GRSM Services

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy at GRSM focuses on sport- and activity-specific rehabilitation.  Our goal is to return you to your activity as soon and as safely as possible. Our approach includes:

• Whole body biomechanical assessment - poor biomechanics often contribute to localized injuries
• Manual therapy - "hands-on" techniques that restore joint function
• Acupuncture, electrotherapy and ultrasound - to decrease pain and inflammation
• Individualized home or gym rehabilitation programs - including sport-specific strengthening and stretching exercises
• Video analysis - your athletic technique (e.g., pitching technique, running gait, golf swing) is recorded on video and analyzed on computer

All GRSM physiotherapists are registered with the Ontario College of Physiotherapists of Ontario and are members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. For more information on physiotherapy, visit the Ontario Physiotherapy Association or Canadian Physiotherapy Association.

Massage Therapy

Our Registered Massage Therapists are members of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) . They use preventative and restorative therapies.  Their goal is to maintain, rehabilitate and improve physical function or relieve pain. Sports massage also considers sport-specific demands placed upon the body. It will help you return to your desired activity/sport with the same or better level of function. Sport massage can use more aggressive techniques than those used for relaxation/stress relief therapy.

The cost of massage therapy may be covered through extended health insurance, but you are responsible for paying at the time of treatment. You can pay for massage therapy by cash or by cheque, payable to your individual therapist.

For more information on Registered Massage Therapists, you can visit the Ontario Massage Therapist Association (OMTA) Website  http://www.omta.com

Athletic Therapy

At GRSM, our Certified Athletic Therapists use a full range of treatments to help you return safely to your sport and other activities. Our treatments will help you to rehabilitate or prevent injury:

• modern rehabilitative techniques
• theraputic modalities
• physical reconditioning
• supportive strapping procedures (including bracing)

Our rehabilitation practices include:

• assessing and reconditioning musculoskeletal injuries
• recognizing and managing traumatic neurological injuries (concussion)
• supportive taping
• bracing

Our injury prevention services include:

• musculoskeletal and postural evaluation
• the development of warm-up and conditioning programs
• supportive taping
• bracing

The Athletic Therapist, together with the other members of the GRSM staff, improves your performance and welfare.

Sports Medicine

• the assessing and treating athletic injuries
• managing of exercise-related medical problems (e.g. exercise induced asthma)
• exercise counselling for a healthy lifestyle
• preventing athletic injuries and medical problems

Pedorthic Services (Custom Orthotics)

Our Pedorthists are Canadian Certified Pedorthics and members of The College of Pedorthics of Canada. GRSM pedorthists are trained in the assessing, casting, designing and fitting of foot appliances (orthotics) and the fitting of footwear to reduce painful and debilitating conditions of the lower limbs and feet.  Custom foot orthotic devices help improve balance, accommodate foot abnormalities and control lower limb problems.  Many athletes with unusual foot structure or poor biomechanics rely on orthotic devices for both injury prevention and performance enhancement.

The pedorthics practice provides the following services:

• Clinical foot assessments and biomechanical gait analysis
• Custom orthotic devices (casting, fitting and adjustments)
• Footwear education
• Follow-up consultations

Chiropractic/Active Release Therapy (ART)

What is ART? ART is a patented, state-of-the-art massage technique. This technique is soft tissue system/movement-based and treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

What is an ART treatment like?  Every ART session combines of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of your muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. The ART provider treats abnormal tissues by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

These treatment protocols - over 500 specific moves - are unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting you.

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a natural medicine that views the individual as a whole. Osteopathy assesses and treats restrictions in your body tissues and systems that prevent you from functioning at optimal health. Osteopathy is unique because it focuses on the cause of pain and dysfunction rather than only on the symptoms.

Osteopathic Techniques include:

• Osteoarticular Corrections - gentle realignment of the bones
• Visceral Mobilization - gentle mobilization of your organs
• Cranial Osteopathy - gentle movements of the bones in your skull
• Normalization of Myofascial Tension - restoring normalcy in the muscles and surrounding tissue
• Muscle Energy - creation of muscle relaxation through muscle contraction
• Strain Counterstrain - method of relaxing and re-positioning your joints
  

Sports Nutrition

Bracing at GRSM

Bracing can give extra external support to joints that are early in the rehabilitation phase or those that remain unstable, inspite of early intervention with therapy (e.g. ankle sprains, ACL injuries). You may be able to return to sports or recreational activities sooner and safer with appropriate bracing.

GRSM keeps in stock a large range of soft braces (e.g., ankle, knee, elbow, back ). Custom ACL and Ostoearthritis (OA) knee braces are sized and fitted on site by our Certified Athletic Therapists. The cost of braces may be covered through extended health insurance. You are responsible for payment at time of purchase.

Video Analysis

GRSM professionals may use sport-specific video analysis of athletic techniques to assess your needs. We use video analysis to record athletic technique on video. We then analyze your technique on computer. We use the information to develop sport-specific strengthening and/or rehabilitation programs.

Video analysis is frequently used for, but not limited to, assessing the following:

• Running gait
• Golf swing
• Pitching technique
• Cycling technique
  

Pilates

Pilates is a form of exercise that is similar to yoga and tai chi in many ways. Pilates is named after its founder, Joseph Pilates who began teaching in the 1940s. It emphasizes breathing, flexibility and strengthening of the core and extremities. Core stabilization refers to strengthening of the trunk musculature, particularly the abdominals, gluteal muscles, and shoulder blade stabilizers.

GRSM offers morning and evening classes. Click here for more information on Pilates at GRSM and a list of classes.