SOS Physiotherapy: Laser Therapy

SOS Physiotherapy: Laser Therapy

The Spinal Column The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

ISSUE NUMBER 17

TAKING THE PLUNGE

Imagine free falling from 10,000 feet for 40 seconds at a rate of 200km/hr. Then, spend another 6 minutes slowly parachuting back to Earth. As if that wasn’t awesome enough, add the beautiful backdrop of Vancouver! I am very happy to say that I was brave enough to venture off to Vancouver and knock this off of my bucket list this past May. As someone who loves heights and the rush of adrenaline, this was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever done! I loved the feeling of being completely free and letting go of all control as I fell in free fall. It was a really stress-relieving feeling! I would absolutely do this again if I had the opportunity to do so. As for the rest of my Vancouver trip, we were able to do a couple of really great hikes. The first hike was located in Pemberton, about 3 hours north of Vancouver, called Joffre Lakes. Each of the 3 lakes were absolutely breathtaking and worth every bit of the 5-hour trek. Next up, was the Stawamus Chief hike. This was a much more difficult hike. It actually had parts where we had to climb ladders, and use chains to help pull ourselves up! Unfortunately, it was also raining quite a bit throughout most of the 600ft climb, which added the difficulty level. Luckily, when we got to the top, the

clouds cleared for a couple of minutes and we were able to get a decent view!

On every one of our trips, food always plays an important role. Vancouver has amazing choices for food and I am a huge fan of sushi and other raw seafood. We had a ton of sushi, practically daily, and we were never disappointed. We also had lots of recommendations to go to a restaurant called Fanny Bay. This restaurant was probably one of the best meals we had on the trip. We tried their raw prawns, oysters and scallops and we were blown away! I know raw seafood may not be for everyone but if it is something you enjoy, this is a must try! This was my third time heading out to British Columbia and I always have a great time when I’m there. I love the countless hikes and scenery it offers and of course, all the incredible choices in food. I can’t wait until the next time I am back and I hope to be able to make it out to Victoria Island in one of my future visits! I’ll see you again soon B.C. - Coco Ang

INSIDE: • Why Choose Laser Therapy? • Your Headache May Be Coming From Your Neck!

• April's Story • My Patient Stories • And More!

www.sosphysiotherapy.ca

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3 Laser Therapy is a non-invasive technique to help reduce pain and inflammation. Laser therapy can be safely used as an adjunct or replacement for pharmaceutical drugs. This pain relief treatment enables patients to have an alternative to drugs and surgery. Laser therapy treatments last between 5 and 10 minutes depending on the condition being treated. Laser therapy treatments must be administered directly to skin, as laser light cannot penetrate through layers of clothing. You will feel a soothing warmth as the therapy is administered. What to Expect Depending on the condition being treated, your therapy may be administered through either a contact or non-contact hand piece. The contact hand piece is designed to allow the practitioner to physically manipulate the tissue 2 6 1 6 5 7 8 4 8 3 5 4 9 4 8 3 2 http://1sudoku.com n° 312259 - LevelHard n° 329149 n°312259

while administering the treatment, resulting in a laser-massage treatment. This allows for light to penetrate deeper into tissues than the non- contact hand piece due to it’s ability to displace tissue through a laser-massage technique. Safety + Efficacy Medical lasers are cleared by the FDA and adhere to strict ISO standards in order to provide you with the safest non-invasive treatment option on the market. Most patients see results within 3 to 5 short treatments. Our lasers work by flooding the tissue with photons, which energizes cells resulting in increased circulation to the injured area and ultimately pain reduction. Laser therapy allows your body to utilize it’s own healing powers by inducing a series of healing responses in your body. During treatment you will feel a soothing warmth that identifies the beginning of an 18-24 hour process of modulated

cellular activity leading to decreased pain and inflammation. Examples of common conditions laser can treat: • Acute injury • Chronic injury

• Muscle/Joint pain • Sprains & strains • Arthritis

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• Low back & sciatica pain • Neck pain & headaches

These are just a few examples of conditions our Class IV Laser can treat. Give our clinic a call today if you have any questions about your aches and pains and how laser therapy can help you!

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Please Take A Moment To Look Through All That We Offer:

• Physiotherapy

• Osteopathy

• Custom Foot Orthotics

• Registered Massage Therapy

• Personalized Exercise Programs

• FITforeGOLF

• Acupuncture

• KW Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

• Custom Bracing & Orthopedic Supply

YOUR HEADACHE MAY BE COMING FROM YOUR NECK!

There are many reasons why headaches may occur. A very common source of a headache may be your neck. Often times it comes from an area called the CV region. This is located near the base of your skull, at the upper part of your neck. Some traits of a “cervicogenic headache”: • One-sided and typically does not change sides • Will often experience neck and/or neck-shoulder pain as well • Pain usually starts at the neck and can spread to the following areas:

• Back of the skull • Near the temple • Behind the eye

A really great exercise that may help with this is called a chin tuck SNAG. Use a small towel and line up one end at the level of your hairline. Hold the towel taut at about eye level. While keeping the towel taut, perform a chin tuck - creating a double chin. Hold this for 5 seconds and repeat this 10 times.

Avoid tipping your head backwards or forwards. Rather, you are thinking about sliding the head backwards like a drawer.

Give this a try and you may find that this improves your headache!

