Get Involved In Your Rehabilitation

If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident or have a chronic soft-tissue injury, such as shoulder, neck or back pain, you would likely benefit from an active rehabilitation program.

One of the benefits of this form of treatment is that it allows you to become actively involved in your recovery. The program emphasizes education to enable you to continue exercising properly and independently, while improving your overall health. Increasingly, doctors are recommending this type of therapy to patients with soft-tissue injuries, as the treatment is effectively personalized to suit the individual’s needs. Active rehabilitation is also a highly cost-effective form of treatment, as a patient is able to continue their therapy independently long after the program has come to an end.

Active rehabilitation programs are lead and supervised by a qualified physiotherapist or kinesiologist, who begins by assessing the client to determine their specifics needs, limitations and physical capabilities. Programs can be performed in a gym, pool or at home, and consist of an individualized exercise prescription combining stretching, core stability and strengthening techniques. Active rehabilitation programs work to restore range of motion and address postural mechanics, muscular imbalances and limited flexibility.

Though each active rehabilitation program is tailored to the individual’s needs, the common goal is to return the client to normal function. Active rehabilitation programs are highly successful in enabling clients to return to work, get back on a sports team after an injury or simply resume activities of daily living, as they are progressive and easily modified, if necessary. These programs often include work-simulation exercises and functional activities, which effectively prepare the client for a return to their pre-injury lifestyle.

A common misconception with active therapy is that exercise should be avoided to prevent further aggravation of an in injury, when in fact the opposite is true. Monitored, controlled exercise is healthy way of strengthening muscles to speed up recovery and prevent reinjury. Dr. Stephen Hoschuler, co-founder and orthopedic surgeon with the Texas Back Institute write, “Controlled gradual and progressive exercise, rather than inactivity and bed rest most often provides the best long-term solution for reducing back pain.” You may initially experience some discomfort upon beginning an active rehabilitation program; however, this is a normal part of recovery, and you will begin to see positive results and ultimately improve your physical well being with continued and consistent effort.

The guidance of a kinesiologist throughout your program will ensure that you are not only performing your routines properly, but will also provide you with the motivation and structure necessary for a successful return to normal function and continued involvement in a healthier lifestyle.

Karp Rehabilitation is an active rehabilitation program specializing with soft-tissue injury rehabilitation. For more information call 604.420.7800.

Good Technique Is Essential To Rehabilitation

If you are headed to the gym for a workout be sure to warm up before you get started and pay close attention to proper exercise form. Bad exercise technique and not warming up properly can lead to injuries.

Your warm up should consist of 5-10 minutes on the stationary bike, treadmill, or any other piece of cardio equipment. The goal of your warm up is to slightly elevate your body temperature and to increase the blood flow through your muscles. Once you are warm you should stretch your muscles following a thorough flexibility program. Warming up before you stretch is important because soft tissue flexibility is increased with temperature elevation. After you are warmed up and stretched out do not jump into using heavy weights. Light to moderate weights should be used for the first set of each exercise to further prepare your muscles for the force of the heavier weights.

Poor technique is usually the result of using too heavy of a weight, not using full range of motion during an exercise, or by recruiting the wrong muscles into an exercise. Proper mechanics during exercise is essential. Exercises should be performed through a full range of motion in order to develop strength through the full range and to maintain flexibility. Do not sacrifice technique to use heavier weight. If your goal is to improve your strength, try lowering your repetitions and increasing your sets on each exercise. Strength improvements are best seen with low repetitions of 4-8. Your strength will also improve if you allow greater rest between your sets, often a 2-3 minute break is required to recover from a heavy set. If you are happy with moderate strength improvements or just looking for a toning program then keep your repetitions between 10-15 and keep your breaks between 20-30 seconds.

Poor exercise technique usually ends up targeting the wrong muscles which can lead to muscle imbalance injuries. For instance, people often try to do exercises to strengthen their back but end up using their arms and shoulders. If this happens over a few months you may end up with underdeveloped back muscles and over-trained arms and shoulders. It is also important to avoid sloppy exercise technique. For instance, many people perform barbell curls and use their bodyweight to swing the barbell up to their chest and then drop the weight down to their legs. Your movements must be slow and controlled

An exception to the rule of proper exercise technique is when an injury prevents full, pain-free range of motion. In this case the exercise should be performed throughout the pain free range only and your physician should be contacted to be sure that you are not performing any contra-indicated exercises.

Karp Rehabilitation is an active rehabilitation program specializing with soft-tissue injury rehabilitation. For more information call 604.420.7800.

