy cell that builds muscle, boosts recovery time and suppresses pain.
Athletes who receive regular deep tissue massages notice an increase in their range of motion because their therapist is actively breaking down all the tightness around the muscles.
Intense training or exercise can lead to a build up of scar tissue, and the development of many adhesions where the muscle, fascia, and other tissues clump together causing stiffness, and subsequent vulnerability to injury. During a deep tissue massage, your muscle fibers are stretched and scar tissue is broken down which promotes flexibility and agility.
Massages are a healthy part of any detox, and due to the intense nature of the deep tissue massage, blood circulation is increased which enables the muscle to expel toxins and absorb fresh blood and oxygen.
Oxygenation means the muscles are suppler, and athletes are also able to breathe deeper during exercises or sports. On a psychological level, better breathing enables a calmer state of mind, and helps relieve stress or anxiety.
Numerous studies have found that massage therapy induces better sleep and actually helps maintain consistent sleeping patterns. Of course, we all know that sleep is a crucial part of the recovery process for any athlete, but muscle pain and tension can sometimes prevent this and become bothersome in the long term.
A deep tissue massage will reduce tension, induce relaxation, and enable athletes to achieve greater sleep that can make him or her recover faster and perform better.
Since you will likely walk away from your deep tissue massage feeling a bit battered and bruised (don’t worry, it’s for the best), we recommend scheduling an appointment after a workout or run, preferably with an easy workout or run planned for the next day. This helps out with recovery, and enables you to derive benefits from harder physical activity 24 hours later.
If you have just run a marathon, it’s best to wait at least three to five days before booking an appointment because such an intense activity will cause inflammation, and it’s better to let your body heal a bit beforehand. Once you have dealt with the most acute symptoms of your post-marathon pain, then it’s time to schedule a massage and flush out further damage.
Our team of experienced Toronto massage therapists has treated professional athletes, Olympic athletes, performing artists along with everyday aches and pains including posture related injuries. Our massage therapy team has also been instrumental in the development of specialized injury prevention programs.
By Athlete's Care on September 07, 2023
For most, it involves minor discomfort that diminishes over time. For others, the damage is more severe, and treatment should involve medical professionals.
The plantar fascia is a thick web of flexible connective tissue that runs down the bottom of your foot from the front of the foot back to the heel bone. It's the structure that holds up the arch of your foot.
Either way, it becomes inflamed, and causes pain. That's plantar fasciitis.
Those with either high arches or flat feet are particularly susceptible to plantar fasciitis, as well as anyone who works on their feet, or plays sports that involve running and/or making sudden moves, such as football. Pregnant women, and anyone else who gains more than about 7 or 8 kg within a period of a few months, are also prone to acquire the condition.
Even if the pain is severe, and you’re waiting for an appointment with one of our Toronto physiotherapists or other sports medicine specialists, there are measures you can take to reduce the symptoms. They include:
When should you seek professional medical attention? If your symptoms have not significantly improved within 5 to 7 days, please contact one of our Toronto physiotherapy clinics today for a consultation.
There are several options for treatment that involve physical therapy, and musculoskeletal specialists like the ones at our Toronto clinics. Here are some of the treatments available:
Beyond physical therapy and aids, there are other available treatments that can help.
Surgery is usually considered only when other treatments have not improved the situation.
If you are experiencing persistent heel pain, or any other issue with the heel, foot or lower leg, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Toronto physiotherapy, chiropractic and sports medicine clinics today for a consultation.