Physiotherapy

Physical therapists also known as physiotherapists are skilled in the assessment and management of a broad range of injuries and conditions. Physical therapists focus on managing and preventing injury through manual therapy, massage, modalities and exercises. Physiotherapists employed by Jasper Physiotherapy and Health Centre have an advanced understanding of how the body moves and whether you’re a focused athlete, casual exerciser, suffer from chronic pain or need assistance in recovering from injury or surgery.

Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic exercise is the cornerstone of physiotherapy. There are thousands of research papers that demonstrate the success of prescribing the appropriate exercise to almost any injury or condition. The basis of the majority of injuries are faulty movement patterns and corrective and progressive exercises can allow the body to return to pain-free movement.

Client Education

The more you understand about the injury the higher the success rate. Learning about the mechanisms that created the injury, the expected timelines it will take to heal and the knowledge of how to treat it best empowers the patient to self-manage their injury.

Manual Therapy

Physiotherapists often use a hands-on approach to create an ideal environment for the body to heal. Often times this therapeutic approach focuses on mobilizing joints, stretching and working through soft-tissue, and mobilizing the nervous system.

Manipulation

Spinal or peripheral manipulation is a specific set of techniques applying a high-velocity thrust through a joint that is restricted or stuck. Manipulations can free up joint mobility by affecting the joint directly or creating less tone in the surrounding musculature or altering the nervous system directly around the joint. Only physiotherapists who have completed a rigorous training program are able to perform spinal manipulations

Acupuncture

Our therapists insert and manipulate fine filiform disposable needles into specific points on the body as an adjunctive treatment to relieve pain or improve recovery time from an injury. The insertion of the needles through the skin and into tissues at specific points of the body is most often painless and can achieve results where other therapies have failed. Acupuncture is safe and effective treatment choice approved by the World Health Organization.

Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS)

IMS is an effective treatment for those suffering from chronic pain of a neuropathic basis. IMS uses techniques adapted from traditional acupuncture but is combined with scientific neurophysiological principles aimed at relieving chronic muscle pain. The treatment involves a thorough examination by a qualified practitioner to identify neurological structures at fault which are invisible on x-ray, CT, and MRI tests. The treatment involves dry needling of affected areas of the body. These areas can be tender muscle bands or they can be near the spine where the nerve root can be irritated.

Pelvic Health

We have physiotherapists who have additional education in treating issues more often associated through the lifespan.  We can help with stress incontinence, overactive bladder syndrome, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, as well as pregnancy and childbirth related issues.  Physiotherapy is the most successful form of treatment for incontinence and we can work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan based on your needs.

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

IASTM is the use of a specialized tool or set of tools to free up scar tissue, fascial or muscular restrictions in the body. Often these restrictions can lead to dysfunctional movement or pain.

Cupping

Cupping is one of many treatments used by our Registered Massage Therapists and physiotherapists. This modified version of Eastern style cupping is also referred to as myofascial cupping because it works on a deeper level into the myofascial tissue surrounding the muscle. Cupping therapy involves the use of plastic or silicone cups. A gentle manual vacuum pump or manual pressure creates a negative pressure that draws the soft tissue into the cups. The cups can be moved around or placed into stationary positions.

Therapeutic Modalities

Therapeutic Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to stimulate circulation, promote tissue healing and reduce inflammation.

Interferential Current (IFC), Transcutaneus Electrical Stimulation (TENS) and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation all use gentle electric currents to reduce pain levels, promote tissue healing and activate a muscular response.

Massage Therapy

Benefiting people of all ages, Massage Therapy can be used as a preventative tool, throughout an injury or chronic condition, or for general stress reduction. Massage therapists are focused on optimizing muscle function through tissue manipulation. Massage therapy, while promoting relaxation and stress relief, can reduce muscle tension and spasm, ease the discomfort caused by an irritated nerve, promote effective muscle rehabilitation after injury and decrease chronic pain. Through patient education, our massage therapists help you to optimize the benefits of massage therapy at home with stretches and strengthening exercises. Posture and habit re-education helps you to change what day-to-day activities may be contributing to a reoccurring injury or condition. Massage Therapy services help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, prevent injury, and decrease recovery time in the case of injury.

Bike Fitting

All bike fittings are performed by Sean FitzGerald who is Serrota and F.I.S.T certified to do road, triathlon, and mountain bike fittings. He combines experience, advanced professional training and a detailed bike fit process to give you the best results possible. Symptoms such as pain, numbness or poor performance can be caused by many different factors, not only a poor bike fit. As a physiotherapist we can add our training, experience and knowledge of the human body to the bike fit process to examine aspects outside of others abilities. We can do fittings for all levels of abilities from commuters to high level competitors.

Run Assessments

There is no single way to run correctly. All bodies have unique styles of movement. A gait and running analysis seeks to evaluate how each individual can optimize their running style to recover from or prevent injury and to optimize performance. Assessment of fundamental movement patterns, joint mobility, muscular strength, core stability, hip control and foot mechanics are compared with dynamic findings from a running video. Client goals, injury history and training schedules are also considered in formulating a management plan. Current evidence about running mechanics and shoe selection is used to optimize each runner’s form. Therapeutic Exercise programs are provided to assist with mobility and/or stability deficits as well as improve runner durability

The assessment consists of a physical assessment of flexibility, strength, stability and movement patterns. Treadmill analysis focuses on each individuals running style and how to create the most efficient stride possible. Your unique history, goals and training schedule are at the centre of our treatment. A running shoe analysis and prescription of running shoes is then done to allow the runner to ensure the right shoe choices for them. Each assessment comes with a detailed report, modifications of their training plan, and therapeutic exercises to correct any deficiencies found in the assessment.

Orthotics

The use of a custom arch support is a non-invasive way to reduce or eliminate pain in areas such as feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back by improving structural alignment and/or restricting or enhancing motion. Custom orthotics should be used in combination with treatment, education, and exercises recommended by your specific health care practitioner. At Jasper Physiotherapy & Health Centre we can use a variety of materials to design an orthotic specific to the injury, foot type, lifestyle and style of footwear. Orthotics can be designed skates, hiking boots, ski boots, and high heels.

Custom Bracing

Bracing can be utilized to help manage pain or instability at a variety of joints. Custom bracing offered at Jasper Physiotherapy & Health Centre is primarily centred around treatment of knee arthritis and instability. Custom products are built to your specific dimensions and injury which gives them a better feel and less of an impact on your performance. Knee bracing for osteoarthritis is a very effective way to manage pain, keep active and potentially delay surgery.

Personal Training

Our Kinesiologist will perform a thorough exercise assessment in clinic, including an intake of their exercise history, the client’s physical and functional capacity as well as their goals for the training sessions. A specialized program will be developed based on the assessment performed as well as the client’s goals and areas of weakness. Clients can choose from a variety of packages that will suit their needs best.

Ergonomic Assessments

Ergonomic assessments, also referred to as workstation assessments, ensure that a workstation is ergonomically designed to minimize the risk of injury while maximizing productivity. Our clinic offers assessments conducted by a physiotherapist designed to ensure correct workstation set-up. An assessment will cover posture, physical and muscular demands, equipment and workplace design, as well as environmental factors (i.e. lighting) and keyboard use. From the assessment, adjustments may be made to the work station setup of the worker.

Diagnostic Imaging

Prior to changes made April 1st to our health care system physiotherapists were authorized to order diagnostic imaging such as MRI, US and x-ray.  We could have saved you an extra trip to the doctors office, which costs you the tax payer more money and creates delays in your recovery from injury.  If you would like these services back in the hands of those you trust to help you recover from your injury please write your local MLA to discuss this loss of service.