WE ARE OPEN

April 2021

Balance Physiotherapy remains OPEN and will continue to remain open during the new Provincial lockdown.  

Our professional associations have confirmed directly with the Chief Medical Officer of Health's office that Physiotherapy and Registered Massage Therapy services may continue to be provided in keeping with restrictions in place for physical distancing, patient screening and infection control measures.  

Please note that caregivers and family members (maximum one per client) are only permitted to enter the clinic if their physical assistance is required.  Virtual sessions may be provided in lieu of in-person sessions.  Please contact your physiotherapist or massage therapist directly if they haven't contacted you yet, to discuss any changes in the nature or frequency of your appointments moving forward.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Our physiotherapists are highly experienced in the assessment and management of complex neurological and orthopaedic injuries, illnesses and conditions. Therapy is provided one on one, in a private treatment room, and active therapy is a part of every program, carried out in one of our two clinic gyms.  Our therapists will use the approach and techniques most applicable to their client's needs, which may include hydrotherapy in our clinic pool, or acupuncture for pain management.  Each of our physiotherapists has their own area of special expertise, and our therapist work closely together and cross-refer to each other when needed, so that clients receive the best of care from our entire team.

HYDROTHERAPY/WATSU®

Hydrotherapy is an excellent approach for clients with mobility issues, chronic pain, post-operative impairments, and other conditions.  It also provides a wonderful opportunity for gait re-education in a gravity-reduced environment.  Our in-clinic pool is kept at 95F and is fully accessible via either stairs or a ceiling lift.  Our Physiotherapy Assistant Heather Densmore is one of only a handful of certified Watsu® practitioners in Canada. Watsu® is a form of gentle therapy which combines the principles of Shiatsu, massage, joint mobilization and stretching, and we have been thrilled to witness the remarkable effects it has had on our clients, most notably those with complex and chronic pain.  Contact us to learn more, and to schedule an initial assessment with one of our physiotherapists.

REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY

At Balance Physiotherapy, many of our clients benefit from massage therapy with one of our three experienced and skilled RMTs, either in isolation or in tandem with an active therapy program.    For neurological and complex orthopedic injuries, massage therapy can be used to decrease tone and spasticity, improve soft tissue extensibility and range of motion, stimulate lymphatic drainage and blood circulation in order to reduce edema and swelling, decrease pain, ease stiffness, and support and bolster the achievement of the client's complementary treatment goals.

VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION THERAPY

Vestibular disorders and impairments are an unfortunate but frequent occurrence when clients have experienced head trauma, and are often overlooked until the client is out of acute care and ready for rehab.  Proper assessment and accurate diagnosis are key to treating vestibular issues quickly and effectively, and therefore reducing the client's suffering.  At Balance Physiotherapy we have therapists who are highly trained in the diagnosis of vestibular problems and the provision of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), an exercise-based program designed to reduce vertigo and dizziness, gaze instability, and/or imbalance and falls.  It does so by promoting central nervous system compensation for any inner ear deficits that cannot be resolved by manual techniques alone. VRT can result in effective treatment for a variety of vestibular problems, including:

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

• labyrinthitis

• vestibular neuritis

• post concussion syndrome

If you are suffering from vertigo or other vestibular symptoms, contact us and we will schedule you with the appropriate physiotherapist.

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PELVIC FLOOR REHABILITATION

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialized approach that addresses signs and symptoms related to the pelvic floor and surrounding musculature.  The pelvic floor muscles have several essential functions which include: maintaining continence, supporting pelvic organs, providing stability to the low back joints, and helping to maintain sexual function.  At Balance Physiotherapy, a Physiotherapist with specialized training in pelvic floor rehabilitation uses education, exercise prescription and manual therapy techniques to address any dysfunctions (ie. weakness, tightness) in the pelvic tissues, surrounding muscles/joints and nervous system.  In fact, recent research has established pelvic floor physiotherapy as an effective first-line treatment of stress and urge incontinence in women, and is recommended before surgical consideration.  Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help improve symptoms related to: 

• Urinary/fecal incontinence (increased urgency, frequency, leakage) 

• Pelvic organ prolapse

• Pelvic pain

• Interstitial cystitis 

• Dyspareunia (pain with sexual intercourse) 

• Vulvodynia/vaginismus

• Sacroiliac/low back pain 

• Hip joint pain

AMPUTEE REHABILITATION

Balance Physiotherapy offers highly customized acute and chronic amputee rehabilitation programs for clients with upper and lower limb amputations. These programs are tailored to maximize functional mobility, and minimize pain, for a return to daily life in the community.  We work closely with prosthetists to ensure that every client's prosthetics and mobility aids will match his or her physical needs and functional goals. As with any service at Balance Physiotherapy, clients and their families will find that our highly developed amputee rehabilitation program is effectively delivered by experienced, passionate physiotherapists in a motivating, positive and supportive atmosphere.

