IMS/Dry Needling ~ How it works & what it helps with!

As a physiotherapist who see’s patients in both Nanaimo & Parksville BC, I have seen firsthand the benefits of intramuscular stimulation (IMS) for countless patients recovering from injury who are experiencing tight muscles, nerve pain, or chronic pain. IMS is a type of therapy that involves inserting fine acupuncture needles into tight, painful muscles to release tension and improve function.

One of the key benefits of IMS is its ability to target and relieve tight muscles, which can be a major contributor to pain and dysfunction. Tight muscles can cause nerve impingements, leading to pain, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. IMS works by disrupting the tight muscle fibers and promoting normal function, reducing the tension on the affected nerve and decreasing pain.

IMS also has a neurophysiological effect, helping to reset the nervous system and reduce chronic pain. The stimulation from the needle triggers a reflex in the nervous system, which can help to reduce pain and improve function. Additionally, IMS can help to improve circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the affected area and promoting healing.

IMS is a safe and effective therapy that can provide relief for many patients with chronic pain, tight muscles, or nerve pain. The therapy is performed by a trained practitioner and involves the use of sterile, single-use needles. IMS is well tolerated by most patients and has few side effects, making it a suitable option for many individuals seeking relief from injury-related pain.
In conclusion, IMS is a valuable tool for physiotherapists and patients seeking to improve function and relieve pain after an injury. By targeting tight muscles, improving circulation, and resetting the nervous system, IMS can provide effective relief for chronic pain, nerve pain, and tight muscles, helping patients recover from injury and return to their active lifestyles.

If you are experiencing chronic pain (any issue lasting longer than three months), neuropathic or nerve pain, or persistent muscular stiffness reach out today and we are happy to assess your condition and determine if IMS is a suitable part of a treatment plan for you and your goals.

We have locations in both beautiful Nanaimo and Parksville, BC and have admin teams standing by happy to connect with you!

New Advanced Clinic Location in Parksville

It is with great excitement, humility, and pride that we are reaching out to inform you that Advanced Health + Sports Clinic is opening a second location in beautiful Parksville, BC.

Parksville and the surrounding regions such as: Qualicum Beach, French Creek, Dashwood, Errington, Coombs, Whiskey Creek, & Nanoose Bay are all unique communities that we are thoroughly looking forward to connecting with to help each individual we work with conquer their pain, overcome injuries, and maximize their physical potential.

We will be opening our doors as of Tuesday June 21^st, 2022 and look forward to having the opportunity to serve the Parksville & Qualicum areas with a closer and more convenient location.

New Clinic Information

The clinic will be located Unit-5, 100 Lombardy Street right on the corner of Lombardy Street and Morrison Avenue.
Phone Number 250 586 8556
Our operating hours will be from 7:30am-4:30pm
Ample free-parking is available in the front parking lot (fronting the Island Highway), on Lombardy, and on Morrison.
Online booking will remain available using Janeapp and will allow patients to select Nanaimo or Parksville locations based on proximity and convenience.
Direct billing will be up and running akin to our Nanaimo location.

Services Offered

Orthopedic Physiotherapy

IMS
Dry Needling

Conussion Management

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

We wish you a wonderful weekend and a happy & healthy transition into the summer season of 2022.

Yours in Health;

The Advanced Health Team

COVID-19 Update

Clinic Closed Until April 24th

As the sun comes up on Nanaimo this week we want to inform the community that in light of the Provincial Health Authorities recommendations we will continue remain closed for walk-in appointments through April 24^th, 2020.

Our Teams Message to You:

We are all in this together and community health is being kept front of mind.
We are STILL here for you in any way we can be (reach out to us by phone or email).
Our staff has successfully transitioned to Tele-Health for physiotherapy and chiropractic care and are bookable online or by phone to help you continue to improve old problems or assess new ones!
For further updates or tips and education on common injuries, please follow us on FaceBook or Instagram.

