Rolled Ankle

What is a rolled ankle?

A Rolled ankle is an injury to the tough bands of tissues that connect and support the bones of the leg to the foot. These connective tissues are there to stabilize the joint and have a specific range of motion. If these tissues are pushed pass this range a sprain or roll will occur. This is more common on the outside of the ankle than the inside.

The ankle can be injured typically when it is accidentally twisted, turned or rolled in an awkward way. This is common when walking on an uneven or slippery surface, when a lack of balance is present or when turning or landing from a jump during sports (such as a hard pivot or jump shot in basketball). The ankle can be injured in many ways and it is important to seek help to be sure it isn’t something more serious.

Individuals with rolled ankle injury may experience swelling, bruising or skin discoloration and may feel pain or discomfort when placing weight on the affected ankle. People often say that their ankle feels tender, painful or stiff.

Treatment for rolled ankle injuries involves a comprehensive assessment, hands on treatment, and specific exercises. Some rolled ankle injuries may require a referral to a sports medicine doctor, however, this will be determined at your assessment.

If you are dealing with any ankle, rolled ankle or not, call MOMENTUM Physical Therapy in Okotoks today to find out how we can get your lower leg back to 100%. Call us at 1-403-982-5600

Stephen Uhrbach is the clinic owner and lead physiotherapist at MOMENTUM Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab Ltd. located in Okotoks, AB.

Running Pain

Can Physiotherapy help with my running pain?

With the summer well underway, we begin seeing more and more running related injuries through our clinic doors.

Anytime runners change their running surface, distance, shoes, or environment, injuries tend to occur. Hip, knee, achilles, and foot pain become frequent symptoms that can quickly put a damper on the summer running and race season.

Pain while running indicates that either an injury is forming or there is a minor technique issue with your running.

If you are beginning to feel any pain either during or after running, you are at risk for developing an overuse injury to your leg muscles, achilles tendon, or plantar fasciitis. If not addressed quickly, these injuries can develop into long term injuries that require more than just a few weeks of rehab.

If you are experiencing any pain with your running, we recommend visiting one of our Physical Therapists at MOMENTUM. Here we will evaluate your symptoms and create an action plan to prevent your pain from turning into a season long running injury. Don't delay, call MOMENTUM Physical Therapy, located here in Okotoks, today. 403-982-5600

Stephen Uhrbach is the clinic owner and lead physiotherapist at MOMENTUM Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab Ltd. located in Okotoks, AB.

Shoulder Tightness & Headaches

Can Physiotherapy help with shoulder tightness and headaches?

Shoulder tightness and headaches are common things that we deal with at MOMENTUM Physical Therapy. Shoulder tightness is often the result of poor posture, a lingering shoulder or neck injury, or general stress. Tightness in the neck and shoulders can radiate up through the head and begin to create tension headaches. Often in these cases, the headaches are the result of tightness or injury in the shoulders and/or neck.

At MOMENTUM Physical Therapy here in Okotoks, our physiotherapists are trained to assess your upper back and neck to determine the cause of your tightness. Once we have identified the cause of your tightness or pain, we will treat the source of the issue with hands on treatment and exercises. By tackling the source of your upper back tension, we can effectively resolve your postural issue or injury. After the underlying cause of your tightness has resolved, you can expect to see a reduction and elimination of your tension headaches.

Tackling the headaches before the underlying issue is addressed is usually unsuccessful.

If you, or someone you know, is dealing with upper back stiffness and or headaches, call MOMENTUM Physical Therapy in Okotoks today to find out how we can help. 403-982-5600

Stephen Uhrbach is the clinic owner and lead physiotherapist at MOMENTUM Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab Ltd. located in Okotoks, AB.

Golfer's Elbow

What is Golfer’s Elbow?

At this time of year, we see an influx of golfers into our clinic. One of the most common injuries they are dealing with is the dreaded “Golfer's Elbow”.

Golfer's elbow refers to an injury to the muscles and tendons on the inside of the elbow. This injury is caused when a golfer accidentally catches a bit too much ground under the ball (and usually leaves a large divot in the tuff). This shot causes micro tears to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the inside of the elbow that make use of the elbow, wrist, and hand painful to use (and swing a golf club!).

Fortunately, physiotherapy is an excellent treatment to help resolve any incidents of suspected golfer's elbow. At MOMENTUM Physical Therapy in Okotoks, we will assess your elbow pain, determine which structure is injured, deliver hands on treatment, and provide you with specific exercises to heal your elbow and get you back out on the golf course. Most episodes of golfer's elbow can be tuned up in a few sessions.

If your golf game is suffering due to elbow pain, or you have any pain at all, call MOMENTUM Physical Therapy in Okotoks today to find out how we can get you back into the swing of things. 403-982-5600.

Stephen Uhrbach is the clinic owner and lead physiotherapist at MOMENTUM Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab Ltd. located in Okotoks, AB.

Tendonitis

What is Tendonitis?

Tendons are rope like structures that connect muscles to bones. Without tendons, muscles would not be able to move the joints of the body.

When tendons are overused, they fray like a rope. This process renders the tendons achy, swollen, and stiff. This process is called tendonitis and the more the tendon frays, the worse your symptoms will become.

Common symptoms of tendonitis include morning or resting stiffness, pain with certain movements, and a slight decrease in pain if you have been moving around for a while. Common tendons that are injured in the body include the achilles tendon in the lower leg, patellar tendon in the knee, biceps tendon in the upper arm, and the rotator cuff tendons in the shoulder.

If you are experiencing a tendonitis injury, you require specific physiotherapy that includes hands on treatment and exercises to get the tendon to heal. Research has shown us that rest, passive treatments such as ultrasound, and ice will not cause the tendon to heal.

If you are dealing, or think that you might be dealing with, tendonitis anywhere in the body, call MOMENTUM Physical Therapy in Okotoks today to find out how we can put the spring back into your tendons. 403-982-5600.

Stephen Uhrbach is the clinic owner and lead physiotherapist at MOMENTUM Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab Ltd. located in Okotoks, AB.