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Physiotherapy

What is Physiotherapy?
What is a Registered Physiotherapist?
What are the primary functions of a Physiotherapist?
What kind of physiotherapy treatments are available at SHAPE?
What are the benefits of Physiotherapy?
How are Physiotherapists educated in Canada?
How are Physiotherapists regulated in Ontario?
What types of settings do Physiotherapiists work in?
How is Physiotherapy regulated in Canada?

What is 'Physiotherapy'?

Physiotherapy services are those that are performed by physiotherapists or any other trained individuals working under a physiotherapist’s direction and supervision. Physiotherapy is anchored in movement sciences and concerned with the function of multiple body systems and aims to enhance or restore function. Physiotherapy is committed to health, lifestyle and quality of life. This holistic approach incorporates a broad range of physical and physiological therapeutic interventions and aids.

What is a Registered Physiotherapist?

A Registered Physiotherapist is a University educated and regulated health care professional who seeks to provide safe, quality client centered physiotherapy through a commitment to service availability, accessibility and excellence. Physiotherapists are educated, have advanced clinical expertise and work in many areas including: cardio respiratory, orthopedics, neurology, rheumatology, pediatrics, women's health, seniors' health, and sports therapy.

Physiotherapists are dedicated to:

Improving and maintaining functional independence and physical performance
Preventing and managing pain, physical impairments, disabilities and limits to participation
Promoting fitness, health and wellness

Physiotherapists can offer you:

Assessment of movement, strength, endurance and other physical abilities
Assessment of the impact of an injury or disability on your physical functioning
Assessment of physical preparation for work and sports
Program planning and education to restore movement and reduce pain
Individualized treatment of an injury or disability based on scientific knowledge, a thorough assessment of the condition, environmental factors and lifestyle.

What are the primary functions of a Physiotherapist?

Physiotherapists apply a collaborative and reasoned approach to holistic assessment, intervention and evaluation, in particular focusing on the musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiorespiratory systems. The primary functions of a Physiotherapist include, but are not limited to:

Assessment of clients with actual or potential impairments, pain, functional limitations, disabilities or other health-related conditions using detailed history-taking, as well as specific tests and measures for screening, establishing a diagnosis and monitoring
Clinical impression resulting from assessment findings and clinical reasoning to determine abilities, functional needs and potential for change
Planning an intervention strategy that addresses the prognosis and follow-up and incorporates the application of selected approaches and techniques supported by the best evidence available
Implementing selected interventions safely to relieve pain, achieve and maintain health and fitness, functional independence and physical performance - and manage the identified impairments, disabilities and limits to participation
Evaluation of health status as a baseline for monitoring or to determine the result, impact or effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention
Education of the profession, other health professionals, the public and clients with the intention of transferring knowledge and skills and developing understanding, independence and competence
Consultation that provides professional advice and solutions addressing a wide range of health service and health status issues
Service management related to planning, directing, organizing and monitoring service delivery and effective utilization of resources
Communication with clients, team members and others to achieve collaboration and service coordination.

What Type of Physiotherapy Treatments are Availabale at SHAPE

Physiotherapy treatment at SHAPE may include any of the following techniques:

manual therapy (joint mobilizations)
myofascial release techniques (MRT, ART®, trigger point release)
sports massage
acupuncture (medical and with electrical stimulation)
therapeutic exercises
physical rehabilitation
passive and Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) techniques
education
functional retraining
work ergonomics

What are the Benefits of Physiotherapy?

Just some examples of how a physiotherapist can benefit you include:

Preventing and treating sports injuries
Restoring and increasing range of motion in joints
Increasing coordination
Counseling and educating in pre-and post-natal care
Designing 'user-friendly' or ergonomically-correct homes and workplaces
Educating clients in the use of devices such as canes, crutches and wheelchairs
Helping injured individuals return to work successfully through 'work hardening' programs
Alleviating pain

How are Physiotherapists Educated?

