Movement Therapy bootcamps are circuit style sessions that are designed to incorporate a combination of full body strengthening exercises and cardiovascular conditioning. The class is set up as a circuit in order to keep your heart rate up and challenge you throughout the workout.
Be ready to experience a variety of different movements and exercises including but not limited to: resistance training (squat, hinge, push, pull), TRX, kettlebells, medicine balls, prowler, battle ropes, agility ladder and more! Often times, it can be difficult to go from nothing to joining a big box gym. This class is smaller in size in order to provide you with a more intimate and personalized experience.
- Concussion Therapy is an advanced approach to concussion rehabilitation guiding athletes safely back to full participation in their sport and their lives. However, athletes are not the only people who experience concussions; concussions can also result from motor vehicle accidents, falls and/or while playing games (children on a playground, riding bikes etc.). Concussion Therapy provides an up-to-date guideline for best practices when assessing and/or treating concussed individuals. The program provides comprehensive care and individualized rehabilitative strategies for treating patients with concussion or post-concussion symptoms.
- Full recovery from a concussion is expected to occur after days-months, this is true for most cases. However, 15-20% of concussed individuals continue to experience persistent and potentially disabling problems beyond the typical recovery period. Some problems include: reduced functional ability, heightened emotional distress and poor performance at work/school and/or delayed return. If symptoms persist it is commonly known as post-concussion syndrome.
- Our clinicians find the best approach for concussion management using best evidence, objective assessment strategies and clinical experience/judgement to individualize for each patient's care.
WHAT IS COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE?
Cosmetic acupuncture, also known as facial acupuncture is a treatment designed to naturally make your skin look younger and smoother. It works by the same mechanisms as traditional acupuncture by increasing circulation and blood flow to where the needle is inserted. This helps to reverse the signs of aging, reduce wrinkle depth and length, brighten skin complexion and improve your skin’s overall health.
IS ACUPUNCTURE SAFE?
Acupuncture originated in Asia and has been around for thousands of years. It is used to treat a wide array of health conditions and in recent years has become very popular in treating pain problems. Acupuncture is a “regulated treatment procedure” that 11 professions can provide legally in Ontario, each within their scope of practice: Chiropodists, Chiropractors, Dentists, Medical Doctors, Naturopathic Doctors, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Registered Acupuncturists, Registered Massage Therapists, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners.
HOW DOES COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
When the tiny acupuncture needles puncture your skin, they stimulate upregulation of your circulatory and lymphatic system, which work together to deliver oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells. This begins to nourish your skin from the inside out in order to even out your complexion and promote your skin’s glow. The positive microtraumas also help stimulate the production of collagen and stem cells, which helps improve elasticity, while minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Every treatment begins with jade rolling to the neck and face. This step prepares the tissue for the process and feels like a massage for your face and neck muscles. Next, your acupuncture provider will insert tiny needles throughout the body before moving onto the facial portion of the treatment. Treating the body in addition to the face is important in order to prevent energy congestion in the face. If needles were only placed in the skin of your face, you are much more likely to experience dullness, headache, and discomfort. When you start with the body, you can experience a full flow of energy that helps support the facial acupuncture.
On the face, the acupuncture provider will insert 40 to 70 tiny and painless needles. As the needles are inserted into the skin, they create micro wounds, known as positive microtraumas. When your body senses these wounds, it goes into repair mode and deposits collagen and other nutrients to area.
Next, you will be left to rest for 30 minutes while the needles go to work. At this time the Celluma Light Therapy will be placed over your face and needles. Light energy is combined with the facial acupuncture to improve cellular health by accelerating the repair and replenishment of compromised tissue cells. At the end of your visit, the needles will be carefully removed and your acupuncture provider will use face oil with guasha to gently massage the muscles of the face and neck.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE REQUIRED?
Cosmetic acupuncture, unlike dermal fillers and botox is not a quick fix but it does last longer! Still, it is important to manage client’s expectations. The focus is to create long-term changes in the health of the skin and body, not short-term quick fixes. The results take time but clients can expect better collagen stimulation, a brightened skin tone, reduced jaw tension, and a softer appearance overall on top of health benefits like reduced anxiety and tension.
We find that the majority of people see improvements after just five sessions of cosmetic acupuncture, but we recommend 10 treatments on a weekly basis to see optimum results. After the 10 weeks is up, you can discontinue the treatment, or for best results, follow up once every 6-8 weeks for maximal results.
