Physiotherapy in Victoria BC

"I recommend Town & Country Physiotherapy to anyone needing professional, effective and friendly assistance for treatable medical conditions."

"My healing being important to my career and quality of living, I have to say Alex's attentiveness and care has me returning to my life through healthy recovery. Aside from his healing talents, he creates a comfortable place with his humor, good spirit and bed side manor."

This area of medicine involves the treatment of injuries and conditions affecting muscles, bones, and joints of the body. Ligament sprains, tendon and muscle strains, fractures and dislocations are some of the common injuries requiring orthopedic physiotherapy in Victoria BC. As well, contractures, spasms, and weakness may occur post-stroke or injury.

Manual therapy, modalities, joint decompression and massage are a few of the physiotherapy tools used in orthopedic treatments. Spinal decompression traction can be a very effective treatment modality for mechanical spinal injuries or disease processes.

Modalities can include ultrasound, laser, TENS, muscle stimulators, and Interferential Current. Massage techniques, taping and splinting and rehabilitative exercise are utilized to restore proper joint alignment, muscle balance and healthy posture for maximum functional enjoyment and participation. Proper education of the patient is essential for a full recovery to pre-injury status.

"Without their treatments I wouldn't have been able to work productively until age 67."

"The very best physiotherapists I have ever dealt with... professional, compassionate, approachable, never too busy to answer questions, well organized and run clinic. I highly recommend this clinic for anyone of any age."

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative loss of cartilage and wearing down of bone. It can result in spurring, joint stiffness and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, chronic and progressive autoimmune disorder causing inflammation of affected joints. Osteoporosis is the loss of bone density making the structural bone more brittle and frail.

Here in Victoria, BC, our unique demographic makeup can include a higher proportion of people suffering from arthritis and osteoporosis. These conditions can be debilitating and make normal daily activities too painful to enjoy.

Our physiotherapists are experienced with joint support and protection techniques as well as strengthening exercises to cushion and relieve pain and swelling. Spinal decompression traction can be particularly effective to alleviate articular facet joint compression associated with arthritis. Pool exercises can be particularly beneficial by enabling movements in the buoyancy of water that may be too painful on land. Core trunk and postural exercises can prevent or reduce the effects of wedge fractures associated with osteoporosis. Our physiotherapists have worked with the Victoria Arthritis Society in program development.

"I had surgery on my knee for an ACL and cartilage tear and Alex had me playing soccer competitively in 6 months. I haven't had any problems since. The clinic is very warm and friendly with pleasant staff and great music to listen to while getting treated. The staff are very knowledgeable, efficient and pleasant to talk to."

Acute soft issue injuries from sports activities often need early and aggressive treatments to enable athletes to quickly return to their sport. Athletic taping can be used to protect a damaged structure or to brace it while it is at a high risk of re-injury.

Sports physiotherapy involves experience in these areas of athletic injury, treatment, and rehabilitation. Sports injuries need specialized sports specific physiotherapy including training techniques to ensure rapid recover, and safe return to the sport.

We work with many local athletes including runners, soccer players, hockey players, and racquet sport players of all kinds. We treat both amateur and professional dancers, as well as varsity basketball and volleyball players and martial arts students.

One of the most important components of the healing process is educating and informing our patients. Understanding the nature of the injury or disease process and the subsequent treatment plan for its resolution is paramount to better participation and compliance.

This is particularly true for an effective home exercise prescription. We strive to ensure our patients at Town & Country Physiotherapy are well informed, not only of the mechanics of the rehabilitative process, but also of any developments that may require further investigation.

We advocate for MRIs, diagnostic ultrasounds or X-rays, as deemed necessary, whether dealing with Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), Worker’s Compensation British Columbia (WCB) or the patient’s medical doctor. Depending on the patient’s needs, we will direct our patients to other health professionals such as occupational therapists or to organizations such as the Arthritis Society.

"Alex is very good at his job. He has very good listening skills and can help resolve issues of pain management, treatment and help with employers and insurance representatives. He has helped me get back to work in a safe and pain free manner."

There are many effective ways to obtain pain relief with or without prescription medication. Modalities such as therapeutic ultrasound, laser, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), interferential current therapy (IFC), massage techniques, acupuncture, spinal decompression traction, and therapeutic exercise and stretches are some of the techniques we use at Town & Country Physiotherapy.

Our clinic in Victoria is over 1500 square feet, with rehabilitation gym space, eight treatment beds, and two spinal decompression traction tables.

Hands-on manual therapy is one of the most effective forms of physiotherapy available. Our physiotherapists have taken numerous post-graduate courses on advanced manual therapy techniques including joint and spinal manipulations, joint and spinal decompression, and sports injury massage.

Efficiency in the workplace is important for job tolerance as well as productivity. Ergonomics also encompasses positional and postural elements to avoid repetitive strains. This can be seen with the abundance of neck and back strains, carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbows, to name a few.

Here at Town & Country Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists work with occupational therapists throughout Victoria to ensure a safe and effective job site/work station. We provide stretches and exercises to minimize repetitive strain injuries with education about posture and efficient biomechanics.

