Neck hump or hunchback are terms used for a condition properly called kyphosis. This postural change, which results in the appearance of a hump at the base of the neck can be uncomfortable, cause pain and affect overall physical functioning. Poor posture is the main cause, (think “text neck” or forward head posture) and leads to weakness and elongation of ... Read More The post Banish the neck hump: exercises to improve pain and posture first appeared on pt Health ..read more

When Mrs. A.* was diagnosed with frozen shoulder, she was in so much pain that she struggled to reach the top shelves of her bookcase to grab her favourite books. Frozen shoulder is a painful condition that can severely restrict movement of the shoulder. Simple activities such as washing, dressing, walking the dog, reaching the top shelf for a cup, ... Read More The post What is frozen shoulder? first appeared on pt Health ..read more

Did you know that migraines don’t always present with head pain? A migraine can trigger many different sensations depending on the part of the brain that is being affected. Approximately 30% of migraine sufferers experience vestibular migraine, with symptoms of dizziness, vertigo or imbalance during their attacks. Even between attacks, those with vestibular migraine can have slightly decreased balance and ... Read More The post What is a “dizzy” migraine? first appeared on pt Health ..read more

As the years go by, the human body undergoes many changes. We hit milestones over the course of our lifetimes. First puberty, then adulthood and childbearing years. Next up for females is perimenopause, soon followed by menopause. Finally, we all head into the sunset era of human life. We may begin to notice a change in muscle mass, elasticity of ... Read More The post How physiotherapy can help optimize your pelvic floor first appeared on pt Health ..read more

Pelvic floor issues are quite common, with 3.3 million Canadians experiencing stress urinary incontinence, and 1 in 4 women and 1 in 3 men experiencing pelvic pain in their lifetimes.   On March 7th, I joined Uma Ghosh and Alana Lazareck-Devlin, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists and Clinical Leads for Lifemark, for an online discussion about the pelvic floor, the symptoms of pelvic ... Read More The post Is your pelvic floor trying to tell you something? first appeared on pt Health ..read more

A headache can be a real… pain in the head, and more common than you think. The World Health Organization reports that up to 75% of the population had a headache in the last year. There are various types of headaches, and finding out which type you have can help you get the best treatment. The International Classification of Headache Disorders ... Read More The post Headaches: understanding your pain, head-on first appeared on pt Health ..read more

1 in 5 Canadians experience persistent pain. If you or a loved one live with persistent pain, you have likely heard that remaining active and engaging in exercise are important to your overall health and management of symptoms.   Lifemark clinicians, registered physiotherapists Neil Pearson, Tanya Nichol, and Daniel Godinho, and kinesiologist, Logan Miller, shared knowledge and practical tips in an ... Read More The post When movement is painful: what are your options? first appeared on pt Health ..read more

The following is adapted from a presentation by Dr. Rachel Thibeault, an Occupational Therapist who has studied resilience for 25 years. What is resilience? There have traditionally been two common ways to look at and define resilience: The first is believing that you are able to take on and resist any challenge. When something challenges you and you are unable ... Read More The post 7 strategies that can help build your resilience first appeared on pt Health ..read more

A new year often marks when new commitments are made to a health and fitness routine. Here are some tips to help you be successful in reaching your goals this year.  Be intentional and specific  An achievable goal often starts with being intentional about the steps to reach it along with defining the specific outcome. Being intentional can mean different ... Read More The post How to reach your health and fitness goals this year first appeared on pt Health ..read more

As I sat down at my desk this morning with dreary skies outside my window, I found myself feeling very low – moody, and lacking motivation and concentration. Overall, I had extremely low energy, and I could feel my depression ramping up. It is SAD season – Seasonal Affective Disorder was telling me “here I am!” On the bright side ... Read More The post Light therapy – what, why and how to do it first appeared on pt Health ..read more