Physiotherapy Services
Physiotherapy Services
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a leading, evidence-based health care profession that treats a variety of injuries and illnesses and improves your overall health and wellbeing. Physiotherapists, are primary healthcare providers, meaning they are able to assess and treat a person without the need for a referral. They are a regulated profession under the health professions act and the use of the term physiotherapist is a protected title under BC law.
Physiotherapists are your partner in evaluating and restoring strength, endurance, movement and physical abilities affected by injury, disease, or disability. A physiotherapist works closely with your physician to help you manage and prevent many physical problems caused by sport, illness, disease, work, aging, and long periods of inactivity.
Physiotherapy in Canada is a university Masters program requiring a minimum of six years of university training before being able to practice as a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists then continue with post graduate studies in a number of different fields that allow a physiotherapist to advance their expertise in a number of different areas. Some of these areas include:
Sports Physiotherapy
Sprains, strains, tears, and overuse injuries are a common plague in all sports. Physiotherapy treatment includes education, sport specific exercises, taping, electrotherapy, dry needling and manual therapy, to ensure the professional and casual athlete can get back in the game as soon as possible, without risking further injury.
Weather you’re a six year old gymnast or a seventy six your old pickle ball player, we are here to help you.
We are very fortunate to have Jenny Delich on our staff, Jennifer was the first Canadian to obtain a Sport Physiotherapy Diploma through the International Olympic Committee.
Staff Specializing in this service: Jenny Delich, Bob Maudie, Jordan Vanderkelen
FCAMPT Certified Manual Therapy
The Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (CAMPT) is a professional organization of physiotherapists who have completed post-graduate training in hands on therapy treatment techniques that meet the International Federation of Manipulative Physical Therapy (IFOMPT) standards.
Membership in CAMPT gives the Physiotherapyist the right to use the designation Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (FCAMPT), which is a trademarked and protected title that only CAMPT-Certified physiotherapists can use.
They help anyone with pain or movement problems that impact their ability to do what’s important to them. By delivering research-guided physiotherapy care, to their patients:
- Get Better using techniques that meet international standards
- Recover Faster since we find and target the root cause with focused treatments
- Stay Healthier by educating them about their condition to reduce relapse.
For more info visit: https://manippt.org/
Staff Specializing in this service: Bob Maudie
Vestibular Rehabilitation
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and gives people the feeling of balance, equilibrium and postural stability. It works closely with your visual system to coordinate head/eye movements. When there is an issue with the vestibular symptoms, symptoms can include vertigo, postural and visual instability.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo and this can be treated very effectively with what are known as repositioning manouevres.
Other forms of vestibular dysfunction – such as vestibular neuritis and vestibular migraine – can be treated/retrained with rehabilitation or ‘habituation’ exercises. These exercises challenge the system to perform more efficiently – similar to what strength training does to the musculoskeletal system.
At Fernie Physiotherapy we will perform a thorough assessment to best identify the cause of your symptoms, provide a diagnosis & prognosis, and get you on the pathway to feeling more stable and being more active!
Staff Specializing in this service: Jordan Vanderkelen
Gunn IMS
Gunn IMS is a total system for the diagnosis and treatment of persistent myofascial pain syndromes including muscle, joint, tendon, bursal, fascial, neural and biomechanical problems. The approach, using intramuscular dry needling, is based on the neuropathic model developed by Dr C. Chan Gunn. This model looks at the whole body, not just isolated areas of pain, and considers dysfunction in the nervous system as the cause of persistent myofascial dysfunction and pain.
Please read more at: https://www.gunnims.com/
Staff Specializing in this service: Bob Maudie, Jenny Delich
Acupuncture
Acupuncture stimulates the balance and flow of Qi energy that in Traditional Chinese Medicine is considered essential to health. When the body is healthy, Qi (pronounced chee), flows smoothly through the meridians that make up a conceptual network of pathways throughout the entire body. Acupuncture treats both the symptoms and the root causes of the patient’s illness. Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins – the body’s natural pain-relieving neurohormones – through the insertion of needles into specific anatomical points (acupuncture points) to encourage natural healing.