Your general health, diet and skin care routine can greatly affect results and will be reviewed by our naturopathic doctor both before and during cosmetic acupuncture treatments. This ensures that we maximize your results and improve your overall health in the process!
DOES COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
We will let this before and after do the talking:
Overall, you can see less puffiness in the face, most notably in the jaw area. Decreased congestion (blue hue) behind the eyelids and below the eyes. The patient also had significant redness and swelling in the chin area which has been reduced by the 7th treatment. Overall skin tone is brightened, revealing the patient’s own natural glow.
Are you interested in turning back time, looking younger and doing it naturally? If so, contact us to find out how we can help!
Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin. While details vary between practitioners, societies, and cultures, the practice consists of drawing tissue into a cap placed on the targeted area by creating a partial vacuum – either by the heating and subsequent cooling of the air in the cup, or via a mechanical pump. The cup is usually left in place for somewhere between five and fifteen minutes but can also be moved around over the skin.
The old Chinese medical maxim holds that pain results from the congestion, stagnation, and blockage of Qi, or vital energy, vital fluids, lymph, phlegm, and blood. If pain is the essence of disease, then suffering is a result of obstructed or irregular flow in the body. Chinese cupping is therefore a method of breaking up the blockage to restore the body’s natural flow of energy.
While an off-the-shelf knee brace offers many benefits, there are a few other benefits that a custom knee braces offers. A custom-fitted brace is tailored to your leg and provides maximum support to protect the knee ligaments. Our custom knee braces are some of the strongest in the market utilizing our 4- Points-of-Leverage System to prevent your knee from entering the “at-risk” position for tearing your ACL. Our custom knee braces have a lifetime frame/ hinge vs. a one-year off-the-shelf frame/hinge. The materials are light, strong and ideal for sports or daily use.
All electrotherapy modalities (with the exception of biofeedback) involve the introduction of some physical energy into a biologic system. This energy brings about one or more physiological changes, which are used for therapeutic benefit. Clinically, it is probably more useful to work the model in reverse - determine first the nature of the problem to be addressed. Then establish the physiological changes that need to take place in order to achieve these effects. Lastly, the modality which is most able to bring about the changes in the tissue(s) concerned should be a relatively straightforward decision.
Individualized exercise prescription is an exercise program that is tailored to your specific goals, needs, and abilities. To uncover this information a health or fitness professional will perform a detailed health screening and fitness assessment. A comprehensive fitness assessment involves a series of measurements that help to determine your current health and fitness level. Once your baseline health and fitness level has been determined, fitness professionals can recommend the most appropriate exercises to help you obtain your goals in a safe systematic fashion.
Fascia is a network of layered connective tissue that is present throughout the body and helps keep tissues supported and in place. In the realm of manual therapy, this tissue is important because it helps keep muscles and tendons in place. It hosts the nerves and blood vessels that supply muscle, ligament and tendon. It also weaves into structures such as ligaments and joint capsules which help support joints. This becomes critical in rehabilitation when the fascia becomes adhesed to its surrounding tissue due to acute or overuse injury and limits its function.
Fascial Stretch Therapy or FST (TM) uses multiplanar and multi joint stretches to target the fascia. They are bed and anchor based stretches. For more a more detailed idea of what this is about check out the Stretch to Win website . This treatment aims to do the following by “unsticking” that fascia:
Relieve chronic muscles tightness and tension
Improve joint mobility and overall flexibility. often reducing stress on other structures
Improve posture
Improve circulation, relaxation and sleep . thus maximize rehabilitation and sports recovery
It is a great compliment to other forms of rehabilitation and soft tissue therapies, including ART, massage, acupuncture, and of course exercise therapy.
Our Functional Mobility class stems from our motto that ‘Movement is Medicine’. It can be described as a system of movements designed to optimize joint function by combining ideologies from some of today’s top mobility based systems. Pretty much, we’ve done the leg work for you and created a class that teaches you the best movements designed to optimize your functional capabilities!
Each joint requires a balance of two things in order to function optimally: Mobility and Stability. Many of us are either strong but stiff or flexible yet weak but each without the other leaves you vulnerable to injury. However, when you combine the two, you are not only increasing your range of motion (ROM) but developing what we like to call “usable” ROM. Usable ROM can be defined as being able to actually control your joints new found range. Sounds great right!?
