Concussion Management Part 2: How Long Does Recovery Take?

By Cassandra Kroner, PT

In part 1 of the concussion management blog series we covered how the brain is affected following a concussion, common symptoms, why early intervention is critical, and how physiotherapy can help optimize recovery. One of the most frequent questions people have following a concussion is about recovery time – ‘when can I go back to work full time?’ or ‘when can my son/daughter play soccer again?’. It can be helpful to understand the general stages of injury and potential progression of symptoms:

The initial days following a concussion are considered the acute stage of injury, and cognitive and physical rest is critical at this time. After 7-10 days of adequate rest the chemical balance and blood flow in the brain has been restored, and symptoms that continue are known as post-concussion syndrome. Some symptoms can last upwards of 6 months or years post injury. It is important to keep in mind that not everyone will progress through all three stages, and the length of time symptoms last will vary between individuals.

Why Recovery Can Take Longer

There are a number of factors that can complicate and prolong recovery, and these can help us predict if symptoms are likely to persist longer than the usual 6 weeks. A history of migraines, mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, or learning disabilities, have been found to increase recovery times. Additionally, visual or vestibular dysfunction or a high number of initial symptoms following a concussion usually indicate prolonged recovery.

History of Concussion

People who have had a previous concussion are more susceptible to have another one due to a lower threshold for injury after each concussion – meaning the next concussion can happen from a lower severity injury than the first time. Additionally, there is often an increased number of symptoms and a longer recovery time after each subsequent concussion. A concussion at a young age risks disruption of brain circuits yet to be developed, and also creates a wider window for repeated future concussions.

Repetitive hits that are common in sports such as hockey or football, which do not cause a concussion, are known as sub concussive trauma. Research has shown this repetitive trauma can result in increased reaction and processing time, memory impairments and increased chance of making mistakes. These effects can place an athlete at an increased risk for a concussion during sport. If the athlete does sustain a concussion at this point, the brain has a diminished reserve capacity to manage injury, and the effects of subsequent concussions are cumulative and result in increased impairment in function with each concussion.

Additional Injuries

Another complicating factor is the presence of other injuries, such as whiplash or neck sprain/strains, that can occur with falls or car accidents. These neck injuries alone can cause similar symptoms to a concussion including headaches and dizziness, and in combination with a concussion can result in more severe and prolonged symptoms. Having an assessment by a physiotherapist can determine which symptoms are from the neck injury and which are from the concussion – resulting in individualized treatment strategies to target the cause of each symptom.

To conclude, although concussions can be an invisible injury, they need to be properly managed and rehabilitated just like any other injury. This management includes assessment to determine the cause of symptoms, specific treatments to address each impairment, and strategies to manage recovery at home. Visiting a physiotherapist trained in concussion rehabilitation will ensure that both concussion symptoms and neck injuries are addressed. The goals of treatment are to restore physical and cognitive function while facilitating a safe return to work and sport. Awareness and education about concussions and treatment options are important to ensure that people don’t suffer unnecessarily from prolonged symptoms – this is where a trained Physiotherapist can help!

Osteoporosis and Exercise

By Lauren Harding, Registered Kinesiologist

What is osteopenia and osteoporosis?

Osteopenia and osteoporosis are conditions characterized by a loss of bone mineral density (BMD). BMD is a measure of the quantity of minerals (calcium and phosphorus) in a precise volume of bone. The difference comes in their severity.

Osteopenia indicates a lower BMD causing bones to be generally weaker. This bone weakness becomes more pronounced with osteoporosis as the bones become more brittle and porous (filled with air pockets), ultimately increasing the risk of fracture. Though less severe, osteopenia is a serious risk factor for developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is often labeled as the ‘silent thief’ since bone loss occurs gradually, typically without symptoms. However, these four factors can signal underlying osteoporosis:

• Loss of height over time and/or development of a stooped posture
• Sudden back pain without any obvious cause
• Fracturing after a seemingly minor incident

 

How are these three conditions treated?

An excellent approach is early intervention physiotherapy treatment, accompanied by a well-designed exercise program. It is important to consult your doctor before starting a new exercise plan. As with any exercise, there is always risk associated.

Osteoporosis Canada recognizes exercise not only for increasing cardiovascular endurance, but also as a fundamental component to protecting your bones. Exercise maintains bone mass and builds muscle strength, as well as increases flexibility and range of motion, balance and coordination. Benefits also include reduced pain and inflammation, while promoting loss of excessive weight. Additionally, the risk of falling is reduced.

 

What types of exercise should I be doing?

