shockwave Therapy vancouver
  • What is Shockwave?
  • Conditions Shockwave Treats
    • Upper Extremities >
      • Shoulder
      • Elbow
      • Hand
    • Lower Extremities >
      • Hip
      • Knee and Thigh
      • Ankle and Foot
    • Back and Neck
    • Aesthetics
    • Other
  • Team
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Blog

No More Counting Sheep - Your Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pillow

3/22/2016

1 Comment

 
Do you often wake up stiff and sore? Are you prone to frequent headaches, or persistent neck pain? The problem may lie in your choice of pillow.

We spend a large portion of our day sleeping, and the alignment of our spine and head during our sleeping hours can have a drastic influence on our health and well-being throughout the day. Many individuals are unaware of their poor sleeping habits, and are not using a pillow that properly supports their body during rest.

However, purchasing a proper pillow can be a daunting task. There is large variety of pillow sizes, shapes, materials, densities, and brands, all of which can be quite overwhelming if you are unsure of what to look for! However, our physiotherapists here at Granville Physio are here to help! We've outlined below a few basic sleeping positions, and the pillow types that are best suited for your individual sleeping style. However, if you would like a personalized assessment of your resting spinal position, and the pillow that will optimize your rest, click here to book in with James, Damien, or Jim today!

1. The Side Sleeper

Picture
This is by far the most common sleeping position, but it can also be quite difficult to ensure that the curve of the neck is well-supported. To test if your pillow is adequately cushioning your head, have somebody look at your spine while you lay down. Your spine should follow a straight horizontal line from the base of the head to the middle of your back. If your neck curves up, your pillow is too low, and if your neck curves down, you require more support.

As a general rule, your pillow should comfortably fill the space between your head/neck and the mattress. Therefore, individuals with broader shoulders also require a higher pillow, as there is a greater gap between the head and mattress when turned onto the side.
  

2. The Back Sleeper

Picture
If you tend to spend the majority of your sleep on your back, it is important to ensure that your pillow supports the natural curve of your neck. If the pillow is too firm or high, the neck will be craned forward uncomfortably. Conversely, if the pillow is too flat, or lacking support, the head will drop back and compress the neck. Finding a pillow that enables a slight curve, as is natural in the cervical vertebrae, is the best option. If someone were to analyze your posture from the side as you lay on your pillow, your body should be in a similar alignment to a proper standing posture.

However, as individuals age, it is common for a greater curvature to develop in the upper back. This leads to the head and neck protruding forward, and for these individuals a second pillow or folded towel may be necessary to provide sufficient support.  

3. The Tummy Sleeper

​For those of you who have a tendency to sleep on your stomach - please stop! It may be difficult to adjust your sleeping position at first, but we guarantee that your neck will thank you for it! Sleeping on the stomach puts your neck in a position of full rotation for long periods of time, which as you may have guessed, is not good for your body. With the head turned to one side for such a long period of time, you are compressing one side of the neck and over-stretching the other side. Oftentimes, this can cause pain, stiffness, and headaches in the morning, regardless of which pillow you choose to use. 

Pillow Types and Common Materials

With the above tips in mind, here are a few different types of pillows you may encounter in your shopping:
​
A) Memory Foam
  • Pro's: react to body heat and mould to individual shape, can be contoured to fit the head/neck more accurately, very supportive for both back and side sleepers.
  • Con's: don't allow for air circulation, can be very hot when sleeping.  Low cost solutions often of gas harmful chemicals that can cause headaches.

​B) Latex
  • Pro's: long-lasting, very firm and supportive, cooler than memory foam, often glue free so no of gassing.
  • Con's: can be quite expensive.

C) Feather/Down
  • Pro's: very comfortable for the first 5 minutes
  • Con's: do not offer much for support, lose shape very quickly 

Our Final Thoughts on Pillow Shopping

We recommend taking someone with you when you go to pick out your perfect pillow.

Laying down with each pillow, on a mattress that is similar to yours, is the most important step!  Have a person assess your neck and spine alignment, to ensure that you are choosing a pillow with the right height and level of support. While suggested as the ergonomic solution, contoured pillows (particularly those with two bumps), often don't provide a very good fit.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, the physiotherapists at Granville Physio are here to help. Click here if you would like to book an appointment.

Sweet dreams!
1 Comment

Heel Pain? (Shock)Wave it Goodbye!

1/30/2016

6 Comments

 
Vancouver was deemed the "most walkable city in Canada" this year, and with summer around the corner we'll soon be able to take full advantage of all the gorgeous walking trails and hikes throughout our city. 
Picture
However, for as many as 1 in 10 Vancouverites, this may not be an option. Approximately 10% of people suffer from plantar fasciitis, a condition which can cause excruciating heel pain from simply standing or walking.  While plantar fasciitis can be an extremely debilitating and frustrating problem, Shockwave therapy is a new treatment option that has been showing incredible results and reducing rehabilitation time greatly. So, if you've been struggling with nagging heel pain, don't despair! Read below to learn more about plantar fasciitis, and see how our therapists here at Granville Physio can get you back to hiking your favourite trails, pain free!