A virtual-rehabilitation appointment also known as Telehealth – is a great option when your unable to make it to the clinic for a hands-on session. Telehealth allows the patient to still have a productive and meaningful 1-on-1 session with your physiotherapist or chiropractor without having to leave your home or workplace.

While we won’t be able to offer the hands-on skills such as manual therapy and dry-needling we often use, we can still provide many valuable tools including but not limited to:

Assessment and diagnosis of your injury
Education and self management techniques on how to best manage your ailments
Exercise instruction and prescription
Identify aggravating and easing factors
Referral for imaging or other healthcare providers when needed
Equipment recommendations such as sport-braces, orthotics, crutches, taping technique’s, etc.

Conditions that may benefit from virtual physiotherapy include:

Pre and Post Surgical Care of all Orthopedic Conditions (hip, shoulder, knee, foot, ankle, etc.)
Balance/Vertigo Rehabilitation
Postural Training
Arthritis Management
Back/Neck Rehabilitation
Concussion Management
Nerve Pain Management
Repetitive Strain Injury
Sciatica
Joint Pain Management
Headache Management
Muscle and Ligament Strains and Sprains

BOOK NOW

COVID – 19 Update: Clinic Closed Until The End of March

Greetings valued patient,

Our team has been closely monitoring the developing COVID-19 situation and we are here to help assist you during this difficult time. As a collective group, we decided that the most responsible and ethical way to support our patients and our community at large is to temporarily change the way we deliver healthcare.

From March 18 – 31^st, Advanced Health + Sports Clinic, will not be offering in-person/hands on treatment to ensure patient and practitioner safety and to adhere to the Canadian Health Authorities recommendations for social distancing and to follow recommendations provided by our respective professional colleges.

In this interim period, we will be transitioning operations to offer services online via video conferencing. Maintaining continuity of care for our patients is paramount to us and by transitioning to services online, you will still have access to care and consultation from most disciplines including: physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and athletic therapy.

While we won’t be able to offer the hands on skills such as manual therapy and dry-needling we often use, we can still provide assessment, education, exercise instruction, coaching and advice. Certainly, these treatment sessions will look a little different than our typical appointments – but our team is still here to provide you with valuable support.

Please note
We will be offering in-clinic appointments for EMERGENCY cases ONLY, these will be decided on a case by case basis by the appropriate practitioner. If you have an emergency case (i.e. post-surgical, acute concussion, etc), please call us between 9AM and 3PM between Monday and Friday, Natalie and Tara will be able to take your request and process it accordingly.

Advanced Health + Sports Clinic places tremendous value on our communities health, happiness and safety and we want to make it clear that we are here for you. Hard times often necessitate hard decisions – temporarily closing our doors certainly was one of them, but we feel it was a decision made for the right reasons pertaining to safety and ethical considerations. During the next two weeks we will remain accessible via phone, email, and video chat to connect with you and help you in any way shape or form that we can.

How does Telehealth work?

You will be able to book “Virtual” assessments and subsequents via phone or via our JaneApp platform as of Friday March 20^th, at 3PM . At your virtual appointment time, you will receive an e-mail invitation to Physitrack, all one has to do is press on the highlighted link and accept the prompt for the video call (very similar to Skype). We assure all our patients that Physitrack is HIPPA compliant and offers encrypted Telehealth/Video Calling to ensure your confidentiality.

For new patients, virtual assessments can be very valuable, please ensure to book a “Virtual Assessment” to ensure an hour block is reserved for your appointment.
For any returning patients that would like to check-in with their health care provider, to progress their exercise program for example, please ensure to book a “Virtual Subsequent”.

Please feel free to contact us for any inquiries.

Let’s grow together, learn together, take care of one another, and we are confident we can come out of this stronger and wiser. Have a wonderful rest of your week and we look forward to hearing from you.

Yours in Health,
The Advanced Team

Run Into Spring: WITHOUT Plantar Fasciitis! Three Evidence Based “Injury-Hacks” to keep you on the move!