There are 5 types of exercises recommended for individuals with osteopenia and osteoporosis:

Types of Exercise	How Often Should I Do These?
Aerobic	3 to 5 days per week, a minimum of 150 minutes per week
Strength Training	2 to 3 times per week
Balance	Every day
Stretching	Every day
Posture Training	Always

 

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise is considered any continuous, rhythmic activity that strengthens and stimulates the heart and lungs, thereby improving the body’s use of oxygen. It is recommended that ALL adults get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week, or about 20 to 30 minutes per day, for at least 10 minutes at a time. During moderate-intensity activity, your heart beats faster and you breathe harder. The rule of thumb is that you are able to talk during these activities, but you are working too hard to be able to sing. During vigorous-intensity activity, your heart beats faster still and you continue to breathe harder. You are unable to say more than a few words at a time during vigorous activity. It is important with osteopenia and osteoporosis to do weight bearing aerobic exercises. Examples of weight bearing aerobic exercises include:

• Brisk walking, dancing, stair climbing, running, step aerobics, hiking, jogging, jump rope, and treadmill walking/running

 

Strength Training

In order to increase your muscular strength, you must work against resistance until your muscles feel tired.

This helps to reverse muscle atrophy, a condition that occurs when your muscles start to waste away due to lack of use. Furthermore, resistance training strengthens the muscles surrounding your joints, ultimately reducing further joint damage and decreasing risk of injury. ALL adults should do 2-3 days of strength training a week. Exercises using free weights (dumbbells), exercise bands or weight machines are strongly recommended. Examples include:

• bicep curls, sit-to-stand, lunges, rows, calf raises, bridges, triceps kickbacks, countertop push ups

 

Balance Exercises

Balance exercises help maintain your footing when an unexpected movement occurs in your daily life. Improving balance and coordination can reduce your likelihood of falling, therefore decreasing your fracture risk. Ironically, in challenging your balance, you run the risk of falling. For this reason, you must always take precautions such as having a chair nearby to hold onto. When you are training your balance, there are two main types of balance exercises:

• Static Exercises – Stand still in one spot holding a certain posture in order to practice balance. For example, standing on one foot on the floor.
• Dynamic Exercises – Balance is challenged more with adding movement. For example, walking ina straight line while touching the heel of one foot to the toe of the other with each step.

 

Stretching

As you age, you lose flexibility which can increase your stiffness and discomfort, often preventing you from staying active. Stretching exercises help you to counteract this by increasing the range of motion of your joints and improving your flexibility. It is important to note that stretching should always be done after the muscles and the body are warmed up since stretching cold, stiff muscles increases your risk of injury. Just like in balance training, there are two main ways to stretch:

• Static Stretching – Take the muscles to their end range of motion and maintain that position for at least 30 seconds in order to enhance soft tissue and muscular flexibility.
• Dynamic Stretching – Functional, multi-joint movements that typically increase in range of motion and speed as the body begins to warm up.

While both are effective, dynamic stretching has been shown to be more beneficial than static stretching as a way to warm up prior to activity since it has been found to improve balance, strength, reaction time and agility. Static stretching, however, is still important and is most beneficial when performed at the end of exercise as a cool down. Static stretching can also be done separately when the body is warm as part of an everyday attempt to improve body mechanics, posture and flexibility.

 

Posture Training

We all have a natural curve in our spine, however, weak back muscles and/or spinal fractures can cause an excessive forward curvature of the spine. Rounding of the upper back is known as exaggerated kyphosis. This puts pressure on the front of your vertebrae, placing them at even great risk of fracture. Posture training exercises help to improve the alignment of your spine by correcting shoulder, back and neck positioning. Focus should be placed on exercises that strengthen the back muscles and reduce forward head posture. Abdominal exercises that strengthen the core muscles, help to maintain good posture as well.

 

To Sum Up

An exercise program is a vital component in the management of osteoporosis.

Regular participation in aerobic and strength training is fundamental, as well as balance, posture management and stretching.  All in all, physical activity for individuals with osteopenia or osteoporosis can promote bone health and overall quality of life.

Concussion Management Part 1: The Role of Physiotherapy

By Cassandra Kroner, PT

What is a Concussion?

Concussions are a type of mild traumatic brain injury. Common causes include car accidents, sports, falls, or workplace accidents. Concussions can result from direct impact to the head, or from forces elsewhere in the body such as sudden acceleration or deceleration that cause an  injury to the brain and brain-stem.  The result is damage to cells and chemical imbalances that disrupt normal brain function.

