knee injuries // Tag

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12 Dec
 We’ve all noticed that we tend to slow down a little during the winter. The drop in temperatures and the occasional snowfall can make us feel like not getting out of bed. This is the time of the year for skiing, snowboarding, skating, and many holiday parties! However, it’s important to make sure that we are still thinking of safety during all of these activities (yes, even the holiday parties) in order to avoid any injuries.

Physiotherapy Mississauga

Some common winter sports injuries:
1)    Separated shoulders
2)    Knee Sprains
3)    Torn ligaments
4)    Pulled muscles
5)    Fractures
Also read, Etobicoke Physiotherapy Clinic
Exercising alone isn’t enough to achieve good health if you’ve already had an injury. It’s important to address injuries before they worsen and become more difficult to manage. At Triangle Physiotherapy, we promote active treatment programs that emphasize exercise to encourage client participation & independence.

Overcoming winter aches and pains:

Sometimes, a change in the weather could cause dormant aches to become more apparent. Joint pain can occur anytime throughout the year, but in the cold and wet months of the winter, you may find it harder to cope with.
A visit to a physiotherapist can help to keep you moving forward in a pain-free manner.

  1. Avoid excess twisting and forward bending. Bend the knees and keep the back as straight as possible when you are lifting.
  2. Make sure that you are using proper techniques and good body mechanics to help you avoid shoulder and low back injuries can be avoided.
  3. Don’t let the cold weather put you off – bundle up and be careful in wet or icy conditions.
  4. Exercising regularly will help reduce pain within your joints and help prevent other health issues.
  5. Also, ensure that you don’t overdo exercise if you are new in the sphere. Make sure you warm up with a brisk walk or gentle jogging.

Also read, Physiotherapy Treatment in Oakville

When our body is cold, it restricts the amount of blood it sends to our extremities, like our hands and feet, so that it can focus on supplying vital organs (like the heart and lungs) with blood. This means that we lose less heat from blood circulating near the surface of the skin, and also means that the joints get less blood. This can cause delayed healing and an increased insensitivity to pain.

To answer all of your queries in detail, we, at Triangle Physiotherapy thoroughly assess you and create customized treatment programs that address each individual’s needs. There are many people who feel depressed during the winter months, which can increase their sensitivity to pain. Don’t let your passion for living a pain-free life take a back seat during the winter season!

Triangle Physiotherapy is coming up with a new health campaign called #JoinTheMovement. By participating in this movement, you will notice a significant difference in your overall health awareness and awareness of what a Physiotherapist can do for you.

So, what are you waiting for? For more information on our services, visit our pages on facebook, and instagram

17 Aug

What do we mean by Sports Injuries? Any sort of injury that is caused when we get too involved and carried away in the spirit of any sport. When the passion is high, and the energy is there we tend to suffer from small accidents related to Knee pain, Elbow, etc.

What qualifies as a Sports Injury?

Sports Physiotherapy Oakville

It’s any type of injury that might arise from getting too involved and carried away in the spirit of any sport. In the heat of the moment during a sports game, it is easy to ignore smaller annoyances that might progress to become significant sources of pain.

Also read, Physiotherapy Oakville

So, what do many people do when they inevitably suffer a sports injury?

The most common answer is to go and visit a doctor. However, we tend to forget that the most effective and immediate assistance we can get is from a physiotherapist. Reducing swelling and providing pain relief are usually the first steps that a physiotherapist will take to promote recovery after an injury.

Advanced progression of the treatment plan usually involves techniques like stretching and providing range of motion and strengthening exercises that are meant to help the injured person regain strength and balance. The physiotherapist will also ensure that you don’t push yourself too far or too fast, thereby helping you prevent re-injury.

Below are some common questions and answers that might be relevant to you:

Who is better equipped to diagnose my injury – a doctor or a physiotherapist?

Both doctors and physiotherapists have the necessary skills to diagnose your injury. Interestingly the most important thing is that there is a DIAGNOSIS made!

