Glossary

Here, you will find an extensive list of definitions for the most common conditions, modalities and treatments used by our specialists.

Procedures: Active Exercises Acupuncture Aqua-Therapy Auricular Acupuncture Autologous Blood Injections/PRP Injections Biofeedback HRV Botox Injections Caudal Epidural Injection Chiropractic Facet Joint Injections Interferential Therapy (IFC) Joint And Tendon Cortisone Injections Joint Braces Laser Therapy Massage Therapy Microcurrent Therapy (Alpha-Stim And Alpha-Ppm) Nerve Block Injections Nutrition Orthotics (Custom Made) Osteopathy Patient Education Classes Physiotherapy Piriformis Injection Prolotherapy Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections Tai Chi Therapeutic Ultrasound Ultrasound Guided Injections Viscous Supplement (Hyaluronic Acid) Injections Yoga

Conditions: Achilles Tendonitis Ankle Pain Carpal Tunnel Syndrome De Quervain’s Syndrome Diabetic Neuropathy Fibromyalgia Foot Pain Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) Herniated Disc Hip Pain Knee Pain Lower Back Pain Migraine Morton’s Neuroma Neck Pain Occipital Neuralgia Osteoarthritis Piriformis Syndrome Plantar Fasciitis Repetitive Strain Injury Sciatica Shoulder Pain Spinal Stenosis Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) Tension Headaches Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) Trigger Finger Trochanteric Bursits

 

Note: This is general information and is not to be used for self-diagnosis. Always get a trusted professional's opinion regarding all medical concerns.

Procedures:

Active Exercises

• enlists the patient’s participation in their recovery
• specific prescribed exercises speeds the recovery process while promoting a more complete return to function
• despite what most people think, exercises help minimize the pain, not aggravate it, as long as they are therapeutic and guided by a health professional

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Acupuncture

• the procedure of inserting and manipulating small sterile disposable needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes
• placing needles on specific points allows for the release of structural stagnation and causes increase in blood flow to the area
• The increase in flow of energy and blood provides the therapeutic effect and stimulates natural healing
• treats the global cause of lesion as well as local pain

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Aqua-Therapy

• exercise program that is performed in the water. The water assists in supporting the weight of the patient, which decreases the weight and force placed on the joints
• Water provides an excellent source of resistance to strengthen the body
• useful for patients with arthritis, healing fractured bones, who are overweight, or have a balance problem

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Auricular Acupuncture

• a diagnostic and therapeutic approach not common in North America but widely practiced by more than 20,000 medical doctors across Europe
• uses the well established and researched reflex connections between the ear and the body to help control pain and foster healing
• uses common practice and logic of acupuncture

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Autologous Blood Injections/PRP Injections

• procedure whereby a patient's blood is injected into an area of the body for the purposes of healing
• it is most commonly used to treat degeneration of tendons, which may occur in association with small tears (tendinitis/tendonosis)
• injection of blood contains small cells called platelets, which contain platelet derived growth factor, a substance thought to promote healing

PRP injections

• a patient’s blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge, separating the components of the blood. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the injured area
• because platelets play a significant role in the healing of tissue, reintroducing a high concentration of platelets directly into the injured enhances the healing process
• the physiological effects increase tissue regeneration (tendon, ligament, soft tissue), decrease inflammation and pain, and increases collagen, bone density, and the development of new blood cells

 

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Biofeedback HRV

• heart rate rises and falls with each inhalation and exhalation. The difference in the heart rate with each full breath is called “Heart Rate Variability ” (HRV)
• HRV triggers very powerful reflexes in the body that help control the part of the nervous system that is involuntary
• high HRV represents a flexible autonomic nervous system, responsive to the needs of the body at any given moment, while low HRV generally represents a less flexible autonomic nervous system
• low HRV has been associated with risk of developing health problems
• non-invasive sophisticated biofeedback equipment monitors your heart pattern and breathing, providing the heart rate variability wave tracing
• this equipment ultimately helps you get rid of your stress and teaches  patients how to relax. Reducing stress and promoting relaxation promotes psychological benefits and reduces pain by relaxing muscles

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Botox Injections

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Caudal Epidural Injection

• the space surrounding nerves is called the epidural space
• An epidural injection places anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space to reduce nerve inflammation, and hopefully reduce symptoms and promote healing
• injections occur at the top of the buttock crease where there is a small opening to the epidural space. The needle is guided into the epidural space, and a contrast dye is injected in order to confirm that the medicine spreads to the affected nerves in the epidural space. A combination of numbing medicine (anesthetic) and time released anti-inflammatory (cortisone) is then injected