Immediately following injury a sequence of chemical processes occur as the brain attempts to restore its normal balanced state. This increased activity in the brain is happening at a time when blood flow is decreased to the site of injury, creating an increased demand for energy. The resulting impairments in neurological function can cause a variety of signs and symptoms:

Physical	Behavioural/Emotional	Cognitive
Headache	Drowsiness or fatigue	Feeling foggy
Nausea	Irritability	Trouble thinking clearly
Vomiting	Depression	Feeling slowed down
Blurred or double vision	Anxiety	Difficulty concentrating
Balance problems	Sleeping more than usual	Difficulty remembering
Dizziness	Difficulty falling asleep	Trouble finding words
Sensitivity to light or noise	Sadness	Confusion

 

First Steps Following Injury

Concussions are often under-reported and misdiagnosed, and it is important to note that loss of consciousness is not necessary for a diagnosis. Contributing to the difficulty in identifying concussions is the lack of imaging or other tests to aid in diagnosis. Unless there is bleeding or swelling in the brain, the changes that occur with a concussion are not visible on a CT or MRI. If a concussion is suspected, an evaluation by a physician is recommended, and unless symptoms are severe or quickly worsening it is usually not necessary to visit the emergency room. Once the diagnosis is established and conditions requiring further medical treatment are ruled out, treatment should begin immediately.

Early Management

Timely intervention following a concussion is essential to ensure optimal management and recovery. An outdated approach to concussion treatment is to stay in a quiet dark room until symptoms are resolved. With a growing demand for evidence-based treatment strategies, there is a wealth of new research that refutes this old-fashioned ‘dark room’ approach. Although complete rest is recommended for the first 48-72 hours after injury, research supports a more active approach to recovery following the initial rest period. Prolonged physical rest can lead to de-conditioning, depression and fatigue, making it more difficult to return to the previous level of physical activity.

Complete physical and cognitive rest immediately following a concussion is critical to ensure adequate energy supplies for the brain as it attempts to heal. Excess physical or cognitive exertion at this time will use precious energy that the brain needs and can result in exacerbation of symptoms and prolonged recovery. Physical rest means no exercising and caution with exertion around the house. Cognitive rest should focus on refraining from activities that require concentration (schoolwork, reading), as well as visual attention (television, video games, computer or phone use). Alternative options are listening to music or audio books.

Importance of Physiotherapy

A visit to a physiotherapist with advanced concussion management training is recommended for a detailed assessment following a concussion. Your physiotherapist will take a thorough history and can assess visual and vestibular symptoms, balance, cognitive function, and any additional injuries sustained at the time of concussion. Recommendations for the initial rest period as described above will be tailored to each individual, and further suggestions for management of symptoms will be provided.

Treatment plans involve a carefully monitored graded program of exertion to assist with a safe return to work/school and then sport. Every individual will experience a different set of symptoms following concussion, and as a result there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to treatment. This is why having a professional guide you through recovery is valuable. Specific and progressive exercises will be provided to target deficiencies in the vestibular and visual systems. To facilitate a gradual return to school or work, suggested accommodations would be provided to minimize symptoms and maximize participation. Additionally, manual therapy to address complaints such as neck pain or headaches can be part of treatment. Once the individual has returned to school or work, physical exertion testing is the last step before being cleared for sport.

Recovery time frames vary between individuals, but for many people, symptoms resolve in a month or less. However, there are a number of factors that can delay or prolong recovery. Stay tuned for part 2 of the concussion management blog series to learn more.

Update: Continue reading on part two of our Concussion Management blog series.

Physiotherapy after a Fracture

By Courtney Lacey, PT

If you have recently broken a bone, you may be wondering when you will be able to return to all of your normal activities. While it typically takes 4-8 weeks for a bone to heal, you will likely require physiotherapy to help get you back to full function.

How do fractures happen?

A broken bone, also known as a fracture, can occur in many ways. Most often, broken bones are the result of a traumatic mechanism of injury such as a fall, motor vehicle accident or contact during a sporting event. Fractures can also occur from repetitive motions which place stress on the muscles and bones. A common example of this is stress fractures in the legs from running. Finally, fractures can more easily occur in people with osteoporosis – a disease which weakens bones and makes them more likely to break.

How do you know if you have a fracture?

These are some signs and symptoms which may indicate that you have a fracture:

• Immediate and severe pain following a fall or accident
• A “pop” or “click” heard or felt during the incident
• Swelling in the area
• A bump or deformity
• Unable to weight-bear through the injured limb

If you suspect you have a fracture, you will need to see a doctor who will order an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis. Often, those who experience an injury causing a fracture will go to the hospital to be evaluated.

Does a fracture heal?

