TREATMENTS & SERVICES

Physiotherapists are primary health care professionals who play a significant role in health promotion and treatment of injury and disease.  We combine our in-depth knowledge of the body and how it works with specialized hands-on clinical skills to assess, diagnose and treat the cause and symptoms of illness, injury or disability.

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Your physiotherapy assessment and treatment involves taking a detailed client medical history and a thorough musculoskeletal and orthopaedic evaluation.  Once we determine the source of your injury or pain, we can begin to implement effective treatments to best assist your recovery. 

 

At Functional Physio and Wellness we take a "hands-on" approach.  Your time in our clinic will be spent one-on-one with the physiotherapist who may use manual therapy, joint mobilizations, soft tissue therapy, pain science education, Anatomical Acupuncture, GUNN IMS, Cupping Therapy and\or provide you with movement education and a personal home exercise program. 

If you have concerns about your bladder, pelvic floor or prostate you are not alone: 3.3 million Canadians are affected by pelvic floor dysfunction every year.  Pelvic Health Physiotherapy or Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy requires specialized training in order to properly assess and treat pelvic floor dysfunction.  

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We can help with: bladder and bowel incontinence, urgency, difficulty urinating,  pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, pre-natal & post partum pelvic problems, prostate problems, erectile dysfunction, painful intercourse, constipation, chronic low back & tailbone pain, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

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Pelvic health rehabilitation is a safe, drug-free form of treatment proven effective by high-level research.  Megan has completed her Level 1, 2 and 3 Courses with Pelvic Health Solutions.  

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For more information please visit: 

http://pelvichealthsolutions.ca/for-the-patient/

https://bcphysio.org/content/incontinence-and-pelvic-floor-rehabilitation

Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is a total system for the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain syndromes (chronic pain conditions that occur in the musculoskeletal system when there is no obvious sign of injury or inflammation).  Gunn IMS is a specialized service that Megan has been trained in at the University of British Columbia.  

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IMS is grounded in Western Medical Science, and uses acupuncture needles to penetrate deep within muscle tissue, specifically targeting injured muscles that have contracted and become shortened from distress.  The most common cause of nerve irritation and neuropathic pain is “spondylosis,” degeneration of the spine, which can result from normal wear and tear.  Spondylosis irritates the nerve root and leads to neuropathy and muscle shortening.

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The goal of treatment is to release muscle shortening, which presses on and irritates the nerve. Supersensitive areas can be desensitized, and the persistent pull of shortened muscles canbe released. IMS, in effect, treats the underlying neuropathic condition that causes the pain.  When competently performed, IMS has a remarkable success rate, as proven by the amelioration of symptoms and signs, even for chronic back pain with root signs (radiating pain, muscle weakness, sensory loss).   

 

For more information on GUNN IMS please visit http://ubcgunnims.com/what-is-ims/gunn-ims/

Cupping involves applying plastic, glass or silicone cups to the skin surface using negative pressure (suction).  This negative pressure gently draws the underlying tissue (skin, muscle, fascia) up and away from the body- like the reverse of a massage.  

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Depending on the condition, cups may be continuously moved as a form of myofascial massage, or they can be placed in one spot and left for 5-15 minutes.  Following a cupping session, most people will show cupping “marks”, which can appear like a bruise.  The colour and extent of cupping marks can indicate the amount of underlying congestion, “stagnation” or lack of blood flow in the underlying tissues.  Most often, after a few sessions of cupping, the marks appear less and less as the toxins are removed, circulation and lymphatic flow is improved and the myofascial restriction is released.  

 

Cupping can be used for certain painful conditions, as well as for general health and wellbeing.  If you are interested to learn if Cupping Therapy would be a good treatment choice for you, please book in for a Physiotherapy Initial Assessment. 

Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles, similar in thickness to a human hair, into specific points, muscles and muscle motor points on the body to influence physiological functions.  Practiced for over 5000 years, acupuncture is based on the theory that energy or life force, referred to as “qi”, travels through the body along specific pathways or “meridians” and that when these pathways become blocked it can lead to pain, a variety of illness and imbalances.  More recent research has shown that these pathways do in fact exist and that acupuncture points can be detected by their lowered electrical resistance, traveling through the body in a way similar to your nervous or cardiovascular systems.  By stimulating specific spots along the meridians an acupuncturist helps to promote proper energy flow, essentially helping the body to heal itself and return to a state of balance and homeostasis.

 

Acupuncture is virtually painless, and most people experience a state of deep relaxation during treatment. Typically between 4-20 needles are used and are retained for approximately 10-40 minutes depending on the condition being treated and technique being used. 

Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain-relieving neurohormones.  The technique promotes a decrease in inflammation, increased circulation, and relief from pain conditions such as: cervicogenic headaches, concussion/whiplash, chronic pain, low back pain, frozen shoulder, tendinopathies and osteoarthritis. 

The Functional Movement Screen tests 7 fundamental movement patterns.  The test is used to identify poor movement patterns including asymmetries, areas of decreased mobility, stability and motor control.  Once identified, the therapist can prescribe corrective exercises to fix the dysfunctional movement patterns.  ​

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The FMS is an essential tool used to identify injury risk during activity or sport.  The test is based on a point system, if a client or athlete scores less than 14\21, research shows they are at a greater risk of sustaining an injury during activity or sport.  ​

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The FMS is used world-wide, many professional athletes and teams incorporate the FMS into their training. The FMS is used at both NHL and NFL combines to screen their athletes.  Other organizations that use the FMS include the Navy Seals, Fire Departments, the Canadian Armed Forces and many recreational sports teams.  

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You don't have to be an athlete to be screened, "regular-joes" can be screened to identify movement deficiencies which may place the client at risk for pain or injury, these movement patterns can be fixed with corrective exercise programming.

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If you would like to learn more about the FMS or how it can be used in your Team's programming, please visit https://www.functionalmovement.com/system/home

Yin Yoga is a profound practice of positively stressing the entire fascial (connective tissue) network of the body.  Every tissue of the body (muscles, bones, ligaments, connective tissue, organs, nerves) can be affected in Yin Yoga.  This practice also works to stimulate and release blockages of chi or energy within the meridians or energy channels that flow throughout the body.  Many also experience emotional releases through this practice.  Passive poses are held for 3-5 minutes or longer in order to encourage the body to slowly unwind layer by layer.  It assists your body to recover from daily mental and physical stresses, improves and promotes flexibility and range of motion, increases awareness of your body and leaves you feeling relaxed, grounded and mindful.

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Megan has observed great benefit to her physiotherapy clients when Yin Yoga Therapy is incorporated into their treatment.  Stay-tuned for Yin Yoga classes this fall, including classes specific to individuals with chronic pain, as well as athlete-specific Yin Yoga.  Individual and customized 1-1 Yin Yoga Therapy sessions are also available to book.  

 

Please contact megan@functionalphysio.ca for your interest or more information.

One of the components of thriving as you age involves keeping your body healthy and moving well. Megan has many years of experience working with seniors.  She has helped individuals recover from injuries and surgeries, perform movement and balance assessments to identify their "weak spots" and implement an exercise program as a means of falls and injury prevention.  

 

Seniors Exercise Classes:  Megan plans to implement a weekly Seniors Exercise Class in Sicamous which would include light cardio, stretching, strengthening and balance exercises.

 

Seniors Mobility Assessment:  This assessment looks at your current functional movements, range of motion, strength and balance.  One of the biggest risks of falls as we age is poor balance.  Megan can perform objective balance tests to help identify your risk of falling, as well as provide you with take-home exercises to improve your mobility, strength, and balance.

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To register your interest for the Seniors Exercise Class please email megan@functionalphysio.ca

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If you would like to have a Seniors Mobility Assessment- please inform the reception staff when you book in for a Physiotherapy Initial Assessment.