Physical Rehabilitation

Physical Rehabilitation

Get you back to moving better and feeling like yourself.

We offer a selection of different services here, at The Firm, to help rehabilitate you to get you moving better and feeling more like yourself. A common ground with both services is that they use a series of exercises and stretches to help relieve your aches and pains. We use a wholistic approach by attending to the whole body rather than focusing on the single problemed area. 

Registered Massage Therapy
massage therapy icon from The Fitness Firm

Massage Therapy involves the manual treatment of soft tissues to improve function, strength, range of motion, and decrease pain and stress.


Massage Therapy is currently offered at The Fitness Firm on Mondays from 10:30 am - 5:00 pm. The first session with the RMT will be a 1-hour long assessment. Following the assessment, recommendations will be given to determine the length of follow up appointments based on your conditions and goals.


Please note that we do not do direct billing to insurance companies. Following payment, we provide all patients with a receipt that contains all the information you need to submit to your insurance provider to get reimbursed.


Cost:

1-Hour Session: $100 + tax

45-minute session: $85 + tax

30-Minute Session: $65 + tax

15-Minute Session: $35 + tax

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Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy icon from The Fitness Firm

Physical Therapy is a rehabilitation program that uses exercise to treat injuries. This service is assessed, directed, and overseen virtually by a Physiotherapist and is executed by an in-house Physiotherapist Assistant. Sessions are suggested based on injuries and could be as little as 30-minutes once per week, up to 3 sessions per week of 60-minutes each. A regular reassessment by the Physiotherapist is required to continue with this program.


Please check your extended healthcare coverage and contact us to inquire about how to get started.


Cost: (No Tax)

Initial virtual assessment: $125

60-minute treatment: $100

45-minute treatment: $85

30-minute treatment: $70

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Our Registered Rehabilitation Professionals

Michael La, RMT

Michael graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelors in Honours Biology and minor in Psych. He then pursued his Massage Therapy diploma from Mohawk College. During school Michael looked to advance his toolkit and took courses in taping and IASTM through RockTape. Upon graduating, Michael went on to complete the prestigious Contemporary Medical Acupuncture course at McMaster University, and continued to expand his knowledge and expertise by taking more acupuncture courses. Michael is now pursuing health coaching through the Primal Health Coaching course in order to provide a more holistic approach to obtaining your health goals in order to LIVE a QUALITY life. 


Michael specializes in the use of electroacupuncture and soft tissue techniques in order to improve function, strength, range of motion and quality of tissue. He will assess you to see what the underlying cause of your issue is, as well as educating you about what's going on and how we can improve it. His holistic approach will give you specific things to work on in order to achieve your goals!


What Our Members Say

FAQ

  • Are physical rehabilitation services covered by insurance?

    Sometimes, yes! Check your individual healthcare benefits to see if you’re covered for Massage Therapy or Physiotherapy services.

  • How many sessions do I need?

    Following your first hour-long initial assessment with either rehab practitioner, they will make recommendations regarding the length and frequency of follow up sessions because it depends on the severity and nature of your concern. Some individuals only need a few sessions, provided they do their homework, and some people require more! 

  • Do I need a doctor’s note?

    You do not need a doctor's referral to book appointments with the rehabilitation specialists, however, you may need a doctor's referral to get the services covered by your insurance. Please check with your benefits insurer to confirm. 

