Our Services

ACUPUNCTURE & DRY NEEDLING

Many of our physiotherapists have received post-graduate training and certification in acupuncture and dry needling. 

Acupuncture involves inserting a thin sterile needle into specific parts called acupuncture points. The needles may be stimulated by movement or an electrical stimulator. Acupuncture can be used for many conditions but most physiotherapists use acupuncture as part of a complete rehabilitation approach. Studies have shown that acupuncture can help accelerate the healing process, improve pain management and improve function. Acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system to release natural pain inhibiting chemicals such as endorphins and serotonins. 

Dry Needling uses the same thin sterile needle used in the practice of acupuncture to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. Dry needling follows evidence-based guidelines, recommended “point” locations, and dosages for the treatment of specific conditions. 

Depending on your condition or specific health needs, our physiotherapists may include acupuncture or dry needling as part of your treatment plan. 

MASSAGE THERAPY

Massage Therapists at D’Arcy Bain Physiotherapy are graduates of accredited schools with knowledge in the fields of anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, pathology, and remedial exercises. All registered massage therapists have successfully passed written, oral and practical entrance examinations. They are licensed practitioners within the province of Manitoba.

Almost everyone can benefit from massage! Massage is a useful way of treating muscular tension, strains and sprains. It also improves muscular performance, and is an excellent way to warm-up before games or any form of exercise, as well as relieving delayed muscle soreness after exercise.

Pregnant and postpartum women can also benefit from massage as it can relieve lower back pain, swollen legs, and diminish the pain and tension which sometimes follows delivery.

Massage aids in the treatment of headache, poor circulation, and respiratory problems such as bronchitis and asthma.

Anyone who finds it difficult to relax should investigate the benefits of massage.

JOINT MOBILIZATIONS & MANIPULATION

Joint mobilizations and manipulation techniques are frequently utilized by physiotherapists in the treatment of their patients. Manipulation involves a “skillful high velocity low amplitude thrust of either a spinal joint (neck, mid back, low back or pelvis) or peripheral joint (ie. wrist, ankle, elbow)”. Often there is a click/pop associated. For many patients the research strongly supports physiotherapy manipulation as an integral component in the management of their musculoskeletal disorder.

Some potential effects of manipulation include:

• Decreased pain
• Increased mobility and range of motion
• Improved functional outcome

The vast majority of patients will be provided with an exercise program after the manipulation to maintain the benefits of the technique and allow for a progression toward independently managing their condition.

POST-OPERATIVE HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENT CLASSES

This class is a cost-effective rehabilitation program following replacement surgery. Due to the government closure announcement of hospital-based physiotherapy department, we are offering this class to assist Manitoban’s in the transition from public to private care. 

After a full detailed physiotherapy assessment, the program will start with individualized one-to-one physiotherapy care. Once the patient is safe to participate and advanced enough in their care they will be eligible for a small group supervised rehabilitation exercise class. 

The class will assist in managing post-operative pain, swelling, exercise and mobility aid progression. 

Classes currently offered at our St. James location ran by physiotherapist, Mieke Vonderbank. Please call at 204-889-8769 to inquire. 

OSTEOPATHIC THERAPY

Osteopathy is a natural, hands-on and holistic approach to healthcare. Osteopathy is based on extensive knowledge and understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and biomechanics. An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner recognizes that an individual is comprised of body, mind and spirit and treatments in osteopathy’s whole body approach attempts to balance these aspects of the person. Techniques aim to optimize self-healing mechanisms of the body with a focus on balancing the neurological, musculoskeletal and visceral structures of the body. Our practitioner can help treat a variety of health issues and patients of all ages. Some conditions that may benefit from osteopathic therapy include:

• Acute or chronic pain
• Neck, shoulder or back and joint pain
• Headaches or migraines
• Sleep or energy issues
• Circulatory issues
• Digestive Dysfunction
• Post-surgical recovery
• Postural problems
• Reproductive difficulties
• Cardiorespiratory concerns
• Paediatric conditions

 Our Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, Janna Shumila is located at our Main street location. Please call 204-338-0008 to inquire.

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic waves which carry high energy to promote regeneration and reparative processes to the bone, tendons and other soft tissues. It is often used for tendonitis, calcifications, shin splints, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow and plantar fasciitis. Some immediate effects include accelerated tissue repair, cell growth, pain relief and mobility restoration. Shockwave therapy works at a deeper level than therapeutic ultrasound and can be used to break down calcifications and scar tissue.