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Chiropractic

• A health care approach that recognizes that many disease processes begin with the body’s inability to adapt to its environment. Because injuries, postural stresses, muscular imbalances and other causes, the nervous system’s ability to harmoniously maintain the body’s functions may be diminished
• Through manipulation of the spine and joints, support of corrective exercises, physiotherapy devices, and health and lifestyle counseling, a more optimum state of health can be obtained
• emphasizes treatment and prevention of disorders involving muscles and bones, especially the spine
• The main treatment involves manipulation of the spine, joints, and soft tissue massage
• treatment also includes exercises and health and lifestyle counseling

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Facet Joint Injections

• used to alleviate symptoms of facet joint syndrome by applying a local anesthetic
• Using modern X-ray technology, multiple x-ray snapshots are taken during the procedure to ensure that the needle and injected agents are being directed into the correct location
• After the procedure, it can take up to two weeks to achieve permanent relief from the symptoms

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Interferential Therapy (IFC)

• uses an electric current for treating muscular spasms and strains
• the electric current produces a massaging effect over the affected area
• stimulates the release of endorphins (the body's natural pain relievers), thus relaxing the strained muscles and promoting soft-tissue healing

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Joint And Tendon Cortisone Injections

• Cortisone is medication that reduces inflammation
• can be used to treat the inflammation of small areas of the body (local injections), or they can be used to treat inflammation that is widespread throughout the body (systemic injections)
• effective for conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis and joint arthritis

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Joint Braces

• braces can be used to decrease pain, provide assistance, rest and support to unstable joints
• help ease symptoms of nerve compression, such as numbness and tingling
• if properly positioned,  joint deformity is prevented, as well as further destruction
• Very common for the knee and osteoarthritis

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Laser Therapy

• uses low-level lasers to stimulate cell function in the body
• assist in treating range of disorders including neck pain, tendonitis and osteoarthritis

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Massage Therapy

• involves applying pressure to the body on superficial layers of muscle and tissue to enhance the function and promote relaxation and well-being
• Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs

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Microcurrent Therapy (Alpha-Stim And Alpha-Ppm)

• uses extremely small pulsating currents of electricity that have the ability to penetrate cells in the body
• alleviate inflammatory symptoms by promoting healthy pain free internal cell healing

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Nerve Block Injections

• injection of local anesthetic into or near nerves for temporary control of pain
• Nerve blocks can help patients who suffer from lower back pain, neck pain, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and painful peripheral vascular disease
• Also used in the treatment of migraine headaches

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Nutrition

• deals with food and proper nourishment of the body
• Good nutrition requires a satisfactory diet which is capable of supporting the individual
• It must provide the right amount of fuel to execute normal physical activity. A registered nutritionist can help determine the dietary needs of the individual

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Orthotics (Custom Made)

• Specially designed shoe inserts that provide pain relief and comfort
• Individuals who spend a lot of time on their feet (i.e. athletes, runners), those with natural misalignment of the feet, and people with various types of injuries and health conditions can benefit from custom made orthotics
• Orthotics help align and support joints and the spine by properly positioning your feet and distributing your weight with every step, ultimately realigning body posture
• Added benefit of being custom made and therefore catered to each individual’s needs

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Osteopathy

• involves various manipulative techniques applied to joints and soft tissue
• restores normal functioning to affected areas of the body by stimulating an appropriate healing process and interrelations between different systems of the human body (musculoskeletal, nervous, circulatory, pulmonary, digestive system etc). The patient is assessed and treated as a whole unique unit
• realigns musculoskeletal system, investigating why there is a fault in the system framework and how it can be related to the physical problem and looking for the reasons behind it

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Patient Education Classes

• Complementary sessions aimed at teaching patients how to self-manage their pain and raise awareness about alternative treatment methods (chiropractic, acupuncture, orthotics, psychotherapy, etc.)
• Classes of approximately 10 people are taught by certified, experienced  specialists over the course of 3 sessions
• Sponsored by Janssen-Ortho

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Physiotherapy

• health care option that focuses on restoring proper movement and function
• Promotes  physical, psychological, emotional, and social well being

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Piriformis Injection

• piriformis is a muscle that lies deep in the buttock
• used to determine what is causing buttock and sciatica type pain
• These injections eliminate pain temporarily by paralyzing the piriformis muscle and stopping spasm in the muscle

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Prolotherapy

• also known as “proliferative injection therapy” or “regenerative injection therapy”
• involves injecting a solution into the body, generally in the region of tendons or ligaments, in order to strengthen weakened connective tissue and alleviate musculoskeletal pain
• prolotherapy improves the injected tissue by stimulating tissue growth

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Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections

• injections eliminate pain temporarily by filling the sacroiliac joint with an anesthetic
• SI joint injections are done with the help of fluoroscopic guidance (an x-ray machine that allows the doctor to actually see an x-ray image while doing the procedure)
• This allows the doctor to see where the needle goes as it is inserted, making the injection safer, more accurate, and more effective

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Tai Chi

• derivative of a Chinese martial art practiced for both defense training and health benefits
• Requires practitioners to be tranquil and calm, emphasizing slow and soft movements
• Involves a greater degree of movement compared to Yoga
• Helps treat chronic pain conditions by promoting strength, toning and flexibility in muscles, reducing stress, improving sleep, and correcting poor anatomical alignment and dysfunctional movement patterns

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Therapeutic Ultrasound

• the procedure offers therapeutic benefit by using various soundwaves, which are absorbed by the body (ligaments, tendons, scar tissue, and muscle)
• two types of benefit: Thermal effects ( warm soothing affect) and  Non-thermal effects (vibrations that stimulates cell repair in the area)

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Ultrasound Guided Injections

• uses ultrasound to help the physician guide the needle during the injections into the exact area to maximize the benefit of the procedure
• While many injections traditionally are performed without the help of guidance, studies have shown the poor accuracy rate with this type of  “blind “injections 
• injections under ultrasound guidance help insure accurate needle placement and medication delivery.  This improves both patient comfort and treatment efficacy.
• It also helps avoid placing the needle in nearby dangerous structures such as nerves, blood vessels, or other organs

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Viscous Supplement (Hyaluronic Acid) Injections

• Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the fluid found between joints, which helps them move slowly
• injections are used to lubricate the joint, which reduces friction and pain
• mostly used in osteoarthritis

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Yoga

• Traditional physical and mental discipline that combines breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation
• Helps treat chronic pain conditions by promoting strength, toning and flexibility in muscles, reducing stress, improving sleep, and correcting poor anatomical alignment and dysfunctional movement patterns

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Conditions:

Achilles Tendonitis

• inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which is located at the back of the foot
• mainly caused by overuse of the joint
• more common among athletes training under less than ideal conditions
• due to poor blood supply of the tendon, healing can be lengthy

  

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Ankle Pain

• ankle pain is often due to a sprain or injury to the ligaments, which often leaves the ankle weaker and less stable even after healing   
• other structures in the ankle that can be damaged and cause pain are tendons, cartilage and blood vessels

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• median nerve, which runs under your wrist, is compressed, leading to loss of sensation, numbness and muscle weakness in the hand
• pain is usually worst at night

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De Quervain’s Syndrome

• inflammation of the tunnel that surrounds two tendons that control movement of the thumb
• cause of the disease is not known, but is linked to overuse (such as typing on hand-held devices)
• symptoms include pain, tenderness and swelling over the thumb and wrist, as well as difficulty gripping

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Diabetic Neuropathy

• a common complication of diabetes which is classified as damage to the nerves that allow you to feel sensations
• there are a number of ways that diabetes damages the nerves, but they are all related to blood sugar being too high for a long period of time
• symptoms may include pain, tingling, numbness (which can become permanent), and burning (especially in the evening)

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Fibromyalgia

• defining symptoms is chronic widespread pain, fatigue, and heightened pain in response to pressure
• other symptoms may include tingling, prolonged muscle spasms, weakness in the limbs, nerve pain, bowel disturbances, and chronic sleep disturbances

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Foot Pain

• may be caused by trauma, disease, and poor alignment
• foot pain can be caused by bunions, hammer toes, calluses and corns, fallen arches, gout, arthritis, plantar faschiitis, bone spurs, bursitis of heel, and tendonitis

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Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

• an inflammatory condition similar to tennis elbow, located on the inside of the elbow on the medial epicondyle
• the forearm contains several muscles involved in flexing the fingers, thumb, and wrist. When inflammation occurs at the point where these muscles insert in the elbow, pain occurs

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Herniated Disc

• a vertebral disc is a cushion that sits between the spinal vertebra (bones that make up the spine)
• when a disc is pushed outside its normal position, spinal nerves can become pinched, leading to symptoms such as tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness, and bowel and bladder problems

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Hip Pain

• common causes of hip pain include: arthritis, tendonitis, trochanteric bursitis, muscle strain, snapping hip syndrome, and osteonecrosis
• in order for a course of treatment to be decided upon, the cause of the pain needs to be determined, although pain is managed in most case with pain management medication and other at home modalities

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Knee Pain

• knee pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage,  or certain medical conditions, including arthritis, gout and infection

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Lower Back Pain

• causes are varied, but in most cases pain is due to a sprain or strain in the muscles of the back
• other physical causes may include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, degeneration of the discs between the vertebrates, spinal disc herniation, vertebral fracture, or rarely, and infection of tumor