While bone healing takes approximately 4-8 weeks, the timeline depends on both the person and the type of fracture.  In order for a bone to heal properly, it has to first be set in the proper position, which is called reduction. The doctor may be able to reposition the bones without surgery, which is called a closed reduction. Sometimes, surgery may be required to bring the ends of the bone close together, which is called an open reduction. Pins, plates or screws may also be used to keep the bones in place. If the fracture did not cause any part of the bone to shift out of place, no reduction is needed. Once the doctor has determined the bones are in a good position to allow for healing, the area will be immobilized in a cast or a splint.

When can the cast come off?

To determine if you are ready to have the cast removed, you will have an X-ray done with the cast or splint in place. The doctor will look for the formation of a callus, which demonstrates that healing has taken place. The doctor will then remove the cast and may recommend that you have physiotherapy. Physiotherapists play a key role in returning you to your full function as quickly as possible after a fracture.

Why do I need physiotherapy?

There are several reasons why physiotherapy is needed after fracture. Depending on the amount of healing that has occurred, your doctor may have special instructions (how much weight to put through the limb, certain activities to avoid, etc.) that your physiotherapist can help you understand. Once the cast is removed, you may still have some swelling and pain around the fracture site. Physiotherapists may use modalities (such as ultrasound or TENS) to help decrease pain and swelling and improve your mobility and tolerance for using the injured limb in daily activities. If you had surgery, you may also have a scar which creates scar tissue and can disrupt movement. At BodyTech Physiotherapy your therapist will use manual therapy techniques to help mobilize the scar tissue and the areas around the injury as needed to  restore normal movement around the surgical site.

Physiotherapy is crucial to improve your functional mobility that you may have lost during your time in the splint or cast. Immobilization over 6-8 weeks will cause loss of range of motion and strength, which will make daily tasks difficult to do. Your physiotherapist will help restore your proper range of motion using manual therapy techniques. While the fracture site will be stiff and sore, you may also lose range of motion at surrounding joints that were moving differently during the healing process. For example, if you have broken your elbow, it is also necessary to  assess your shoulder, wrist and hand to ensure that these joints are moving properly. Not correcting the mobility around the fracture site can prolong your healing process and lead to future injuries as well.

Once your range of motion has been restored, you will need to regain strength in order to return to your pre-injury activities. Your physiotherapist will work with you to create a proper strengthening program to re-introduce your bones to loads and stresses that you encounter in your daily activities. Lack of strength or going back to activity too soon puts you at risk of re-injury or prolonging the healing process. Physiotherapy will help you understand the correct exercises to do and will tailor your program to the activities you plan to return to, whether it be high level sport or recreational activity.

How long until I am back to my regular activities?

Your rehab program will vary in length depending on the type of fracture, if there was surgical intervention, and the type of activity you plan to return to. Depending on the nature of the injury, physiotherapy can take anywhere from 8 weeks to one year for more complex fractures. Your physiotherapist will guide you through your rehab program, ensuring you are progressing at an appropriate rate and prevent complications or future injury.

Frozen Shoulder/Adhesive Capsulitis

By Carla Cranbury, PT

What is it?

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a gradual onset shoulder condition characterized by pain and limited range of motion. This is caused by inflammation and tightening of the shoulder capsule. Typical initial symptoms are pain midway between the shoulder and the elbow and difficulty reaching behind the back. Most women will report that they have difficulty doing up their bra and men difficulty putting on their belt.

Why does it happen?

Limited research has been able to discern one certain cause of frozen shoulder – in short, we don’t know. We do know that it is most common in middle aged women (aged 40-65) and people with diabetes. It also is more likely to occur after a virus, a lingering shoulder injury or after shoulder or upper limb surgery.

How long does it take?

Frozen shoulder goes through three main stages, each of which can take weeks to months:

• Freezing – pain is noticed and range of motion becomes progressively limited
• Frozen – pain is reduced, but range of motion is further restricted
• Thawing – pain is reduced and range of motion gradually returns

Can physio help?

Physiotherapy cannot speed up the course of the condition – everyone has to go through each of the three stages in order to recover. The total process of frozen shoulder can take one to two years to resolve.

What physio can do is help you retain function while going through frozen shoulder, decrease some pain, and ensure a full recovery. Maintaining mobility through the process is important and is where physiotherapy can help the most. Physio will also help prevent other injuries that can be caused by compensating for the frozen shoulder – this is especially significant as it is common for the other shoulder to get the same condition.

Your physiotherapist will give you exercises to maintain as much movement as possible and instruct you on how to perform them properly to ensure you are not compensating for the limited range of motion. Hands on manual therapy will help stretch out the capsule to make the exercises easier to perform. Modalities such as ice, heat, TENS, and acupuncture can also be used to decrease pain.

