Physiotherapy Techniques
Though most people are familiar with the term physiotherapy, it’s actually a banner for a range of therapies and treatments that help the body heal and rehabilitate after injury, help people manage physical pain, and increase flexibility, range of motion and strength.
Physiotherapists are licensed practitioners who use a range of techniques to assist clients with chronic pain, injury recovery, sore and stiff bodies and to promote better overall general health.
We will discuss below the techniques and methods most commonly used, along with modalities/machines that are offered and applied here at Waterfront Physio & Rehab:

1. Manual Therapy/Soft Tissue Release
Manual therapy or Soft Tissue Release is a “hands on” approach to decrease pain and improve the mobility of joints, soft tissues, and nerves. Through a combination of applying pressure and muscle manipulation, physiotherapist can relieve pain and restore joint mobilization. It involves elements of massage where the therapist gently applies pressure to the affected area to relieve pain.
2. Active Release Techniques (ART)
ART is considered manual therapy where during treatment, the physiotherapist will position your muscle and tissues, so they are “active.” To put this in perspective, the therapist puts you in a position so that the target muscle causing pain is activated and then he/she applies hands-on tension. Next, they’ll instruct you to extend while they hold the tension in place. Therapists may apply a combination of pressure and motion to different areas before you feel the full release.
3. Kinesio Taping
The tape sticks to the skin with a medically approved, water- and sweat-proof adhesive. Its elasticity does not overly restrict the area of application, and it is designed to provide just enough pressure and support to facilitate strength in the muscles and tissues.
This special tape helps to improve circulation, support muscles, allow the internal injury to heal, and help prevent further muscle injury while still allowing motion.
4. Electrotherapy
Using a mild, gentle electrical pulse, this physiotherapy technique is proven to stimulate your body’s natural painkillers. Electrotherapy is a gentle and non-invasive modality that works by stimulating nerves and muscles through the surface of the skin. The therapist positions the pads on your skin along nerve pathways in the affected area and the unit delivers pulses of electrical energy to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
5. Therapeutic Ultrasound
During the treatment, an ultrasound head is placed onto the affected area using specialized gel, which ensures maximum contact between the head and the skin, and slowly moved. It is a painless treatment used to promote the healing process following an acute injury or a chronic condition. Ultrasound is commonly used to treat soft tissue problems such as ligament sprains or muscle tears.
6. Shockwave
It is a non-invasive treatment that involves creating a series of low energy acoustic wave pulsations that are directly applied to an injury through a person’s skin. Shockwave therapy has proven to be successful in many scientific studies for the treatment of chronic conditions. It increases local blood flow, improves healing response, breaks apart scar tissue and adhesions, reduces muscle spasm, and directly decreases pain when applied appropriately.
7. Exercises
With advanced training in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pathology and sports, physiotherapists at Waterfront Physio & Rehab are experts in prescribing and monitoring the bodies response to exercise. Exercise positively impacts all systems of our body and physiotherapists can make sure you are getting the right exercise program for your needs.
Your health and wellbeing is our priority and we make sure all our physiotherapist Etobicoke experts see one client at a time to listen and understand your medical needs. Be it walking, running, lifting, or gardening, we can help you get back to what you love doing.
Book an appointment to see how we can assist you on your road to recovery.