In providing hundreds of families with cranial remolding support to address issues related to the shape and development of their baby’s skull, PBO Group’s Clinicians often receive questions from parents about the effectiveness of head-shaping pillows. Our advice boils down to four simple words: pass on the pillows. In addition to not being effective, head-shaping pillows can present real risks to the safety of babies. Both the Government of Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommend against the use of these products. What To Do Instead Of Buying A Head-Shaping Pillow If you’re ..read more

Parenting is challenging. Parenting a child living with a physical disability brings additional responsibilities that can make things even more challenging. At PBO Group, we work closely with families navigating their way through the unique journey of raising a child who needs extra care. From children needing bracing support for conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Scoliosis, and Spina Bifida, to babies who need cranial remolding helmets and kids requiring prosthetic devices, the parents and caregivers that turn to the PBO team for care are a constant source of inspiration for ..read more

3 Things To Try If You’re Experiencing Morning Foot Pain Nagging aches, pain or stiffness in the feet when you wake up in the morning doesn’t have to mean a direct route to orthotics. According to Laura Jenne, a Canadian Certified Pedorthist who supports clients at PBO Group’s Niagara clinic, a few simple steps she frequently recommends can quickly address sore feet in the mornings. Start Your Day With A Stretch As we age, it’s common for joints and muscles to experience some stiffness after an extended period of time in one position. If your feet often feel stiff or sore when you first get ou ..read more

As the holiday season approaches, we can all use a little help checking off gifts on our holiday shopping list. If you’re struggling with ideas for a thoughtful gift to give someone in your life who is living with limb loss, here is a selection of easy-to-find presents that will send a message that you care. A Great Set of Overshoes/Boots Using a prosthesis with various types of shoes can be a challenge.  In the winter time removing wet or soiled footwear when entering a home or indoor space will leave the user of a prosthesis with no footwear or the need to carry additional “indoor” foot ..read more

Beginning October 16th, 2023, PBO Toronto clients working with our Toronto East team will visit us at a brand-new clinic location. After a massive renovation this summer, our new state-of-the-art clinic space, located in Unit 2 at 31 Melford Drive in Scarborough, now offers clients more room, updated amenities, and better parking. Effective October 16th, our Finch Avenue and Milner Avenue clinics will close, and PBO Group staff from those locations will now serve all our Toronto East clients at the Melford Drive clinic. This talented team will continue to offer supportive care for clients in n ..read more

If you’ve ever used Google Reviews or other online reviews to research potential healthcare providers, you’re part of a rapidly growing trend. According to recent research, 72% of consumers read online ratings and reviews when choosing a new healthcare provider. At PBO Group, we know that choosing a care team to support your prosthetic, osseointegration, bracing, orthotic, compression therapy, or cranial remolding needs is a big decision that often drives similar online research. If you’re an existing PBO Group client, you may have received a message after an appointment with us to take a mome ..read more

Earlier this spring, four PBO Group employees travelled to Belize to spend a week supporting residents of that country living with limb loss through a partnership with Prosthetic Hope International. While the team was kept incredibly busy making and dispensing 17 limbs, 2 AFO braces and providing device adjustments and repairs to an additional 25 people, the employees on this life-changing trip would all agree that they received far more from their time in Belize than they gave. Scarce materials and very basic clinic conditions reminded our team that there’s nothing they can’t do when they lea ..read more

THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF POTENTIAL SKULL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES ALL NEW PARENTS SHOULD KNOW New parents are often surprised by how just how quickly their infants grow. That growth is taking place throughout their bodies, including their skulls. Your baby’s head has soft plates inside that have spaces between them. As baby ages over the first year, those plates grow and gradually harden and come together. The first six to eight months of your baby’s life is an especially important time to keep an eye on the shape of their skull. As you watch baby grow, it’s important to monitor for the following s ..read more

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, trying a new outdoor sport or increasing the time we’re doing a sport we already enjoy becomes increasingly enticing. Unfortunately, sometimes it can lead to aches and pains that can put one off their game. Here are a few things to keep in mind to help keep your return to outdoor sport pain-free. Running The Pain: Often, new runners, those returning to the sport after a significant length of time off and even experienced runners who are increasing their mileage, experience knee pain. Patella Femoral knee pain is something that is very common ..read more

As a client of our Peterborough clinic, you may have noticed that the City’s decision to reduce Hunter Street to one-way traffic from April to November creates access and safety issues for people visiting our clinic for care. We regularly hear from our clients about frustrations related to patient drop-off and safe access to emergency services. The extra time and effort it takes to get to our clinic due to the one-way traffic flow is particularly troublesome for many of our clients living with lower-limb amputations and long-term health concerns that cause mobility issues. On February 27th, 20 ..read more