Therapeutic effects include:
• Pain relief
• Increased energy
• Improved mood
• Improved body function
Atraumatic acupuncture needles are rounded at the tip so that they slide smoothly through tissue and are unlikely to cause bleeding. Needles are left in place for 15 to 30 minutes during which time the practitioner may manipulate the needles in order to strengthen or reduce the flow of Qi.
Staff Specializing in this service: Rachel Cline, Laura Rankine, Stephanie McDowell, Jordan Vanderkelen
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Pelvic health involves treatment to address conditions of the pelvic floor related to bladder and bowel function, prolapse, pregnancy, postpartum care, and sexual health. Through a thorough verbal history and physical examination your physiotherapist can help determine the best course for treatment. This may include, but is not limited to muscle re-education, muscle stimulation, biofeedback, bladder or bowel retraining,
stretching and exercise prescription.
We understand the importance and potential sensitivity of this journey for you. We want you to feel as if all your needs and questions have been answered, so questions are always welcomed before, during and after your session.
Staff Specializing in this service: Stephanie McDowell
Functional Dry Needling
Functional dry needling (FDN) is a treatment technique used in the management of musculoskeletal pain. “Dry needling” is a generic term for the insertion and manipulation of an acupuncture needle into areas of soft tissue that are causing pain. These areas, referred to as “trigger points”, are highly sensitive muscle bands that are maladaptively shortened. When the needle is inserted into these points most clients will feel a dull cramping sensation or “twitch response” which is the sensation of the muscle releasing. By releasing these areas of tension, the muscles are then able to move smoothly through a full range of motion. This in turn allows joints to glide correctly, prevents adverse tension on neurological tissue, and can aid in return to exercise & activity.
So, it’s acupuncture?
FDN and acupuncture only have the use of similar needles in common. Acupuncture is based on Eastern medical philosophy with separate and extensive training in those techniques. Dry needle therapy, on the other hand, is an extension of manual therapy and is based on Western medical philosophy.
Is it GUNN IMS then?
No not exactly. FDN and GUNN IMS both use the same type of acupuncture needles, however where they differ is the application of them and the clinical reasoning behind the treatment approach.
Staff Specializing in this service: Lynn Ferguson, Laura Rankine, Jordan Vanderkelen, Jenny Delich, Bob Maudie, Stephanie McDowell
Concussion Management
Physiotherapists can play a significant role in the rehabilitation process, particularly in the treatment of systems relating to neck and upper back pain as well as dizziness and balance problems. Also, physiotherapists can help provide early-stage treatment of dysfunctions of the vision system, which can be caused by a concussion. We are fortunate to have two Physiotherapist at Fernie Physiotherapist who have extensive specialized training in concussion management.
Staff Specializing in this service: Jordan Vanderkelen
Prehab
Prehab is a proactive approach to avoiding future problems later down the road. It is highly recommended by most surgeons prior to major operations such as joint replacements, ACL reconstruction and rotator cuff repair to name a few. Many patients will use prehab prior to starting a new activity or sport if they have concerns about their physical ability.
Your physiotherapist will perform a biomechanical assessment to determine what may be a risk factor for future injuries. Treatment involves building strength and stability around certain areas, whilst improving mobility, balance and joint function to decrease the potential for injuries.
Building and analyzing training plans, that are progressively loading the intended tissue is a foundation of Prehab.
Staff Specializing in this service: All Physio’s
Hand Therapy
Specially trained physiotherapists assist in recovery from hand injury or surgery using exercise, manual therapy, and splinting techniques to promote optimal hand function. Physiotherapist Rachel Cline works closely with regional Certified Hand Therapists to provide a team approach that optimally benefits our patients.
