Musculoskeletal & Sports injury Physiotherapy Ponoka:
Common Sports Injuries
Sports injury Physiotherapy Clinic Ponoka – Whether it’s an immediate, dramatic break or damage that accumulates over time, sports can do some serious damage. The workout-related problems we at Musculoskeletal & Sports injury Physiotherapy Clinic Ponoka frequently treat include:
Repetitive stress conditions
Arthritis and tendonitis often stem from sports moves like swinging a racket or throwing a ball. Joints and muscles can become inflamed in vulnerable areas, including shoulders, elbows, hips, ankles and knees.
Torn tendons and ligaments
Those dramatic jumps, twists and stretches can result in equally dramatic “snapped” tissues, especially in the knees, shoulders and groin. Surgery followed by physiotherapy is often the prescription.
Strained back
Sometimes that sore lower back pain just won’t go away with basic home care. In such cases, we’ll work with you to rebuild strength and flexibility.
Fractures and breaks
When you have a bone injury during a game or workout, a trip to the emergency room usually results in a cast to promote healing. But as your bone is recovering, the muscles around it are weakening. Physiotherapy helps to strengthen the affected area following a fracture.
Rehab Therapy
Some sports injuries require surgery or other medical procedures as the first line of defense. In fact, postoperative physiotherapy is key for transitioning back to normalcy. Similarly, when your injury requires a cast or some form of bracing, our team will help you rebound from the diminished strength and range of movement that happens while the limb is out of commission.
Prevention
Athletes know that the best way to avoid injury or re-injury is to build up strength and flexibility. Working out at the gym is great, but our musculoskeletal & sports physiotherapists in ponoka will guide you through specific moves that help you avoid future injuries based on your sport and your specific build. We’ll also talk you through strategies you can implement when you’re back on the field.
Get “Back on Track” ASAP
Don’t wait to begin your sports injury recovery or prevention program. Our dedicated team is trained in the specific art of dealing with sports injuries, and we’ll have you back to fighting form in no time! Call us to schedule an appointment to get back to the sport you love as soon as possible.
Balance and gait training:
Bad falls are a constant worry for seniors and others who have physical challenges. And those worries aren’t unfounded. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and serious health problems in Canada.
Improving your walking skills – technically known as your “gait” – and your balance are interrelated challenges. Physiotherapy helps you master these skills to decrease your risk of injury, while at the same time increasing your confidence and independence.
What are the benefits of balance and gait training in Ponoka Physiotherapy?
Balance and gait are inextricably linked because they tend to impact one another. Even if you don’t think you’re in danger of falling over, that “running out of steam” while walking that you’re attributing to aging muscles could be something else. The problem might actually be slowing reflexes, which make moving around seem more strenuous than it is. By the same token, poor posture and gait can throw off those reflexes.
In fact, the balance and gait systems both rely to some extent on a complex number of body systems that include the inner ear, the eyes, the joint-muscle-nerve system, and of course cognitive functions. Therapy that improves gait and balance works with all of these systems to keep them functioning in harmony.
Gait and balance training has a range of benefits, with avoiding injuries being at the top of the list. Beyond lessening your chances of falling or feeling dizzy, you’re also more likely to feel confident with your footing. In addition, those aches and pains from poor posture are likely to decrease as well.
What does balance and gait training entail?
First, we’ll evaluate your gait to determine potential problems with strength and posture. Simple movements to test balance are also part of the assessment. Together, these basic evaluations point us in the direction of what to focus on in terms of therapy.
Hip and ankle weakness often leads to balance problems, as does poor posture. Strength and flexibility movements can help counteract these problems. These are often as simple as leg lifts while seated in a chair, or “knee marching.” We may also practice standing on one leg, walking heel-to-toe, or tracking the movement of your thumb with your eyes as you move it in various positions.
Ready to “balance” your life again?
With our dedicated team behind you, you’ll regain confidence in navigating challenging terrain and learning how to avoid dizzy spells. You may even be able to leave that cane or walker behind! Call us today for a consultation so you can regain your independence as soon as possible.