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What is Sciatica, And How Do I Stop The Pain?

There are two types of categories of sciatic pain:

  • Acute sciatica (short-term) lasting 4-8 weeks.
  • Chronic sciatica (long term) lasting for 8 weeks or more.

The main symptom of sciatica is a shooting pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve. That can range from the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of either leg. This pain can range from a mild ache to severe debilitating pain.

There are several reasons why someone might suffer from sciatic pain. This may be the result of something as simple as bad posture, muscle strain or spasm, a sports injury, car accident, being overweight, sleeping on a too soft mattress, or a simple sneeze, cough, bend, or lift, if you are out of shape and have a weak core. More seriously the sciatic pain maybe caused by a slipped disc in the back.

Pain from sciatica can change on a daily basis: it can be shooting, burning, sharp, dull, non-stop, or intermittent.  Many people complain of intense and acute pain, while others experience a numb and weak feeling in the parts of their leg where it hurts. This may sometimes indicate more serious neurological problems.

Your health care practitioner; chiropractor or physiotherapist can check the spine for areas of tenderness, and test for sensation, coordination, and muscle strength. Sciatica can be relieved by treating symptoms and any specific causes that exists, such as a slipped disc.

The healthcare practitioners at Diversified Health use manual therapy as well as numerous modalities, such as the Kennedy Spinal Decompression Table,  (provides relief to severe back pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within the spinal discs) Dry Needling, Laser therapy, and eToims Therapy, when treating Sciatica pain.

Moderate exercise will be recommended when pain is minimal, and when acute symptoms have lessened. Rehab therapy will be suggested to help strengthen abdominal and back muscles, which is important to prevent a return of these symptoms.

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Mobility And Balance Issues At Any Age

Any one at any age can have balance and mobility issues.  These types of issues can be caused by an illness, injury, or as a natural progression as we age. When you are dealing with a balance or mobility issue you can increase the chance of sustaining an injury from a fall.  A physiotherapist can help to treat these symptoms and can help to increase your range of motion, strengthen your muscles, and improve your posture.

The physiotherapists at Diversified Health are trained to assess joint mobility, muscular strength, balance and gait patterns.  Part of their assessment is to identify deficits and come up with a program to improve such key issues as quadriceps and gluteus (thigh and buttock) strength. The practitioners will advise you on which specific strength, mobility and balance exercises would be most beneficial for you, and will make suggestions on functional ways to work on these exercises at home or at the gym.

Balance is dependent on core stability, hip and leg muscle control and visual systems. There are two types of balance; static balance when you are not moving, and dynamic balance when you start to move.

Related conditions poor balance can affect:

  • Achilles Tendon
  • Back Muscle Pain
  • Facet Joint Pain
  • Hamstring Strain
  • Knee Injuries
  • Muscle Strain
  • Overuse Injuries
  • Sciatica
  • Plantar Fasciitis

At Diversified Health, some specific exercises you might be shown include wall squats, bridging, or outer hip strengthening.  You might use tools such as balance boards, BOSU balls, the Vibe machine, and various other cardio or weight equipment. Other treatment options include: Gait Analysis, Ultrasound, Supportive Taping & Strapping, TENS Machine and Laser therapy.

The physiotherapists also educate regarding footwear, posture and general activity, exercise, and help you come up with a plan to incorporate all three kinds of physical activity (strength and balance exercises; endurance exercises; and flexibility exercises) into your daily life.
In most cases, your balance deficits can be quickly improved with specific balance or stability exercises.

 

 

 

 

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What Is An IMS Treatment, And How Can It Help?

IMS, or dry needling is a therapeutic treatment that targets tight, sore, and injured muscles.  The goal of IMS is to release tight muscles in order to relieve nerve irritation and restore range of motion.

A Physiotherapist will insert thin needles into a tight muscle while changing the needles depth and direction. This motion will cause that muscle to “twitch”.  The “twitch” is caused by a quick contraction of the muscle.  This grasping feeling will then in turn become a feeling of release as the tightened and short muscle relaxes: the needle is then removed.  (A needle placed in a normal healthy muscle would cause no response and no pain).

The experience of an IMS treatment greatly varies from person to person. The response can be anywhere from uncomfortable to quite painful; but it’s temporary.  The level of discomfort is directly related to the level of nerve dysfunction, and the discomfort will decrease as the nerve returns to normal function.  It is not the needle causing the pain, but the muscle’s response to the needling that is causing the pain.

There are a number of changes that take place when the needle is inserted into a muscle.  First, the stretch receptor in the muscle is stimulated, producing a reflex relaxation (lengthening). Second, the tiny “injury” created by the needle draws blood to the area, initiating the natural healing process. Thirdly, inserting the needle also creates what’s called an “electric potential” which acts like a reset switch to make the nerve function normally again.