What is plantar fasciitis?

Picture
The plantar fascia is the connective tissue that runs along the sole of a foot. It starts at the base of the heel bone (calcaneus), and fans out to connect to each toe. The plantar fascia is very tough, thick, and fibrous, and plays an important role in walking and running.

When the plantar fascia becomes inflamed (often due to overuse, improper arch mechanics, and/or tight calf muscles), both the sole of the foot and the heel can become very painful and sensitive. As the fascia becomes more inflamed, the pain and sensitivity also increase. Eventually, the fascia can become so irritated that tiny bone formations can develop within the band of connective tissue, often closest to the heel. 
You have likely heard of these before, by the name of heel spurs. Shockwave therapy is one of the only non-surgical options that is currently effective in treating heel spurs. Without treatment, both the heel spurs and the inflammation can cause longstanding pain and movement issues, with lengthy rehabilitative periods. ​

What does that feel like?

Pain often starts at the base of the heel, or along the bottom arch of the foot. Many people describe this pain as a bruise or an ache, while chronic conditions have been described as a sharp, jabbing pain. Oftentimes, plantar fasciitis begins as a subtle pain, and many patients dismiss initial symptoms. However, plantar fasciitis worsens over time, and over the span of a few months the pain experienced is usually too great to ignore. Pain is often present the instant that pressure is put on the feet, and can lessen once you begin to move around. However, prolonged periods of activity will cause an increase in the pain and sensitivity experienced.
Picture

​


How do we treat plantar fasciitis?

Except in very extreme cases requiring surgery, most individuals with plantar fasciitis are able to find relief through conservative treatments such as physiotherapy. Notably, stubborn cases of plantar fasciitis have been showing amazing recovery rates from a new technology, Shockwave therapy.

At Granville Physio, we are proud to be able to offer this new treatment option. With an incredible 91% success rate, Shockwave therapy has provided relief to individuals with even chronic plantar fasciitis cases, and has an extensive research basis to support these results.

What exactly does Shockwave do?

To put it simply, the Shockwave machine used by your physiotherapist creates many quick, high energy pulses that are directed into the heel and plantar fascia. These pulses act as a "biological jackhammer", breaking down calcium deposits (heel spurs) and scar tissue. They also stimulate a recruitment of fibroblasts to the area, which are responsible for healing connective tissues like the plantar fascia. Therefore, the healing effects are twofold; not only are the bone spurs and scar tissue reduced, the body's natural healing mechanisms are stimulated to help promote recovery of the foot and heel. Patients have reported an exceptional reduction in pain after only one treatment! If you are interested in reading more about Shockwave therapy, you can visit our website at www.shockwavetherapyvancouver.ca for detailed explanations of the technology behind the machine, as well as the various conditions that it has been shown to treat.

Happy walking!
- 
Your Granville Physio Team
6 Comments

Welcome!

10/3/2015

2 Comments

 
Hello everyone! 

We are so excited to be operating out of our new space, here at 70th and Granville, and to now have our website fully up and running. For those of you who have been with us throughout this journey, thank you for your patience and support as we have made this new space our home. And to those of you just finding us, welcome! ​
This blog will be used as a platform for our knowledgeable and experienced physiotherapists to share all things Shockwave - exciting treatment news, information on techniques and results, and answers to some of the questions we get most frequently here at the clinic. Stay tuned for more posts in the weeks to come, and thanks for choosing Shockwave Therapy Vancouver @ Granville Physio!

- Your Granville Physio team
2 Comments
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Location

directions to granville physio vancouver
Click to enlarge. 
Located behind the Safeway at the intersection of Granville Street and 70th Street, our brand new clinic offers ample free parking and easy access from southbound lanes on Granville or off of 70th between the Royal Bank and BC Liqour store. We provide shockwave therapy for Vancouver and Richmond, including the Dunbar, Kerrisdale, Oakridge, and Marpole neighborhoods.

Contact Us

Shockwave Therapy Vancouver @ Granville Physio
8501 Saskatchewan Lane
Vancouver, BC  V6P-0C7
Phone: 604-630-0108

​Email: [email protected]


​Hours
​
Monday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tuesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
​Wednesday:  7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thursday:  7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Friday: 
7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
book online for shockwave therapy
  • What is Shockwave?
  • Conditions Shockwave Treats
    • Upper Extremities >
      • Shoulder
      • Elbow
      • Hand
    • Lower Extremities >
      • Hip
      • Knee and Thigh
      • Ankle and Foot
    • Back and Neck
    • Aesthetics
    • Other
  • Team
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Blog