We live in a society where computers and offices (both at work and at home) are commonly present. These elements are crucial in our lives, as they often make things very efficient for us. We heavily rely on computers and offices to get our tasks completed. Not many disadvantages, right?…

The irony of this of course, is despite computers making our lives easier, they have also made us dependent on them for long periods of time. With that in mind, postural and/or repetitive strain injuries are increasingly being reported and are things we see in the clinic every single day.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the onset of postural and repetitive strain injuries, including:

• Posture –
  • Posture is the most critical component. Slouching at the keyboard puts your spine and limbs in positions that contribute to increased strain and tension, as well as increasing the risk of eye strain
• Office set-up –
  • A poorly designed workstation, or one that does not fit you well, can contribute to the onset of RSI (e.g. reaching for the mouse or keyboard too high or low, wrists extended during keyboarding);
• Worker technique –
  • Pounding the keyboard, using your wrists to move the mouse, or gripping the mouse tightly increases the demands on the hand and wrist and can trigger or aggravate symptoms of RSI
• Work Habits –
  • Sitting for extended periods of time without changing position is hard on your whole body and is a factor in developing RSI.

(Source Material: Canadian Physiotherapy Association):

If you are feeling those aches and pains at the end of a workday, you may strongly benefit from a consultation with our Physiotherapy team. We would be happy to talk about ways we can alleviate your current aches, and more importantly, prevent additional injuries in the future!

Thanks!
The Physiotherapy Department

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Upper Cross Syndrome is commonly found among office workers or students who are sitting behind a desk all day. It is characterized by a “hunched over” posture and rounded shoulders due to tightening/shortening of the pectorals (chest muscles) as well as the upper trapezius and levator scapulae (upper back and neck muscles). There is also a weakness/lengthening of the scapular muscles surrounding the shoulder blade.

Rehab protocols at PHYSIOMED Don Mills include hands on work from the physiotherapist, modalities such as Ultrasound and Interferential Current Therapy as well as active rehabilitation through postural exercises, mobility, stretching and strength training.

If you or someone you know is experiencing rounded shoulders and a hunched over posture then come in and check us out. We will do our very best to get you back to your normal healthy self!

Thanks!

The Physiomed Physiotherapy Department

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One of the most common issues with the elbow is due to a condition called ‘tennis elbow’.

What is misleading about the term ‘tennis elbow’ is that, often the reason for the pain is not due to tennis or the elbow at all!

The usual pain associated with tennis elbow ranges from an ache to a sharp pain, and primarily is located on the outside of the upper forearm.  Believe it or not, but the reason for this pain can likely be blamed on your wrist!  Very often, individuals with careers or hobbies that involve a lot of wrist usage (painting, using a screw driver, people on the computer often, etc.) suffer from tennis elbow pain.  To be more specific, repetitive activities that involve the wrist going backwards are to be blamed for the pain.

Though different people may have different grades of tennis elbow, it is very common amongst most sufferers to have soreness in the elbow/forearm, difficulty lifting objects, and shooting pain in the forearm.  These issues can really hinder your daily activities!

The team at PHYSIOMED Don Mills have successfully treated many individuals with tennis elbow, and we hope we can do the same for you!

Thanks!

The Physiotherapy Department

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Shockwave therapy is a cutting edge treatment used at only a select few clinics in the GTA.  Extensive research has been done to show how well this therapy can work.

Dr. Robert Gordon, a Toronto area Orthopaedic Surgeon, has researched and fully supports the use of shockwave therapy for a wide variety of chronic injuries.  Dr. Gordon has even trained the staff of Don Mills Health Care to utilize this ground breaking treatment.

Besides the overall benefit of getting rid of your lingering injury, check out some of Shockwave’s other advantages.

5 Benefits of Shockwave therapy:

●      Non surgical treatment

●      No side effects

●      Accelerates the healing process

●      Shown to have proven results

●      Coverage available from most insurance companies for Shockwave treatment

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Thanks!

