Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy at Pro Function
At Pro Function, all of our clients are provided 1-on-1 appointments with their physiotherapist. We do not use physiotherapy assistants and we do not do group treatments. To give you the highest quality of care, our initial assessments are 60 minutes in length and all subsequent appointments are 30 minutes in length.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists have studied the science of body movement and are experts in figuring out whether or not areas of the body are moving and operating as they should be. This means that your physiotherapist can inform you about what is bothering your body (give you a diagnosis) but more importantly guide you through the steps you’ll need to take to recover from your injury. Sometimes this means allowing the physiotherapist to perform treatments, other times it means being provided to suggestions of what you should and should not do at your home, office or during activity. In some cases this might even mean re-directing you to another therapist (eg. Pelvic Health, Massage, Perdorthics) or to a specialist (eg. doctor or surgeon), especially in cases where multiple types of clinicians will be need to help you with your injury.
The most important aspect to understand is that Physiotherapists have a responsibility to help you diagnose as understand your injury as well as work with you to find strategies and situations that give you the best chance at recovery.
High Quality Physiotherapy - how do I know that's what I'm getting?
Physiotherapy is an investment in yourself. You time, your effort and even your money comes into play and therefore the confidence you have in the quality and value of care you are receiving matters. You have a say in who you choose to help you with your health. To help, here is a list of what high quality physiotherapy (and really high quality health care in general) should offer:
- Time – enough time to tell your story and enough time on the part of the clinician to listen and understand you situation, your goals, your questions and your concerns.
- Time – enough time to physically assess your movement and function, and enough time to come to a diagnosis and provide you with education about your injury.
- Communication – conversations and discussion about your injury that the options available to you in order to recover. Communication that is on a level you can understand. Physiotherapy and other forms of rehab is a partnership between you and your health care provider, and high quality care means both parties are on the same page and work together to reach your goals.
- Patient-centered – you as the patient are the most important person in the room. Your physiotherapist should provide confidence and empowerment so you have the ability to understand and take control of your own health.
Before you book an appointment with a health care professional, here are the top five questions you should ask when first making contact with a clinic;
- Is the physiotherapists comfortable and confident treating your type of injury? (it’s location, severity, your goals for the injury)
- What types of treatment do they offer and, if applicable, do they offer treatment types specific for your injury? (Hands-on, exercise, taping, joint adjustments, acupuncture, etc)
- How many patients does the physiotherapist see in per hour? (am I getting enough time to meet a high-standard of care?)
- Will I be working with anyone else other than the physiotherapist? (Kinesiologist, physiotherapy assistants, etc)
- Is the facility accessible based on my injury type?
- What is the cost of physiotherapy treatment? What payment options are available? Do you offer direct billing?
Physiotherapy Treatment
Physiotherapy is effective at treating a wide range of injuries and diseases as well as relieving pain and maximizing range of motion. During your initial assessment and in subsequent appointments, treatment can include any of the following depending on how you are injured and what your physiotherapist determines to be the best course of treatment for your injury or condition:
- Personalized exercise programs designed to improve your strength, range of motion, and function
- Soft Tissue Massage
- Joint mobilization and manipulation to reduce pain and stiffness
- Hot and cold packs and modalities to relieve pain, reduce swelling, speed up the healing process, and improve movement and function
- Functional activity and tolerance testing and training
- Functional Movement Assessments
- Functional Return to Sport rehab
- Work and occupational re-training and return to work planning
- Prescription, fabrication and application of assistive, adaptive, supportive and protective devices and equipment
- Environmental change, focusing on removing barriers to function
Your First Appointment at Pro Function
Your first visit to Pro Function consists of a full physical assessment and review of your medical history with one of our Physiotherapists. Their goal will be to determine the root causes of your condition or injury and then prescribe an evidence based treatment plan that is specifically tailored to your needs, your goals, and the outcomes you desire.
