ISM Rehab - Burlington and Hamilton Physiotherapy and Registered Massage Therapy
  • About
    • Our Team >
      • Physio Team
      • Chiropractic Team
      • Physician Team
    • Blog
    • FAQ
  • COVID19
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Registered Massage Therapy (RMT)
    • Direct Billing
  • Articles
    • Low Back >
      • Spinal Stenosis
    • Neck >
      • Whiplash
    • Shoulder >
      • AC Joint Separation
      • Adhesive Capsulitis
      • Labral Tears
      • Rotator Cuff Tears
    • Elbow >
      • Golfer's Elbow
      • Tennis Elbow
      • Radial Head Fracture
    • Wrist >
      • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Hip >
      • Hip Bursitis
    • Knee >
      • Knee Osteoarthritis
    • Ankle
    • Foot >
      • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Book an Appointment
  • Contact Us
  • New Page

ISM REHAB BLOG

How Physiotherapists Collaborate with Other Health Care Providers

11/13/2017

4 Comments

 
I work with the physiotherapy assistant, massage therapist, physicians and physician assistants in our the clinic
  • Physiotherapy Assistant (PTA): The physiotherapy assistant helps me complete the treatment plan by showing patient experiences, doing gentle range of motion. I delegate the treatment plan to them and they help me to carry out. I do not have to be present for delegated work, I have to be confident that they can carry this out competently, which I have evaluated.
  • Registered Massage Therapists: I refer people to massage therapy for soft tissue work. I do speak with the RMT at our clinic before she sees our initial visit, and how the patient is progressing.
  • Physician: We send progress notes to physicians, or call the office if it was urgent to ask for a response. We may also ask about surgical restrictions and post-op surgical protocols.
  • Physician Assistants: I basically go to the PA first prior to going to ask the Orthopaedic Surgeons. I tend to consult PAs for imaging questions, exercise restrictions post-surgery, I have helped to facilitate referrals for imaging, we reviewed imaging as entry-level physiotherapists we are not trained to read x-rays (some advanced practice physiotherapists can). We have brought up concerns to the PA about potential infections, poor progression with physiotherapy, any new problems and change in health status. Some benefits of this PA/PT communication is that continuity of care is significantly faster since the PA is more accessible than the physician at our clinic, we would have to wait long or didn’t hear back.
Picture
As a physiotherapist, Rachel often collaborates on patient care with other health care providers. Here she is speaking to Steve, a physiotherapy assistant and Sylvia, a registered massage therapist.
4 Comments

What is a Physiotherapist?

11/13/2017

32 Comments

 
Rachel Onishi is a staff physiotherapist at ISM Rehab. She went to University of Waterloo for Health Studies. While completing her undergraduate degree she was considering medical school at the time. She decided to volunteer at the physiotherapy clinic in her 3rd year of undergraduate study, and from that experience she decided that physiotherapy was the career she wanted to follow. She successfully applied to Queen’s University with a Master’s in Physical Therapy. Following graduation, she worked in private practice and community clinics.
Picture

What do Physiotherapists Do?

I enjoy working in physiotherapy, as it is a very rewarding profession in terms of working with people and helping achieve their functional goals.
​
Physiotherapists are primary care providers – which means that patients can directly access physiotherapists without requiring a referral. Often patients receive a referral from a physician’s office; however, this is usually for insurance purposes to allow for coverage of the physiotherapy visit from the patient’s extended health care benefits.
This includes:
  • New Assessments and Follow-up Assessments (physio history, physical, can be trained additionally to interpret imaging results)
  • Therapeutic Treatments may involve:
    • Manual Therapy – hands on, mobilizations (moving a joint passively) and manipulations, soft tissue work
    • Modalities – TENS machine, Interferential current, muscular stimulation, biofeedback, heat, ice, ultrasound therapy, taping, laser therapy, shockwave which help decrease pain and/or swelling, and improve healing
    • Exercise Prescription
    • Patient Education
Picture
Description of Physiotherapy in Canada, page 3, 2012 edition
Picture
Acupuncture, among treatment modalities, manual therapy and exercise prescriptions are ways physiotherapists help to improve patients’ physical function

Specialties and Areas of Focus in Physiotherapy

here are different areas a physiotherapist can work in:
  • Physiotherapists in respiratory rehabilitation / pulmonary rehabilitation: these physiotherapists may work with patients who are suffering from issues such as COPD, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
  • Physiotherapists in cardiovascular rehabilitation may work with patients who are recovering from a heart attack, heart surgery or other heart conditions.
  • Physiotherapists in neuro rehabilitation may work with patients in hospital and in the community who may be recovering from a stroke, spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, or suffering from conditions such as Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and ALS.
  • Physiotherapists in MSK / Orthopaedics / Sports Medicine  see patients with a variety of conditions which may include such sprains, strains, soft tissue tears, arthritis, fractures, and post- operative conditions to name a few.  They may also treat people with sports injuries, workplace injuries, or post motor vehicle accident injuries.
  • Paediatrics
  • Wound Care
  • Women’s Health
  • Critical Care
  • Occupational Health
  • Education and research