Though frozen shoulder can be a lengthy and frustrating process, the right care can make it more manageable and prevent any further complications.

 

Reeves B. The natural history of the frozen shoulder syndrome. Scand J Rheumatol. 1975;4:193–6.[PubMed]

Greene WB. Essentials of musculoskeletal care. 2. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; 2001

Pal B, Anderson J, Dick WC, Griffiths ID. Limitation of joint mobility and shoulder capsulitis in insulin- and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Br J Rheumatol. 1986;25:147–51. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/25.2.147. [PubMed] [Cross Ref]

Bridgman JF. Periarthrits of the shoulder in diabetes mellitus. Ann Rheum Dis. 1972;74:738–46.

Hazleman BL. Frozen shoulder. In: Rockwood CA Jr, Matsen FA III, editors. The shoulder. 2. WB Saunders: Philadelphia; 1990.

Harryman DT, Lazurus MD, Rozencwaig R. The stiff shoulder. In: Rockwood Cam Matsen FA, Wirth MA, Lippitt SB, editors. The shoulder. 3. Saunders: Philadephia; 2004.

Exercises and Strategies for Stair Climb Events

Stair climbing is both a functional activity that most people complete daily and an activity that can be used for exercise. There are two different strategies that can be used to climb a flight of stairs: the knee first strategy (Figure 1) and the hip first strategy (Figure 2). In the knee first strategy, the movement is broken up into two distinct vectors with a horizontal vector (1) initiating the movement and the vertical component (2) following. This movement pattern relies on the quadriceps muscles as the primary mover and places increased stress on the knee which increases the likelihood of knee pain developing during stair climbing. The hip first strategy combines the vertical and horizontal components and results in a diagonal vector of movement. It relies primarily on the gluteal muscles to initiate the movement. This strategy decreases loading through the knee and reduces the risk of knee pain with repetitive stair climbing. Using a hip first strategy becomes especially important when using stair climbing as an exercise or when training for/completing an event like the CN Tower Climb.

Excellent strength and endurance of the gluteals (buttocks), quadriceps (front thigh muscles), and core are required to successfully complete the CN Tower Climb without injury. A good preparation program will involve both strengthening exercises and stretches for the major muscle groups of the lower extremity and core.

Strengthening Exercises

As the CN Tower climb requires good muscle endurance, each exercise should be performed for a minimum of 20 repetitions.

Squats

Stand with feet hip width apart, toes facing forward. Keeping the chest open and shins vertical, reach the hips back as if sitting on a chair, allowing the knees to bend. The knees should never go in front of the toes.

 

 

 

 

Single Leg Squats

Stand on one leg, keeping the pelvis level. Keeping the knee in line with toes and maintaining a level pelvis, reach the hips back and allow the knee to bend as if sitting on a chair. The knee should never go in front of the toe.

 

 

 

 

Step Ups

Put one leg up onto a step. Keep the knee in line with the toe and drive through the glute to straighten the knee and hip. Weight should not shift forward prior to initiating the movement.

 

 

 

Monster Walks

Stand on a band and cross it in front or tie the band around mid thigh as shown in the picture. Do a mini squat, ensuring that the hips are back and knees are behind toes. Keep the pelvis square and level and take a step to one side, slowly bring the other leg in. Perform to both sides.

 

 

 

 

Plank

With forearms shoulder width apart, gently squeeze shoulder blades together and pull down from ears. Balance on knees (easier) or balls of feet (harder), keeping the spine long, hips in line with shoulders, and chin tucked. Hold 30-60 seconds.

 

Single Leg Jump

Stand on one leg, keeping the pelvis level. Do a mini squat, power through glutes and calf to jump off ground. When landing, ensure heel is on the ground, knee is bent, hip is back and knee is in line with toe.

Box Jump

Stand with feet hip width apart a comfortable distance from the box. Do a mini squat before powering through glutes and swinging arms up to jump onto the box. Land keeping knees behind toes and core engaged. Stand up straight. Jump off the box and land in a controlled squat.

Sprint

With good running form, sprint for 60 seconds. Walk or lightly jog to recover for 2-3 minutes. Repeat 5-8 cycles.

Stretches

All stretches should be held for 30-60 seconds and repeated twice. Stretches should be performed daily when trying to lengthen a muscle or after a work-out when the goal is to maintain muscle length.

Hip Flexors

In a lunge stance with the back knee on the floor, tuck the pelvis under keeping the back straight.

 

 

Glutes

Lying on your back, keeping shoulders and back on the floor, cross the leg to be stretched over the other in a figure 4 position and bring both hips to a 90 degree angle.

