Our Approach
Physiotherapy, at its most basic, is the restoration of movement. There are many different techniques used to achieve this end goal. Joint Reaction Health Center’s philosophy and approach is strongly based on the premise that the body is a system of interrelated parts and that we must treat the body with this in mind to achieve optimal health and wellness. We DO NOT treat symptoms, but rather focus on the problem to return the individuals to optimal health, wellness and functioning.
Below you will find a brief description of the techniques that are used in our treatments. However, all treatments are individualized and no recipe approach will be given to members at our clinic. Treatments change and evolve as the individuals improve and must be modified to ensure continuous forward momentum. This individualized approach is the only way to continue on the path to ultimate wellness, change and optimal functioning.
Graston Technique
At Joint Reaction Health Center we offer the cutting edge soft tissue release technique simply called Graston. This technique has been skillfully used by our physiotherapy practitioner for more than 10 years achieving astounding results with regards to chronic, tight, painful and sore muscle tissue. Graston is effective in treating both acute and chronic conditions and is the pinnacle of soft tissue release techniques.
Joint Reaction Health Center has the first Physiotherapist certified in the Graston Technique in Ontario, for complete details of the technique and how it could help you: please visit www.grastontechnique.com for a brief video and demonstration.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine involving the insertion of solid filiform acupuncture needles into the skin at specific points on the body to achieve a therapeutic effect. No drug is injected. The needles alone create the beneficial effects of acupuncture.
Acupuncture is used to encourage natural healing, improve mood and energy, reduce or relieve pain and improve function of affected areas of the body. It is safe and effective and is often successfully used as an alternative to medications or even surgery. Relief is often obtained with acupuncture when traditional medical therapy has failed or is not wanted.
At Joint Reaction Health Center our physiotherapist is skilled in the art of acupuncture and this may be incorporated into your overall treatment plan to ensure that you attain your ultimate goal of wellness, health and optimal functioning. Unlike some other clinics this technique is included in your regular physiotherapy visit at no additional costs if the therapist deems it to be beneficial to your attaining optimal health.
Trigger Point Dry Needling
Dry Needling (also known as Intramuscular Stimulation or IMS) involves multiple advances of an acupuncture needle into the muscle in the region of a "Trigger Point". The aim of Dry Needling is to achieve a local twitch response to release muscle tension and pain. Dry needling is an effective treatment for chronic pain of neuropathic origin with very few side effects. This technique is unequalled in finding and eliminating neuromuscular dysfunction that leads to pain and functional deficits. The needle used is very thin and most subjects do not even feel it penetrate the skin. A healthy muscle feels very little discomfort with insertion of this needle. However if the muscle is sensitive and shortened or has active trigger points within it, the subject will feel a sensation like a muscle cramp -'the twitch response'. The member also may feel a reproduction of "their" pain which is a helpful diagnostic indicator for the practitioner attempting to diagnose the cause of the member's symptoms. Patients soon learn to recognise and even welcome this sensation as it results in deactivating the trigger point, reducing pain and restoring normal length and function to the involved muscle.