Blogs

By Nicole Fazio 25 Aug, 2022
DO'S AND DONT'S OF SELF DISCIPLINE
By Nicole Fazio 29 Sep, 2021
Are you struggling to stay consistent with your fitness and nutritional goals? Being consistent is crucial to making long term lifestyle changes, but it is one of the biggest challenges we all face. Here are 5 strategies to help you find consistency: 1. BE REALISTIC Change takes time . There is no fast way to make lifestyle changes, so it’s imperative to make goals that make sense for you. The more attainable and realistic the goal, the more likely the goal can be accomplished. When goals and milestones are accomplished, it gives you a sense of reward and enhances your self-efficacy (i.e., the belief that you can accomplish your goals). On the other hand, if the goal we have set in place for ourselves is too difficult, it may lead to demotivation and lower self-esteem. If you want sustainable and lasting results, being realistic is the first step. 2. HAVE CLEAR GOALS Not having clear goals is like driving to a new destination without a map. Goals are important in leading us in the right direction. Goals provide you with the motivation to push yourself to work towards chane. Implementing S.M.A.R.T goals is a good place to start. S - Specific M - Measurable A - Attainable R - Relevant T - Time-Bound When setting goals, make sure to include both short term and long term goals . Short term goals help with commitment and determination by allowing you to celebrate small wins more frequently that contribute to the bigger goal in place. Long term goals give you something to focus on and strive for in the bigger picture and help focus on where you want to be in relation to where you are now. For example, you decide that you want to “Lose 5 lbs in 6 weeks.” This goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. However, this creates the need to make smaller goals to help you get there. Just doing what you are now, unchanged, will likely not get you to your goal. For instance, you might state that you will “Lose 5lb in 6 weeks” by incorporating 1-2 servings of vegetables into every meal, by limiting take-out meals to once per week, exercising for 45 minutes 3 times per week, and going for a 30-minute walk with your dog every day. If you achieve these smaller rules/goals, you’ll be well on your way to reaching the big one. 3. CREATE A ROUTINE AND HAVE A PLAN Fail to plan and plan to fail! Having a game plan for the week ahead will help adhere to your goals, as there is less opportunity for impulsive behaviours. This may mean planning out your workouts for the week, meal prepping, and making a grocery list of healthy and balanced foods. In regards to exercise, scheduling in your workouts, and knowing what you're doing when and where, will take the stress off not knowing what to do and "winging" a sub-par workout. In turn, you will be more likely to follow through until your goal is reached. Building on these habits will make it easier to stay consistent with your goals. Stay organized! In addition, it is always a good idea to have a plan ready in case you fall into relapse. The biggest fallback for people creating healthy habits is that once you miss a workout, you eat dessert when you know you shouldn’t have, or if life just gets in the way… You say “oh well” and keep venturing down the wrong path rather than steering yourself back onto the right one. Having a plan in place in case this happens is crucial for helping with motivation post-relapse. 4. ENJOY WHAT YOU'RE DOING It is much easier to be consistent with exercise and nutrition when you enjoy what you're doing and eating. Exercise will be less of an obligation and you will be more excited to get moving. If you’re feeling stuck doing something you don't enjoy, try something new! Whether it be a new exercise class (HIIT, Spin, Yoga, Pilates etc.), getting outside, or joining a club/team. Bottom line is, you cannot be consistent if you dislike what you're doing. In regards to nutrition, implementing foods you don't enjoy will be doing yourself a disservice. Incorporating a variety of foods and flavours you love that also align with your goals is important in having a healthy attitude about food and staying consistent with your nutritional habits. 5. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Seeing progress in yourself fuels motivation . There are several ways to track your progress: Monitor body measurements How your clothes fit Scale weight or body fat % Lifting heavier weight or doing more reps Check blood pressure Progress pictures How fast you catch your breath after you lose it Activities of daily living get easier to complete Energy levels improve Sleep gets better Tracking progress is essential to staying consistent. People get addicted to seeing results, which creates more and more motivation. When results aren’t achieved, it creates a sense of self-doubt, which reduces motivation because why would you continue if you aren’t getting any better? Even though you definitely should continue because exercise has so many benefits for you beyond the physical changes (bone, heart, emotional, cognitive health, etc.), it is still encouraging to see results and know you’re doing well. Need help with staying consistent? We have a team of friendly and well-educated personal trainers and health practitioners here at The Firm. Our mission is to educate and motivate you into living your healthiest and happiest life - even if it is just to get you started on your fitness journey. We are here to help you.
By Melody Giles 26 Feb, 2021