Who is better equipped to manage/treat my injury – a doctor or a physiotherapist?

Well, it depends on the injury. For example, it is not uncommon for a physiotherapist to refer a patient to a doctor to ask for a prescription for some anti-inflammatory medication as these are not able to be prescribed by a physiotherapist. However, a physiotherapist will generally provide more detail regarding the injury, as well as provide manual treatment and prescribe a detailed exercise program for the patient that will help promote recovery.

Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic Mississauga

When do I need to consult a physiotherapist?

There are many other conditions apart from sports injuries that would require treatment from a physiotherapist. Some of them are:

  • Any arthritic conditions
  • Treatment of pelvic floor disorders
  • Chronic/Overuse injuries
  • Muscle or joint issues that might arise during pregnancy
  • Vestibular conditions
  • Various other muscle strains and sprains

Any of the above-mentioned problems should be treated immediately in order to prevent further aggravation of the condition! Seek the help of our specialists at any of our locations in  Etobicoke, Oakville, North York, Mississauga & Toronto, and get rid of such dilemmas!

04 Aug

Are your worries all perched on a pillow? And we don’t mean figuratively, but literally, are your worries all about THE PILLOW? Well, you are not in as uncommon a dilemma as you may think. Physiotherapists frequently get queries about pillow-related problems.


Sleeping on the wrong pillow, or one that is too worn out, not only leads to headaches, backaches, and neck cramps but also prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. Lack of proper sleep can lead to many serious health issues, like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, etc.


It is imperative that you choose the right pillow for yourself but the kind of pillow you should pick will depend on your own unique needs as well. A physiotherapist is the best person to tell you exactly what you need. However, here are a few things that you can keep in mind while making a choice –

  • Your usual sleeping position
  • The shape and size of your head, neck and back
  • Desired softness/firmness of the pillow
  • Any neck pain, or backache you may have
  • And your budget

Physiotherapy Downtown Toronto

Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic in Mississauga
There are a plethora of pillows in the market – cotton, polyester, feather, down, memory foam etc. However, these don’t cater to specific support or pain needs. If you have been injured, or have a particular condition, you will need a pillow that caters best to not just your problem, but also the stage that you are in. There are three main stages –

  • Accommodation
  • Correction
  • Maintenance

For each of these three stages, you will need a specific kind of pillow.

Accommodation Stage:

Specialty pillows that are designed for the ‘Accommodation’ stage, are pillows that bring in comfort and ease by providing support and stabilizing the existing ailment or disorder. Such pillows are often called Displacement pillows and are often recommended by physiotherapists for short-term pain relief after an injury.

Correction Stage:

The next stage of an issue or injury is ‘Correction’. At this stage, a doctor or physiotherapist attempts to find a remedy for the cause of the problem, and thereby correct it. Pillows recommended in this stage are often designed to provide support, and sometimes to even change the sleeping position of the injured or ailing person. There are various ‘Supportive’ pillows to meet different support levels, firmness and neck lobe size needs of different patients. There are also specialized ‘Corrective’ pillows, which can reduce headaches, neck pain, joint pain, and whiplash discomfort and can even improve nerve function. A physiotherapist can tell you what is the ideal Supportive or Corrective pillow you need, based on your health and body needs.
 Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic Oakville

Maintenance Stage:

Pillows for the last stage, ‘Maintenance’, help to promote good health by returning and keeping the body in its natural alignment. At this stage maintaining the normal curvature of the neck and spine is of utmost importance. While the normal curvature of one person’s neck and spine may differ from another, there are some general guidelines that a physiotherapist can jot down to help you understand your needs better. Comfort and support are the most important of these.