 

 

Hamstrings

Sit with the leg to be stretched straight and the other foot tucked in. Keep the back straight and lean forward towards the straight leg by hinging at the hips.

 

 

Quadriceps

Stand and bring the heel of the leg to be stretched towards the buttock. Ensure that the bent knee does not drift forward in front of the other knee.

 

 

 

Calves (Soleus and Gastrocnemius)

Soleus

Stand in a lunge stance. Keeping the torso

upright, bend both knees and sit back over the back leg.

 

 

Gastrocnemius

Stand in a lunge stance. Keep the back leg straight and bend the front leg keeping the back heel on the ground.

 

 

 

Child’s Pose

Start on hands and knees with hands and knees shoulder and hip width apart, keep hands on the ground and sit hips back towards the heels until a stretch is felt through the back.

Injury Prevention and Physiotherapy

By Cassandra Kroner, PT

It is a common misconception that you only need to see a physiotherapist if you have an injury or pain. Physiotherapists have a wide range of skills, and recognizing the risk for future injury is one of them. Injury prevention is applicable to all individuals, regardless of their activity level, from the office worker to the athlete, and especially for those with previous injuries that could reoccur.

Repetitive Strain Factors

• Occupation
• Training errors
• Age
• Excessive or repetitive loads
• Inappropriate footwear
• Structural abnormalities
• Muscle control
• Core stability
• Joint alignment
• Muscle strength and flexibility imbalances
• Previous injury
• Posture

In general there are two types of injuries – traumatic and repetitive strain. Traumatic injuries are easier to understand, as they are the result of a singular event that causes damage. On the other hand, repetitive strain injuries occur when stressors that normally do not cause harm are repeated to the point of causing micro trauma that builds over time until the tissue becomes inflamed and injured. These injuries tend to begin subtly, and gradually increase in severity. Combined with the multi-factorial list of possible contributing factors, repetitive strain injuries can be challenging to diagnose and treat. However, in most cases repetitive strain injuries can be avoided with a good injury prevention and maintenance program.

A Common Factor: Muscle Imbalance

When an individual is involved in one specific sport or has a repetitive aspect to their job, the muscles are put under a great deal of strain to repeatedly perform the same movements. Sedentary jobs involving prolonged postures can have similar effects with certain muscles constantly working for long periods. Over time, muscle imbalances develop as the muscles that are being used the most continue to get strong while the reciprocating muscles become lengthened and weak. These muscle imbalances can cause movement restrictions that affect performance and increase stress on the body. Increased stress on muscles, joints and ligaments eventually leads to a repetitive strain injury.

The First Steps Toward Injury Prevention

Getting started on the road to injury prevention is as simple as booking an appointment with a physiotherapist. If you are unsure how injury prevention could apply to you or if you could be at risk for injury, speaking with a physiotherapist can help clarify your needs and goals. The same expert assessment skills physiotherapists use to diagnose injury will be used to proactively assess for risk factors that could lead to future injury. Your lifestyle, the demands of your job, and the specific sports or activities you participate in will be considered, along with the assessment findings, to develop an individualized treatment plan. This plan could involve manual therapy to correct joint restrictions or muscle length imbalance, strength and flexibility exercises, correction of movement patterns, and education.

By addressing several predisposing factors to injury, the body is optimally prepared to handle the demands of the workplace or sport. This can translate to decreased frequency and severity of future injuries, with the added benefit of a shortened recovery time in the event an injury does occur. Don’t wait for an injury to strike to take charge of your health!

The Sitting Solution

By Carla Cranbury, PT

Let’s face it, we sit a lot. Between working, commuting, and watching television, the Canada Health Measures Survey found that most Canadian adults spend 9 hours and 48 minutes of their waking time being sedentary. Most of us know that physical activity is good for us, but did you know that just sitting less (regardless of exercise) can also be beneficial in the long term?

A study published in 2009 followed more than 17 000 Canadians for 12 years. Over the twelve years they compared the participants’ daily sitting time and leisure time physical activity with mortality rates of various causes. What they found was that the amount of daily sitting time was positively associated with mortality rates from all causes, except cancer. Basically the more people sit, the higher the risk of mortality. This even includes people who are physically active, showing that high amounts of sitting time cannot be compensated for with exercise, even if it exceeds the current minimum physical activity recommendations.

Other studies have echoed similar findings. A seven year study reported that people who spend less than half their time sitting have a lower risk of mortality than those who spend more than half their day sitting. Another six year study reported that women who spend 16+ hours sitting per day have an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease compared with women who sit for less than 4 hours a day.

