We have talked before about headaches from a massage perspective previously. However, there are many reasons for headaches that may be cause to see a physiotherapist as well. Check out this case study for headaches from the neck!

Case Study NP

What does it feel like?

NP comes into the clinic, he is a 35 year old father of 3 and works a desk job for the past 5 years. Before that he was working on-site in construction, often looking overhead. In the past 2 years since his third child was born he is noticing he is getting more frequent headaches. Often his headache is is on the right side behind his eye and in the temple. As NP gets talking he realizes that he also has some dull pain in the shoulder and arm; but this pain is occasional compared to the headaches. He finds that when he is working at his desk by the end of the day the headache is nearly unbearable. By the time he gets home he has difficulty playing with his kids, and it’s starting to impact his ability to work around the house and cabin.

He doesn’t recall a specific injury to his neck, but NP does have a cabin and boat at the lake and loves trying new water sports. Just before his third child came friends came to the lake and decided to take the tube out where he was flipped multiple times.

This all-too-familiar story can have multiple ways that it could have begun – a whip lash injury, strain of the neck or shoulders, etc. Let’s focus on this case study and some of the possible reasons WHY this happens, what we can do about it, and how you can start your road to recovery TODAY! 

What Causes Headaches?

The neck is actually a highly complex unit. We have multiple bones in the neck (seven to be exact!), nerves that travel from the neck up into the scalp and down into the arms, plus all the ligaments, tendons and muscles. The body is an amazing thing when you think of all the moving parts. Generally speaking we are able to maintain a pain-free lifestyle; however sometimes we need a little help.

One of the reasons that we can develop headaches is because of neck dysfunction. In this instance NP is experiencing referral from the upper cervical spine (C1-3). This is why he has pain near his eye. Increased stress and posture issues can also significantly impact headaches.

If you have headaches, a physiotherapy assessment could benefit you!

What does an assessment look like?

NP came for an appointment at the beginning of the day because it worked better with his schedule. He was worried that not being severely symptomatic would be a problem for the assessment. He was relieved when he heard that the therapist would be able to evaluate the neck regardless of the amount of current pain.

The assessment took a look at his overall neck range of motion. NP was surprised to discover that he had more difficulty tipping his right ear to his right shoulder, and shoulder checking over the right. When the therapist had him lay down to evaluate the neck movement and muscle tension he was significantly more tender on the right side at the base of the skull.

During the assessment the therapist identified some specific muscle weakness and tension that would need to be addressed.

NP was surprised that during the appointment the therapist was able to recreate his headache symptoms and shoulder pain. He wanted to make sure that he could get back to his normal home-life routines. NP booked his next 4 appointments weekly and was sent home with exercises and stretches to get him started.

Over the next four weeks NP attended his appointments for some manual therapy from the physiotherapist and updates to his home program. He was pleased that by week 3 his headaches seemed to be significantly better.

NP resolved his headaches within 6 weeks, and returned for a flare-up 4 months later. The flare-up lasted 2.5 weeks and after resolving has not returned since he is able to manage any issues with his home program.

How long until I am better?

The recovery period usually varies from client to client, depending on the severity and frequency of signs and symptoms. Other factors include:

  • How long the headaches have been going on, how severe they are
  • What areas are contributing (neck mobility, muscle tension, etc)
  • Commitment to the home exercise program

Straightforward cases we tend to see client’s 1x/1-2 weeks for a total of 4 to 6 sessions. These sessions include manual therapy to help restore joint and muscle mobility as well as exercises for their home program.

Don’t delay! Schedule your assessment today to get started your journey to recovery!

Talking toddler on the phone

Talking toddlers can have a wide variety of ability. Do you ever wonder if your toddler is on track with their speech and language development?

Speech-Language and Audiology Canada has outlined some things to look for with talking toddlers.

