Physiotherapy

Here are some common tasks and techniques performed by our physiotherapists:

Patient Assessment:
Physiotherapists begin by assessing a patient's medical history, conducting physical examinations, and may request diagnostic imaging to evaluate the musculoskeletal system. We develop a comprehensive care plan with you to help you achieve your goals. This plan outlines our clinical impression/diagnosis, healing timelines, treatment strategies, potential barriers to achieving goals, and any other interoffice referrals that could support your care.

Soft Tissue Therapy:
Physiotherapists use techniques such as Acupuncture and Dry Needling/Gunn IMS, massage, trigger point therapy, and stretching to address muscle tension, inflammation, and other soft tissue issues. This is the hands-on part of your treatment during the early stages of care, designed to control pain, alleviate muscle spasms, and improve nerve communication.

Spinal Manipulation/Adjustment:
This treatment technique is considered a restricted activity by the College of Physical Therapists of Alberta (CPTA). Only those who have completed postgraduate courses and received permission from the CPTA to perform spinal manipulations are authorized. Spinal manipulation involves applying controlled force to joints of the spine or other parts of the body that are not moving properly. This helps restore mobility, alleviate pain, and improve function. We have physiotherapists who are authorized to perform this treatment, and those who are not will coordinate an interoffice referral to our chiropractor for support.

Exercise Prescription:
Physiotherapists are the ‘Movement Specialists’ for a reason! We frequently prescribe specific exercises or rehabilitation programs to help strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and prevent future injuries. During the mid and late stages of your care plan, once your pain subsides, we will guide you through exercises in our movement studio to support home programming, return-to-sport/exercise classes, and activities of daily living. Building a strong foundation for movement is one of the core pillars of our practice.

Lifestyle Support:
Physiotherapists may offer advice on ergonomics, posture, nutrition, and other lifestyle factors that affect overall health and well-being. We are changing the conversation around full-body recovery by incorporating emotional health into the physical healing process. Understanding your life stressors is essential for us to assess their impact on your overall health. Based on our conversations, we may recommend an interoffice referral to our psychologist or dietician for additional support. This holistic approach aims to address both physical and mental aspects, helping you reach your functional capacity goals effectively.

Medical Acupuncture:
Some physiotherapists use medical acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to promote healing and pain reduction. This practice follows traditional acupuncture philosophies, and physiotherapists will have taken post-graduate courses to perform this modality of care.