Staff Specializing in this service: Rachel Cline
Exercise Therapy
Physiotherapists are highly trained in exercise prescription and use exercises as one of their main treatment modalities. With proper load management and appropriate exercises a lot of conditions can be managed with exercises alone. Our physiotherapist can help guide you through this process and make sure you continue to recover between visit with a specialized home exercise program. All patient will have access to a personalized electronic exercise program designed by there physiotherapist using the physitrack platform.
Staff Specializing in this service: All Physio’s
Electrotherapy
Depending on the stage of healing and the nature of an injury your physiotherapist may recommend using an electrophysical modality as part of your treatment. Common modalities we use in our clinics are Ultrasound, NMES ( Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation), IFC (Interferential Current), or TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation).
These modalities can increase blood flow to the area, relax tissues and muscles, modulate pain levels, and encourage muscle activation. The goal of using modalities in a physiotherapy treatment plan it to enable a better healing environment allowing you to resume exercises and activity quicker.
Staff Specializing in this service: All Physio’s
Pediatric Physiotherapy
The therapists at Fernie Physiotherapy believe in client and family centered care along with an individualized approach to each child. We believe in a team approach and work with other health care practitioners, coaches and teachers to ensure that our clients receive a holistic program that quickly returns them to their sport, school and everyday life.
Fernie Physiotherapy provides one on one assessment and treatment of the following paediatric conditions:
Infant torticollis, plagiocephaly, developmental delay
Treatment of adolescent athletic conditions such as Severs and Osgood Schlatter, as well as patella femoral pain
Postural muscle balance concerns including the management of adolescent Scoliosis
Neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and Erb’s Palsy
Child and adolescent sporting injury
Staff Specializing in this service: Stephanie McDowell, Jenny Delich, Catherine McLellan
*Please call reception prior to booking your child an appointment to discuss who the ideal Physiotherapist would be for the condition.
Bike Fitting
Riding your bike should be a pain free enjoyable experience. Bob Maudie goes through a head-to-toe physiotherapy assessment that is relevant to cycling. He looks at strength, mobility, and flexibility to determine the ideal position for you on your bike, with relation to your goals. Bob is experienced in fitting all sorts of bikes, from fat bikes, to gravel, to mountain, to road and triathlon bikes. Bob strongly believes that everyone can be comfortable on a bike, and the best bike fit is the one the works for you, not just what the numbers might say.
Who can benefit from a bike fit?
- Anyone who has discomfort related to cycling (e.g. low back pain, neck pain, knee pain, saddle or hand numbness during or after cycling, etc.).
- Recreational and competitive cyclists that want to maximize their efficiency and comfort on the bike and to reduce the risk of developing overuse injuries.
What does the bike fit include?
- A thorough history of current injuries, past injuries, riding frequency and duration
- A physical examination of leg length, limb alignment, overall mobility and flexibility, and any other biomechanical issues that are relevant to the bike fit.
- Observation and documentation of current riding position.
Adjustments to the bike and cleats (if applicable) are made to optimize the fit - Instruction is given on proper riding position and simple bike settings such as tire pressure.
- Specific therapeutic exercises are prescribed as needed. This assessment is useful for any athlete (competitive or recreational) that is interested in injury prevention and optimal movement efficiency.
- Recommendation of bike parts that may be needed to achieve a better bike fit ( stem, seat etc.)
Is my bike fit covered by my insurance?
Most extended health insurance plans cover physiotherapy services (a bike fitting includes the typical Physiotherapy assessment of alignment, flexibility, mobility and the prescription of therapeutic exercises). Generally, a portion of your bike fit fee will qualify for insurance coverage.
How long will the bike fit session take to complete?
Approximately 60- 90 minutes to set up a single bike and a pair of cycling shoes with cleats.
What do I need to bring to my bike fit session?
- Your bike in clean, good working order (ensure none of the following parts are seized: seatpost, saddle, stem, and pedals).
- Your cycling footwear (ensure cleat screws are very clean and not seized)
- Clothes: Cycling shorts and tight-fitting top or jersey (what you bike in).
Staff Specializing in this service: Bob Maudie