 

18 to 24 months:

Talking toddler learning animal names

  • Understand more words than he/she can say
  • Say two words together (e.g., More juice)
  • Ask simple questions (e.g., What’s that?)
  • Take turns in a conversation

24 to 36 months:

  • Use sentences of three or more words most of the time
  • Understand different concepts (e.g., in-on; up-down)
  • Follow two-part directions (e.g., take the book and put it on the table)
  • Answer simple questions (e.g., Where is the car?)
  • Participate in short conversations

Talking toddler playing with mom

If you’re concerned about your toddler’s speech and language development, we can help!

Assessment and treatment of speech and language delays and disorders are now offered at the clinic with Jill Morgan!

Often pain with intimacy is brushed off “oh you’ve had kids”, “just relax”, “have a drink and you’ll be fine”. If you have heard this rhetoric be the one to stop the narrative! Here we go through a case study on dyspareunia after having kids!

Case Study PD

What does it feel like?

A mom of two comes into the clinic, we will refer to her as PD. She is anxious and unsure of what to expect for her first appointment, but she knows she can’t continue to live like this. PD says that she started having pain with intimacy (specifically with intercourse also known as dysparuenia) after she delivered her first baby. It wasn’t bad then, just some burning and pinching right at the opening. It wasn’t too painful and didn’t stick around but definitely wasn’t pleasant.

Since having her second more trouble with intimacy began. PD recalls having some tearing during delivery with her second but she didn’t need a referral. Her and her partner have tried multiple times to be intimate but she has 8/10 pain. Her pain now is a pulling, burning, pinching at the opening and she also experiences sharp pains deep in her belly as well. PD has pain that persists after attempts at intimacy and it seems to be taking longer before it goes away now. She tells the therapist that she continues to attempt to be intimate for her partner and to see if it still hurts.

This all-too-familiar story doesn’t just happen just for women who have had children vaginally, but can also occur for women who have had c-sections as well as women without children. Let’s focus on this case and some of the possible reasons WHY this happens, what we can do about it, and how you can start your road to recovery TODAY! 

What Causes Pain with Intimacy?

There are many reasons why an individual may have pain during intimate encounters with their partner. In this instance PD is experiencing pain after child birth; which can be considered a trauma to the body. Since she had tearing during both her deliveries she will have scar tissue in the area that could be contributing. Couple this with the bodies natural response to pain (protect the area). The anticipation of pain causes the body to also move into a protective mode and it is a recipe for a pain cycle.

If you have pain with intercourse, a physiotherapy assessment could benefit you!

What does an assessment look like?

PD was seen for an assessment at the clinic where she was observed in how she moves generally through walking, squatting and bending movements. When evaluating her breathing PD had difficulty taking a deep breath down into the belly. The pelvic floor exam revealed a hypertonic/protective pelvic floor. At the time of the assessment she reported reproduction of “the pain”. The therapist was able to discontinue further evaluation while assisting PD in relaxing the muscles of the pelvic floor.

PD would be provided with a home program to improve deep breathing, pelvic floor muscle relaxation, and imagery/relaxation techniques to start.

Over the course of the next 3 months PD attended appointments at the clinic. Starting with once every 7-14 days, to stretching out as her symptoms improved. PD was thrilled with her improvements and adjustments to the home program and in-person techniques were made. These adjustments included home exercises and activity, discussion on optimal positions, and internal techniques as PD’s pain improved. After 6 appointments she reported being pain-free except when she was very stressed, but manageable with her home program. PD was also happy that the program also seemed to help with her light bladder leakage, and tailbone pain!

How long until I am better?

The recovery period usually varies from client to client, depending on the severity and frequency symptoms. Other factors include:

  • How long the pain has been present
  • Activity level
  • Ability to complete homework

Often with pelvic health issues resolution of straight forward cases occurs within 6-8 appointments. In some instances this could be shorter, and in others it could be longer.

Don’t delay! Schedule your assessment today to get started your journey to recovery!

With summer coming to a close, this commonly finds people craving routine. Summer is a fabulous time for cold treats and less structure around mealtimes (wiener roasts at any time of day, road-side lunches, and last-minute-what-do-we-BBQ dinners). With school and sport activities set to start, there’s a real desire to get our food situation back into a routine – and I’m here to help. Let’s dive into sport nutrition.