These studies are not to say that physical activity is not important – it still is, and it is still beneficial for your health. Physical activity also contributes to decreased time spent sitting.  What these studies are saying is the physiology associated with excessive sitting is different than the physiological benefits of exercise, and therefore excessive sitting cannot be compensated for with periods of exercise.

So now that you know, what can you do?

If you work at a desk most of the day, sitting can be hard to avoid. Some options are:

• Ask your work if they can accommodate an ergonomically sound standing desk
• Take frequent breaks from sitting to walk around
• Go for a walk on your lunch break
• Walk to your co-workers desk to talk to them instead of sending an email
• Park at the back of the parking lot to get a few extra steps
• Take the stairs!
• Take frequent standing breaks throughout the day
• Discover new ways to be active during your leisure time – ditch the TV and get outside

It’s the small changes to your daily routine that can add up and make a big difference. The best time to start is today!

References

Katzmarzyk, Peter T. et al. “Sitting Time And Mortality From All Causes, Cardiovascular Disease, And Cancer”. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 41.5 (2009): 998-1005. Web.

“Directly Measured Physical Activity Of Adults, 2012 And 2013”. Statcan.gc.ca. N.p., 2017. Web.

Manson, J.E., P. Greenland, and A.Z. LaCroix. “Walking Compared With Vigorous Exercise For The Prevention Of Cardiovascular Events In Women”. ACC Current Journal Review 12.1 (2003): 29. Web.

Weller, Iris and Paul Corey. “The Impact Of Excluding Non-Leisure Energy Expenditure On The Relation Between Physical Activity And Mortality In Women”. Epidemiology 9.6 (1998): 632-635. Web.

Why dancers need the perfect balance of strength and flexibility

By Kelsey Jack, PT

My ballet teacher once told me that given a choice between having strength and flexibility, she would choose strength. This has always stuck with me as there is such an emphasis on flexibility within the dance world that often there is a lack of focus on building the strength required to make use of that flexibility. This enhanced focus on flexibility instead of a balance between strength and flexibility creates muscle imbalances. If dancers work to improve their flexibility and ignore balancing the strength around the joints, it leaves the dancer vulnerable to injury.

Why is balancing strength and flexibility important?

Stability is provided to joints from a combination of passive and active structures. Passive structures include the bones that make up the joint and the ligaments that surround it and support it. Active structures are the muscles and tendons that act to both maintain stability and move the joint. Focusing on passive, static stretching, as is often the case in dance, can lead to instability of joints as the ligaments that are meant to stabilize the joint become stretched out and no longer provide joint support.

Flexibility, or range of motion can be divided into two categories: passive and active. Passive range of motion is demonstrated by how high a dancer is able to lift their leg using their hands whereas active range of motion is how high a dancer is able to lift their leg using their hip muscles and is demonstrated by doing a step like a developpé.  Practically speaking, flexibility without strength limits active range of motion and will hinder the height of legs when performing steps that involve controlled movements and sustained positions.

Back bends are a good example of a movement that is common in dance where strength is required to balance the flexibility of the spine. Dancers without good core strength and control will hinge through their spine, relying on one or two segments to gain all of their movement through. This leaves the spine vulnerable to injury as the ligaments and discs are relied on for support. Ideally when doing a back bend the spine should form a “C” curve. Many teachers instruct dancers to breathe up and extend through the top of their head into their back bend to encourage control into this movement pattern. Engagement of the abdominals and stabilizer muscles of the spine are required to move through each segment of the spine in a way that supports the passive structures of the back to create the desired curve.  It is subtle differences such as these in how a dancer moves, using strength to control their flexibility, that improves the quality of movement and decrease the future risk of injury.

Evidence to support strengthening to increase flexibility

As dancers are often concerned about their hip flexibility, a study was done looking into the best way to increase hip active range of motion. The researchers compared three stretching programs over a six week period. The first group of dancers completed a strengthening program where they worked at strengthening their hip flexors at the end of their available range of motion. The second group completed a “light” stretching program for their gluteals, hamstrings, calves, and quadriceps muscles, holding each stretch for 1 minute. This group was asked to perform stretches at an intensity of 3/10 on a scale where 0 is no stretch and 10 is an intense stretch that elicits a burning sensation. The third group performed the same stretches but at a “moderate-high” intensity which was rated as 8/10 on the same scale. The study found that all three groups had an increase in their passive range of motion but only the strength training and the low intensity stretching groups improved their active range of motion. The strengthening group saw the greatest improvements in both passive and active range of motion which is explained by the hamstrings relaxing as the hip flexor is contracted. This allows the hamstring to lengthen while the hip flexor is strengthened. Intense stretching without strengthening (as in the high intensity group) leads to lengthened, weakened muscles which functionally hinder a dancer’s ability to make use of their range of motion. This study demonstrates that exercises that specifically train the hip flexors progress flexibility in a way that translates into dance.

