Key Information

THE Downtown Sports Clinics are committed to injury prevention and education and offer programs that are individualized and custom designed.

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Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy is a health care profession directed at evaluating, restoring, maximizing, and maintaining physical function. Physiotherapists, also called physical therapists, are university graduates who are widely considered to be mobility experts and assist people in attaining their goals of reaching the highest possible level of physical function and quality of life. The physiotherapists at THE Downtown Sports Clinics offer dynamic active approaches to treatment and care for sports injuries, work related injuries, chronic pain, repetitive strain injuries, motor vehicle accidents, injuries from daily living and aging.

Physiotherapists are educated in the normal function of anatomy, physiology, and the effects of illness and injury on all body systems, as well as, treatment options to restore maximum function. Following the initial assessment, a physiotherapist is able to provide diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for a wide range of conditions. Many physiotherapists choose to focus their practice in a specific area and acquire advanced clinical skill, some which are listed below:


Acupuncture

Acupuncture & Dry Needling is a therapeutic method used by specially trained physiotherapists to encourage natural healing, reduce or relieve pain and improve function of affected areas of the body. It involves the insertion of very fine needles through the skin and tissues at specific points on the body. There is no injection of any substance and the treatment itself causes minimal discomfort. Dry needling treatments may cause more discomfort if tight muscles are being released or if a muscle is being stimulated to increase strength. The soreness is temporary and improved muscle flexibility and strength is realized quickly. Physiotherapists who use needles must be on the acupuncture registry with the College of Physical Therapists of Alberta.


Education And Injury Prevention

Health promotion and prevention strategies are an important component of physical therapy in the hopes of keeping individuals well and safe from injury. This is accomplished by teaching people the importance of fitness and an active lifestyle, while showing them how to avoid injury at work, home, or at play. Whether you have been injured or would like to prevent injuries, our physiotherapists at THE Downtown Sports Clinics will educate you on strength, flexibility, posture, training keys, and maintenance that will keep you active and injury free.


Exercise Prescription

ALL physiotherapists at THE Downtown Sports Clinics are dedicated to upgrading their education on current principles of exercise prescription (i.e. the interaction between the brain (central nervous system) and muscles to achieve specific strengthening and endurance). After identifying the areas of deficiency, whether it is muscle length, muscle strength, altered biomechanics, or muscle endurance, a specific program will be prescribed and progressed according to your improvement in strength, flexibility, and mobility.


Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS)

Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is an effective treatment for the relief of both acute and chronic pain caused by supersensitive nerves and muscle shortening. As a result of acute or prolonged repetitive trauma, nerves can become sensitized. Previously harmless signals become exaggerated causing the muscles they supply to shorten. These shortened muscles in turn cause pain by pulling on tendons, compressing joints, and compressing nerves. This pain then causes further muscle shortening. Inserting fine acupuncture needles into the shortened muscles stimulates them to relax. If a muscle is shortened, the needle will cause a "cramping" or "Charlie horse" sensation as the muscle contracts further; this is followed by a relaxation of the muscle. The use of an electrical current applied to the needles may help very resistant areas to relax. Once the muscle relaxes, the nerve becomes desensitized and the body is allowed to heal. After needling, you may experience 24-48 hours of discomfort, similar to the feeling following deep massage. IMS is appropriate for people who have muscular tension that is not responding to other methods of treatment. IMS is not recommended if you are pregnant, have a local infection, are a hemophiliac, or are using anticoagulants.


Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation involves the mobilization and/or manipulation of joints and soft tissue. Only physiotherapists who have the necessary competence as outlined by the College of Physical Therapists of Alberta can perform spinal manipulation. Physical therapists who perform spinal manipulation as part of treatment must be on the spinal manipulation registry with the College of Physical Therapists of Alberta.


Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Treatment

(TMJD/ Headache/Face and Tooth Pain)
Healthy temporomandibular joints (TMJ) depend upon correct jaw control and positioning which is often nerve and muscle related. Freeing nerve and muscle tension in the face, jaw and neck helps to return normal jaw alignment and joint functioning, and decreases TMJD, headache, face and tooth pain. Tanya Luke works with dentists who have patients suffering from these conditions. Tanya sees clients weekdays at THE Downtown Sports Clinics - TD Square.




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