Frequently asked Questions

What can I expect from a physiotherapy assessment?

The first step in managing your condition is accurately performing a detailed assessment.

The therapist looks at how the bio-mechanics of your muscles and joints influence the development of your pain/injury, how your posture and form can be optimized to reduce your recovery time.

Following the assessment, the physiotherapist will provide a treatment plan which balances patient's goals, therapist's expertise, and research evidence. Treatments may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, modalities, or acupuncture.

What is the difference between back pain and sciatica?

Sciatica refers to radiating pain along the sciatic nerve one or both legs. Sciatica is typically caused by nerve compression at the spine or buttock.

There are many possible of lower back pain and sciatica. For example, spinal joints, muscles, disc, or nerve could be the sources of pain. Your body mechanics, posture habits, and movement patterns could contribute to the development of the injury. It's important to get an accurate diagnosis first so you can receive the correct treatment.

Why is my tennis elbow/ sports injury still sore after two years?

While most injuries heal well on its own, sometimes an injury can leave people with persistent pain or weakness, which can limit your sports performance.

A common condition we treat is chronic tennis elbow. A person experiences first episode of lateral elbow/forearm pain after strenuous activities, it's better after rest, but it's sore every time they play or train with that arm again.

Possible explanations include:

1. chronic tendinopathy

2. biomechanical dysfunction at the elbow or wrist joint

3. nerve compression at the neck, shoulder, or elbow

4. poor form/body mechanics in the gym or at work that continues to irritate the tennis elbow

5. referred pain from the shoulder

6. etc. etc.

At Terwillegar Physiotherapy and Massage, we see the human body as complex, amazing, and interactive. No two patients with tennis elbow are treated the same way.

Is my post-surgical physiotherapy covered by Alberta Health Services?

Alberta Health Services (AHS) covers physiotherapy visits for Albertans with recent fracture and orthopedic surgery, you will be eligible for an assessment and up to four visits. Our clinic does not have contract for AHS funded physiotherapy. You can contact an AHS-contracted clinic by accessing: ahs.ca/adultrehab

If you think you might qualify for AHS-funded physio, and you have NOT had surgery or a fracture, you could call the AHS Rehabilitation Advice Line at 1-833-379-0563. Someone will assess you over the phone and determine if you qualify for in-person treatment based on your income level.

Our physiotherapists are experienced with post-surgical rehabilitation. You can access our care without physician referral. Also, we provide direct billing to most private insurance plans.

We offer one-to-one treatment sessions and personalized home exercise program. You may choose our clinic if you require a little more attention and time during your recovery.

How does physiotherapy help with chronic pain?

If all other (biological/medical) causes of your chronic pain is ruled out, then chronic pain syndrome is a complex condition, with its symptoms not tied to a specific injury or physical illness. The body's nerves and brain rewire themselves to become super sensitive to normal things like touch and movements.

Managing chronic pain typically takes a multi-disciplinary team effort. Physiotherapist will work with you, your doctor, and possibly a psychologist, to help you better manage your pain and improve your physical function.

How do you treat pelvic joint pain during pregnancy? Is it safe?

During pregnancy, women's joints become more lax under the influence of hormones, and sometimes develop pelvic instability. Pelvic girdle pain could be very uncomfortable, even debilitating. When the pain is felt at the front of the pelvis, it's called symphysis pubis dysfunction. When pain is felt at the back of the pelvis, it's called sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Assessment and treatment of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain is safe and effective with our experienced therapists. You will stay in comfortable positions, any hands-on techniques are gentle, and many women report pain relief within the first session.

Following your hands-on treatment, you will learn symmetry exercises which keep your pelvic joints in neutral, comfortable position. You will also learn stabilization exercises to prevent recurring pain.

I've had urinary incontinence for many years, would pelvic floor physio still work for me?

Pelvic health physiotherapy works for women of all ages, whether you have had leaks for two months or twenty years.

There are many possible causes of urinary leaks. The popular kegel exercises can help with pelvic floor muscle weakness. However, did you know people could also leak from the opposite problem, when certain pelvic floor muscles are too tense?

One in four women and one in nine men in Canada experience urinary incontinence. Talk to a physiotherapist to discuss the possible causes of your symptoms, and learn more about the urogenital system.

You will learn strategies to manage your symptoms, and home exercises to train pelvic floor muscles.

Types of dizziness

When patients present to the clinic for dizziness, the first thing your physiotherapist will do is ruling out red flags, which are vascular, neurological, or other medical conditions.

Then, the dizziness would be generally categorized as the following:
1. vertigo - spinning sensation, false sense of motion. This is could be caused by inner ear issues, such as BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)

2. disequilibrium - off-balance, wobbly. This often comes from a decreased response (disequilibrium) among the body's visual, vestibular, and prioprioception systems. It can also happen after a concussion.

3. cervicogenic dizziness - Problems with your cervical spine (neck) can result in a disruption to the joints, muscles and nerves. This can send abnormal neural messages to the balance centres of your brain about positioning, which then can create dizziness.

Physiotherapist Shu Juan has post-graduate training in concussion and dizziness, and can help answer your questions regarding any of the above symptoms.

How does Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) insurance coverage work?

After a car accident, set up an appointment with your primary healthcare provider

(i.e. doctor, physiotherapist) as soon as possible so they can assess your injuries. Although your insurance company may refer you to a ‘preferred provider’, you are welcome to choose wherever you access treatment.

Your doctor or physiotherapist will help you submit necessary forms (AB1 and AB2) to the motor vehicle insurance company. You need to be evaluated within 10 days of the injury. If you have a sprain, strain, or whiplash, you will receive up to 21 treatment sessions, these sessions are to be used within 90 days of your accident.

If you’ve reached the end of your approved number of visits or the 90-day timeline following your car accident, and you still require additional treatment, Your therapist will submit additional report. After reviewing the information, your insurance may or may not approve additional treatments outside the “protocols”. It’s important to note that even if additional treatment is approved, you will need to exhaust your personal extended health benefits (Blue Cross, Sun Life, etc) first.

You are entitled to MVA coverage regardless of whether you were at fault for the accident. Passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists are also covered.

Your physiotherapist is on your team and they advocate for you!

I have neck/ shoulder/ back pain/ headache that gets worse when I work at the computer.

Back and neck pain, headaches, and shoulder and arm pain are common computer-related injuries. Such muscle and joint problems can be caused or made worse by poor workstation design, bad posture and sitting for long periods of time.

These pain conditions are so common that they got their own names, like "tech neck", "computer elbow", "mouse shoulder"

We don't blame it all on your bad posture. Actually, a well set-up (ergonomic) computer workstation makes it easy for your body to relax into a good posture. By assessing your posture and pain patterns, your physiotherapist can advise on how to adjust your workstation to alleviate your symptoms.

Why doesn't your clinic accept WCB (Worker Compensation Board) patients?

By opening ourselves up to WCB funding structure, we wound have to see a particularly high volume of patients per hour to keep our doors open. This means our patients would not be receiving the high-quality treatment and attentiveness that they deserve.

We stand by our treatments and our skilled therapists. We feel that our clients are able to receive the best possible care when their care is patient-centred.