There are times when joint supportive braces, splints, or other assistive devices may be recommended to supplement physiotherapy treatments. Supportive splints and taping are often utilized when dealing with rapid recovery of sports injuries.

We provide physiotherapy treatment to individuals in the privacy of their own home here in Victoria. This is particularly helpful for residents in care facilities where mobility and ambulation are concerns. Home visits are also used by patients post surgery or illness who need to get stronger and/or increase their balance and weight bearing so they can come in to the clinic later.

Treatments vary in length… how long an appointment lasts will depend on the patient's energy and other needs. The physiotherapist will often bring exercise sheets and portable equipment to ensure that home exercises can be carried out safely.

An important part of home care physiotherapy is educating the patient, family, care providers and staff, if appropriate, to help coach and assist in home exercises. Modalities, manual therapy, mobilizations, gait assistance, and taping support are but a few of the techniques used by the home care physiotherapist.

A large percentage of physiotherapy education focuses on neurological rehabilitation in Victoria BC. Injuries, disease processes and vascular accidents can cause disruption to nerve conduction, impacting the speed and quality of nerve signals and resulting control of movement as well as modified or absent sensation. This can be from a large impact incident such as a stroke or spinal cord injury or a small incident such as inflammation contributing to pressure on a nerve.

Neurological rehabilitation involves maximizing neural signal strength and conduction by identifying constricting structures and relieving the constriction if possible. Therapeutic techniques such as dural glides, massage, stretches, and acupuncture can be very useful at achieving these goals.

Neurological physiotherapy can involve electro-modalities such as muscle stimulators to facilitate neuro plasticity and regain muscle memory. Soft tissue inhibition techniques are used to reduce contracture causing spasms and normalizing muscle tone.

Neurological rehabilitation aims to improve mobility, balance and independence through gait re-training. Proprioception exercises utilizing balance challenging devices are effective and safe when used properly. Grip and dexterity exercises may be utilized for returning fine motor skills. Occasionally scar tissue can be involved in tethering or adhering to a nerve so dural glides may be required to mobilize a part of the nervous system and to minimize the effects of adhesions.

Timeliness with respect to treatment is of the utmost importance to maximize functional recovery after neurological injuries. Town & Country Physiotherapy is associated with Vancouver Island Health Authority and provides neurological rehabilitation to specifically referred patients on an as-needed basis. Priority is given to emergencies to ensure the maximum recovery possible.

"I smoked for 38 years... 1-1½ packs per day. I tried the patch and gum, it didn't work. The laser treatment and counselling session took less than an hour. I'm following Alex's plan and remain a committed non-smoker. Now if I can just get my husband down here."

"Just wanted to let you know that the smoking cessation session that I had on February 27th is still working. I am 4 months smoke free - I had no cravings at all when I left your offices and even with a few stressful moments in the past, I still manage to leave the cigs. I can't thank you enough - I spread the word where ever I can and I know that my ex smoking friends are happy they took the plunge."

Quitting smoking involves breaking the chemical addiction as well as the behavioural addiction. Controlling nicotine cravings is only part of the answer. Changing behaviours and having a plan in place that addresses each individual's circumstances are the keys to success. You have to "want" to quit smoking.

Planning and ensuring everything is in place for success is essential. Stop Smoking with Laser therapy is drug free and non-invasive and works by stimulating acupuncture points associated with addictions, metabolism, heart and lung function, and the nervous system.

The laser is harmless and painless. A low-level laser is applied to specific energy points on the hands, face, head, and ears, which are associated with smoking addictions. The light energy from the laser is absorbed by the skin and cells to stimulate the endorphins that help block out the cravings. The most common comments from clients who have had the treatment are that it decreased their tension and irritability, and helped them stay in control.

The initial (and sometimes only) treatment session is a combination of consulting re: behaviours, preparation and tactics, as well as the actual stop smoking laser treatment. If any subsequent treatments (boosts) are required, they predominantly consist of the laser treatment and take less time.

Your feet have a direct impact on the rest of your body. Small problems with your feet can lead to changes in how you walk and cause a chain reaction of adjustments in posture and walking mechanics. These can stress joints higher up in your body and lead to more serious problems. At Town & Country Physiotherapy in Victoria BC, we have provided our patients with custom orthotics for over 5 years with great success.

Custom prescription orthotics rebalance your feet, reducing pain and discomfort by enhancing your body's natural movements. Orthotics look like insoles, but are biomechanical medical appliances that are custom made to correct your specific foot imbalances. Orthotics work on your feet much like glasses work on your eyes. They reduce stress and strains on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment.

In addition to gait analysis and biomechanical assessment, we take a mould of your feet and have the lab construct orthotics to your exact specifications and requirements. Your custom orthotics will fit in your shoes as comfortably as an insole and they have the advantage of having been made from precise imprints of your feet. They gently reduce problems associated with pressure points, muscle strains, and abnormal forces on the ankles, knees, hips, and spine.

For more information on the Orthotic Group, please visit their website at www.theorthoticgroup.com.