Blog

Staying Active with Knee Osteoarthritis: Why Walking, Running, and Sports Are Safer Than You Think. If you’ve been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA), you may have been told to "take it easy" to avoid making your condition worse. The idea that physical activity—like walking or running—causes "wear and tear" on the knees has been around for years. But guess what? Research now tells us that this isn’t true! In fact, staying active can be one of the best things you...

What is Sciatica?. Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down to your legs. It’s often caused by a herniated disc pressing on a nerve root.  The nerve root is where the nerve originates, where it emerges from your spinal cord in your lower back, and then runs down your leg. The sciatic nerve can also be aggravated by muscles in your glutes (your buttocks), particularly the piriformis muscle.  This is called "p...

Knee Arthritis: Strengthen Your Hips to Save Your Knees. If you're dealing with knee osteoarthritis (OA), you're not alone. This condition affects millions worldwide. It can make everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs a challenge. While it might sound counterintuitive, strengthening your hips could be the secret weapon for easing knee pain and improving mobility. Let’s dive into the how and why. What's the Link Between Hips and Knees?. First, the basics: knee OA is a deg...

What is Ataxia?. By Dana Bubenko, BMR-PT, Physiotherapist Ataxia is a neurological condition that makes it difficult to control arm and leg movements (coordination).  It's usually associated with poor trunk/core stability. All of these symptoms can make it difficult to walk, and to balance when standing.Ataxia can also affect the visual and vestibular systems, which contributes to balance problems. (Learn more about the vestibular system here).Ataxia is usually caused by an injury or di...

We love treating back pain, but we love PREVENTING patients’ back pain even more. Unfortunately, every year at River East Physiotherapy we see many injuries from snow shoveling.  They're usually back and shoulder injuries, caused because shovelers used poor form or don’t have the fitness level to match the amount of snow they face.   And right now we have lots of snow! Here are three tips to help you prevent injuries from shoveling this winter. 1) Use Great Form. ...