The Upside, and the Downside of Inflammation An upside to inflammation? You might be thinking: “There’s an upside? Isn’t inflammation bad?” We use ice to stop the inflammation in a sprained joint; we constantly hear about how inflammation can cause diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, even cancer; and there are foods that are better for […]
My Jaw Hurts! What Can I Do?
Is jaw pain getting you down? Are you plagued by clicking in your jaw every time you chew something delicious? Is beef jerky out of the question for your aching jaw? Have you seen a dentist or doctor and been diagnosed with something called TMD? What is TMJ? TMJ is actually the name of your […]
Insomnia, Acupuncture and You
A good night’s rest is an important part of our health, and insomnia is a real drag. Sleep influences everything from how we heal to how we perform. Everyone knows how difficult it can be to function without a good night’s sleep. Insomnia refers to the inability to fall asleep easily, waking up during the […]
Digestion and Acupuncture
Are you having problems with digestion or with stomach pain? Does bloating, nausea, and indigestion affect your everyday life? Digestion is complex. Its a long process involving many steps and parts of our bodies. Diet and nutrition also have a huge impact on our digestion and how we feel. When we experience symptoms like bloating, nausea, […]
Chronic episodic low back pain.
Acute low back pain comes, then goes and is gone. Chronic low back pain is continually there for a very long time without break. What about acute episodes of low back pain that last a short while, but seem to come back every month or 2 or 3? Is it possible to finally end this […]
Common Golf Injuries and What to Do About Them!
The return of Spring means the start of another golf season in Canada. The fresh air, the smell of cut grass, and the feeling of making a clutch putt is second to none. As good as the golf experience can be, it’s easily ruined by either an acute or a nagging season long injury. Golf […]
Since when do physiotherapists order xrays?
In 2013, Alberta Health granted physiotherapists ordering privileges for certain types of diagnostic imaging (xray, ultrasounds and MRI). This was another step in the advancement of primary care practice for physiotherapy in Alberta. Including myself, CSA employees a number of these qualified PTs. “I have knee pain. So you mean I don’t have to see […]
I have Achilles Tendonitis! (No you don’t. And stop stretching)
Tendons are phenomenal structures. Our understanding of them has grown immensely in the past 25 years. In fact the proper care for tendon injuries has changed more in that time than perhaps any other injury that is commonly seen in physiotherapy. The Achilles tendon is particularly unique and notoriously difficult to treat when injured. Here […]
How Do I Know if I Need an Xray?
Did you know that in Alberta, physiotherapists who have taken the required training have the ability to request xrays, MRI, or ultrasound imaging for their clients? Often this can be helpful in determining the appropriate treatment and can help rule in or out certain conditions. How do you know if you need imaging? There are […]
Tennis elbow anyone?
Tennis elbow. It’s one of the most common yet complex musculoskeletal conditions affecting the elbow. The name might make you thing the condition is caused by playing tennis. In actual fact, studies shows it is more common in work related activities than in tennis players. The typical symptoms are pain in the outside of the […]
