Women’s and Pelvic Health

Both Christine and Brandon enjoy working with women’s health issues. Having had a baby herself, Christine has a great understanding of the issues faced by women during fertility, pregnancy, post-partum and in the years after.

So what do we mean when we say women’s health? We are dealing with the times when a woman becomes pregnant after delivery and in a few months and years after having a baby.

How can we help? We will take the time to get to know you and your specific problems. Together we can identify that maybe you need help with your pelvic floor, or maybe that you have a prolapse. You might need help building up your core muscles. Other areas of issue could include sciatica, low back, hip and sacroiliac joint pain.

Will you do an internal exam? At Excite we are trained only on external treatments for the core, pelvic floor and hips. We believe that we can find lots of ways to help without any invasive treatments. If we feel that more is needed to help, we can refer you to the appropriate professionals.

Ergonomics / Work Injury Prevention

One of the most common changes that we have seen over the past year is the way that people work. Working from home can bring challenges such as workspace.

Even though you may be working at the kitchen table, we can make recommendations on how to optimize your setup. It’s not only about the setup, it’s also important to see your body position.

We will give you movement and stretching recommendations to do throughout your day.

Core Strengthening

What is the “core?” the core refers to a collection of muscles that work together to stabilize and control the movements of your spine. At the top is the diaphragm, the bottom is the pelvic floor, the front is a large flat muscle called Transversus Abdominis. Lastly, at the back is the Multifidus, which is a collection of small muscles that connect one vertebra to the next. They don’t create any specific movement, rather they turn on in anticipation of movement, this provides stability to protect your joints.

Who may benefit from core training? Anyone with low back or spinal pain would benefit from a specific core program from their Excite Physiotherapist. New moms can almost always benefit from core strengthening due to the impact of pregnancy and labour and delivery on their core and pelvic floor muscles.

A strong core doesn’t only benefit those with low back pain, it provides a stable base for the limbs. Those with shoulder, knee, hip and ankle Injuries would also benefit from this type of rehabilitation.

Your Excite Physiotherapist will work with you one on one to develop a program specific to your individual needs. This will be progressed over time as your strength and control improve. Once you have achieved your goals, you will be discharged and sent home with some exercises that you can continue with for years to maintain your spinal health.

Physiotherapy

Our Physiotherapists are highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals who utilize various techniques and interventions to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of conditions and injuries.

The primary goal of Physiotherapy is to optimize movement and function, alleviate pain, and promote overall health and well-being. We work with individuals of all ages and can assist in the management of acute or chronic conditions, injuries, and disabilities.

What do Physiotherapists do?

1. Assessment and Evaluation: We perform comprehensive assessments to evaluate you movement, strength, flexibility, posture, balance, and overall physical function. This helps us in identifying specific impairments or limitations.

2. Treatment Techniques: Our Physiotherapists incorporate a variety of techniques and interventions tailored to your individual needs. These may include therapeutic exercises, advanced manual therapy (such as joint mobilization and soft tissue techniques), Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS, GunnIMS), and other specialized modalities.

3. Rehabilitation and Recovery: Physiotherapists develop customized treatment plans to address the identified impairments and promote recovery. They provide guidance on exercises, stretching, and strengthening programs to improve mobility, restore function, and prevent further injuries.

4. Pain Management: Physiotherapy can help manage pain through techniques such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, electrotherapy, and education on pain management strategies.

5. Education and Prevention: Physiotherapists educate individuals about their conditions, provide advice on injury prevention, and promote healthy lifestyles and habits.

Myofunctional Therapy

Myofunctional therapy, also known as orofacial myofunctional therapy, is a specialized form of therapy that aims to address and correct improper orofacial muscle function and coordination. It focuses on the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat, including the tongue, lips, and jaw.

The goal of myofunctional therapy is to optimize the balance and function of these muscles, which can affect various aspects of oral and overall health. The therapy primarily targets the correction of dysfunctional oral habits and improper swallowing patterns, which can lead to a range of issues.

Some common conditions and problems that myofunctional therapy can help address include:

1. Tongue thrust: A pattern of swallowing in which the tongue pushes forward against the front teeth instead of resting against the palate. This can lead to dental malocclusions, speech issues, and swallowing difficulties.
2. Incorrect breathing patterns: Myofunctional therapy can help individuals who have a habit of mouth breathing rather than nasal breathing, which can affect facial development, dental alignment, and overall health.
3. Incorrect posture and muscle function: The therapy addresses issues such as poor tongue posture, improper chewing and swallowing patterns, and weak or imbalanced facial muscles.
4. Speech disorders: Myofunctional therapy can be beneficial for individuals with certain speech disorders, such as lisps, due to muscle dysfunction or improper oral habits.

The therapy typically involves a series of exercises and techniques that aim to retrain and strengthen the muscles involved in orofacial function. These exercises may include tongue exercises, lip exercises, swallowing exercises, and breathing exercises. Myofunctional therapy is carried out by Emilie Guy, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist and Registered Dental Hygienist.