Info Archives - Advanced Health Clinic

Common Ailments Treated by Radial Shockwave Therapy

Radial shockwave therapy is a powerful tool in the treatment of various chronic conditions. Available at both our Nanaimo and Parksville Advanced Health + Sports Clinic locations. Shockwave therapy is backed by strong scientific evidence for its effectiveness. Here are some of the most common ailments radial shockwave therapy can help treat:

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, a painful condition affecting the heel and bottom of the foot, responds exceptionally well to shockwave therapy. According to a study by Rompe et al. (2009), shockwave therapy significantly reduces pain and improves function in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.

Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is another condition where shockwave therapy has shown significant benefits. In a randomized controlled trial, Furia (2008) demonstrated that shockwave therapy improved pain and activity levels in patients suffering from this persistent tendon issue.

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Tennis elbow, characterized by pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow, can be effectively treated with shockwave therapy. A meta-analysis by Vescovi et al. (2016) confirmed that shockwave therapy provides considerable pain relief and functional improvement in individuals with tennis elbow.

Patellar Tendinopathy

Also known as jumper’s knee, patellar tendinopathy causes pain at the front of the knee. shockwave therapy has been shown to be beneficial, with peer-reviewed research by Van Leeuwen et al. (2009) indicating significant pain reduction and enhanced knee function following treatment.

Calcific Shoulder Tendinopathy

Calcific shoulder tendinopathy, characterized by calcium deposits in the shoulder tendons, is another condition effectively treated with shockwave therapy. A study by Cacchio et al. (2006) found that shockwave therapy significantly reduced pain and improved shoulder mobility in affected patients.

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints)

For athletes and active individuals suffering from shin splints, shockwave therapy offers relief. Moen et al. (2012) highlighted that shockwave therapy can alleviate pain and expedite return to sport activities in those with medial tibial stress syndrome.

At Advanced Health + Sports Clinic, we understand that shockwave therapy is just one piece of the puzzle. It’s crucial to adhere to an active rehabilitation program to maximize the benefits of shockwave therapy. Our team of physiotherapists and chiropractors is dedicated to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care to help you recover and thrive. Visit us in Nanaimo or Parksville to experience the latest in sports medicine technology and expert care.

How Radial Shockwave Therapy Heals Chronic Soft Tissue Injuries

At Advanced Health + Sports Clinic, we’re excited to offer radial shockwave therapy at both our Nanaimo and Parksville locations. This innovative treatment is a game-changer for those suffering from chronic soft tissue injuries. Here’s how shockwave therapy works to heal these conditions, supported by scientific evidence:

Stimulates Blood Flow

Radial shockwave therapy generates high-energy sound waves that penetrate deep into the affected tissue. This process stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, improving blood flow to the injured area. Enhanced circulation brings essential nutrients and oxygen, accelerating the healing process and reducing pain. A study by Wang et al. (2012) found that shockwave therapy significantly increases neovascularization, promoting better tissue repair.

Helps Remodel Fibrotic Tissue

Chronic injuries often result in the formation of fibrotic tissue, which can restrict movement and cause pain. Shockwave therapy effectively helps remodel these fibrous adhesions, allowing for improved mobility and less discomfort. By addressing fibrotic tissue, the therapy helps restore the natural structure and function of the tissue. Research by Schmitz et al. (2015) showed that shockwave therapy can disrupt fibrotic tissue, enhancing tissue flexibility and function.

Reduces Pain

One of the immediate benefits of shockwave therapy is pain relief. The acoustic waves desensitize nerve endings, diminishing the pain signals sent to the brain. This effect not only provides immediate relief but also enables patients to engage more comfortably in rehabilitation exercises, which are crucial for long-term recovery. A study by Notarnicola et al. (2018) demonstrated that shockwave therapy significantly reduces pain perception in patients with chronic pain conditions.

Promotes Collagen Production

Collagen is a vital protein for the repair and regeneration of soft tissues. Shockwave therapy stimulates collagen production, leading to stronger, more resilient tissues. This is particularly beneficial for tendons and ligaments, which are often compromised in chronic injuries. Cheng et al. (2014) found that shockwave therapy significantly increases collagen synthesis, improving tissue strength and durability.

Enhances Metabolic Activity

The mechanical stimulation from shockwave therapy increases cellular metabolism. This boost in metabolic activity enhances the removal of cellular waste and promotes the absorption of nutrients necessary for tissue repair. The result is a more efficient healing process and quicker recovery times. Research by Wang et al. (2016) indicated that shockwave therapy enhances metabolic activity and cellular regeneration, aiding in the healing process.

At both our Nanaimo and Parksville clinics, we integrate shockwave therapy into comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs. While shockwave therapy is highly effective, it’s important to couple it with an active rehabilitation program to maximize benefits. Our skilled physiotherapists and chiropractors are here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring you receive the best care possible.

Accelerating Healing: The Physiological Boost of Laser Therapy in Injury Recovery

In the journey to recovery from injuries, embracing advanced and effective treatments is paramount. Laser therapy has emerged as a powerful tool in the rehabilitation arsenal, employing specific physiological mechanisms to expedite healing. At Advanced Health + Sports Clinic, with locations in Nanaimo and Parksville, BC, we integrate laser therapy into our comprehensive approach, harnessing its potential to augment recovery from various injuries.

Laser therapy operates on the principle of photobiomodulation, a process where light energy penetrates tissues, triggering biochemical changes at a cellular level. Here are the physiological mechanisms through which laser therapy enhances injury recovery:

Increased Cellular Energy Production

Laser therapy stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of cells. This surge in energy accelerates cellular activities, fostering quicker tissue repair.

Improved Blood Circulation

The therapy enhances blood flow by dilating blood vessels, ensuring efficient oxygen and nutrient delivery to the injured area. This heightened circulation expedites the removal of waste products, promoting a healthier healing environment.

Reduced Inflammation

Laser therapy exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by modulating cytokines and enzymes responsible for the inflammatory response. This reduction in inflammation alleviates pain and swelling associated with injuries.

Enhanced Collagen Production

Collagen is a crucial component of tissue repair. Laser therapy promotes collagen synthesis, aiding in the formation of stronger and more resilient connective tissues.

Faster Injury Healing

By accelerating cellular regeneration and tissue repair, laser therapy shortens the overall healing time, allowing individuals to resume normal activities sooner.

While laser therapy offers a potent boost to injury recovery, its effectiveness is maximized when coupled with prescribed exercise programming. Our clinicians at Advanced Health + Sports Clinic emphasize the importance of adhering to tailored exercise regimens. Exercise not only complements the physiological benefits of laser therapy but also plays a pivotal role in improving strength, flexibility, and overall functional capacity.

Adherence to prescribed exercises ensures that the gains achieved through laser therapy are sustained, preventing re-injury and promoting long-term wellness. At Advanced Health + Sports Clinic, we view the combination of laser therapy and exercise programming as a dynamic partnership, empowering individuals on their path to a swift and resilient recovery.

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!

We’ve Arrived! The Advanced Five W’s:

Well… here we are! Easter 2018 has just passed as we head into what hopefully is another beautiful Spring in Nanaimo, BC. While the Advanced Health and Sports Clinic blog will typically include educational/informational topics in the future for this first blog we figured we would start things off in a slightly different direction. As a “physical” clinic we are still in our infancy and have only transitioned into our new space two weeks ago; however, as an entity and a group of professionals, our roots go allot deeper than that timeframe would indicate and this first blog will hopefully give you a QUICK glimpse into our story and a few of the personalities behind it.

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