Continuing Education for Physiotherapists

Learning does not stop after physiotherapy school. There are many continuing education courses that physiotherapists can complete, and many different directions a physiotherapist can go in to focus their practice.
For example, these special skills workshops go beyond what is taught in physiotherapy school, some of these courses is just on a weekend, a few weeks, or some a few years. Here are a few examples of some special skills workshops:
  • Acupuncture
  • Manual therapy courses (i.e. Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy: CAMPT manippt.org/)
  • NDT for adults with stroke, brain injury and other neuromotor
  • Pelvic Health (urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, post and pre-natal care)
  • Vestibular Rehab (e.g. dizziness, vertigo)
  • Active Release Therapy
  • Concussion Rehab
  • Golf Rehab
  • Taping
  • Wound Care
Picture
Rachel providing supervision and direction to Yuki, a McMaster Physiotherapy student
32 Comments

The Role of Physiotherapist Assistants in the Therapeutic Setting

11/7/2017

4 Comments

 


What is a Physiotherapist Assistant? 

A Physiotherapist Assistant (PTA) is a healthcare professional that has formal training at an Accredited College or has received on the job training. PTA’s work under the direction of a licensed physiotherapist in the provision of physiotherapy services (Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 2017) (1) The role of the PTA is to assist the physiotherapist in ensuring that physiotherapy services are delivered in a safe, effective and efficient manner. PTAs help provide physiotherapy services that achieve and maintain optimal client outcomes.(2) At this time PTA’s are not registered healthcare professionals and the title of “Physiotherapist Assistant” is not a restricted title. 

What does a Physiotherapist Assistant do?

PTA’s are able to carry out treatment plans delegated by licensed physiotherapists that fall within their scope of practice and competency. PTA’s are formally trained in: 
  • Modality Application (Hot packs, Cold packs, Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (TENS), Interferential Current (IFC), Laser Therapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound and Proprioceptive Taping
  • Performing passive range of motion (PROM) stretching
  • Demonstrate and provide feedback for exercises prescribed by a licensed physiotherapist
  • Document treatments and communicate with physiotherapists regarding patient care ​


Are there restrictions for Physiotherapist Assistants? 

PTA’s are not able to prescribe any treatment outside of the treatment plan set out by their licensed physiotherapist to ensure public safety and proper care of patients. There are also specific controlled acts that physiotherapists are trained to use during the course of treatment that PTAs are unable to have delegated to them. 

Some of the controlled acts are:
  • Acupuncture
  • Communicating a diagnosis
  • ​Spinal manipulation
  •  Internal assessment or internal rehabilitation of pelvic musculature 
 
(College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, June 2017) (3 

Summary

At ISM Rehab we employ PTA’s that have formal training to assist us in the treatment of our patients. As part of the orientation process we ensure that our PTA’s adhere to the college standards that govern us with the highest quality of care and patient safety in mind. Currently, our PTA’s work with the physiotherapists in order to provide a 1-to-1 patient to practitioner ratio in each appointment. This allows us to spend more quality time treating all of our patients, ensure proper form during exercises and increased hands-on treatment compared to other types of scheduling. Our PTA’s are very friendly, qualified, knowledgeable and passionate for providing the best quality care as part of our physiotherapy team. 


References:
(1) Canadian
 Physiotherapy Association, Becoming a PT or PTA, 2017 (https://physiotherapy.ca/becoming-pt-or-pta ) 

(2 ) Essential
 Competency Profile for Physiotherapist Assistants in Canada, 2012 

(3) College of
 Physiotherapists of Ontario: Controlled Acts and Other Restricted Activity Standards, 2016 (https://www.collegept.org/rules-and-regulations/controlled-acts-and-other-restricted-activities-standard) ​

Picture

Written by: Stephen Horvath, PTA, ISM Rehab 

​

4 Comments

Are you ready for golf season?

4/10/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Burlington Post - The golf swing is a complex and powerful coordinated movement of muscles and joints in our body. The spine itself is required to rotate to near maximal ranges of motion in two directions as we complete our backswing, downswing and follow through. The modern swing has seen increased emphasis on power (and distance) generated from our torso, creating larger demand on our core, obliques, middle and lower back. Strength and mobility in these areas is extremely important for a healthy and happy golf season, as it relates to placing our bodies in optimal positions for ball striking success.

Physiotherapists are frequently involved with numerous clients experiencing stiffness, weakness, and/or pain in their spine. There are an abundance of exercises, manual techniques, and modalities that can be used to improve physical health of our neck and back. Spine and abdominal fitness not only improves performance on the course, but decreases the risk of injury as we golfers execute the repetitively hazardous action of the swing. A warm-up is important as we prepare our muscular engines for several hours of physical activity.  Continue reading >> 
1 Comment

ISM Rehab Gets AED Certified

2/25/2017

1 Comment

 
This past weekend ISM Rehab staff got certified for use of an AED, which helps diagnose life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias & treats through defibrillation. 