Dietitians specializing in sport nutrition are required to combine multiple knowledge and skill areas to support growing athletes. This includes clinical nutrition (i.e., medical history, prescription and non-prescription medications, blood work, growth history, food symptoms, etc.), nutritional science (i.e., metabolism, micronutrient, macronutrients, food science), and exercise physiology (i.e., how metabolism is affected by exercise). No matter the level of competition, recreational to high performance, I’m passionate about working with young athletes to develop nutrition habits. Not only to support their sport performance but also encourage healthy growth and development.

Young athletes engage in sport for a variety of reasons: socialization, mental well-being, competition, physical activity, and fun! I think sport can be an excellent platform for young athletes to begin to get curious about food and motivated to fuel their bodies with quality foods.

Have you wondered what a sport dietitian can do for your young athlete? Here are some ways I can help:

  • Do you know your child/teen isn’t getting enough energy (calories), carbs, protein, and fat to support their training but are unsure where to start?
  • Never mind food, does your child/teen get enough fluids throughout the day, especially on game day or heavy training days?
  • Is your young athlete disinterested in grocery shopping/food-prep/cooking and missing the link between food and performance?
  • Is your young athlete consistently injured/ill throughout his/her competitive season?
  • Maybe you have a picky eater, or do food intolerances/allergies make meal planning and snacking difficult in your household?
  • Do you have concerns about your young athlete’s growth and development?

The recent slow-down brought to us by the global pandemic has demanded that we all press “pause”. Depending on the sport, things may have continued seamlessly or come to a complete halt. Or perhaps you’ve landed somewhere in the middle and you’re making less trips to the rink and spending less time commuting. With sport conditioning and training occurring less frequently, now is a great time to seek professional support to help your young athlete reach his/her goals.

Heather is passionate about working with individuals to find the perfect plan to improve health and perform at their best. Originally from Regina, Heather has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Science from the University of Otago (New Zealand). In New Zealand, Heather was a private practice dietitian, consulting for the Otago Rugby Union and the Otago ITM Cup rugby team. In her role she was responsible for one-on-one nutrition assessment, body composition analysis, group education sessions, cooking classes, and menu-planning for travelling teams. Upon returning to Canada in 2014, she has worked with a variety of sporting groups including soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, and hockey. She’s located at Warman Physiotherapy & Wellness, and offers in-person and virtual services on Wednesday afternoons.

 

 

I am truly grateful for the amazing team we have at Warman Physio. Through all the COVID changes we have been able to work together and make the necessary changes (nearly) seamlessly. We are so thankful for our amazing clients that have been understanding and accommodating with all the new policies and procedures. Without the support of our community we wouldn’t be able to continue to function during these stressful times. However, we all know life doesn’t stop and issues don’t resolve because of viruses! Those that have been hoping for an SLP right here in Warman are in luck!

Welcome Jill Morgan SLP!

We are thrilled to be bringing Jill to the team at the clinic to work along side our therapists. She is kind, understanding and compassionate with her clients and passionate about what she does!

About Jill and Custom Speech Therapy:

Jill holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders.  She is a registered practicing member with SASLPA, and holds memberships with SAC and ASHA.  She has been a practicing Speech Pathologist for over 10 years.

Jill has spent the majority of time serving children under age 6 with a variety of needs. From very mild speech and language delays to more significant developmental delays and complex medical needs. She also has experience working with older children and teens.

Originally from Saskatoon, Jill has an understanding of the unique challenges that exist in Saskatchewan with so much space and a small population.

“I find the variety in this work fascinating and rewarding. I believe strongly in the important role of caregivers. Supporting parents and caregivers to use the strategies taught in therapy increases the benefit of each appointment.” – Jill Morgan, SLP

What is an SLP?

A Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) helps enhance speech, language, interaction and feeding skills.

Expect to hear more about SLP and when it is appropriate to seek her services at the clinic!

To book an appointment contact Jill directly HERE