This class will teach you to move better, by giving you the tools to take mobility into your own hands. Additionally, it will be designed to be helpful for anyone, regardless of skill level by customizing the movements to your abilities and limitations. One thing we pride ourselves on at Movement Therapy is an individualized approach and although individualization sometimes becomes difficult in a group setting, the movements prescribed during this class are inherently modifiable.
The FMS is a tool used to identify asymmetries which result in functional movement deficiencies. The FMS aims to identify imbalances in mobility and stability during seven fundamental movement patterns. These movement patterns are designed to provide observable performance of basic locomotor, manipulative and stabilizing movements by placing an individual in extreme positions where weaknesses and imbalances become noticeable if appropriate mobility and motor control is not utilized. Once these deficiencies have been identified through the FMS, a program of corrective exercises is then developed with the goal of preventing musculoskeletal injuries.
The FMS consists of seven movement patterns which require mobility and stability. The seven following movement patterns are scored from 0-3 points, with the sum creating a score ranging from 0-21 points.
Deep Squat
Hurdle Step
In-line Lunge
Active Straight-leg Raise
Trunk Stability Push-up
Rotary Stability
Shoulder Mobility
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation or Simply IASTM is a new range of tool which enables clinicians to efficiently locate and treat individuals diagnosed with soft tissue dysfunction. The technique itself is said to be a modern evolution from Traditional Chinese Medicine called Gua Sha. However Gua Sha was not used to treat Musculoskeletal conditions but was traditionally applied along meridiens to move the bad chi out through the skin. IASTM is a procedure that is rapidly growing in popularity due to its effectiveness and efficiency while remaining non-invasive, with its own indications and limitations.
IASTM is performed with ergonomically designed instruments that detect and treat fascial restrictions, encourage rapid localization and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis, chronic inflammation, or degeneration. As in any Manual therapy treatment, supplementation with exercises and additional modalities should be used in conjunction with IASTM.
The Kinesio Taping Method is felt to cause physiological effects on several body systems. The systems affected by the body are thought to include the circulatory/lymphatic, neural, muscular, and fascial systems, as well as the joints. Kinesio Taping is currently being used by therapists to change muscle tone, move lymphatic fluids, correct movement patterns, and improve posture. The Kinesio Taping Method is a unique method of applying Kinesio Tape in a specific manner to create change in the aforementioned systems. Benefits of using the tape are that it is more economical over time than other modalities, it is easy to learn and apply, and it may be used over a longer period of time.
Manual Therapy is any “hands-on” treatment provided by the physical therapist. Treatment may include moving joints in specific directions and at different speeds to regain movement (joint mobilization and manipulation), muscle stretching, passive movements of the affected body part, or having the patient move the body part against the therapist’s resistance to improve muscle activation and timing.
Skilled hand movements intended to produce any or all of the following effects: improve tissue extensibility; increase range of motion of the joint complex; mobilize or manipulate soft tissues and joints; induce relaxation; change muscle function; modulate pain; and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation or movement restriction.
Medical Acupuncture is a precise nerve stimulation technique, in which fine solid needles (acupuncture needles) are inserted into defined anatomical sites, and stimulated manually or with electricity for the therapeutic purpose of modulating abnormal activity of the nervous system, in pain syndromes, functional problems, and any diseases in which these modulatory mechanisms are available.
Medical Acupuncture is mechanism-based, not disease-based. Therapeutic goals and treatment targets are selected based on the identified neurological dysfunctions contributing to the clinical presentation of the symptoms.
Sometimes Medical Acupuncture treatments result in immediate disappearance of the symptoms, and other times results in permanent resolution of the dysfunction, especially when dysregulation of the nervous system was the main problem.
This intervention is similar to exercise in that it elicits existing available regulatory mechanisms through the up-regulation and down-regulation of specific cellular processes. In simple terms, neurofunctional acupuncture aims at stimulating nerves in order to aid the body in healing itself!
If you have been in a motor vehicle accident, you have access to physiotherapy through your car insurance policy. You do not need to see a physician first, unless you so choose. You may see one of our physiotherapists directly, and as soon as possible. We will assess you and if further investigation is required by a doctor, we will make the appropriate referral or send a letter to your own physician.
Research shows that even low impact accidents at speeds as low as 15 mph can cause bodily injury. If left untreated, these injuries could lead to future problems like headaches, tingling and numbness, muscle weakness, and even disc problems.
