Video Gait Analysis
Ever wonder what you look like when you’re running? As a physiotherapist, my eyes have become trained to look at body mechanics and it’s amazing to see how there is such variation on how people run. No one teaches us how to run. It’s a natural movement pattern that develops naturally as a child. Babies […]
Massage 102
Last time I blogged I wrote about the four basic principles of massage strokes: General to specific to general Superficial to deep to superficial Periphery to center to periphery Proximal to distal to proximal This time I want to introduce to you some basic massage application techniques. Effleurage, Petrissage, Tapotement, Friction, and Vibration are the […]
Spotlight on Clinical Pilates
Did you know that we are one of the largest Clinical Pilates clinics in the Westside of Vancouver? The majority of our therapists are trained through STOTT Pilates as rehabilitative instructors. We can integrate Pilates exercises into your regular rehab treatment or carry out one-on-one customized Pilates sessions for you. We have had a lot […]
Perfect Posture, a Myth?
I know it sounds contradictory coming from a physiotherapist who repeatedly nags you about your posture and probably assessed your posture on your first visit but I can explain. First, let’s start with a definition of posture. Posture is the static alignment of the total body at a given moment where each body part or […]
5 Common Sources of Knee Pain
I’m sure that many of you have heard of various knee dysfunctions from patella femoral pain syndrome, IT band friction syndrome,and patellar tendonitis to name a few. What many people don’t know however, is that the cause of knee pain almost always is coming from dysfunctions in other parts of the body. In today’s blog […]
Does pain = injury?
So you just woke up and your neck was hurting for some reason. You go to see your favorite therapist or doctor for some relief. You are in pain and not happy about it. Your practitioner treats you and advises you to move your neck around every so often even if it hurts. Wait a […]
Foam Rolling
What is it? You have probably seen or tried it at your gym or exercise class. It looks like a pool noodle but a bit thicker and firmer than it. That is a foam roller. It is a self-massage tool used to release muscle knots and enhance recovery after a workout. How does it do […]
Running Principles
A slew of running injuries have been arriving at the clinic recently and I have found myself educating clients on efficient running mechanics. So, I thought it would be a good time to revisit a blog on running. Is there an optimal running technique? Should we all run the same way considering there are vast […]
How dysfunctional breathing can effect your performance and pain
Many clients wonder why physiotherapists often work on breathing as part of your recovery or rehabilitation. Improvement in the mechanics and pattern of your breath can have a major impact on your performance during activity, minimize tension around the neck and shoulders, and help with muscular stability during exercise. In fact, several studies have demonstrated […]
How often should I come in for a massage?
Almost without fail, during a massage with a new client, I get asked “How often should I come in for massage?” There is no universal answer to that question. Here are most of the factors I take into account when answering: What brings you in for this visit? Acute pain/ new injury: Frequency of treatments […]