Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy at Island View

Physiotherapy treatment at Island View starts with a thorough medical screen and an expert musculoskeletal examination in order to assess muscle, tendon, ligament, bone and joint issues, as well as nerve-related pain.

Our physiotherapists use a variety of treatment techniques to help you restore, maintain and maximize function, improve overall well-being, and achieve your goals.

At Island View, you will receive one on one expert manual therapy intervention, exercise rehabilitation, and movement training, along with a treatment plan tailored to help you reach your goals and optimize your health. 

Our physiotherapists will educate you on your condition to give you the tools to help you self-manage and self-heal.

We offer direct billing through most extended health plans for this service.

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Our Physiotherapists

Joan Lalor

Joan earned her physiotherapy degree in 1991 at the University of Alberta. She is experienced in orthopaedics, chronic pain management, concussion/vestibular, and hand therapy.

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Liza van Rensburg

Liza has 25 years of experience in Orthopedics, Manual Therapy, Sports Physiotherapy, Pediatrics, Acupuncture, Vestibular (Dizziness) Rehab, and Women’s health, more specifically Urinary Incontinence, Pelvic girdle pain, Coccydynia (tailbone pain) management and more recently Pessary fitting.

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Colleen Davies

Colleen enjoys treating people of all ages and a full range of musculoskeletal conditions. She has a special interest in TMJ dysfunction, neck and back pain, women’s health and sports injuries.

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Ingrid Dukes

Ingrid brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience gained through her involvement in
the treatment and rehabilitation of sports and musculoskeletal injuries over the past 20 years.

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Jessica Hall

Jessica started Island View Physiotherapy + Wellness with a passion to provide exceptional health care, in a warm and welcoming environment, to the community she calls home.

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Karolina Spiewak

Growing up Karolina participated in every sport under the sun and has scars to prove it! A passion for living an active lifestyle and thirst for knowledge drove her to pursue a career in physiotherapy.

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Physiotherapy Treatment Can Include

  • Hands on manual therapy for soft tissue manipulation and joint mobilizations 
  • Active release technique
  • Myofascial mobilization
  • Graston technique
  • Cupping
  • IMS/Dry needling
  • Shockwave therapy
  • Acute injury management
  • Postural assessment, movement evaluation and re-education
  • Athletic taping
  • Individualized exercise prescription

Our Physiotherapists Can Help You With

  • Low back pain – including spinal stenosis, disc injury and sciatica
  • Neck pain – including whiplash and headaches
  • Shoulder pain – including rotator cuff injuries and tendinopathy 
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Sports Injuries – including running injuries and shin splints
  • Ankle sprains
  • Knee Pain 
  • Hip Pain
  • Foot Pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Vertigo and Vestibular Issues
  • Jaw Pain – TMJ/TMD
  • Pelvic Floor Health
  • Custom Orthotics  

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave is an acoustic wave which carries high energy to painful spots and musculoskeletal tissues with subacute, subchronic and chronic conditions. The energy promotes regeneration and reparative processes of the bones, tendons and other soft tissues.

Medical effects of shockwave therapy are:

  • New blood vessel formation

  • Reversal of chronic inflammation

  • Stimulation of collagen production

  • Dissolution of calcifications

  • Dispersion of pain mediator

  • Release of trigger points

Most conditions require 3 treatments – one session per week. Some conditions may require up to 5 treatments. The injured tissues continue to heal for up to 18 weeks post treatment.

Conditions treated with Shockwave Therapy

  • Plantar fasciitis

  • Achilles tendonitis

  • Shoulder tendonitis

  • Calcific tendinopathy

  • Tennis elbow

  • Jumper’s knee

  • Heel spur

  • Medial tibial stress syndrome

  • Hip pain

  • Insertional pain

IMS Functional Dry Needling

Dry Needling is a treatment technique whereby a sterile, single-use, fine filament needle (acupuncture needle) is inserted into the muscle to assist with decreasing muscular pain, neuropathic pain, and improving function through the release of myofascial trigger points (knots in the muscle). Dry needling can also be performed near the spine where the nerve root may have become irritated and hypersensitive.

Dry Needling decreases local muscular pain and improves function through the restoration of a muscle’s ability to lengthen and shorten normally (returning the muscle to it’s normal state).

When a fine filament needle is inserted into the center of a myofascial trigger point, bloodflow is increased to the contracted muscle fibers, providing those fibers with fresh oxygen and nutrients, flushing away acidic chemicals, and thereby causing the muscle to relax.

Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMJ/TMD)

Your Physiotherapist will assess the movement and alignment of your neck and jaw and develop an individual treatment plan for you. We will collaborate with your physician and/or dentist when necessary to ensure the best treatment possible to resolve your TMJ/TMD problems. Our goal is to restore function in the joints and the subsequent muscles associated with it, thus, preventing further injury. Treatment may consist of soft tissue release, manual therapy of the neck and jaw, IMS, stretching and strengthening exercise, postural correction and breathing exercises.

Colleen Davies, Physiotherapist has been treating clients with TMJ/TMD in the Victoria area for over 25 years in collaboration with Dental Specialists, Orthodontists, Dentists and MDs.

Book your appointment today to learn more about the reasons causing your TMJ discomfort, to get quick relief of your symptoms and prevent future problems.

TMJ and TMD Explained

TMJ – The jaw joints, also known as the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are one of the most complex joints in the body. The joint connects the lower jaw to the skull in front of the ear and is involved in many functions including chewing, talking, facial expressions and breathing.

TMD – Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD) is a medical condition that can be caused by a variety of muscle and joint issues. When the jaw moves out of place, it can cause pressure on sensitive structures and muscles around the joint. This can lead to muscle stiffness and joint pain, affecting range of motion in the jaw.

Symptoms of TMD may include:

  • Pain in the face, jaw or teeth
  • Ear pain or fullness in the ears
  • Popping or clicking sounds
  • Locking
  • Malalignment of bite
  • Headache or dizziness
  • Neck and jaw tension
  • Difficulty opening, chewing, talking and yawning

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

Pelvic floor rehabilitation is a specialized area of Physiotherapy for the treatment of Pelvic floor dysfunction. 

Pelvic floor dysfunctions include: 

  • Urinary Incontinence 
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse 
  • Chronic pelvic pain 
  • Constipation 

 

Take a moment to ask yourself: 

  • Do you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, walk, run or exercise? 
  • Do you never pass up an opportunity to use a bathroom? 
  • Do you feel like something is “falling out”? 
  • Do you have difficulty emptying your bowel? 
  • Do you have pain in your pelvic region during sitting, exercise or sexual activity? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have Pelvic floor Dysfunction and an assessment by a Pelvic floor Physiotherapist would benefit you .