Spring is in the air! The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and the sun is starting to show its face more … what does all this mean? For us at Advanced Health + Sports Clinic that means running and hiking season is once again upon us! For those of us who have taken some time off over the winter months and have to “get back into it” we are speaking directly to YOU with this blog.

“Plantar fasciitis is the most common foot condition treated by health care providers. It has been estimated that plantar fasciitis occurs in approximately 2 million Americans each year and affects as much as 10% of the population over the course of a lifetime.”
(Clinical Practice Guidelines, Journal of Sport Physiotherapy 2014)

When resuming running after a period of time off it is common to work through some mild discomfort as our muscles rebuild their strength and our cardiovascular system reconditions; however, experiencing significant pain that hampers our performance and cuts into our daily life is NOT something we want to encounter.

What is it? An irritation of the plantar fascia (or adjacent structures) on the plantar surface of the foot.

What are the main symptoms? Foot pain with weight bearing activities (running, hiking, walking) – particularly the initial steps after a period of inactivity (ie, after sitting at a desk for 4 hours) but also worse following prolonged weight bearing and often precipitated by a recent increase in weight-bearing activity (towards to end of a run or in the hours following).

What can I do about it?

1. STRETCH out your calves daily and feet daily!

(2 sets, 30-60 seconds, twice daily)

2. SELF-MASSAGE techniques!

(1-2 mins, no more than 2-3 times daily)

What else?

Foot orthosis (orthotics):If there is a structural impairment of foot biomechanics which is contributing to ones symptoms (ex, collapsing arches) then using a device to keep the ankle and foot in a more balanced and neutral position can be quite helpful.

Load management: We need to use the ‘goldilocks principle’ when getting back into running – especially after an injury. We need to progressively add load to irritated tissues in a rational and step-wise fashion.

Too much too soon? NOT good … irritation awaits.
Too little and not enough? NOT good … no adaptation will occur.

Just Right? Intelligent progressive loading, with exercise adherence + rest days, with self management techniques = acceptable challenges to the soft tissues which results in strengthening, adaptation, and increased activity tolerance!

I’m already doing everything right but I’m STILL having difficulty!

When in doubt … get checked out!! An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Getting a thorough assessment from a: Physiotherapist, Chiropractor, or an Athletic therapist can be an incredible help not only for the treatments they provide but for the education and rehabilitation plan they will provide you with. We are passionate when it comes to keeping our patients moving forward and doing the activities they love. Knowledge is power and at Advanced Health + Sports Clinic this is a pillar of our identity – a well educated patient is a patient with POWER moving forward.

Carolyn is NEW to Nanaimo but is a familiar face in the world of physiotherapy as alongside her husband she ran Parksville Physiotherapy Clinic for the past twenty years. Carolyn specializes in assessing and treating vestibular disorders including vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, Meniere’s disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), migraine associated vertigo, cervical vertigo and postural instability. Additionally, Carolyn also has skills and experience treating patients with neurological and musculoskeletal problems.

Carolyn is excited for a fresh start and to bring her wealth of experience in treating vestibular disorders to Advanced Health and Sports Clinic. If you are experiencing dizziness, imbalance, or vertigo, don’t hesitate to contact our office and see if Vestibular Rehabilitation is appropriate for you!

We look forward to bringing you all more helpful tips, exercises, and management strategies in the months ahead. But in the meantime, we wish you all a happy Easter and a healthy spring full of laughs, exercise, and fresh air!

Yours in Health;

Advanced Health + Sports Clinic Team

Urgent Care Physiotherapy & Athletic Therapy in Nanaimo: Bumps and Bruises Clinic

Bumps and Bruises Clinic – Urgent Care Physiotherapy & Athletic Therapy in Nanaimo

We pride ourselves on being a clinic that takes great care of our community athletes – “Sports” is in our name!