Most physiotherapists complete a Baccalaureate degree in science, kinesiology or other related discipline before beginning their physiotherapy program. Entry-level physiotherapy education in Canada takes place in one of thirteen university programs, each affiliated with a faculty of medicine and accredited with the Accreditation Council of Canadian Physiotherapy Academic Programs (ACCPAP) and the (US) Council on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

The minimum entry-level educational qualification to practice physiotherapy in Canada is a Baccalaureate level degree. Many programs offer post-graduate programs in physiotherapy, rehabilitation or related disciplines at the Master’s level or Doctoral level.

The entry-level educational curriculum includes, but is not limited to, the study of: biological sciences (e.g. anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathokinesiology); social sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology); applied sciences (e.g. human development, biomechanics and exercise physiology); clinical sciences (e.g. physical and functional pharmacology); scientific inquiry (e.g. research, statistics, literature reviews) and professional issues (e.g. health policy, ethics, interdisciplinary practice, management). (CDPAP and CPA, 1995)

In addition, professional practice or clinical education is obtained through a minimum of 1,000 hours, in the clinical setting, which begins with entrance into the academic program and continues throughout the curriculum. This clinical education provides opportunities to integrate knowledge, skills and behaviors required for practice and leads to the development of entry-level physiotherapists who act with authority, competence and leadership.

Increasingly, there is a move towards specialization or the development of advanced expertise in one particular area of the profession. This expertise may be gained through post-graduate education, continuing professional development, experience and research.

How Are Physiotherapists Regulated in Ontario?

Graduates of physiotherapy programs in Canada are required to successfully complete the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) in order to work in the following provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Upon successful completion of the PCE, candidates receive a Certificate of Completion from the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (The Alliance). Physiotherapists who have received their physiotherapy education outside of Canada must first apply to The Alliance for approval of their credentials.

Once credentialing is completed, the physiotherapist must successfully complete the PCE in order to work in all provinces except Quebec. The PCE is designed to determine that a minimal entry-level standard of practice has been acquired by Canadian-educated and non Canadian-educated physiotherapists.

The PCE is designed to determine whether candidates have the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behavior needed to enter the physiotherapy profession in Canada. The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators administers the PCE and awards the certificates.

What types of settings do Physiotherapists work in?

Physiotherapists work in private and public settings providing client interventions as well as management, educational, research and consultation services. Physiotherapists practice within a broad range of settings that may include but is not confined to the following:

Child-development centres
Community health centres
Fitness centres/health clubs/spas Government/health planning agencies
Hospices
Hospitals
Individual homes/home care
Insurance companies
Nursing Homes/long term care facilities
Occupational health centres
Outpatient/ambulatory care clinics
Physiotherapy clinics/practices/private offices
Public settings (e.g. shopping malls) for health promotion
Rehabilitation Centres
Research facilities
Senior citizen centres/residences
Schools/universities/colleges
Sporting events/field settings
Sports medicine clinics
Workplace/companies

How is Physiotherapy Regulated in Canada?

The Canadian Physiotherapy Association is a voluntary membership organization for physiotherapists. The College of Physiotherapists in each province is the licensing and regulatory body for the profession, responsible for safeguarding the public interest related to the delivery of physiotherapy service.

The College is not a school or a university. Its primary role is to protect the patient/public and its secondary role is to guide/direct the profession of physiotherapy. Each College ensures that physiotherapists practicing in a particular province are registered and have met the provincial standards for entry and re-entry to practice.

The College also ensures that all regulated practitioners in their province meet specific standards before being allowed to practice physiotherapy. In order to practice in Canada, physiotherapists require a license or registration from the regulatory board or College of Physiotherapists in their province or territory. (Generally, the terms registration and licensure are used interchangeably).

It is illegal to practice without a license, and there are laws governing the granting of a license and procedures to be followed for revoking a license.

REFERENCES:

Testimonials

I suffered from severe bilateral plantar fasciitis for over one year. In constant pain, I was barely able to walk or stand, and was considering surgery. The results of the Graston technique and active release therapy performed by Dr. Katie Au at SHAPE were life-altering. The efficacy of her technique is remarkable. Combined with a program of rehabilitation, altered weekly, my mobility has been restored and pain is gone. SHAPE Toronto has my hearty recommendation.
A. Phillips

Sender,
Thank you and your team for the great session. I ran 16K this morning and felt great, in large part due to your help yesterday. Congratulations on your successful operation. You have a great team and a unique approach to integrated fitness and health.
Adam D.

