Laser, Shockwave Therapy and Acupuncture From Bloor Jane Physiotherapy
We have the advanced healing power of a Theralase laser at Bloor Jane Physiotherapy. Laser treatments provide safe, effective and painless therapy that uses the body’s natural system to promote cell regeneration and tissue healing. Utilizing the power of infrared laser light for the treatment of acute or chronic pain conditions, the laser is absorbed into the body to begin to repair injured soft tissues. The benefits of laser therapy are to reduce swelling, to lay down new collagen cells and to reduce the formation of scar tissue.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture that helps promote soft tissue healing. Dry needling uses very thin filament needles to break down scar tissue and signal the body to restore normal muscle tone. This technique uses the body’s own natural systems to promote cell repair reducing swelling and pain.
Ultrasound is a method of stimulating the tissue beneath the skin's surface using very high-frequency sound waves. In physiotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound is a vibration of sound waves absorbed by ligaments, tendons and scar tissue.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is the newest of the technologies available at Bloor Jane Physiotherapy. It’s added to our list of modalities used to speed up recovery after an injury. Originally designed to break down kidney stones, pulsed shockwaves can be transmitted through soft tissues to provide multiple benefits.
When scar tissue from musculoskeletal conditions such as Frozen Shoulder, Rotator Cuff Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow or Plantar Fasciitis limits movement and causes pain, a few treatments with shockwave therapy can reverse the discomfort.
What Is Acupuncture, and How Does It Work?
Acupuncture is a form of therapy in which practitioners stimulate specific points of the body by inserting very fine needles through the skin. Acupuncture needles stimulate the body to produce its pain-relieving endorphins. They, in turn, block the neural pathways from sending pain sensations. Endorphins are one of the body's opioid chemicals that stimulate natural healing abilities and promote physical well-being.
Acupuncture and Dry Needling
Dry needling is the type of acupuncture the physiotherapists at Bloor Jane Physiotherapy are trained to use. We use very thin filament needles. This technique also uses the body’s systems to promote cell repair and in turn, reduce swelling and pain.
FAQs on Acupuncture
What Conditions Get the Best Results With Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is effective for many conditions. But at Bloor Jane Physiotherapy, we use it to treat pain from musculo-skeletal conditions such as acute or chronic headaches (migraines or tension headaches), acute or chronic low back pain and sciatica, neck pain and whiplash injury, as well as arthritis (rheumatoid or osteoarthritis). Clinical research found that acupuncture is useful by itself or combined with conventional therapies to treat tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Acupuncture is an effective non-pharmaceutical way to reduce chronic pain.
Will It Hurt?
Acupuncture needles are very thin. Most people feel minimal discomfort as the needles are inserted; some feel nothing at all. There is little to no sensation when the needles are in place.
Is Acupuncture Treatment COVID Safe?
Single-use, disposable needles are used for each treatment. There is no possibility of transmitting a blood-borne virus using sterile acupuncture needles.
Call 416-766-2050 for an appointment with a Physiotherapist who has special training in acupuncture and dry needling.
What Are the Side Effects of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is generally considered very safe with only a few side effects. Sometimes drowsiness may occur after treatment, and for that reason, it is recommended not to drive. Fainting can occur, but it is rare. Minor bruising or bleeding occurs in 3% of the treatments.
What Does the Physiotherapist Need to Know?
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Are you pregnant, or is there a possibility that you could be pregnant?
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Do you have a pacemaker or any other electrical implants?
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Are you a hemophiliac? Do you take blood-thinners or anti-coagulant medication?
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Have you ever had seizures, fainting or dizzy spells?
What Can I Expect From the Treatment?
Pain relief may be noticed immediately or within a few hours. Some may not respond to the treatment for a few days. Response to treatment varies in each person and with each condition. For acute conditions or those of recent onset, fewer treatments are generally required, and chronic or long-standing conditions may require 1 or 2 treatments a week for several sessions before improvement is noticed.
Non-Surgical Treatment of Dupytren’s Contracture of the Hand at Bloor Jane Physiotherapy
I have Dupytren’s contracture in my hands, but these pictures are not of my hands. I don’t have contractures. You can barely tell that I have it because I have had physiotherapy treatments.
I am a physiotherapist at Bloor Jane Physiotherapy and know how Dupytren’s contracture of the soft tissues in the palm can result in one or more fingers gradually curling up and causing an annoying disability whenever you do something that requires a flat palm. Not painful initially, but It hampers the many small tasks throughout the day and so it can become painful. Why it happens is unclear but there is a genetic component. The palmar fascia gradually tightens and shortens, pulling the fingers into flexion. Fascia is connective tissue that runs throughout the whole body, wrapping around each muscle and tendon, similar to the membranes in an orange. Not elastic, the fascia can grow thicker and stiffer.
Bloor Jane Physiotherapy has one of the latest technologies for the treatment of Dupyrten’s contracture, a Shock Wave machine. Originally used to break up kidney stones, the non-invasive treatment has been effectively used to treat many conditions, including Plantar Fasciitis, a condition where the fascia of the foot has thickened at its heel attachment and causes pain on walking. I have had a few treatments to my palmar fascia and can see the thickened fascia break down after each treatment. I definitely recommend it to anyone who has Dupytren’s contracture before the fingers begin to curl up and before considering surgical intervention.
How many treatments are required? Since everyone is different, it is hard to generalize, but 3 sessions are often recommended. Book a physiotherapy assessment and get better faster with non-surgical treatment of a Dupytren’s contracture or Plantar fasciitis at Bloor Jane Physiotherapy & Active Rehabilitation - 2425 Bloor St W Suite 212 Toronto.
Access to a physiotherapist is easy. Although we do not require a physician referral, your insurer may require it and your family doctor can provide you with one. Call us today at 416-766-2050 to make an appointment.