During the high participation months of team sports in Nanaimo we have decided to provide urgent care hours to accommodate our community athletes. Athletes who compete on the weekends need to be assured that they can be PROMPTLY booked in to be assessed and treated when an injury occurs. Sprains, strains, concussions, contusions and anything in between … when in doubt – get checked out!

This system for quick assessment is vital in the diagnosis of acute injuries which is then followed by:

Treatment, rehabilitation, and return to sport plans
Referral for specialist/surgical assessment or diagnostic imaging (as needed)
Education and reassurance for the athletes
Communication with parent and coaches

Who is the Bumps and Bruises – Urgent Care Physiotherapy & Athletic Therapy Clinic FOR?

Our Bumps and Bruises – Urgent Care hours are reserved for MONDAYS and TUESDAYS between September and April and are designated for the following competitive sport channels in Nanaimo:

Teams and associations we are affiliated with
Minor sport associations (hockey, lacrosse, soccer, football baseball, etc)
Private and Community Sport Associations (ex, boxing, gymnastics, figure skating)
Highschool and Collegiate Athletes
Junior Sports (hockey, lacrosse, football)

CONTACT our reception staff first thing Monday morning (phones are open at 7:00am) to reserve your spot as they go fast!

(250) 585-8553

What the Heck is an Athletic Therapist?!

Athletic Therapy – Blog 1:

The following are a few questions every Clinical Athletic Therapist has likely answered WAY to many times since graduating from University …

“Are you a physiotherapist?” … no, but we’re similar.
“Are you the teams trainer?” … no, but we’re similar.
“Are you a personal trainer?” … no, but we’re similar.

What Do We Do ?

Clinical Athletic Therapists treat patients from pediatrics to geriatrics, elite athletes to weekend warriors, and everything else in between while maintaining a focus on the patient taking an ACTIVE approach to rehabilitation (sound familiar?… it should!)

What Athletic Therapists are most known for and extremely well trained in is the acute management and assessment of sports injuries. This is known as “Field Athletic Therapy” and often includes providing first responder services, assessing injured athletes, providing treatments on the sidelines and/or in the clinic, and making referrals to other healthcare professionals when required.

A Clinical Athletic Therapist will typically combine manual therapy, therapeutic modalities, education and individualized exercise prescription for the patient. This allows one to continue elements of their injury rehabilitation outside of the clinic, where let’s face it … you are out in the real world ALLOT more than you are in the clinic on a treatment table! This typically results in a faster recovery, reduced chance of further injury, and ultimately fewer visits to a healthcare professional.

The aforementioned elements of assessment, education, exercise prescription, use of modalities and manual therapy sound quite similar to that of physiotherapy … because they are! AT & PT have worked alongside one another in larger markets such as Toronto and Montreal for DECADES in multidisciplinary harmony. AT & PT both rehabilitate injuries individually but can also refer between one another to co-manage patients and compliment one another’s skill-sets to maximize efficiency for the patient.

Will my insurance cover Athletic Therapy treatments?

Probably! The following companies typically provide coverage for athletic therapy …

Blue Cross
Manulife
Sunlife
Greenshield
Liberty Health
Great West Life
All Sport
Citadel
Empire
Desjardins
Industrial Alliance
Canadian Hockey Association
The Cooperators
Canadian Athlete Insurance Plan

Ps. If your insurer does NOT have it listed, it’s always good to give them a quick phone call, as it can often be combined under another form of therapy within your plan!

At Advanced Health and Sports Clinic Dana Lainchbury (Click to read her bio!) is our clinical Athletic Therapist and excited to work with you to manage injury and pursue your health and fitness goals. If you would like to book an athletic therapy appointment a doctors prescription is NOT required and can be done so by clicking HERE!

Have a great week everyone!

Concussion: Why Am I STILL Experiencing Symptoms?

Good morning Nanaimo! Lets have a talk about a subject that’s gotten its fair share of attention over the past handful of years – concussion!