Cardiovascular Disease is defined as atherosclerotic arteries of the heart, brain, and peripheral vasculature. Under this umbrella term, there are multiple other conditions, which are specific to the region of concern. For example, atherosclerosis of the coronary artery is termed coronary artery disease (CAD), and atherosclerosis of the arteries throughout the body (most commonly in the legs) is called peripheral artery disease (PAD). In instances where a blood clot or plaque cuts off circulation/blood flow to the surrounding areas, it results in a stroke (brain) or a heart attack (heart). Cardiovascular disease significantly increases your risk for these events. Now, I’ve mentioned this term “atherosclerosis” many times already, but do you know what this is? Atherosclerosis is a term used to describe a significant buildup of plaque in arteries throughout the body, which is made up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances. When the body becomes stressed, one of its common stress responses is to over-produce molecules called free radicals. These free radicals run rampant in the bloodstream, which can oxidize these fats and cholesterols. Oxidation of these substances makes them more “sticky,” which causes them to stick to the sides of the arteries, creating plaque buildup. [This is why eating antioxidant foods is important to maintain health!] Over time, as plaque builds, the area through which blood can flow through becomes smaller and smaller. As mentioned previously, if a piece of plaque breaks off, the artery ruptures, or a blood clot forms that can’t pass through the narrowed artery, this results in a heart attack or stroke, depending on the location of the event. Atherosclerotic arteries can also be the culprit for many conditions, again, depending on the location of the plaque buildup. Plaque in the heart’s arteries can lead to symptoms like angina (chest pain or pressure). In the brain, it can lead to a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which will display as leg or arm weakness, difficulty speaking or slurring of words, and facial drooping, etc. If left untreated, the TIA will progress into a stroke. In the arteries of your legs and/or arms, plaque buildup will lead to PAD, which, for example, can characterize as leg pain when walking (medically termed claudication). Lastly, if the arteries leading to the kidneys become atherosclerotic, you will develop high blood pressure (Fun fact! Yes! Your kidneys are responsible for regulating changes in blood pressure.).
By Kerri Sherk 18 Nov, 2020
A large number of older adults (defined at those 65+ years old) have a huge misconception regarding continuing, or beginning, a strength training regime as they age. Many believe that strength training will provide more discomfort than benefit, so the perceived risk-reward balance tips towards avoidance. For example, only 11% of individuals aged 65+ engage in regular muscle strengthening activities, and the number drops to less than 5% for those 85+. If you think this to be true, we are going to debunk that myth today. And if you believe in weight training as you age, here is some great information to reinforce it. Although individuals usually feel some discomfort after lifting weights, the muscle tension you feel after exercise is essentially muscle building itself to get larger and stronger; not muscle or joint damage. Actually, weight training for older adults typically mitigates age-related declines in joint strength, damage, and fatigue. In the long run, a consistent strength routine will help mitigate age-related aches and pains in muscle, joints, and bone. Speaking of bone … Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, being on your feet, and leg exercises, such as squats and lunges, improves bone density, volume, and strength. This is super important to maintaining long-term health, as it will delay the onset of osteoporosis, and reduce the risk for a fracture if you experience a bad enough fall. Speaking of falls … Incorporating balance and power training into a strength routine creates the most effective recipe for reducing the risk of falls as we age. So, if you do happen to mis-step, you will be able to control your balance and will be strong enough to catch yourself before you completely fall to the ground. This is also why it’s important to work on strength in all planes of movement; so you will be best prepared to recover no matter what direction you fall in. Another important aspect of reducing the risk for falls is power. Power, in terms of muscle and strength, is how quickly you can recruit and use the muscles in your body. An example of this in strength training is doing bicep curls, but performing them quickly. If you can move your muscles fast enough, the theory is that if you trip, you will be able to move your foot fast enough to stabilize yourself so you don’t end up on the ground. Keep your independence ! Muscle wasting due to lack of use contributes to the greatest loss of independence as you age. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology recommends that older adults participate in muscle and bone-strengthening exercises at least twice per week to maintain functionality as we age. But, don’t forget that the more physical activity, the greater the health benefits. Twice per week is the minimum - shoot higher ! If you need more convincing, here are some great points on the benefits of exercise and strength training as we age: Slows the physiologic changes of aging that reduce exercise capacity (i.e., what happens in your body to make you suddenly get winded when walking around the block). Optimizes age-related changes in body composition (it’s normal for fat mass to increase as we age… exercise slows this process). Promotes physical and cognitive wellbeing (keeps you sharper for longer). Manages chronic diseases (hypertension, heart disease, diabetes) and reduces pain. Reduces the risk of physical disability. Increases longevity. Maintenance of functional independence so you can continue with your activities of daily living without struggle. Maintenance of bone health (reduce risk of falls, fractures, osteoporosis, etc.). Maintain mental health and improve energy. Just remember - improvements are possible at ANY age ! Don’t be scared of weight training - it will provide you with a plethora of benefits in the long run. Need help? Contact us here to chat about Personal Training @ The Firm!
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