We have an AED on site should it be required during a sudden emergency. 
Picture
1 Comment

ISM Rehab wins big at Burlington Post's Reader's Choice Award 2017!

2/25/2017

0 Comments

 
Thank you to everyone that voted for our great staff at ISM Rehab as well as for our clinic. We pride ourselves for excellence in care, thank you for helping us recognize our great team for the hard work they do!
Picture
0 Comments

Welcoming new Physio Justin Collins to the team!

9/22/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
ISM Rehab is excited to welcome Justin Collins to our team!

Justin graduated with a Masters of Physical Therapy following the completion of his degree in Kinesiology. Justin has obtained his Level One Manual Therapy Certificate through the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.  He successfully completed Level 2 through the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute (AFCI).Justin approaches patient-centered physiotherapy in order to help others improve their function and well-being, while empowering them to take an active role in their own health management.   He has completed several FITforeGOLF levels, and has written and presented on golf-related injuries, their prevention, and rehabilitation.  When Justin is not at the clinic he can be found spending time with his family, at the hockey rink, at the ballpark, on the golf course, or cottaging.  ​

1 Comment

What is Aqua-Therapy?

7/29/2016

8 Comments

 
Picture

Author: Sarah Perruzza. Sarah is a Physiotherapy
​Student from McMaster University Class of 2017

Suffer from arthritis? Enjoy swimming? In addition to the relaxation and fun that comes along with splashing around in a pool, physiotherapy can be enhanced with pool exercise. It’s a win-win situation! Exercising in a pool has been done for years with classes such as aqua-fit to get the heartrate up, and provide a safe environment to increase cardiovascular fitness while being gently on the joints. Aqua-fit classes are offered at many local community centres, and the YMCA. Although they offer a great workout, most classes are designed for uninjured people. How can you get the benefits of the water (and there are many) if you are rehabilitating an injury, or have recently had orthopedic surgery?
​
Aqua-Therapy exercises are designed for just that!  They are designed and modified to use the water as resistance, to reduce the body weight felt on the joints, to increase ease of motion, reduce swelling, and provide a safe progression to land exercises. Aqua-therapy exercises and techniques can help add variety to your therapeutic regime and offer progression in your movement that may be challenging on dry land. 
Picture
(photo source)
Recent research has found that aqua-therapy has positive effects on pain, disability, and overall quality of life in people with knee and hip osteoarthritis, total knee replacement, total hip replacement, and after rotator cuff repair due to improved function, range of motion, and decreased swelling. What that means, is by adding in just a few water based exercises into your therapy program we can move along your recovery and help you reach your therapy goals sooner.

​By now you must be wondering how you can begin to incorporate aqua-therapy into your rehab. If you have access to a pool regularly, the physiotherapists at ISM Rehab can determine if aqua-therapy is appropriate for your injury and stage of rehabilitation,  as well as select and teach you (on dry land) the aqua-therapy exercises that will work for you. 

References
  • Aquatic exercise for the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Bartels EM et al., 2016 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  • Effects of Aquatic Therapy and Land-Based Therapy versus Land-Based Therapy Alone on Range of Motion, Edema, and Function after Hip or Knee Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Alison J. Gibson, Nora Shields 2015. Physiotherapy Canada.
  • Early Incorporation of an Evidence-Based Aquatic-Assisted Approach to Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Rehabilitation: Prospective Case Study. Burmaster C, Eckenrode BJ, Stiebel M.. 2016. Physical Therapy.
8 Comments

Welcome to the Blog!

7/26/2016

0 Comments

 
Welcome to ISM Rehab's blog! Here you'll find patient information, clinic updates. 
0 Comments

ISM Rehab

Physiotherapy
Acupuncture
Massage Therapy

Bracing

Blog
Articles

Contact Us

Suite 506 - 3027 Harvester Rd
Burlington, ON L7N 3G7
Email: admin@ismrehab.com
Phone: 905-333-5100 ext. 4

Book an Appointment
Frequently Asked Questions

Hours

Visit our COVID-19 page to see our new business hours and hours for TeleHealth Appointments, and contact admin@ismrehab.com
© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
STAFF LOGIN
  • About
    • Our Team >
      • Physio Team
      • Chiropractic Team
      • Physician Team
    • Blog
    • FAQ
  • COVID19
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Registered Massage Therapy (RMT)
    • Direct Billing
  • Articles
    • Low Back >
      • Spinal Stenosis
    • Neck >
      • Whiplash
    • Shoulder >
      • AC Joint Separation
      • Adhesive Capsulitis
      • Labral Tears
      • Rotator Cuff Tears
    • Elbow >
      • Golfer's Elbow
      • Tennis Elbow
      • Radial Head Fracture
    • Wrist >
      • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Hip >
      • Hip Bursitis
    • Knee >
      • Knee Osteoarthritis
    • Ankle
    • Foot >
      • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Book an Appointment
  • Contact Us
  • New Page