Physiotherapists get you moving and keep you moving. Physiotherapists are highly-educated experts in physical function, movement and mobility. They have advanced knowledge of how the human body moves and what stops it from moving. Physiotherapists use specialized hands-on treatment to restore, maintain and maximize optimal function and quality of life. Physiotherapists:

- Assess, diagnose and treat physical symptoms and limited movement caused by injury, aging, disability, or health condition
- Help patients understand what’s causing their condition
- Work with patients to restore, maintain and maximize movement, flexibility and physical independence
- Develop customized treatment plans that help patients take back control
- Teach patients how to restore, maintain and/or maximize movement, reduce pain, and manage any chronic symptoms
- Teach patients how to stay well, avoid future injury and achieve the best quality of life they can
- ​​Physiotherapists excel in the treatment of many conditions including (but not limited to) back pain/injury, whiplash, pregnancy-related muscle/joint issues, urinary -incontinence and vertigo to name a few
- They also help patients manage symptoms of chronic conditions like arthritis and chronic pain

Physiotherapists help patients who may have otherwise tried temporary (e.g., prescription drugs) or more invasive methods (e.g., surgery) to manage their condition. They use individualized therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and other treatment techniques.

Physiotherapists requires that the patient is involved and engaged in the recovery process, as success is often dependent on the patient’s commitment to the process.

Reference: https://www.physiotherapyalberta.ca/public_and_patients/about_physiotherapy/#what_do_physiotherapists_do

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a branch of orthopedic manual therapy that focuses on the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves and fascia of the pelvic girdle, low back and hips.During assessment and treatment, the therapist uses both internal and external techniques to properly assess and treat the pelvic floor, and associated structures. Our Level 3 trained Pelvic floor Physiotherapist will use Acupuncture, Dry Needling and K-laser Therapy as a part of treatment.

Chiropractors are spine and musculoskeletal (MSK) system experts specifically trained to diagnose the underlying cause, treat and recommend options to relieve pain, restore mobility and prevent reoccurrence so people can lead healthy active lives.The main form of treatment chiropractors deliver is called an adjustment – a non-invasive procedure consisting of a precise directed movement to help relieve pain and discomfort, and restore range of motion.

Why would you see a chiropractor?

Some of the common conditions people see a chiropractor for include:

- conditions of the spine and extremities (bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nervous system)
- back pain (thoracic, lumbar and sacral)
- neck pain (cervical spine and related structures)
- headaches and migraines
- chronic and acute pain syndromes, including myofascial pain syndromes
- whiplash and auto accident injuries (see our MVA information)
- strains and sprains
- repetitive strain injuries/joint conditions, including shoulder, hip and knee
- arthritis
- work or sports injuries
- anterior chest wall
- gait assessment and analysis
- general health and well being
- nutrition, therapeutic exercise, lifestyle and ergonomic counselling and recommendations

Reference: https://albertachiro.com/

Massage therapy is a hands-on treatment that involves manipulation of the soft tissue structures of the body (muscle, skin and connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, and membranes) to prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort and muscle spasm. Massage therapy also promotes health and wellness. It improves the functioning of the circulatory, muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems, and helps increase recovery from injury and illness.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.

Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.

In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation boosts your body's natural painkillers.

A custom-made orthosis is a highly effective shoe insert that is developed specifically for each individual patient.

The primary function of an orthosis is to redistribute forces applied to the foot in an effort to alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by a variety of conditions.

An effective custom-made orthosis can result only from a casting process that produces an accurate three-dimensional model designed to capture the contours of the patient’s foot in the desired posture.

A wide variety of orthotic designs and material combinations are used, including polypropylene and graphite, to varying densities of ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) foam and combinations of natural materials such as cork with soft, shock-absorbing polyurethane foams to name a few. The list of potential raw materials utilized in the fabrication of foot orthoses is extensive.

Custom-made foot orthotic devices are fabricated using different methods, materials, and technologies. They should be fabricated with consideration of the assessment findings and treatment plan for each individual patient.

Custom knee bracing can be a simple and effective way to reduce pain, prevent injury, and resume your activities. It is the most effective way to both stabilize and protect the knee joint. A custom knee brace is a medical appliance that is manufactured based on precise measurements of your leg, and tailored for your specific injury.

The brace is made from a combination of composite materials and polymers, or aerospace grade aluminum, making it both lightweight and extremely durable. “Custom” means your brace conforms with your knee intimately, ensuring a consistent level of protection and comfort without any significant loss of mobility.

We have physiotherapists Certified in Vestibular Rehabilitation.
We can help.
Many vertigo and dizziness symptoms come from a dysfunction of the vestibular organ, which is a small but important structure in your inner ear. The vestibular organ is critical for balance, coordination, and movement and when it’s impaired, patients can experience spinning (vertigo), dizziness, nausea, imbalance, problems with vision, and light-headedness, anxiety, among other debilitating symptoms.

We offer Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT or VBRT) in Cold Lake and Bonnyville araea. Cold Lake Physiotherapy is one of only a very few centres providing research-based assessment and treatment services for vestibular disorders. Since your vestibular organ and eye reflexes are intimately connected, close examination of abnormal eye movement (also called “nystagmus”) allows us to accurately detect the specific problem. Once an accurate diagnosis has been made, treatment can be relatively simple.

Dizziness Clinic appointments in hospitals currently have wait times of several months. At Cold Lake Physiotherapy Clinic we’ve successfully treated vestibular disorders since 2017, helping many patients each year. We have vestibular physiotherapists certified through Balance and Dizziness Rehab Clinic. While our assessment procedures and treatment protocols are generally similar to those in hospital programs, and are based upon clinical and medical evidence, our wait times are significantly shorter — which means you can get better, faster.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a multi-disciplinary device used by physiotherapists to speed up pain relief and bring back mobility as quickly as possible.
Essentially, it lets acoustic waves trigger biological effects within the body without the need for pharmaceuticals.
It is a great tool for helping cure sports injuries and get patients back in the game and for restoring mobility that may be comprised by injury or illness. We have found it to be particularly effective in dealing with patients whose lives are impacted by chronic pain.
The acoustic wave carries high energy to painful spots and musculoskeletal tissues with sub-acute, sub chronic and chronic conditions. The energy promotes regeneration and reparative processes of the bones, tendons and other soft tissues.
The kinetic energy of the projectile, created by compressed air, is transferred to the transmitter at the end of the applicator and further into the tissue.

K-Laser is the most advanced Class IV Therapeutic Laser and it delivers fast relief of pain and inflammation.
Laser therapy is the use of specific wave-lengths of light (red and near-infrared) to stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal.
The effects of laser energy include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation, and decreased swelling.
During K-Laser Therapy, infrared laser light interacts with your body tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity within the cell.
By improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane the increased production of cellular energy is stimulated. This causes the beneficial effects that follows including increased cellular function and tissue repair.

A custom-made orthosis is a highly effective shoe insert that is developed specifically for each individual patient.

The primary function of an orthosis is to redistribute forces applied to the foot in an effort to alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by a variety of conditions.

An effective custom-made orthosis can result only from a casting process that produces an accurate three-dimensional model designed to capture the contours of the patient’s foot in the desired posture.

A wide variety of orthotic designs and material combinations are used, including polypropylene and graphite, to varying densities of ethyl-vinyl-acetate (EVA) foam and combinations of natural materials such as cork with soft, shock-absorbing polyurethane foams to name a few. The list of potential raw materials utilized in the fabrication of foot orthoses is extensive.

Custom-made foot orthotic devices are fabricated using different methods, materials, and technologies. They should be fabricated with consideration of the assessment findings and treatment plan for each individual patient.