Well it’s that time of year and Physiotherapy Month is well under way! It’s a great time to reach out to those in our community, promote our profession and highlight how beneficial physiotherapy can be. Recent Canadian Census data collected in 2016 shows that baby boomers now out number the younger population for the first time ever. Physiotherapists will play a large role in assisting the population in maintaining healthy, active lives well into their senior years.

I first became aware of physiotherapy as a profession when I was 10 years old watching TV on a Saturday morning. A company had sponsored a segment called “When I Grow Up”, which aired during the commercial breaks. That morning it was “when I grow up, I want to be a Physiotherapist”. I watched as they showed how these professionals could fix their clients’ injuries with their hands and exercises! I was so interested that I went to the encyclopedia (pre-google days folks) and looked up this fantastic job and decided then and there that this was what I was meant to do. I went downstairs and told my mom that I was going to be a Physiotherapist. I’m not quite sure my parents believed me or thought I was being serious but I had made up my mind. In grade 8 we were supposed to participate in ‘take your kids to school day’. But with my parents being teachers, I already knew what that entailed and didn’t want to just go to another school for the day. So for half a day, my mom arranged for me to go to a physiotherapy clinic. It was so exciting to see the clinic, talk to the clients and the Physiotherapists and learn about how they helped people. I was lucky enough to back that experience up with volunteering at clinics in high school and in my undergraduate university years which prepared me for the full expectations of the job.

Back then I certainly had no idea how much more popular and how important this profession would become. I am very grateful to have found a career that is so rewarding and constantly evolving. During this special month I want to thank my fellow Physiotherapy colleagues and all my clients who keep me motivated to learn new things.

Remember to live balanced, live well and be YOU at your PRIME.

Heather Ritchie M.Sc.PT, B.Sc. Kin, Dip Manip. PT, FCAMPT

Registered Physiotherapist

May is physiotherapy month! We at PRIME physiotherapy are a staff of highly trained, skilled and enthused therapists who are here to get you back to the think you love to do. To start off the month, today’s blog post is talking about what physiotherapists can do for you. We are ultimately here for you! Helping you achieve your goals!

Physiotherapists in Ontario are direct access practitioners. This means that you do not need a referral from your family doctor to come and see us. That being said, some insurance companies may require a referral from your family doctor for coverage. This is something you should look into before booking your assessment appointment. So the first step in the path to achieving your goals, is booking your assessment appointment. This assessment appointment at our clinics is an hour long and is dedicated to figuring out what your goals are and how we can help facilitate them. During the assessment appointment, your physiotherapist and you will spend a portion of time talking about what brought you in that day, what you are feeling, what you do for work and what you do recreationally. We want to know about you, not just your injury. The second half of the appointment is where we get you moving. We use specific objective examination skills to determine the causes of whatever ailments you may be having. This may include active movement, a gait analysis (where we watch you walk), a strength assessment and so on. From here we determine a plan of care to get you to your optimal functioning.

A physiotherapist can help you with a number of different injuries including but not limited to:

· joint pain (knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain)

· muscle strains (muscle spasm, back spasms, quad strains)

· ligament sprains (sprained anklels)

· Arthritis

· Back, neck, joints pain

· Sciatica

· Hip, knee replacements

· Carpal tunnel syndrome

· Herniated disc

· Muscular conditions

· Diabetes

· Muscle imbalances

· Whiplash

· Sports injuries

· Headaches

· Postural correction

· Scoliosis

· Cardiovascular rehabilitation

· Post surgery rehabilitation

If you have any of these conditions or in general need help getting back to the things you love to do, please let our team help you. To celebrate physiotherapy and how much we what we do, we are going to share everyone’s personal story about why they became a physiotherapist or why they love what they do.

Remember to live balanced, live well and be you at your PRIME.

Amanda Homen D.P.T., B.Sc.Kin

Registered Physiotherapist

Physiotherapist spotlight: Heather Ritchie

May is Physiotherapy Month !