IMS is helpful for the following conditions:

  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Sciatica
  • Whiplash
  • Shoulder pain
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Muscle sprains
  • Runners Knee
  • Plantar Fasciitis

The longer you have had your symptoms, the more treatments that are usually required. It can take 3-4 sessions to notice prolonged improvements in symptoms, though improvements are often found after the first session. On average, 4-8 sessions are required.

For more information on IMS/ dry needling, please contact our physiotherapists.

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The Two Must Do’s After A Car Accident

You can suffer injuries after a car accident even if there is no physical damage done to your car. The majority of injuries suffered in minor auto accident are soft tissue injuries. A chiropractor, physiotherapist or massage therapist can help you recover after your auto accident.

One of the most important things to do after an auto accident is to seek medical attention. Many people who have been in auto accident go straight to the ER. The ER may perscribe or conduct imaging, treat any cuts or broken bones, write a prescription for the pain and tell you to follow up with your primary care doctor.  There is also the option of going to your GP, walk in clinic or health care practitioner.

Some of the symptoms from a car accident that may not show up immediately are:

Arm / Leg Pain
Back / Neck Pain
Bruising / Tenderness
Dizziness / Headaches
Muscle Weakness
Numbness
Sprains / Strains
Whiplash

Don’t underestimate the emotional symptoms caused by a car accident and make sure you take care of your mental health. Following a car accident, you may suffer from depression, easily frustrated, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and “mental fog”.

The second most important thing to do after a car accident is to start a medical file/journal. Take detailed notes on your injuries, (take pictures of the accident location, and photos of your car’s damage and photos of your own injuries) treatments and what challenges you experience on a daily basis starting from the day of the accident and continuing until your last treatment; which can be a few days to numerous months depending on the severity of your injuries.

  • Keep a list of all doctors, clinics, hospitals, and health care practitioners
  • Keep receipts for all medical bills and receipts
  • Keep all correspondence with medical professionals, (emails, telephone conversations etc.) insurance adjusters, and any accident reports from the police
  •  Keep records of financial losses, such as lost wages

After the accident, your number one priority is to restore your mobility and range of motion, so you can get back to enjoying your daily activities.

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Treatments To Consider For Low Back Pain

Most cases of low back pain can be caused by a variety of problems, including muscle strain or sprain, herniated disc or degenerative disc disease. Typical sources of low back pain include:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Muscle spasm
  • Ruptured or herniated disk
  • Sciatica
  • Strain or tears to the muscles or ligaments supporting the back
  • The nerve roots in the low back, may be irritated
  • The bones, ligaments or joints may be damaged

Low back pain from a muscle strain is the most common and can be caused by lifting a heavy object, lifting while twisting, or a sudden movement or fall.  While pain or discomfort can happen anywhere in your back, the most common area affected is your low back.

When the muscles in the low back are strained or torn, the area around the muscles becomes inflamed.  This inflammation causes the muscles in the back to spasm and cause low back pain.

Treatment for low back pain depends upon the patient’s history and the type and severity of pain. The vast majority of lower back pain cases get better within six to eight weeks.

Treating low back pain consists of a combination of treatments, such as Chiropractic, Massage, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Cryo/Hydro Therapy, Laser Therapy, TENS therapy, Ultrasound, eToims, Decompression Table, Graston Technique, Shockwave Therapy, Neuro-mechanical Adjusting Tool as well as topical ointments such as Traumeel and nutritional supplements that help with inflammation.

An exercise program is necessary and essential to rehabilitate the spine, increase your range of motion and help alleviate back pain.

With the first symptoms of low back pain, stop the activity for the first few days; this allows injured tissue to begin to heal, and reduce any swelling or inflammation. You can also apply heat/ice to the painful area. Always use ice for the first 48-72 hours, then use heat.  You can also take something to help with the inflammation such as ibuprofen or nutritional supplements.

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Shockwave Therapy For Acute and Chronic Pain

Shockwave Therapy is a non-surgical treatment of soft tissue, bone, and joint pain.  Shockwave Therapy provides a safe, non-invasive, non-surgical alternative for those suffering with acute and chronic pain such as: knee pain, heel pain, foot pain, ankle pain, hamstring pain, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, wrist pain and hand pain.  It is also used to address sports injuries, scar tissue, stress fractures, enhance bone healing, and anyone suffering from joint and tendon disorders.

There are no side effects or long term effects with shockwave therapy and no extended recovery period. Shockwave therapy improves the metabolism in the pain region, increases blood circulation, promotes and accelerates the recovery of injured tissue, and stimulates the body’s repair mechanisms. Damaged tissue gradually regenerates and eventually heals.