Visiting a Healthcare Professional is Essential Following a Motor Vehicle Accident
Don’t be fooled into thinking, “I went to the emergency room and they said I was okay. They even took x-rays and said I would be fine.” We often hear this from our patients and then a couple of weeks post-accident they show up in the office because of pain. Emergency Department doctors are trained to focus on emergency, life-threatening conditions. Most medical doctors are not trained to deal with this type of musculoskeletal problem nor is the hospital emergency room equipped for this type of treatment.
Motor vehicle accident injuries are treated after a complete and thorough assessment is performed. This allows us to identify the exact extent of your injuries and design a treatment plan that is unique to your condition. This is usually followed by a series of physiotherapy, chiropractic or Massage therapy treatments and exercises. Treatment times vary greatly and are adjusted according to your individual progress.
Pelvic floor physical therapy involves the pelvic floor muscle group, which is responsible for a variety of functions. These muscles support the pelvic organs, assist in bowel and bladder control, and contribute to sexual arousal and orgasm.
A person may be referred to pelvic floor therapy to treat incontinence, difficulty with urination or bowel movements, constipation, chronic pelvic pain, and painful intercourse.
Women may see a pelvic floor therapist for treatment of vaginismus or endometriosis. Male disorders, such as painful ejaculationand premature ejaculation, can also be treated this way.
Pelvic floor therapists might use several techniques:
Education. Patients may need to learn more about their pelvic anatomy and how different components work alone and They may also need to learn how habits or hygiene affect their symptoms.
Pelvic floor exercises. Patients are taught how to contract and relax pelvic floor muscles in relation to other muscles. They are also taught breathing and timing techniques to make the exercises more effective. Such exercises can stretch tight muscles, strengthen weak ones, and improve flexibility.
Manual therapy. A physical therapist may use hands-on massage or stretching to help with posture, blood circulation, and mobility.
Pelvic floor biofeedback. Biofeedback is a technique that can help patients “see” how the pelvic floor muscles are working. To do this, a probe is inserted into a woman’s vagina or a man’s anus and results are displayed on a computer screen.
Electrical stimulation. A low voltage electrical current may be used to teach patients how to coordinate their muscle contractions.
Vaginal dilators. These tube-shaped plastic devices can help women learn to relax their pelvic muscles to allow easier penetration. Women who have been treated for gynecological cancer may also find them helpful for vaginal rehabilitation after treatment.
Sports Injury Rehabilitation helps athletes effectively treat pain and return to normal function. We emphasize the importance of early injury recognition and treatment.
In conjunction with receiving a course of treatment, specific strengthening and flexibility exercises will be implemented. Progressive exercises are included in rehabilitation programmes to ensure the injury site returns to a fully functional state. Our team approach includes close communication with all involved parties on the progress of each individual.
Sports Injury Rehabilitation treats a range of conditions including acute sports injuries, strains, sprains, muscle, tendon and ligament repairs, tendonitis, hand injuries, shoulder dislocation, foot or ankle dysfunction and surgery rehab.
The Sports Injury Rehabilitation Program will benefit those with:
Post-operative injuries.
ACL reconstruction.
Meniscus tears.
Rotator cuff repair.
Acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.
Sprains and strains.
Tedonitis and bursitis.
Thermotherapy consists of application of heat or cold (cryotherapy) for the purpose of changing the temperature of soft tissue with the intention of improving the symptoms of certain conditions. Cryotherapy and thermotherapy are useful adjuncts for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and soft tissue injuries. Using ice or heat as a therapeutic intervention decreases pain in joint and muscle as well as soft tissues and they have opposite effects on tissue metabolism, blood flow, inflammation, edema and connective tissue extensibility.
Spinal traction is a treatment technique that applies a longitudinal force to stretch and decompress the vertebral joints and soft tissues around the spine. Spinal traction is most commonly used on the cervical and lumbar spines, but can also be applied to the thoracic spine as well. Traction is applied with a specific grade of force or weight, and for a specific duration according to the signs and symptoms of the condition. For instance, traction can be applied from a range of a few seconds up to 30 minutes, depending on what is needed. The force or weight used is usually relatively low and feels quite comfortable to the patient.
Traction can be applied by 2 types of methods:
Manual traction by the physiotherapist - This is where the therapist uses his or her hands to apply the traction force to the spinal joints.
Mechanical Traction by a traction or decompression machine - This method of traction is often used when a specific force and a longer duration of traction is needed.