Currently only available at our Main street location. Please call 204-338-0008 to inquire. 

CUSTOM FIT ORTHOTICS ASSESSMENT & CASTING

An orthotic is a custom-made insole used to support, align, prevent or correct deformities of the foot, or to improve the function of your foot. Our trained physiotherapists have extensive knowledge in gait analysis and biomechanics of the lower extremity and will assess to determine if orthotics are right for you. After evaluation and fitting, the physiotherapist will cast your feet to prepare a custom designed orthotic.

From casting to manufacturing may take a few weeks. Orthotics can take 2 – 3 weeks to get used to and may need to be modified for a satisfactory fit. Your feet change so after 2 – 4 years the orthotics may have to be replaced or recovered. Orthotics are used to control foot pain, ankle and knee symptoms and occasionally hip and back pain. 

Our therapists can work with you through your physiotherapy treatment plan to see if there are issues are symptoms which can accompany your need for orthotics. The orthotics that we use can be made to fit different types of shoes including dress shoes, heels, running shoes and work boots. We take the time to ensure your new orthotics fit your everyday life. 

AQUATIC THERAPY

This is physiotherapy done in the water using the buoyancy of the water to facilitate the exercises.

Aquatic therapy gives the patient an alternative exercise experience that they can build onto their individual program.  Patients do not need to be able to swim as the program can be adjusted to be in the shallow end where they can touch the bottom or done with a life-jacket on.  The therapist is at the pool with the patient and works with them so that they understand the exercises and learn to work on their own.

This is offered at our McPhillips location and your therapist can refer you to this program. Please call 204-694-2337 to inquire. 

THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE

Exercise therapy is a key component in many of our physiotherapist’s treatment plans because it proactively helps to restore normal muscle function and control. It is an important part of our clinical approach to help you move more easily, feel less pain, get stronger and be healthier.

After understanding your medical history and injury history, we will analyze any imbalances or deficiencies in your muscles, joints, nerves and overall movement. We will then develop a customized exercise therapy program for you that addresses your flexibility, strength, stability, balance, coordination and any sport or work specific skills. 

Your treatment plan will include a combination of therapeutic exercises that you can do at home as directed by your physiotherapist and some that are done in our clinic under direct supervision. 

Hand-out sheets with pictures of the exercises, a description and the prescription will be provided. The exercises can be emailed to you for your permanent records. Your physiotherapist will walk you through your exercise program so that you will do them properly between appointments. You can click on the emailed exercises provided and a video will start to demonstrate how to do the exercises at home.

The home exercises are a very important part of your recovery process so the more committed you are to the exercises the shorter your recovery process.

HEADACHES / TMJ

Headaches associated with jaw, dental problems or neck problems are all addressed differently.

There is a complex relationship with ones bite, jaw movement, grinding teeth and headaches. Usually DBP physiotherapists work with dentists to resolve the problem using physiotherapeutic techniques, modalities, night guards and bite guards. Education in oral hygiene and food management are also addressed.

Headaches of a soft-tissue origin are treated with manual therapy, ergonomic postural changes for work, computer work, rest and reading. Direction on pillows, sleeping position and glasses are addressed.

This type of treatment for soft tissue usually does not work like a light switch (one treatment one technique all gone). Changes in symptoms are gradual with usually first changes are in the headache’s intensity, then the area of the symptoms becoming smaller, than symptoms are more intermittent with more time between episodes lastly than at times massage therapy only is need for headache / tension management.

There should be a gradual decrease in the need for any medication.

ICE AND HEAT

When do you use ice and heat?

Ice is used immediately after injury with compression, elevation and support. Ice is used to control swelling, decrease bruising, decrease bleeding and decrease muscle spasm. It should be applied where there is normal sensation for 10min every 2hr while the person is awake for the first 24-72 hrs after the injury. Never apply directly to the skin but in a towel or pack. Movement can be done within the pain free range of movement while the ice is on and the limb elevated.

Heat is used for 10-20min to an area with muscle spasm or stiffness symptoms 48-72hr after injury or for long standing problems. The person should be awake and the area should have normal sensation.

The person can exercise or stretch with the heat on to assist the movement after the heat. Heat can be done by hot pack (moist and most penetrating), heating pad, hot tubs, sauna etc.