There are also Aqua pillows, which perform all the 3 functions of a pillow:

  1. Accommodation: Since water is fluid, a person gets customized accommodation that happens in real time, as the individual changes their position on the pillow.
  1. Correction: The volume of water determines the firmness and density of the pillow, which means different amounts of water can be utilized to help correct the neck position of different people in different stages of healing.
  1. Maintenance: Since the volume of water remains constant until changed manually, it helps maintain the neck posture at all times while sleeping.

A lot of people buy a pillow, try it for a few nights, and then feel it isn’t right for them. Sometimes the pillows can be returned, but more often, people end up having a collection of pillows that they have hardly ever used. An Aqua pillow is a huge savior in this aspect, as it can be customized for each individual! The water levels can be modified to best suit the clinical condition, neck shape, and size, and preferred sleeping position of the buyer.


There are also specially designed Orthopaedic pillows for specific conditions like arthritis, fractures, and slip discs. A physiotherapist can enlighten you more about these.


Seek the help of our professionals at any of our locations in Etobicoke, Oakville, North York, Mississauga & Downtown Toronto, and say goodbye to your pillow problems!

21 Jun

Summer is here, and with the sun on one’s face and a cool breeze, everyone feels like going out and enjoying some fresh air. Be it an early morning run or a quick swim, a game of tennis with your buddies or you just dribbling the ball all by yourself at the basketball court; this is the season when even the lazy ones find some energy to be active. Kids in particular love to go out and play in the summers. But with an active lifestyle, or an energetic kid, there is always the chance of sports-related injuries or foot fatigue.
Maybe you twisted your ankle while playing tennis? Or did your kid get hurt while playing football? Maybe too much running is affecting your feet? Or your friend is having pain in his or her legs post-cycling?
Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic in Etobicoke 

Orthotics might just be the answer to your woes!

Orthotics Downtown Toronto

The type of Orthotics recommended to you will depend on not just your ailment or injury, but the shape of your feet as well.  A physiotherapist can tell you what kind of orthotics you need, by evaluating your injury and the shape of your feet.

The most popular kind of Orthotics include:

  • Casual Orthotics – These are inserts or pads that can be worn with regular shoes.
  • Custom Orthotics – these are inserts that are specially designed, keeping the shape of your feet and your particular needs in mind.
  • Sports Orthotics – these are inserts or pads that help to absorb shock while doing high-impact activities. Be it running, jogging, cycling, or playing a sport. There are even specialized Orthotics that slip easily into athletic shoes for professional athletes.
  • Dress Orthotics – These are inserts that can be put into heels and other fashionable shoes, and are particularly made for women.
  • Accommodative Footwear – this refers to special footwear, which can accommodate the Orthotics.

Also read, Physiotherapy Oakville
If you don’t have a sports injury but are just very active, orthotics can still come to your aid. But do seek your doctor’s advice before using any kind of orthotics.
At Triangle Physiotherapy our health professionals cater to your needs and specifications. With the help of our professionals, you can figure out what is the best solution for you, based on your activities and the needs of your feet. So visit any of our locations in Etobicoke, Oakville, North York, Mississauga & Downtown Toronto, to stay active with Orthotics!

18 Jun

Wearing heels may be a fashion statement for some, but for others, it is a work necessity.
Studies have shown that:

  • 72% of women wear high heels at some point or the other
  • 50% of them wear them at parties
  • 39% of them wear them every day
  • And 31% of them wear them to work

But wearing heels for a prolonged period of time can lead to multiple issues. So what are the “heel issues” that affect most women? And how can you deal with them?

Physiotherapy Mississauga
Also read, Physiotherapy Mississauga

Do your toes hurt and your feet feel numb?

