Our Services

Activa Physiotherapy Ottawa offers Manual Therapy and Modern Electrotherapy and Modalities, including Shockwave Therapy. Shockwave Therapy accelerates the healing process in the body by stimulating the metabolism and enhancing blood circulation to regenerate damaged tissue.

Physiotherapy

At Activa, physiotherapy treatment begins with extensive assessment, which includes your health history, evaluation of pain and movement patterns, strength, joint range of motion, your reflexes and sensation. The physiotherapy assessment includes measures of functional movement, gait analysis, posture and balance.

Based on the assessment, your physiotherapist establishes a diagnosis and works in partnership with you to develop your personalized treatment program to help you establish and achieve set goals. You will also be provided with video instruction to help you with your exercises at home.

We evaluate and guide you in performing therapeutic exercises between your appointments. Your progress will be monitored at follow-up visits and your treatment will be adjusted according to your progress. By combining principles of evidence-based practice, evaluative skills, clinical and professional judgment, we work closely with you and other health care professionals at Activa to ensure that your health goals are met.

Massage Therapy

With extensive training in Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Myofascial Release techniques, we offer Sport Massage and Deep-tissue Massage, specializing in treating:

• Lower Back Pain
• Neck and Shoulder Tension
• Whiplash/Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Fibromyalgia
• Limited Joint Mobility
• Athletic Injury

Modern Electrotherapy and Modalities

Shockwave Therapy

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a modern and highly-effective treatment method. Shockwave therapy accelerates the healing process in your body by stimulating your metabolism and enhancing blood circulation to regenerate damaged tissue. High-energy pulses are applied to the painful area of your body, which occur in short impulses, creating micro-cavitation bubbles that expand and burst. The force created by these bubbles penetrates tissue and stimulates cells in the body that are responsible for bone and connective tissue healing. This innovative therapy approach allows alternations of tendons, ligaments, capsules, muscles and bones to be eliminated and relieve your pain. The effects of Shockwave Therapy are often experienced after the first or second treatment, eliminating pain and restoring full-mobility to improve your quality of life.

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

• Non-surgical
• No side-effects
• Accelerated healing
• Covered by most insurance providers

Therapeutic Ultrasound

High-frequency mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the tissue for healing, triggered by acoustic streaming, micro-massage and cavitation. Higher intensities produce thermal effects targeting connective tissues. Heat alongside manual therapy is used to soften hardened dysfunctional tissue.

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Laser is light energy that has a specific colour or wavelength capable of producing specific photochemical effects in the tissues resulting in therapy. Lasers are used for deep tissue healing, pain control and softening hardened tissue.

Interferential Current Therapy

Interferential current is created in your body by crossing two independent medium-frequency currents. The resulting low-frequency field has its greatest effects on deep tissue to promote healing.

Cold Therapy

The surface application of therapeutic cold is used to treat tissue lying within 3 cm of the surface of your skin. Thermal agents are used to manage acute and chronic inflammation, pain control, improvement of range of motion and tissue healing.

Heat Therapy

Like cold therapy, the surface application of therapeutic heat is used to treat tissue lying within 3cm of the surface. Thermal agents are used in the management of acute and chronic inflammation, pain control improvement of range of motion, and tissue healing.

Microcurrent Therapy

Microcurrent therapy promotes tissue healing by inducing a current of streaming similar to the type created by normal injured or maturing cells. This assists in promoting healing and enhances properties of maturing tissues.

Pulsating Magnetic Therapy (PMT)

Invisible magnetic field lines go beyond your skin to reach your cells, stimulating your healing process. The PMT device increases the exchange of ions between your inner and outer cell walls improving overall functioning of your cells and metabolism.

TENS

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a form of low-frequency electrical current, used to selectively recruit the large diameter sensory fibres and small diameter sensory-motor pain nerve fibres. Stimulation leads to local, spinal segmental and central production of national analgesic pain-killers.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Electrical Muscle Stimulation is a form of low-frequency pulsed electrical current. In early rehabilitation, it is used for muscle re-education as it selectively recruits type II large diameter muscle fibres which are the first to waste following disuse. As the same time, it improves voluntary muscle activity through synaptic potentiation.

Myofascial Release

As a treatment technique, Myofascial Release is based on recognizing anatomical interdependencies. Myofascial Release techniques involve not only treatment of staff or painful area; they include stretching and compression of surround skeletal and muscular areas. Myofascial Release involves stretches and compressions, applied with gentle pressure, that are held until the restriction releases. While the pressure used during treatment may be gentle, sometimes when tissue is sensitive it is felt as an intense stretch, but it never done beyond a client’s tolerance.

Physiotherapists use Myofascial Release as a part of our repertoire of hands-on techniques which complement evidence-based and patient-centered approach to physiotherapy.

Myofascial Release is a safe and gentle technique which applied under clinically-appropriate circumstances, can be very effective toward improving mobility and alleviating pain. As with any physiotherapy treatment, exercises and home stretching are essential complements to Myofascial Release techniques.

Pelvic Floor Rehab

Pelvic floor physical therapy helps individuals experiencing issues related to their pelvic floor muscles which support the bladder, uterus, and rectum. Pelvic floor muscles can become weakened or damaged as a result of childbirth, surgery, or aging. Pelvic floor rehab helps alleviate symptoms such as incontinence, pain, and discomfort through exercises and specific techniques.