Strengthening allows dancers to maximize their flexibility without compromising the integrity of their passive support structures and increasing their risk of injury. A physiotherapist can assess a dancer’s strength and flexibility and develop a program that will safely allow a dancer to increase their flexibility while strengthening the muscles needed to support their joints, improve performance, and decrease risk of future injury.

References:

Wyon MA, Smith A, Koutedakis Y. A Comparison of Strength and Stretch Interventions on Active and Passive Ranges of Movement in Dancers: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2013. 27(11)3053.

How Physiotherapy Can Help With Osteoporosis

By Lana Kovacevic, PT

Osteoporosis is a condition of reduced bone strength that causes bones to be more likely to break (1). It is a progressive disease in which the density and quality of bone decreases over time making it more fragile. Current trends show that more and more people are affected by osteoporosis each year (1). Among Canadian men and women, an estimated 1 in 4 women have osteoporosis compared to 1 in 8 men (1).

Why is osteoporosis so concerning?

The major threat to healthy aging and independent mobility for those with osteoporosis is the risk of sustaining a fragility fracture. A fragility fracture is a broken bone that results from minimal trauma or stress – stress which typically would not cause a bone to break (1). An example would be breaking a bone in the wrist or hip after falling from standing height (1). After an initial fragility fracture, you become more than two times as likely to sustain another fracture in the future (1). The most common bones to be injured are those of the wrist, upper arm, ribs, spine, pelvis, and hip (1).

Who is at risk for osteoporosis?

Canadian guidelines recommend that all postmenopausal women and men over the age of 50 years be screened for their risk of osteoporosis (1). A diagnosis is made following an X-ray that measures bone mineral density. This test is recommended for those who have at least 1 major or 2 minor risk factors (1).

Figure 1: Some key major and minor risk factors for osteoporosis (1)

Major Risk Factors	Minor Risk Factors
Age over 65 years Family history of osteoporosis fracture Early menopause (before age 45) Glucocorticoid therapy for more than 3 months Falls	Smoking Diet low in calcium Body weight less than 57 kg Rheumatoid arthritis

How can I check if I am at risk for osteoporosis?

A convenient online tool for estimating the risk of osteoporosis fracture exists called the FRAX® Fracture Risk Assessment Tool. Click on this link to get an estimate of your personal risk. If you are concerned about your risk for osteoporosis, it is best to consult your family doctor.

How is osteoporosis treated?

Apart from medical management with medication and supplementation, exercise is a key component of treatment. Exercise has been shown to slow the loss of bone mineral density and reduce the risk of falling (1). This means that exercise can be beneficial for both preventing osteoporosis as well as managing symptoms for those already diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Can physiotherapy and exercise help if…

…I’m concerned about developing osteoporosis in the future?

For anyone at an increased risk of osteoporosis or those with a family history of osteoporosis, taking part in weight-bearing physical activity and activity that involves some impact is best for preventing bone loss. Starting this type of exercise at a younger age may make you less likely to suffer from osteoporosis in older age.

…I’ve already been diagnosed with osteoporosis?

For those with osteoporosis, exercise is important to help minimize bone density loss. It is also critical for reducing the risk of falling and therefore, a broken bone. Risk of falling is higher for people with poor strength, balance, posture, and with poor postural stability. All of these factors can be addressed and improved with a proper exercise program.

…I’ve already had a fragility fracture and want to avoid having another one in the future?

A safe exercise program is also beneficial for those who have already suffered a broken bone associated with osteoporosis. Less than 20% of women (or 1 in 5) and 10% of men (or 1 in 10) who have had a fracture are given the appropriate treatment to prevent a future fracture (2). It is important to restore safe movement patterns during recovery from a fracture as well as to reduce the risk of sustaining another fracture.

Each person is unique and should have an exercise program that is tailored to their specific needs. A physiotherapist can assess, treat, and teach you how to reduce your risk of osteoporosis, manage your symptoms, and improve your general health and physical functioning.

Reference:

1. Brown JP, Josse RG. 2002 clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Canada. CMAJ. 2002. 167(10); S1-34.
2. Papaioannou A, Morin S, Cheung AM, Atkinson S, Brown JP, Feldman S, et al. 2010 clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Canada: summary. CMAJ. 2010. 182(17): 1-10.