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT

Following a head injury, even a "minor" one, many people experience lingering concussion symptoms.  These can include headaches, dizziness, nausea and/or vomiting, ringing ears (tinnitus), vision disturbances, fatigue, impaired balance, depression, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, feeling "foggy", and sensitivity to light or noise, among others.  Proper concussion management necessitates a thorough assessment, followed by a careful progression of cardiovascular, balance, visual and vestibular exercises, in order to safely increase activity levels without exacerbating symptoms.  Having worked with hundreds of concussion clients since our inception, the therapists at Balance Physiotherapy are leaders in the safe and effective provision of concussion management following motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and falls.

ACUPUNCTURE

At Balance Physiotherapy, we use acupuncture to treat the impairments and sequelae of various neurological conditions and orthopaedic-based injuries. Our physiotherapists use acupuncture, when appropriate, as part of a multi-faceted approach to care. The insertion points are carefully chosen based on the goal of the treatment, medical history, and comfort level.  Our practicing physiotherapists are certified by the McMaster Contemporary Acupuncture Program.

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

Shockwave therapy is one of the modalities used when found to be appropriate by our physiotherapists. It is a non-invasive form of treatment which involves a series of low energy acoustic wave pulsations being applied directly to an area of injury through a person's skin, via a gel medium.  Shockwave can increase local blood flow, improve healing response, break up scar tissue and adhesions, reduce muscle spasm, and decrease pain.

OTHER SERVICES

Balance Physiotherapy also offers the following services:

• Customized exercise and fitness programs

• Assistive Devices Program (ADP) assessments and prescriptions for walkers, wheelchairs and scooters

• Seating mobility assessments

• Sports re-integration outings

• Collaboration with treatment teams

MEET THE BALANCE PHYSIOTHERAPY TEAM

WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL

TEACHING & SHARING OUR EXPERTISE

Haseel Bhatt, PT, leading a seminar on "Parkinson’s disease: Shifting the Clinical Paradigm" to a standing room only crowd.  In June 2019 Haseel will head to Kyoto, Japan to present his poster at the World Parkinson's Congress.   We couldn't be prouder.

CONTINUALLY LEARNING

Our therapists never stop educating themselves.  From courses on specific topics to certification courses and a monthly articles club, we are always improving and furthering our ability to serve clients.

OFFERING UNIQUE SERVICES
TO OUR CLIENTS

Adding a therapy pool to our clinic was one of the best investments we've ever made.  Our pool is constantly in use, with a wide variety of clients seeing a range of benefits.  It is amazing to see the transformation in our clients when they get in the water.

SUPPORTING THE ABI COMMUNITY

Once again this year, we are proud sponsors of several fundraisers for the ABI community, such as the BIST Mix & Mingle. It is so important for us to build strong relationships with other professionals working in brain injury so that we can work together for the best outcomes of our clients.

HAVING A LITTLE FUN TOGETHER

Could competitive ping pong be a new career path for the team??? If our most recent night out was any indication, the clinic is safe for now, and everyone will be keeping their day jobs. Phew!

SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

Balance Physiotherapy is proud to sponsor a local hockey team. Two players from the Don Mills Peewee Mustangs (2018-2019) brought in their GTHL championship trophy and a fabulous picture of the team. We’re proud to have been part of their success!

BUSINESS HOURS

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Monday:          9:00am – 6:00pm*

Tuesday:         9:00am – 5:00pm*

Wednesday:   9:00 am - 6:00pm*

Thursday:       9:00am – 5:00pm*

Friday:            9:00am – 5:00pm*

Saturday:       CLOSED*

Sunday:         CLOSED*

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* appointments may be accommodated outside of these hours dependent upon availability.