If you have a disease such as diabetes, you can benefit from working with a local physiotherapist in addition to your local endocrinologist and local family physician. A local physiotherapist uses techniques such as manual therapy, exercise and stretching and spinal adjustment to treat injury and dysfunction.

A local physiotherapist can help you manage blood glucose levels, lose weight, understand diabetes nutrition and prevent complications such as diabetic retinopathy. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, exercise is very important to help you manage your condition, and a local physiotherapist can be a very beneficial member of your healthcare team. 

The assessment: Before you can begin, your physical therapist will do an evaluation. You may not think of this as a typical treatment, but it's an integral part of creating a physiotherapy plan to get to the root of the problem.

2. Manual therapy: This is a modality that physiotherapists use for many injuries. This hands-on approach refers to many things, including therapeutic massage and assisted stretching and exercise.

3. Ultrasound: Physiotherapists use ultrasound for connective tissue injuries. Ultrasound uses sound waves to generate heat deep in the body, loosening up tissues so they’re better prepared for exercise or manual therapy.

 Often seeing your local family Physician is a great starting place for referrals to your local Massage Therapist or your local chiropractor to help with massage and skeletal adjustments. A local Physiotherapist or local athletic trainer can help with strength and bruised muscles. Acupuncture is often recommended for chronic pain in association with your local physiotherapist 

Orthopaedic physiotherapy focuses on treating injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated joints, ligaments and muscles. An orthopaedic physiotherapist also helps patients with pre- and post-operative recovery and rehabilitation. 

Common Orthopaedic Conditions Physiotherapists Treat

ACL and MCL injuries: An ACL injury is an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, which is located in the middle of the knee joint. The ACL is one of the biggest stability structures of the knee. An MCL sprain is an injury to the medial collateral ligament of the knee. The medial collateral ligament is a structure that runs along the medial side of the knee.  

Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis. It’s a chronic, long-term disease that progresses over time. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It’s caused when the cartilage on the ends of the bones wears down.

Fractures: A stress fracture is a small crack or severe bruising in a bone. Stress fractures of the foot are common in athletes, and are usually caused by overuse and repetitive activity. They also occur more commonly in people with osteoporosis, as they have weakened bones. 

Hip/Knee Replacement: Arthritis is the most common reason that people undergo hip or knee replacement surgery. An orthopaedic surgeon will replace the damaged cartilage and bone with an artificial hip or knee joint. 

Ankylosing Spondylitis: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic type of arthritis that affects the lower back, causing inflammation and resulting in pain and stiffness. 

Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Techniques

Manual therapy: A hands-on technique to mobilise and manipulate joints to reduce pain and increase range of motion. 

Myofascial release: Using gentle manual pressure, the physiotherapist will massage and stretch points in your fascia, which is the connective tissue that supports your organs, bones, muscles, nerves and blood vessels. 

Ultrasound: Sound waves generate heat deep in the body, loosening up tissues so they’re better prepared for exercise or manual therapy.

Range-of-motion exercises: You’ll do some assisted exercises and exercise at home. Physiotherapists will recommend exercise after virtually any injury. Your physiotherapist will show you strengthening exercises based on your condition and current health.

Kinesio taping: This flexible, colourful tape is applied to the skin to stabilize muscles and joints while you undergo physiotherapy treatment.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you'd like more information on orthopaedic physiotherapy.