The Physiotherapy Department

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Graston Technique (GT) is a treatment method used to correct muscle, ligament and tendonous injuries. It involves using instruments that can both detect and treat soft tissue problems! It goes beyond the conventional approaches that you may have seen before in physiotherapy.

The Graston Technique treatment has shown great results on various issues such as tendinitis, muscles spasms, sprains/strains, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other soft tissue related injuries.

Some quick notes:
● Detection: Just like how a stethoscope detects and amplifies sound, Graston instruments use the same principle to detect soft tissue issues
● Treatment: The instruments are shaped so that they can break down scar tissue around your injured areas
● Time: Each session takes about 5-10 minutes using the GT instruments, and another 15 minutes or so to stretch and strengthen areas

For more information about your injuries and how Graston Technique can help you, come on in and talk to our Physiotherapist!

Thanks!

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As clinicians, it is our responsibility to investigate the different products out there on the market before recommending it for our patients or using it in the clinic.

The fact is, a vast amount of exercise equipment exists out there to help strengthen the core.  But unlike humans, exercise equipment is not created equally!

Though we had all the options in the world to choose from, we have brought in one of the most researched and effective pieces of equipment on the market – the MedX Core Strengthening equipment.

What makes this equipment so effective is the way it targets your true core muscles without letting your other body parts cheat for you!  In technical terms, this is called muscle isolation, and it makes a significant difference when training your core muscles.

Based on the research that we’ve seen, and the positive comments made by our current patients, we fully support the MedX Core equipment and know it can make a great difference to help strengthen up your core.

Thanks!

The Physiotherapy Department

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The benefits of exercise while rehabilitating from an injury or condition are numerous!

If you choose to work on cardiovascular or aerobic training, you can make gains in the areas of weight loss, blood pressure control and circulation.  Resistive training, on the other hand, can allow you to strengthen and tone your muscles.

Regardless of the training type, here are some tips to help you can use to ensure your exercise program is a successful one.

Tips:

●      Stay hydrated and take breaks during exercise sessions

●      Try exercising at different points in the day (morning, afternoon, evening)

●      Don’t exercise beyond the point of pain (don’t over-do it!)

●      Create a goal and work towards it!

●      Exercising is as much mental as it is physical…it’s a balancing act, so try to master both!

It’s easy to fall off track with an exercise program while rehabbing, because after all you’re human.  But try to follow the above steps and talk to your Physiotherapist about other things that will work for you!

Thanks!

The Physiotherapy Department

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Dr. Charbonneau sees her career not as a job but as a calling, directed by an inner vision and core set of personal and spiritual values. Her energy comes from serving others and using her position as a Doctor to act as a ‘catalyst for positive change’ in the lives of her patients. Our policy is to provide ‘top notch service going above and beyond, receiving genuine care and comfort with the finest personal service in a warm, relaxed environment’. While many chiropractic offices follow an ‘in and out’ in two minutes approach, she prefers the ‘Cadillac’ package characterized by well trained staff that offer patients outstanding service, comfort and care. The biggest impact Dr. Charbonneau has made is to improve the lives of her patients at every opportunity. She has treated athletes and specifically NFL and CFL (National Football League and Canadian Football League) players who come from across Canada seeking her services. Her goal is to treat them and get them back on the field as soon as possible. Dr. Charbonneau often takes calls for advice from athletes while traveling, which they incorporate into their program with their local practitioners.

Dr. Charbonneau has made a big impact on her employees as they have on her. Her employees share her values and arrive at work with a strong desire to improve the lives of the thousands of patients the clinic serves each year. Dr. Charbonneau’s reputation has spread among her professional circles. Consequently, other clinics seek her guidance in areas about how best to improve the patient experience. Dr. Charbonneau’s hope is to share knowledge and best practices with other professionals in her industry, thereby raising the quality of care and professional standards of the industry as a whole.

As busy as her schedule is as a mother, a full time practitioner and up until recently, a full time student, Dr. Charbonneau volunteers her time teaching new parents how to effectively raise their children to create happy well functioning families.

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