Active Rehabilitation Program

The highly skilled therapists at Karp Rehabilitation are ready to help you rehabilitate your soft-tissue injuries through a progressive, one-on-one program of core stability, strengthening, stretching, and cardio training. We start with a detailed injury assessment and diagnosis, then we develop a personalized active rehabilitation plan tailored specifically to your needs. Click here for testimonials from our rehabilitation clients.

During each sessions, a registered kinesiologist motivates and guides you through individually tailored programs to increase your core stability, overall strength, endurance, and range of motion.
Our Facilities

All rehabilitation is carried out in our full fitness facilities which are among the largest in the lower mainland. We offer coed and ladies only gyms, indoor pools, state of the art equipment and much more. With flexible hours from 6:00am to 7:00pm we cater to those early morning or after work appointments. For your convenience, our program director is always available to take your calls.

Our centrally located facilities offers state-of-the-art exercise equipment in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. With our 60-foot indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, steam room, and racquetball courts, you are guaranteed to relax and enjoy yourself.
Musculo-Skeletal Assessment

Programs begin with a physiotherapy or kinesiology assessment. This includes a summary of physical findings, functional abilities and prognosis. An individualized program is then designed to help each patient return to their pre-injury job/daily living activities. A progress assessment and final assessment may also performed.

Registered Kinesiologist

Work specific exercises including stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular routines are individually tailored, based on your injury and job requirement. Sessions are two hours in duration. The educational component focuses on correct posture, body mechanics and proper exercise technique. Upon discharge, you will have the knowledge to carry out an exercise program independently.

Injuries We Treat

* Motor vehicle accident victims
* Poor posture and body alignment
* Knee and shoulder soreness
* Lower back pain and stiffness
* Tendinitis and bursitis
* Soft tissue damage

Other Karp programs

* Home-based programs
* Injury prevention training
* Pool programs
* Stability ball training

Pool Programs Can Reduce Back Pain

For people with acute injuries, exercising in a pool can be the best
way to restore muscle strength, endurance, and joint range of motion.
The benefit of pool exercises is that the water allows you to move freely
providing added resistance without the stress or impact on your joints.

Get Involved In Your Recovery

If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident or have a chronic soft-tissue injury, such as shoulder, neck or back pain, you would likely benefit from an active rehabilitation program. One of the benefits of this form of treatment is that it allows you to become actively involved in your recovery. The program emphasizes education to enable you to continue exercising properly and independently, while improving your overall health. Increasingly, doctors are recommending this type of therapy to patients with soft-tissue injuries, as the treatment is effectively personalized to suit the individual’s needs. Active rehabilitation is also a highly cost-effective form of treatment, as a patient is able to continue their therapy independently long after the program has come to an end.

Active rehabilitation programs are lead and supervised by a qualified physiotherapist or kinesiologist, who begins by assessing the client to determine their specifics needs, limitations and physical capabilities. Programs can be performed in a gym, pool or at home, and consist of an individualized exercise prescription combining stretching, core stability and strengthening techniques. Active rehabilitation programs work to restore range of motion and address postural mechanics, muscular imbalances and limited flexibility.

Though each active rehabilitation program is tailored to the individual’s needs, the common goal is to return the client to normal function. Active rehabilitation programs are highly successful in enabling clients to return to work, get back on a sports team after an injury or simply resume activities of daily living, as they are progressive and easily modified, if necessary. These programs often include work-simulation exercises and functional activities, which effectively prepare the client for a return to their pre-injury lifestyle.

A common misconception with active therapy is that exercise should be avoided to prevent further aggravation of an in injury, when in fact the opposite is true. Monitored, controlled exercise is healthy way of strengthening muscles to speed up recovery and prevent reinjury. Dr. Stephen Hoschuler, co-founder and orthopedic surgeon with the Texas Back Institute write, “Controlled gradual and progressive exercise, rather than inactivity and bed rest most often provides the best long-term solution for reducing back pain.” You may initially experience some discomfort upon beginning an active rehabilitation program; however, this is a normal part of recovery, and you will begin to see positive results and ultimately improve your physical well being with continued and consistent effort.

The guidance of a kinesiologist throughout your program will ensure that you are not only performing your routines properly, but will also provide you with the motivation and structure necessary for a successful return to normal function and continued involvement in a healthier lifestyle.

Karp Rehabilitation is an active rehabilitation program specializing with soft-tissue injury rehabilitation. For more information call 604.420.7800.