Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a health care practice that revolves around client-centered care. Physiotherapists work in partnerships with individuals of all ages to overcome barriers with physical function. They combine their in-depth knowledge of the body and how it works with specialized hands-on clinical skills to assess, diagnose and treat symptoms of illness, injury or disability. Physiotherapists work with wide ranges of populations that can include; pre and post surgery, acute and/or chronic injuries of muscles and joints, sports injuries and age related conditions. The goal of physiotherapy is to enable individuals to become active in their rehabilitation process by educating individuals how to best take care of themselves during and after an injury. This allows individuals to take an active part in their recovery in order to prevent recurrences and return to activities they enjoy.

What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a healthcare practice that uses the science of movement to pinpoint the root cause of your injury. Through a comprehensive assessment and client-centered approach, we work together in collaboration to achieve your health, rehabilitation, and fitness goals. With our in-depth knowledge of the body, a tailored exercise plan, patient education, hands-on care, and when applicable, different modalities, work towards your goals with our interprofessional approach to care. We work with all populations including pre and post-surgery, acute and/ or chronic injuries, sports injuries, and age-related conditions. Our goal is to empower you as the patient to take part in an active role in your recovery to get you back to the activities you enjoy as quickly as possible.

What does a physiotherapy assessment look like at The Armoury?

At the Armoury, each patient has a 60-minute, 1 on 1 physiotherapy assessment with a registered physiotherapist. The physiotherapist takes time to learn about your medical history and the injuries and impairments you are experiencing. The physiotherapist will assess a variety of movements and diagnose your injury. Our physiotherapists take time to educate each patient and answer any questions you may have regarding your care. Each patient receives a unique and specialized treatment plan based on their goals, prescribed exercises to start to work on to aid the recovery process, and hands-on treatment to help with pain relief.

What does a physiotherapy treatment look like at The Armoury?

At the Armoury, after the 1-hour assessment. We gather information about your pain/injury and examine the area. Then we provide treatment on the first visit to get you feeling better. Our follow-up treatment sessions are typically 30 minutes long, however, we do offer 45 and 60-minute sessions when more time is required. These options are based on specific patient needs and your goals from the initial assessment. Your treatment plan may include a combination of hands-on manual therapy, soft tissue release, graded prescribed exercise, and modalities such as TENS, acupuncture shockwave, and/or ultrasound as indicated. Our treatments are designed in a way to progress towards patient-specific goals and are unique for each patient depending on your condition and progress through the care plan.

When should I see a Physiotherapist?

Physiotherapy may be required if you are experiencing an acute injury, chronic pain, stiffness, mobility impairments, strength limitations, or balance problems. If you are unsure of whether physiotherapy is right for you, just give us a call! The best physiotherapy team in Kitchener-Waterloo is only a call away.

Do I need a doctor's referral for physiotherapy at The Armoury?

A doctor referral is not required to seek care from our physiotherapy team at the Armoury. However, depending on your insurance provider, a referral may be needed for coverage. If you are unsure, call your insurance company to see if they require a referral and what your coverage for physiotherapy is.

Does The Armoury do direct billing for physiotherapy?

For most insurance companies, our reception team can do direct billing for physiotherapy care. However, in select cases when it is not allowable by your insurance provider policy, we can assist in providing receipts and facilitating your reimbursement, with payment required at the time of the appointment.

Can I see a physiotherapist before seeing a doctor?

Physiotherapists are primary health care providers and are fully equipped to help in the diagnosis and conservative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. If the Physiotherapist believes there is reason for further investigation following the initial assessment they can assist with seeing a physician.

What training do Physiotherapists have at the Armoury?

All physiotherapists at the Armoury hold either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Physiotherapy and are accredited according to the standards set by the Ontario College of Physiotherapy. Moreover, our therapists possess expertise in various specialized services, such as acupuncture, dry needling, and soft tissue release. They have extensive experience working with elite athletes at the highest levels of competition.

What conditions/injuries do physiotherapists treat?

Head/Neck

Neck pain
Neck related headaches
Neck related dizziness
Concussions

Wrist/Hand

TFCC injuries (wrist cartilage)
Wrist and forearm tendon strains and sprains
De quervain’s syndrome
Osteoarthritis
Scapholunate joint instability
Trigger finger
Carpal tunnel syndrome

Ankle/Foot

Achilles tendinopathy
Peroneal (outer leg muscle) tendinopathy
Lateral and medial ankle ligament sprains
High ankle sprains
Plantar fasciitis
Metatarsalgia
Bunions
Tibialis posterior (inner leg) strain

Shoulder

Rotator cuff injuries
Labral injuries (shoulder cartilage)
Acromioclavicular joint (AC joint) separations
Glenohumeral (shoulder joint) dislocations/subluxations
Biceps tendinopathy (biceps tendon strain)
Rhomboid strain/Trapezius strain/Latissimus strain (shoulder blade muscle strains)
Nerve Entrapment
Shoulder Instability after multiple dislocations
Post-Op Rotator Cuff Rehab
Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)

Knee

ITB syndrome Patellofemoral pain syndrome (knee cap pain)
Meniscus injuries
ACL & PCL sprains/tears
MCL & LCL sprains/tears
Patellar tendinopathy (jumpers knee)
Osgood schlatter’s disease (growth plate pain)
Prepatellar bursitis (knee ligament swelling)
Calf strain
Osteoarthritis
Shin splints – muscular pain
Knee Replacement
Pes Anserine pain

Back

Mechanical (strain) low back pain
Sciatic pain (nerve pain)
SI joint dysfunction
Scoliosis

Hip

Gluteus medius tendinopathy
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (muscular pain outside hip)
Greater trochanteric bursitis (bursal swelling outside of the hip)
Femoral acetabular impingement (bony injury of the hip joint in young adults)
Hip flexor strain
Piriformis syndrome (muscular strain)
Sciatica (nerve pain)
Quadriceps injuries
Hamstrings injuries
Adductor injuries (groin strain)
Post Operative Hip Replacement
Hip Osteoarthritis (prior to operation)

Elbow

Biceps strain
Triceps strain
Tennis elbow
Golfers elbow
Ulnar collateral ligament
injuries (Inside elbow ligament)
Radial collateral ligament injuries (outside elbow ligament)
Nerve Entrapment