Physiotherapist start and end treatment with ice and heat so that patients recovery is enhanced with exercises, mobilizations, manipulation or other modalities.

PROGRESSIVE GOAL ATTAINMENT PROGRAM (PGAP)

PGAP can best be described as a life-role re-integration program. Within PGAP, disability is viewed as a condition that prevents individuals from participating in many of the life-role activities that characterized the individual’s day-to-day life prior to illness or injury. The goal is to identify life roles that have been disrupted, and assist the individual in resuming his or her participation in these life-role activities.

PGAP was designed specifically to target the psychosocial risk factors that have been shown to contribute to disability. Research shows that psychosocial factors are often the primary determinants of disability.

Symptom reduction is not an objective of PGAP. Rather, PGAP aims to assist individuals in resuming their occupational involvement. Return to work is positioned as a central objective of PGAP because return to work is the highest level of independence that we can offer our clients. Since return to work is achieved through progressive reintegration in life-role activities, no client fails at PGAP. Even for the client who is unable to return to work, life-role resumption will nevertheless contribute to the client’s quality of life.

PGAP was designed specifically to target psychosocial risk factors. However, unlike most psychosocial interventions, in PGAP psychosocial risk factors are targeted through the use of strategic activity involvement as opposed of psychotherapeutic intervention.

PGAP is a standardized intervention consisting of a maximum of ten weekly sessions between a client and a PGAP provider

SPINAL TRACTION (DECOMPRESSION)

Manual or mechanical traction is a form of decompression therapy that relieves pressure on the spine. Spinal traction stretches the spine to take pressure off compressed joints and discs. Usually the symptoms are caused by pressure on a nerve from a disc degenerative, herniated disc, sciatica or spinal stenosis. Spinal decompression helps to straighten the spine and improve the body’s ability to heal itself. 

Therapists can do this manually or mechanically (with a machine). Treatment is a continuous or on/off pull for 10 – 30 minutes. Symptoms should reduce but not resolve with the traction on. This is part of a treatment and should be combined with education, resting positions and exercises. Traction is not a substitute for exercises.

KINESIOTAPING AND ATHLETIC TAPING

Taping in physiotherapy is the application of specialized tape to the skin to help maintain stability and proprioception (awareness) during activity. Taping is an effective treatment for relieving pain, stabilizing joins and creating body awareness. 

Supportive Taping: prevents extra range of movement and gives support for sport as well as daily and work activities. It can be applied to the ankle, plantar fascia, thumb, wrist, fingers and elbows.

Kinesiotaping: provides muscle, tendons and ligaments tactile feedback which helps to limit symptoms. Some tape provides directional support. This tape is commonly applied to the shoulder for impingement, back strains/sprains, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, knee problems and iliotibial band tension.

Compression Taping: provides pressure to limit/control swelling after an injury or during rehab. It works well for symptoms in the ankle, fingers, elbows, wrists, contusions/bruising and knees.

Physiotherapists take extra courses to apply the tape and it takes practice applying the tape. The patterns for taping are not always done the same but they all support the anatomy underneath the area being taped.

TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS)

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the use of electric current produced by a battery-operated device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes on trigger or acupuncture points. The benefit of TENS for pain relief is controversial as not all research has definitive results. Physiotherapy uses TENS as part of a treatment session and if TENS is going to be effective should be immediate and last for 2-4hr. Therapists add exercises, re-train movement and mobilize joints with TENS for the patient’s symptom and functional improvement.

ULTRASOUND

 Therapeutic ultrasound used in physiotherapy emits a sound wave to promote healing by increasing local blood flow, improving tissue relaxation and encouraging scar tissue breakdown. Therapeutic ultrasound does not take a picture but the sound waves penetrating the tissue heats the area and helps to increase blood flow. An increase in local blood flow, will help reduce local swelling and chronic inflammation. 

The sound head is moved by the physiotherapist over an area for at least 5 – 7 minutes. The physiotherapist uses a gel on the skin to enhance the contact and sound wave transmission into the skin. The area (ankle, knee, hand, shoulder) should be exercised immediately after the treatment for best results.

Ultrasound is only part of the treatment session and exercises should be provided to ensure the treatment gains are maintained. Your physiotherapist will guide your treatment dosage and exercise prescription.