April's Story Hello, my name is April Martin, I am the office administrator/receptionist at our Elmira clinic. My family and I live outside of Elmira on my husband’s home farm. This time of year, I spend most of my free time away from the desk in my flowerbeds. As a family we all enjoy being busy outside, whether it is fun activities like camping, canoeing, and hiking or work like planting, weeding or picking raspberries, beans, corn or potatoes from our garden. I was welcomed to the SOS team almost 5 years ago after needing a new challenge to go along with my ever changing, growing up too fast family and as they say time flies when you are having fun and it seems to have been doing just that! It is hard to believe the years have gone by so quickly. I have learned many new things in my time here and will have my second child going off to college in the fall (only one more kid to go!). I feel blessed to be a part of this team. My favorite part of working here has been that all of the staff, from the front desk to the owners go out of their way to help and support each other and the clients to achieve their personal best and I am proud to add to this environment. I truly hope that as a client you feel welcomed and supported while reaching your goals during your treatment.

CALL ONE OF OUR 3 LOCATIONS TODAY!

My Patient Stories

“I'm a furniture delivery guy and had been dealing with shoulder issues for about a year before coming to SOS. After a couple months, at physio (longer than it should have been because I didn't always do my exercises… oops) I’ve got my full range of motion and strength back. Thanks Christine!” - Carter Leis

“My thanks to the staff at SOS Physiotherapy at the Elmira clinic, and especially to Melissa for her expertise as a Physiotherapist. I drive over an hour each way to the Elmira clinic, but the results are well worth the drive. In 2015, I started to experience some pain in my upper back and neck area and as time went by it became more acute. I proceeded to make an appointment with my family doctor who after several x rays told me the diagnosis. The vertebrae from the base of my skill to my shoulders were literally worn out and there was nothing that could repair them. I did not want to get hooked on painkillers or have any type of surgery. My first option now was Physiotherapy. After a short search on the computer I located “SOS Physiotherapy”. Are my vertebrae back to normal? No, but my life is greatly improved thanks to Melissa at SOS. So, before you start medication or suggested surgery, consider Physiotherapy. Don't choose physio as your last option, but rather make it your first, and if possible make it SOS.” - Ron Wells

Out In The Community

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Healthcare Services!

Belmont Clinic Belmont Centre for Physical Medicine 564 Belmont Avenue West, Suite 301 Kitchener, Ontario N2M 5N6 TEL: (519) 743-4355

Campus Clinic University of Waterloo Student Life Centre

200 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 TEL: (519) 884-0767

Elmira Clinic Behind Wellness Centre (Clock Tower) 3 Wyatt Street East, Suite 2 Elmira, Ontario N3B 2H4 TEL: (519) 669-1212

Earlier this month, Kelsie participated in fundraiser Bike-a-thon in Wingham, ON. There were 115 riders who came out to support, all choosing to bike 25km, 50km or 100km. All proceeds went to an organization in Listowel called Youth for Christ. It is really starting to look and feel like summer out there, so it is the perfect time to get your bike out of storage and take it for a spin. Woolwich Township and Kitchener-Waterloo have so many beautiful trails for riding, and biking is a great way to get out and get active this summer.

www.sosphysiotherapy.ca

LASER DAY IS WEDNESDAY JULY 17TH

Laser Therapy Will Soon Be Available At Our Elmira Location! To kick-start this exciting new modality, we are having an open house on Wednesday, July 17th where we are offering free sessions of laser therapy. Speak with your physiotherapist to see if this is right for you and we can book your spot. Hurry as spaces are very limited!

Workshops are free but seats are limited. Don’t delay, register today by calling now!

Belmont Clinic Belmont Centre for Physical Medicine 564 Belmont Avenue West, Suite 301 Kitchener, Ontario N2M 5N6 TEL: (519) 743-4355

Bring in This Coupon For A Free Back Pain & Sciatica Workshop Is Back Pain Or Sciatica Holding You Back

Campus Clinic University of Waterloo Student Life Centre

200 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 TEL: (519) 884-0767

Do you suffer from back pain or Sciatica? • Have your pain assessed. • Get strategies to help you fix it!

Elmira Clinic Behind Wellness Centre (Clock Tower) 3 Wyatt Street East, Suite 2 Elmira, Ontario N3B 2H4 TEL: (519) 669-1212

Call Today!

For use at the Belmont location on July 10th @ 06:30 PM

LASER THERAPY 101

1. It reduces pain and inflammation without side effects Laser therapy uses a process called photobiomodulation. Unlike medications, laser therapy reduces pain without undesirable side effects. It is also important to point out that patients report long-lasting pain relief. While the number of treatments required may vary depending on the acuity of the condition, many patients experience lasting relief after only a couple treatments. 2. Can be used for acute and chronic conditions When treating acute conditions with laser therapy, it is particularly effective when it is administered as soon as possible following injury. The faster the inflammation is reduced and the healing process can begin, the better. In the case of acute injury, laser therapy helps restore the body to normal function quicker. 3. Treatments can be customized for each situation Depending on the condition, whether it is an acute swollen ankle or chronic low back pain, the therapist will set the laser up for your condition to treat the pain and inflammation along with improving cellular function to maximize the benefits. 4. Treatments Feel Good Depending on the laser, it can create little to no sensation or it can create a gentle, soothing warmth. 5. Treatments Are Fast With LightForce lasers, treatments are quick, usually 5-10 minutes depending on the size, depth, and acuteness of the condition being treated.

Clinical Effects Of Laser Therapy

Belmont Clinic Belmont Centre for Physical Medicine 564 Belmont Avenue West, Suite 301 Kitchener, Ontario N2M 5N6 TEL: (519) 743-4355

Campus Clinic University of Waterloo Student Life Centre

Elmira Clinic Behind Wellness Centre (Clock Tower) 3 Wyatt Street East, Suite 2 Elmira, Ontario N3B 2H4 TEL: (519) 669-1212

200 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 TEL: (519) 884-0767