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Migraine

• characterized by altered bodily perceptions, severe headaches, and nausea
• typically affects one half of the head and is often pulsating
• common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to light), and phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound)

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Morton’s Neuroma

• a benign growth of the nerve that usually occurs between the third and fourth toes
• flat feet can cause the nerve to be pulled towards the middle, which can cause irritation and possibly enlargement of the nerve
• as a result, there is more force being applied in the area and the nerve, which results in pain

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Neck Pain

• can be caused by numerous spinal issues, but usually arises due to muscular tightness in the neck and the upper back, or pinching of the nerves
• restriction of the joints in the neck and upper back can also cause pain

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Occipital Neuralgia

• characterized by chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head, and behind the eyes
• usually caused by damage to the occipital nerves as a result of trauma to area, stress on the nerve, chronic bad posture, and repetitive neck contraction

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Osteoarthritis

• a group of diseases and mechanical disorders involving degradation of joints, including bone and cartilage structures of the joint
• main symptoms are sudden pain and stiffness, leading to loss of joint ability
• generally described as sharp ache or a burning sensation within the surrounding muscles and tendons
• humid and cold weather increases the pain in many patients
• commonly affects the hands, feet, spine, and large weight bearing joints, such as the hips and knees

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Piriformis Syndrome

• Neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated by the piriformis muscle
• Symptoms include pain, tingling and numbness in the buttock and legs

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Plantar Fasciitis

• painful inflammatory process of the plantar fascia, a thick fibrous band of tissue originating on the bottom (sole) surface of the foot
• the plantar fascia helps maintain the natural arch of the foot
• inflammation of this connective tissue causes pain at the bottom of the foot and makes walking difficult and uncomfortable

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Repetitive Strain Injury

• injury of the muscles, bones, joints, and nerves that may be caused by repetitive tasks
• common tasks include forceful exertions, vibrations, or sustained awkward positions
• common complaints are pain and weakness in the neck, shoulders, forearms, arm, back, wrists, hands,  elbows,  and lower limbs.
• Pain worsens with activity

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Sciatica

• shooting pain along the sciatic nerve (long nerve that runs down the buttock and continues down the back of the leg, into the foot)
• caused by different types of pressure on the sciatic nerve in the lower back or buttocks
• usually felt only on one side of the body, with pain possibly occurring along the entire length of the sciatic nerve
• Sciatica may be the result of bad posture, muscle strain or spasm, pregnancy, obesity, wearing high heels, or sleeping on a soft mattress. In some cases, sciatica is due to nerve inflammation caused by a form of arthritis

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Shoulder Pain

• shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint with many common causes, including bursitis, rotator cuff tendonitis, rotator cuff tear, frozen shoulder, labral tear, and arthritis
• the cause of your symptoms must first be determined in order to implement appropriate treatment

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Spinal Stenosis

• the spinal canal (which houses the spinal cord) narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves
• usually occurs with spinal degeneration that accompanies aging
• can also be caused by spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis or a tumor
• can be presented in all regions of the spine and can result in back pain, weakness, and tingling
• other symptoms may include abnormal sensations in the legs, thighs, feet or buttocks,  and loss of bladder and bowel control

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Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

• outer part of the elbow becomes sore and tender due to inflammation of the outer bone known as the lateral epicondyle
• gripping and movements of the wrist are painful, especially when extending the wrist
• stiffness of muscles and pain in the area is worse in the morning

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Tension Headaches

• caused by muscle tension around the head and neck
• pain can radiate from the neck, back, eyes, or other muscle groups in the body
• migraines and repetitive teeth clenching can lead to tension headaches and can become chronic
• often described as a constant pressure, as if the head is being squeezed, and discomfort is present on both sides of the head at once

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Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN)

• a neuropathic disorder of one or both of the trigeminal nerves, which are the  sensory nerves which supplying the majority of the face
• it causes episodes of intense pain in the ear, eye, lips, nose, scalp, forehead, teeth or jaw
• can bring about stabbing, mind-numbing, electric shock-like pain from even the slightest of touches. Pain can also occur spontaneously without any stimulation. Cold wind, chewing, talking, even smiling can aggravate the condition

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Trigger Finger

• common disorder characterized by catching, snapping or locking of the finger
• symptoms include dysfunction of the finger, pain, and difficulty flexing and extending the finger
• usually due to trauma

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Trochanteric Bursitis

• inflammation of a part of the hip known as the “trochanteric bursa”, which functions as a shock absorber and lubricant for the movement of the hip
• the bursa becomes inflamed, painful and tender
• the symptoms are pain in the hip region on walking and tenderness over the upper part of the thigh, which may result in the inability to lay down comfortably on the affected side
• pain is usually found on the most outer side of the hip

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