Therapeutic touch: how different forms of massage therapy can help

pt Health Therapeutic touch: how different forms of massage therapy can help Massage therapy promotes healing by acting on the muscular, nervous, and circulatory systems in the body.It offers many therapeutic physical, mental, and emotional benefits including improving circulation and reducing swelling, decreasing muscle stiffness to promote relaxation and stress relief while reducing pain. It…

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Four common culprits for dizziness and vertigo

pt Health Four common culprits for dizziness and vertigo For many Canadians, dizziness or vertigo interferes with their daily life. Having a better understanding of symptoms and their triggers can be empowering. It can lead to helpful conversations with healthcare providers and support an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Lifemark vestibular physiotherapists hosted a free…

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Self-care tips to reduce shin pain

pt Health Self-care tips to reduce shin pain You might think that shin pain mostly happens to runners, but this issue can happen to anyone who has recently intensified their level of physical activity. Shin pain, also known as “shin splints”, is a condition caused by inflammation of the tibialis posterior muscle. This muscle runs along the…

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Strengthening exercises for racquet sports and golf

pt Health Strengthening exercises for racquet sports and golf Note:You should consult a healthcare professional before starting this or any exercise program to make sure the movements are right for your needs. A great way to improve in-game performance is to strengthen your body. When it comes to racquet sports or golf, exercise can be…

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What is frozen shoulder?

pt Health What is frozen shoulder? When Mrs. A.* was diagnosed with frozen shoulder, she was in so much pain that she struggled to reach the top shelves of her bookcase to grab her favourite books. Frozen shoulder is a painful condition that can severely restrict movement of the shoulder. Simple activities such as washing,…

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How to reach your health and fitness goals this year

pt Health How to reach your health and fitness goals this year A new year often marks when new commitments are made to a health and fitness routine. Here are some tips to help you be successful in reaching your goals this year.  Be intentional and specific  An achievable goal often starts with being intentional…

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Concussions: myths, facts, and recovery guidelines

pt Health Concussions: myths, facts, and recovery guidelines Lifemark registered physiotherapists Janine Ankenmann and Cregg Webber discussed how to identify concussions, myths around management, and steps to return to learning, home or work activities in a free webinar. Over half a million Canadians sustain one or more concussions each year, the majority of which result from falls and motor…

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5 fun ways to be active indoors

pt Health 5 fun ways to be active indoors Note: The exercises and/or stretches in this blog are not intended to replace the advice of your clinician. Starting a new exercise, stretch, movement, or activity may result in some expected stiffness and soreness. If you are unsure, please speak to your clinician before attempting any of…

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3 exercises to help improve foot pain with plantar fasciitis

pt Health 3 exercises to help improve foot pain with plantar fasciitis Note: The plantar fasciitis exercises and/or stretches in this blog are not intended to replace the advice of your clinician. Starting a new exercise, stretch, movement, or activity may result in some expected stiffness and soreness. If you are unsure, please speak to your…

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6 tips to reduce stress on your pelvic floor when exercising

pt Health 6 tips to reduce stress on your pelvic floor when exercising Note: You should consult a healthcare professional before starting this or any exercise program to make sure the movements are right for your needs. Experiencing low back pain, pelvic pain and discomfort, or leaking urine while exercising? These symptoms can indicate that…

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Feel your best for the holidays with these 5 stretches

pt Health Feel your best for the holidays with these 5 stretches The year flies by and before you know it, it’s autumn heading into winter. As we rake leaves, put away outdoor furniture, and start our holiday shopping, we might be left with sore and overworked muscles. Before you find yourself rubbing your neck…

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Anxious while driving? Occupational therapy can help.

pt Health Anxious while driving? Occupational therapy can help. Does the thought of driving worry you? Getting behind the wheel and driving, or simply being in a moving car, can be an overwhelming and anxious experience for some drivers and passengers. Anxious feelings associated with vehicles may be the result of car accidents (whether you…

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Osteoporosis: a silent disease

pt Health Osteoporosis: a silent disease Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become thin and porous, decreasing bone strength and increasing the risk of breaking bones. It’s often called a silent disease because you can’t feel your bones weakening. For some people, breaking a bone is the first sign of osteoporosis. Others notice…

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What exactly is occupational therapy?

pt Health What exactly is occupational therapy? Throughout my career as a physiotherapist, a question that countless patients have asked me (and a question I was asking too) is “what is occupational therapy?” As my understanding of occupational therapists (OTs) grew, I came to appreciate the vast skill set these healthcare professionals possess, and the…

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Dizziness can be stubborn – what you need to know

pt Health Dizziness can be stubborn – what you need to know Dizziness is common, and can affect 20-30% of people in their lifetime. Vestibular problems are often the cause. Whether you’re experiencing dizziness for the first time or have reoccurring symptoms – we can help. What is vestibular rehabilitation? The vestibular system includes the…

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Here’s why you should try pickleball

pt Health Here’s why you should try pickleball What’s one the fastest growing sports in North America? It’s a game you may be unfamiliar with, pickleball! A mix of tennis, badminton and table tennis, this much-loved sport was invented in 1965 and has become widely popular in the last 5 years. More and more individuals…

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3 common foot complaints

pt Health 3 common foot complaints Are you ignoring pain in your feet because you keep thinking that it will subside and get better on its own? While common, foot pain is not normal. Depending on the cause of your discomfort, many foot issues can be treated effectively. Below are three of the most common…

