Physiotherapy and Our Commitment to You
Physiotherapy at River Stone
River Stone Wellness Centre is an integrated wellness clinic located in South Edmonton. We offer physiotherapy services in conjunction with massage, chiropractic and more to provide a holistic approach to wellness. Our clinic focuses on personalized treatments in a supportive and relaxing environment. At River Stone Wellness, we look at your body and wellness as a whole.
Integrative Health
We offer a variety of services because we know that no two people are alike and injuries and pain are highly specific. Physiotherapy is an essential part of the services we provide to help you become pain-free. Whether you’ve had a car accident, sports injury, physical trauma, or repetitive strains our Edmonton physio team is there to provide you with the treatment you need to improve your well-being. If your daily life is impacted by pain and discomfort, physio treatments can be a significant way to improve your symptoms. Physiotherapy is part of River Stone’s integrated approach to wellness, so you can choose to have physio treatments alone, or in combination with osteopathy, massage, acupuncture, laser or chiropractic.
What We Do
All River Stone Wellness’ practitioners are committed to providing the best care possible to suit your needs. Our physiotherapists provide 30 or 45 minutes of one-on-one care. While at other wellness centres you may receive only 5 or 10 minutes with a physio, we ensure that your time with our physiotherapists is fully maximized. We understand that your time is valuable, and we want to make sure that you receive the best treatment possible. Like chiropractic care, physiotherapy is an excellent, drug-free way to combat pain and heal from injuries.
Physiotherapy, also called Physical Therapy, is the application of manual therapy to reduce muscle and tissue pain and regain lost function. Manual therapy may include what is known as joint mobilization. This is a passive therapy that is gently applied to skeletal joints. Joint mobilization will help to increase the range of motion and reduce inflammation and pain in the joint. Manual therapy will also include the manipulation and stretching of muscles and surrounding tissues.
Needling
Another kind of treatment that may be applied by our physiotherapists is Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) or Dry Needling. The name “dry” refers to the fact that the needles are not like syringes in which liquid can pass through. The needles used in this technique are acupuncture needles; they are not hollow. IMS differs from acupuncture in that it targets muscles and fascia in a specific area, whereas acupuncture targets meridian points throughout the body. Physiotherapists will use IMS to reduce pain and to regain proper functioning of muscles and tissues.
Shockwave Therapy
At River Stone Wellness, our physiotherapists may utilize shockwave therapy as part of your treatment. Shockwave therapy, also known as Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT), uses high-pressure acoustic pulses to penetrate muscles, tissues, and even bones. Shockwave therapy increases the metabolic activity in the targeted cells and thereby aids in healing. The pulses also serve to breakdown scar tissue. Shockwave is an excellent therapy for new and old injuries, including tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, tennis elbow, and stress fractures. The protocol is typically for 3 treatments, although in some cases extended treatment may be required.
Ultrasound Therapy
Ultrasound has been part of physiotherapy treatments since about the 1940s. Our physiotherapists may use therapeutic ultrasound to achieve muscle and tissue relaxation, breakdown scar tissue, increase blood flow and heat targeted tissues. The effect is a clear increase in the healing rate and function. Some studies have also found that ultrasound can directly affect bone tissue, resulting in quicker healing from fractures. Like shockwave therapy, the therapeutic aspect of ultrasound is acoustic vibration. The source of ultrasonic waves is the vibration of crystals. At River Stone Wellness, a typical ultrasound treatment may be from 3 to 5 minutes.
Exercise Therapy
Physiotherapy at River Stone Wellness involves an exercise component. Studies have shown that exercise treatment increases blood flow, lengthens muscles, reduces stiffness, stabilizes core muscles, improves posture and reduces overall healing time after injury. Exercise also benefits your cardiovascular health and improves the delivery of nutrients to organs and muscles. Treadmill and stationary biking may be incorporated into your physio plan. We begin at a level suitable to your fitness and injury level and slowly work to more vigorous exercise.
Spinal Decompression (Traction)
Physiotherapy at River Stone may also include a type of treatment called Spinal Decompression on our traction table. Spinal decompression can be done on the lumbar spine (lower back) or the cervical spine (neck). It involves a small amount of force to pull your pelvis or your head away from the centre of your spine to allow the vertebrae to decompress. This reduces pressure on the discs, nerves and connective tissue. The result is reduced pain and increased range of motion. Like other treatments, Spinal Decompression may be used alone, or in combination with other therapies. Our traction table can also use laser on the lumber area to help the muscles and joint tissues relax and repair while reducing pain and inflammation. More information on our Spine Specialist Traction Table can be found here.
Laser (Red-light) Therapy
We have medically approved and insured therapeutic lasers that can help treat your pain and injuries.
Muscle and Joint Pain
Laser can reduce pain and promote healing whether you’re suffering from chronic pain such as Fibromyalgia or joint pain caused by Arthritis. Back and neck pain can be easily and painlessly treated using laser. This form of therapy is also beneficial to those suffering from sports-related injuries.
Neurological Conditions
From brain injuries to strokes, concussions, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s, the Thor handheld laser can help address neurological conditions by reducing inflammation and promoting the healing of damaged cells and tissues.
Injuries and Wounds
The Thor handheld laser works effectively to speed the healing of wounds such as bruises, burns, and lacerations as well as post-surgery healing. It can also help heal skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Pelvic Health
Pelvic health is a form of physiotherapy that addresses the pelvic floor muscles and associated organs. Pelvic muscles can be too weak or too tight. Some of the conditions treated include incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and painful intercourse. Both male and female pelvic conditions are treatable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does physiotherapy hurt?
The goal of physiotherapy is to reduce pain and increase function. Sometimes, treatment may elicit the exact pain it is treating. The physiotherapist is careful not to cause additional pain. Overall, the treatment will result in a reduction of pain quite quickly.
What happens during a physiotherapy visit?
During your first visit, our physiotherapist will conduct an assessment of your pain and/or injury. Muscle testing, orthopedic testing, and range of motion assessments are part of the initial visit. By the end of the first visit, our physiotherapist will have a plan for you for what will be involved in your continued treatments. Treatments may include manual therapy, IMS, laser, shockwave, ultrasound, and exercise therapy.
At River Stone Wellness, our south Edmonton physiotherapists are patient-focused. We spend the full appointment time with you, the patient! We know that your improved health and functioning is critical, and we take care to provide you with the excellent treatment you need to recover from injuries.