You might have Morton’s Neuroma, commonly known as forefoot pain. People with this ailment most often complain of pain between the 3rd and the 4th toe.  Pain between the 2nd and the 3rd toe is less common but also known to happen. This ailment occurs when the nerves between the toes get irritated and inflamed.
Another common issue with wearing high heels is back pain. Constantly wearing very high heels puts stress on the thighs and hip flexors, which in turn puts more pressure on the spine and causes it to curve. The curving of the spine then leads to back pain.
Pain in the knee joints is also an issue that occurs if you wear high heels too often. High heels put too much pressure on knee joints and can create an imbalance in your leg alignment, leading to pain and other issues of the knee joint.
Also read, Physiotherapy Treatment in Etobicoke
Ditching the heels completely will obviously be the best solution. But if you can’t do that, here are some things that you can do –

  • Wear heels that are 2 inches or less in height, this will help take off the pressure from your spine and cause less curving.
  • If you absolutely must wear very high heels (4 to 6 inches high) one day, wear low to moderate heels the next day. This way your knee joints, spine and thigh muscles will get a break from undue stress.
  • If you have forefoot pain, try wearing shoes that are wider around the toes – a shoe with a round or square shape in front is a better choice than a pointy-toed shoe.
  • Opt for shoes that have leather insoles so your feet have better grip. Slippery heels cause even more damage to your posture.
  • Wear heels for shorter periods of time. The longer you wear high heels, the more damage you cause to your knees and spine.
  • Ditch those heels if you are in too much pain. It is better to sit at your desk without your heels on, rather than cringe with pain for the entire day.
  • And finally, visit a physiotherapist and do some simple exercises that he or she may suggest to relieve you of your feet, back or knee pain caused by high heels.

At Triangle Physiotherapy our professionals can help you figure out what will be the ideal solution for your ailment. So visit any of our 8 locations of Triangle Physiotherapy clinics – Etobicoke, Oakville, Mississauga, North York, Toronto to heal the issues caused by them heels!

20 Jan
Patellar tendinopathy aka, Jumpers Knee, (also known as patellar tendonitis, and tendonitis) is an overuse injury affecting the knee. The patella tendon is a short but very wide tendon that runs from the patella (kneecap) to the top of the tibia. It works with the muscles at the front of the thigh to extend the knee so it can perform physical acts like kicking, running, and jumping.  Due to these elements, the patellar tendon has to absorb a lot of this loading and as a result, is prone to injury in runners and jumpers. Unlike many running injuries, patellar tendonitis is somewhat more common in men than in women. The stress on the patellar tendon results in small tears, which the body attempts to repair, but as the injury multiplies, it causes pain from inflammation and weakening of the tendon. When this tendon damage persists for more than a few weeks, it is called, “tendinopathy”.

Physiotherapy Downtown Toronto Initial symptoms of patellar tendonitis can be:

  • Anterior knee pain over the patella tendon
  • Pain increased from jumping, landing or running activity, and on occasion prolonged sitting
  • Onset of pain can be gradual and commonly relates to an increase in sports activities
  • Localised tenderness over the patella tendon
  • The tendon feeling stiff, mostly first thing in the morning
  • The affected tendon may appear thickened in comparison to the unaffected side
Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic in Oakville

Typically, tendon injuries occur in three areas:

  • Musculotendinous junction (where the tendon joins the muscle)
  • Mid-tendon (non-insertional tendinopathy)
  • Tendon insertion (eg. Into the bone)
If you try to work through your pain, ignoring your body’s warning signs, you could cause increasingly larger tears in the patellar tendon. Knee pain and reduced function can persist if the problem is not addressed , which can progress to more serious patellar tendinopathy.

Treatment of Jumpers Knee

Treatment of this condition has two objectives: to reduce inflammation and to allow the tendon to heal. Rest is a must when the knee is painful and swollen. Avoid stair climbing and jumping sports. Keep your knee straight while sitting, and avoid squatting. Icing the knee for twenty minutes two to three times a day is recommended, especially after any sporting activities. Exercises can also be used to stretch and balance the thigh muscles. It is advisable, however, to contact a physical therapist & approach proper physical therapy before you attempt any of these remedies, to avoid any further damage. Happy Healing!

Click HERE to book an appointment with a physiotherapist at one of our eight locations.