The team of Physiotherapists and other practitioners at Target Therapeutics have been faithfully serving the Kitchener-Waterloo community out of our conveniently located historic building since 2006. If you are looking for a Physiotherapist in Kitchener-Waterloo, make an appointment with us today.
Physiotherapists use proven methods to treat pain in the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints.
At Target Therapeutics, our physiotherapy sessions vary from 30 – 45 minutes and we do not use physiotherapy assistants. This results in more one on one time, and better care means faster results.
Mobility, flexibility and strength are the foundations of an active and pain-free lifestyle. They are also the building blocks in the recovery from injury or discomfort. Whether you have had a car accident, a sports or workplace injury, or suffer from pain or immobility from activities of everyday life or are in the process of recovering from orthopedic surgery, our physiotherapists can get you back to pain-free living and back to the activities that you enjoy.
We use scientifically proven traditional to modern methods including Therapeutic exercise and Stretching programs, Joint mobilization and modalities such as Spinal Decompression, InterFerrential Current, Ultrasound and Laser Therapy to treat your pain.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression is achieved through the use of a highly specialized, computerized decompression table which relieves pressure on one or multiple pinched nerves in the spinal column.
Patients are secured onto the decompression table with specialized straps. A computer controls the force and angle of disc distraction which is pre-determined by your physiotherapist. This enhanced control allows the decompression table to apply a traction force to the discs, reducing intradiscal pressure and creating a vacuum.
It is used to treat conditions that result in chronic back pain such as disc bulge, disc herniation, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.
Laser Therapy
The Chiropractors and Physiotherapists at Target Therapeutics perform laser therapy as part of their treatment, under their regular treatment fee, if we feel that laser therapy is of benefit to your condition.
Therapeutic laser therapy is a safe, effective and painless therapy that stimulates your body’s own healing systems to relieve pain, increase joint mobility and promote cell regeneration.
The laser works by providing your body with billions of photons of light which can then be absorbed and changed into chemical energy. This energy is then used to support and promote tissue repair. It is this biostimulation effect of the laser which causes a decrease in inflammation and pain and an increase in tissue regeneration and healing. Treatable conditions include low back pain, neck pain, arthritis, knee pain, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, sprains and strains, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel.
Is Laser Therapy Safe?
Low-Level Therapy is very safe. It has been used for over 20 years internationally. Extensive documentation and studies have shown it to be effective and safe. Your clinician will thoroughly examine your records, evaluate your condition, and design a treatment program if laser therapy is appropriate for you.
Is Laser Therapy Painful?
Laser Therapy is pain-free. A small percentage of people have reported a slight tingling along a nerve pathway. Some feel a slight sensation of warmth. The most noticeable sensation is of the probe head of the laser as it comes in contact with the skin. The majority of patients, however, feel nothing during treatment.
Our lasers are class IIIb lasers. They are produced by Theralase and ML830.
Post-Operative Rehabilitation
Our physiotherapists at Target Therapeutics have specialty training and years of experience in helping patients recover to pain-free correct function after your surgery. We understand post-operative protocols and know the best time to start rehabilitation and the steps needed to ensure your success and bring you to maximum functionality. We have years of experience working closely with orthopedic surgeons, and you can trust that your recovery will occur in a timely and appropriate manner. We have experience rehabilitating a large variety of orthopaedic procedures including arthroscopic surgery, ACL repair, rotator cuff surgery, hip or knee replacement, discectomy/spinal fusion or carpal tunnel release etc.
Call us and one of our physiotherapists would be happy to talk to you to ensure you are matched with the appropriate physiotherapist for you and that you start your rehabilitation in a timely manner.
McKenzie Method
The McKenzie Method is a system of evaluating and treating low back pain that radiates into the leg, and neck pain that radiates into the arm. It is an active treatment philosophy that involves specific movements guided by the clinician along with postural education to teach the patient how to help manage and treat the pain when they are not in the clinic.
Stretching Programs
Stretching is often integrated into our treatment and rehabilitation programs. Stretching serves to increase flexibility and speed recovery by lengthening the involved muscles, fascia, ligaments and tendons.
Your practitioner will determine which ranges of motion are limited and they will show you how to stretch the tissues that are involved. They will also give you a plan as to how you can do the stretches at home in order to aid in your recovery.
There are a number of different stretching techniques that your practitioner may use. They include P.I.R. or Post Isometric Relaxation, isolytic stretching and muscle energy techniques.
Kinesiotaping
Kinesio Taping is a technique that utilizes a special medical tape that gives support and stability to your joints and muscles without affecting circulation and range of motion. Its efficacy is exhibited through the activation of neurological, circulatory and muscular systems. The Kinesio Tape is applied over muscles in specific configurations to reduce pain and inflammation, relax overused tired muscles, and to support muscles in movement. It is a non-restrictive type of taping which allows for a full range of motion and can be worn during athletic activities.
TMJ Treatment
The joints that move when you open and close your mouth are called the Temporomandibular joints or TMJ. Your left or right TMJ can be a source of pain.
A TMJ joint is composed of the joint surface of your jaw bone and the joint surface of your skull and there is a small disk in between that helps your jaw glide smoothly when it opens and closes. Muscles that attach to your jaw lengthen and shorten when you open and close your jaw.
People with TMJ problems most commonly experience pain when eating which is often accompanied by clicking or locking. The jaw may not open and close symmetrically and move to one side, or the jaw may not open fully. TMJ problems can also be involved in headaches.
Common causes of TMJ dysfunction and pain include:
- Jaw clenching at night due to stress
- Trauma from a hit to the jaw or after a tooth has been pulled or a person has had dental work for long periods of time where their mouth was held in an open position.
- Muscle imbalances between the left and the right-sided muscles.
- People who have had braces or retainers used to expand the upper jaw.
Our Physiotherapist will perform a detailed examination to determine the source of your TMJ pain and make a plan as to how it can be addressed.
Treatment options include
- Mobilization of the TMJ joints
- Soft tissue work to the muscles that move the jaw to remove and knots which can affect the muscles function
- Laser therapy
- Ultrasound
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture – Medical
Acupuncture has been incorporated into medical practices all over the world, combining traditional knowledge with scientific studies taking place in biomedical science departments at many universities.
Medical acupuncture uses specific acupuncture points based on anatomical landmarks, to target the area of your body that you are experiencing pain.
The sterilized needles which are about the thickness of a human hair and are available in different lengths are inserted into these points. They are hardly felt when inserted. Acupuncture needles allow our chiropractor or physiotherapist to be very specific in terms of location and depth so that they can be placed into the tissue that is causing your pain. The needles are often stimulated with small electrodes allowing the current to pass through the needle directly into the affected tissue giving the treatment increased effectiveness.
What is the evidence for acupuncture?
Considerable scientific evidence supports that natural painkillers or opioids are released during an acupuncture treatment which explains its painkilling effects. Changes in blood flow due to altered secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones have also been documented.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also now recognizes that acupuncture works and has evidence-based backing, and recommends it for many types of musculoskeletal pain including muscle spasms, tightness and inflammation.
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