I've never had a back treatment of such quality. I had the ankle sciatic sensation on the way home and a few times at dinner and a super mild sciatic feeling in my right calf on the way to work, but I feel way better! Thanks for taking such great care of me. I was holding my abs so much last night, my stomach was sore when I woke up this morning!
Catherine K.

I live in Los Angeles and while visiting family in Toronto, I complained of upper-back and shoulder pain which had been ongoing for months. My Dad suggested I see a chiropractor. Luckily, his search led to Shawn. who provided immediate relief. You can't undo months of issues in one visit and a few adjustments, but it was the springboard I needed to get on the right track. I have been pain free since. He even went out of his way to find a doctor in the LA area.
Erik B.

The weekly yoga session with Dagmara is the highlight of our week. She is cheerful, positive, attentive and energetic. The session provides our bodies with flexibility, gives us physical and mental strength, and facilitates peace of mind, so we can endure life until we see her again!
Esther & Ben Geva

I wanted to thank all of you for the amazing support I’ve received over the past few months since coming to SHAPE. I came with specific fitness goals and you exceeded my expectations on every level! I’ve never felt and looked better in my life, and of course. SHAPE is a wonderful environment and knowing you have massage therapists, chiropractors and nutritionists on hand helps make the experience complete.
Gillian S.

Through years of sports and competitive dance, I've had numerous chronic injuries. I visited physiotherapists, massage therapists and acupuncturists, but not until SHAPE did I see a remarkable difference. It's almost unbelievable how accurately they made the diagnosis and performed appropriate treatments. I am thankful to be free of some of the pain I had for years. If there’s such thing as miracle workers, Shawn & Sender are it!. The fact that they follow up the next day with by phone or email speaks volumes!
Heather F.

Sender performed a miracle by alleviating chronic pain, lived with for several years. His ability to pinpoint the exact location of the muscles creating the pain and then use acupuncture and ART® treatments resulted in pain free living. What a joy! Now, it's only 32 hours after treatment so a few more days will tell the tale. Thank you,
Irene D.

I went to the gym and had a really GREAT work out yesterday. My back is a bit sore now but all is good, no problem, and you know what, this morning I feel like the 'HULK' because I can actually feel my muscles 'ripping and full of energy'. It feels MARVELOUS. Thanks Doc for a great treatment.
Respectfully
Jameson W.

A week before my first race, my knees suddenly told me enough was enough! I could barely walk in the morning. I contacted SHAPE, and Shawn came to my rescue introducing me to ART®! Without you and your outstanding ability to alleviate pain, I may not have made it through my warm up on race day!!! You were genuinely concerned about my injury and determined to do whatever possible to make sure I was able to compete - you are my new HERO!
Jess H.

I have always had fantastic workouts at SHAPE, but I must say, my workouts with Adam continually challenge me and the results have been beyond expectation, in a very short period of time. I believe it important to give positive feedback when warranted.
Jessica B.

Unlike most facilities, the whole you is treated by a complete team. My case is continually reviewed by Sender together with my MeDCAN physician, physiotherapist and kinesiologist. It is reassuring to know I am in the hands of such an involved team committed to providing excellence.
Joan M.

My support for SHAPE is due to the commitment of the great people. You have all become like family to me and I will shout from the roof tops how wonderful, not only the facility is, but how great you all are. I believe in the programs and how you work together for your clients.
Jodi C.

I have been training with Khanh for over 2 years and my strength, balance and flexibility have all improved. Khanh seems to know exactly how hard to push me so that I get the most out of every session and still have fun. He is a very thoughtful trainer.
Joe

Sender,
Every time I ski down the hill and feel how strong my legs are and how great I feel, I am grateful for the day I met you. I am skiing better than I have ever skied. I feel like an athelete!!
Judy D.