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First steps to help tame your sciatica

pt Health First steps to help tame your sciatica It’s 8:00 am. You roll over in bed hoping today will be different. Maybe today the agony will subside and you will be free of the experience of pain. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and getting out of bed presents the same challenges. Though it may not…

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4 surprising ways occupational therapy can help

pt Health 4 surprising ways occupational therapy can help What is an occupational therapist? Occupational therapists (OTs) work with people of all ages to overcome challenges that impact their ability to do the things that they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do in their daily lives. The main goal that…

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6 concussion myths debunked

pt Health 6 concussion myths debunked Have you or someone close to you experienced a concussion recently? Don’t know what concussion information to believe? You are not the only one! Doing your own research can be hard, so here are 6 concussion myths we have debunked for you. Myth #1: You need to lose consciousness…

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5 common summer sport injuries you should know about

pt Health 5 common summer sport injuries you should know about Summer is upon us, which for most means spending more time outside under the sun. As much as we love outdoor activities, they pose some risk of injury due to factors like footwear, body mechanics, and the outdoor environment itself. The good news is…

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What to expect during a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment

pt Health What to expect during a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialized branch of physiotherapy which addresses a range of conditions related to the pelvic floor, such as: Post partum recovery Pregnancy related pain Pre-partum education and  preparation Pelvic organ prolapse management Incontinence or bladder leakage Sexual dysfunction or painful…

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How to prevent overuse injuries

pt Health How to prevent overuse injuries Have you ever felt a gradual onset of pain during work, exercise or continuous movement and immediately started wondering how and why this pain came to be? At pt Health, we see a lot of patients that come in describing this kind of pain. They’re usually unsure why…

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5 movements and exercises to prepare you for hiking

pt Health 5 movements and exercises to prepare you for hiking As the days get warmer and longer, you may be thinking of going hiking, or an outdoor adventure with friends and family. Here are some tips that can help you get ready to hit the trails, make the most out of your time, and prevent…

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What is causing my shin pain and how can I treat it at home?

pt Health What is causing my shin pain and how can I treat it at home? You might think that shin pain mostly happens to runners, but this issue can happen to anyone who has recently intensified their level of physical activity. Shin pain, also known as “shin splints”, is a condition caused by inflammation…

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How to avoid injury in your garden or yard

pt Health How to avoid injury in your garden or yard With the nicer weather, you may have the urge to get your yard or garden in order. The bending and reaching involved in yard and garden work may get your body moving in ways you haven’t moved in a while and pain, discomfort and even…

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May is National Physiotherapy Month. So what is physiotherapy?

pt Health May is National Physiotherapy Month. So what is physiotherapy? Did you know that May is National Physiotherapy Month? While many studies show that receiving the right care after an injury can make a big difference in your recovery, not everyone is familiar with physiotherapy. So what is physiotherapy? Also called physical therapy, physiotherapy…

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Do you have low back pain? Try physiotherapy!

pt Health Do you have low back pain? Try physiotherapy! Did you know that over 80% of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives? With a prevalence rate that high, it’s no wonder that one of the most common complaints from patients seeking physiotherapy is that their lower back hurts.…

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7 tips to get you ready for golf before you tee off

pt Health 7 tips to get you ready for golf before you tee off Now that it’s spring, tee-times will start to book up quickly. It has been a long winter so before you tee off, maybe consider heading to the driving range for some practice swings and follow these tips to get ready to…

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3 techniques that can help manage pain and reduce stress

pt Health 3 techniques that can help manage pain and reduce stress You have probably heard that pain is influenced by many things – but did you know that stress and/or feelings of worry can make the brain send danger signals even when there is no threat? When the brain thinks we are in danger…

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How we’re putting women’s health first

pt Health How we’re putting women’s health first Many issues, like osteoporosis and pelvic floor dysfunction, disproportionality affect women. Clinicians at pt Health can address these issues, providing effective treatment through all stages of life. Learn about some of the ways we can help women live better lives below: Perinatal massage therapy Perinatal massage therapy…

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Here’s how occupational therapy can help you live your best life

pt Health Here’s how occupational therapy can help you live your best life Over the past century, the field of occupational therapy (OT) has continued to evolve in its efforts to help people deal with a wide variety of challenges. OTs can help deal with anything from (physical) injury recovery to mental health concerns –…

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6 benefits of cardiovascular fitness

pt Health 6 benefits of cardiovascular fitness What is cardiovascular fitness? Cardiovascular fitness (also called aerobic fitness) is your body’s ability to use oxygen to produce energy during physical activity. This requires the coordination of multiple systems in the body: respiratory (lungs), cardiovascular (heart, blood vessels), and musculoskeletal (muscles). The lungs are responsible for bringing…

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5 fun tips to help you stay active indoors

pt Health 5 fun tips to help you stay active indoors Looking for inspiration to help you get started on your fitness goals? It’s never too late. Here’s a friendly reminder that you don’t need fancy equipment to stay in shape. Keep reading to learn about five fun tips to help you stay active indoors.…

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4 benefits of tobogganing this winter

pt Health 4 benefits of tobogganing this winter Winter fun is a staple for living in Canada. It is a common sight to see people enjoying the great outdoors and doing activities like walking dogs, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing and tobogganing. Not only is outdoor activity a coping strategy for those long dark days of winter –…

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