Shockwave Therapy:

~ Decreases muscle tension and spasms
~ Reduces pain in the affected area
~ Decreases risk of Oedema (build up of fluid in the body which causes the affected tissue becoming swollen)
~ Increases production of collagen
~ Improves metabolism and circulation
~ Increases oxygenation to the damaged tissue
~ Dissolves calcified fibroblasts (type of cell that is responsible for making collagen)

Shockwave Therapy is exceptionally good at pain management by stimulating a metabolic reaction in the affected tissue, causing stress fibers to change in their permeability. Shockwave Therapy breaks down calcific deposits which induces an analgesic reaction, which blocks pain messages.

During a Shockwave treatment, a high-intensity sound wave interacts with the tissues of the body, effectively re-injuring the area on a cellular level and breaking up scarring that has occurred in the tendons and ligaments.  The controlled re-injuring of tissue allows the body to regenerate blood vessels and bone cells.  The resulting re-vascularization leads to faster healing, reversal of chronic inflammation, stimulation of collagen and a return to pre-injury activity levels.

To find out more about Shockwave Therapy, and to find out if this treatment is right for you, please contact our health care practitioners at 250-382-0018.

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Physiotherapy & Running

Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia article on:  How Physiotherapy Can Prevent & Treat Injury

Whether you are new to running or a long time fan, injuries are unfortunately common in the sport. From minor aches and pains to strains, sprains or broken bones, many injuries can keep you from continuing to enjoy running. A physiotherapist can work with you to treat a running injury, and they can also help you prevent injuries before they happen by doing gait analysis, recommending stretches, warm up exercises and

Whether you’re a dedicated longtime runner or someone who has just started out with a running goal, a physio can be a great ally to helping you both excel at and enjoy running as form of exercise. No matter what your level of fitness is, a physiotherapist will help you diagnose a running injury, treat the issue and give you easy to follow exercises and stretches you can do to improve strength and prevent further injury.

Depending on the type of running injury, techniques to treat them can include manual therapy, specialized stretches and exercises, ultrasound, taping, night splints, orthotics, acupuncture and more. For immediate relief from sprains, for example, physiotherapists will treat you with electrotherapy such as ultrasound and laser, and supportive bracing and taping to start your recovery. Physiotherapists can develop custom treatments and exercises for you that will be appropriate to your specific injury and your own level of fitness.

To read more tips about how working with a physio can help you either prevent a running injury or recover from one, download  the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia’s tip sheet.

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How to Treat an Ankle Injury

Close-up of a runner's shoes on a gravel trailAn ankle injury occurs when the joint is twisted too far out of its normal position. Most ankle injuries occur during sports, walking or hiking, or by wearing ill-fitting foot wear.  An ankle injury can be caused from tripping, falling, jumping, walking on uneven surfaces, items falling on you, or a car accident.

What should you do immediately after an ankle injury? Use the R.I.C.E protocol.

Rest: Rest the ankle and keep weight off of it.
Ice:  Ice immediately and (up to 72 hours of the injury), never leave the ice on for longer than 20 minutes at a time, repeating every 40 minutes.
Compression:  Wrap the injured ankle, keep it immobile and supported.
Elevate: Elevating the injured ankle to at least the level of your heart  – this will reduce swelling.

Ankle injuries are graded as mild, moderate, or severe.

Mild sprains –  grade 1: treat with the RICE therapy for several days until the pain and swelling  has improved. The healing process will take anywhere from 2 to 5 days. Your health care practitioner can prescribe range of motion, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

Moderate sprains – grade 2: treat with the RICE therapy procedures as above.  Your healthcare practitioner or doctor will prescribe a brace or splint to immobilize the ankle, and prescribe exercises to improve range of motion and to strengthen the ankle.  You may not be able to place weight on the ankle for several days.

Severe sprains – grade 3:  this type of sprain involves a complete tear or rupture of a ligament. It’s treated with immobilization of the joint, which can include a cast, and will be followed by a longer period of physical therapy for range of motion, stretching, and strength building.  You will need the use of crutches for mobility and may need surgery to reconstruct the torn ligaments.   This type of sprain requires the immediate attention of a doctor.

The initial treatment of a sprain will include resting the ankle until the swelling goes down, ( 3- 7 days), followed by a period of one to two weeks of exercise to restore range of motion, and flexibility; and then several more weeks (3-12 weeks) before returning to your normal activities.

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Spirit Donahue, MPT at Diversified Health Clinic

Spirit Donahue, MPT, physiotherapist at Diversified Health Clinic in Victoria BCSpirit is our newest practitioner to join the Diversified Health Team.  He completed his Masters of Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, after finishing his Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University Victoria.