10-15% of Athletes involved in contact sports are expected to sustain a concussion annually. They happen. They aren’t fun. But despite the media coverage in recent years and the almost taboo nature they have come to be associated with – they TYPICALLY aren’t as bad as we have been led to believe.

WHAT Happens During Concussion? :

The occurrence of a concussion while initially thought to be a structural injury is actually now understood to be a “temporary dysfunction” stemming from a stretch/shear force applied to the brain. Without getting too far down the metabolic rabbit hole in this blog one of the primary problems following this injury this is we run into an ATP deficit (Yes, remember that from grade 11 biology?!). Basically, ion channels get stretched open, which results some in abnormal electrical activity and a subsequent imbalance occurs, which essentially leaves us with an energy deficit in the brain.

Now … The good news is that MOST concussions with proper rest, management, and return to play steps resolve and within 2-3 weeks. The battery recharges and we resume life/sport!

However …

Depending on the literature you read between 10 and 20% of concussion sufferers will still experience beyond four weeks following injury which then classifies them which three big words: POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME (PCS).

While it can be stubborn, unpredictable, and bothersome for the patient – in truth, the malingering of “concussion-symptoms” is usually not driven by the insult to the brain at this point as most people metabolically recover FULLY between 22-28 days following injury but because ANOTHER neighboring system also got disrupted during the trauma that caused the concussion in the first place (ex, a whiplash injury to the neck).

To re-iterate … the brain is typically NOT the culprit for persistent PCS symptoms! Lets now discuss the other elements that usually drive the symptoms at this point and are absolutely treatable if identified by a well-trained clinician.

The 5 “fingers” that contribute to the “Fist” of post concussion syndrome:

	What’s Happening?!	What to do about it?!
1. Metabolic Recovery	ATP levels are low and need to recharge!	Rest (for a few days ONLY) Nutrition Adherence to return to school and return to sport protocols Education and reassurance
2. Cervicogenic	Whiplash symptoms … neck is jacked up and now referring symptoms into the head/face/jaw!	Manual & manipulative therapy Soft tissue therapy Exercise! Dryneedling/IMS/acupuncture Pain Neuroscience Education
3. Vestibular + Visual Dysfunction	Inner Ear and/or visual system are not operating or communicating correctly	Vision Rehabilitation (via Neuro-Optometrist) Vestibular Rehabilitation (via physiotherapist)
4. Autonomic Dysregulation	Temporary blood-flow abnormality … essentially the heart is not pumping the correct amount of blood to the brain post concussion.	Sub-symptom threshold cardiovascular exercise (train BELOW symptom threshold … then build it back up progressively!)
5. Psychosocial Components	Anxiety, depression, sleep disorder, OCD, etc.	Clinical counsellor, psychologist, etc. Resources are there, they are important, use them!!

To Summarize:

The GOOD news is that these are all treatable! This means that a thorough assessment of the aforementioned systems to see what is driving the symptoms is imperative. We then need to intelligently LOAD and CHALLENGE that system and “nudge” its boundaries accordingly.

The old adage ”REST IS BEST” is NOT true, and is NOT evidence based practice. Will a brief period of rest (3-4 days) following initial injury is important a progressive supervised return to mental and physical activity is what is now being recommended.

Concussions are one of the many things we enjoy treating at Advanced Health and Sports Clinic when we aren’t treating low back pain, rotator cuff injuries, ACL repairs, and other “typical” injuries you commonly see in an Injury Rehabilitation Clinic. In future posts we will go deeper into each specific element of PCS mentioned today – but the message we wanted to get across is clear:

Concussions happen – that’s OK!
The body & brain do a good job of recharging post injury in MOST cases!
A predictive factor of quick and simpler recovery is getting assessed QUICKLY following injury to rule out red flags and provide education and re-assurance.
If you experience Post-Concussion Syndrome symptoms you’re not alone!
Your symptoms beyond four weeks are probably NOT your brain – but something close by!
Rest is NOT best!
Identify what’s driving the symptoms – then treat it!

Have a great week everybody!