Physiotherapy is a clinical health science and profession that aims to rehabilitate and assists people to restore, maintain and maximize their strength, function, movement, and overall well-being by using natural methods such as exercise, manipulation, adapted equipment and modalities.

Spirit’s treatments combine home exercise plans, hands-on techniques, and the use of multiple cutting edge modalities, which assist his patients to improve their neuromyofascial function, and get them back to their daily routines as soon as possible.

One of these modalities used is spinal decompression. Spinal decompression is the therapeutic elongation of the spine in a slow, gentle manner in order to relieve pressure on compressed vertebrae and discs. This treatment is appropriate for those individuals who have low back pain that is caused by herniated discs or degenerated discs. Spinal decompression is combined with other types of physiotherapy such as active exercises and manual therapy.

Shockwave Therapy is another non-surgical treatment of soft tissue, bone, and joint pain that is regularly used at Diversified Health. The practitioner applies a conductive gel and moves the hand piece in a circular motion over the treatment area. Shockwave Therapy sends high-energy mechanical pulses to stimulate the breakdown of scar tissue and improve blood circulation in the area. These pulses also initiate metabolic activity and an inflammatory response that promotes and stimulates healing.

Spirit is pursuing ongoing training through the Orthopaedic Manual Therapy division, as well as acupuncture and dry needling to implement these techniques into his clinical practice.

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Treatments for a Tension Headache

Woman pressing her fingers to her temple with a tension headache“The International Headache Society (IHS 2013) has validated cervicogenic headache as a secondary headache, which means headache caused by a disorder of the cervical spine and its component bony, disc and/or soft tissue elements, usually but not invariably accompanied by neck pain”.

Many of us suffer from headaches on a regular basis. Instead of taking a pain relief medication, why not try a chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy or acupuncture treatment.

Stiff joints in the upper neck are the primary cause of cervicogenic headaches.  If a joint, surrounding muscles are injured or irritated, the joints can become stiff and cause pain to be referred into areas of the head.

Here is a list of symptoms that are generally associated with this tension headaches:

  • Constant and dull ache
  • Stiffness or restricted movement of the neck
  • Pain radiating from back to the front of the head
  • Headache worsened by sustained postures or certain neck movements
  • Dizziness

Chiropractors and Physiotherapists are skilled at correcting muscular imbalances, which can contribute to the development of cervicogenic headaches.

Acupuncture is also effective for all types of headaches. “The available evidence suggests that a course of acupuncture consisting of at least six treatment sessions can be a valuable option for people with frequent tension-type headache”.

Tension headaches can be effectively treated with massage therapy. Massage therapy promotes circulation, decreases pain from Trigger Points, and helps to relieve muscle spasms. Massage therapy has also shown to decrease levels of the stress hormone Cortisol, while increasing endorphins.

Some of the methods and modalities used at Diversified Health include:

  • Joint mobilization (flexibility of muscles) this includes stretching; manipulations techniques to restore full range of motion without pain:
  • Tens: (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). A TENS machine works by sending electrical pulses across the surface of the skin and along the nerve strands.  Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation sends a painless electrical current to specific nerves. The mild electrical current generates heat to relieve stiffness, improve mobility, and relieve pain.
  • IMS/Dry Needling:  dry needling, also referred to as intramuscular stimulation (IMS) and/or intramuscular therapy (IMT) is a procedure in which an acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin and muscle.  Dry needling is primarily directed at myofascial trigger points. Shortened muscles often have “trigger points” that can contribute to referred pain, relaxation or release of these tightened areas can help improve neck muscle function
  • Shockwave therapy: Shockwave Therapy is a non-surgical treatment of soft tissue, bone, and joint pain.  Shockwave treatments send high-energy mechanical pulses to an injured area. These high-energy mechanical pulses stimulate the breakdown of scar tissue, improves blood circulation, and decreases inflammation; which helps speed up healing and recovery times.
  • Spinal Decompression: Spinal decompression provides relief to severe back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs.
  • Class IV K-Laser: Class IV K-Laser therapy is based on the concept of photobiostimulation; when photonic energy (the laser) is focused on soft  tissue, ATP production can be boosted. ATP is the substance responsible for cellular energy production.
  • eToims/Needless IMS: eToims, is a non-invasive treatment for pain and inflammation in the body’s soft and connective tissues.
  • Graston technique: The Graston Technique is an instrument-assisted, soft tissue mobilization therapy.  The Graston Technique safely removes scar tissues and scar tissue adhesions that have occurred as a result of chronic inflammation, injuries, repetitive motion or from old injuries of the past.

Please contact our health care practitioners to discuss which type of treatment would be beneficial to your health issues.

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