At Skyward we have specialized training in a variety of areas including: Concussion Rehabilitation, Vestibular Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy. 

CONCUSSION REHABILITATION

The concussion assessment usually includes a clinical interview, symptom score, VOMS (Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening), balance testing  and/or an ImPACT computer test.

The rehabilitation program may include return to school/work advice and planning, return to sport advice and progression plus manual therapy and/or massage therapy if there is a whiplash component to the injury.

There is typically an exercise program involved which is dependent on the assessment findings. Exercises would be used to help train our vestibular (balance) and/or vision systems to return to normal. Exertion therapy is also used to gradually increase the amount of exercise and the intensity of exercise.

Follow up ImPACT tests to determine whether client has returned to baseline levels can also be used to assist the therapist in return to sport protocols.

The therapist typically is in contact with the client's school or coaches to keep them updated on their progress and when they will be returning to school or their sport.

At Skyward we have physiotherapists, an athletic therapist and an occupational therapist who assist in concussion rehabilitation.

** PLEASE NOTE: ALL CONCUSSIONS ARE DIFFERENT AND EVERYONE WILL RECEIVE DIFFERENT REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DEPENDING ON THEIR SYMPTOMS AND LIFESTYLE.

Baseline concussion testing

Baseline testing involves completing a computerized test called the ImPACT which stands for Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. It is a widely used system that has been researched and validated. This test will allow the concussion-trained therapist to have baseline levels for each athlete so if they were to sustain a concussion then they would re-do the test and compare their results to baseline levels. It helps to provide trained clinicians with the information necessary to help determine when the athlete is ready to return to their school or sport. The results also provide the therapist with information on what aspects of their brain are most affected by the concussion such as memory or reaction time.

ImPACT is only one piece of the concussion puzzle but it does provide specific values that can be re-tested. It also provides the clinician with specific details that will assist in rehabilitation.

The test takes approximately 30 minutes and involves a test of visual and working memory, attention, reaction time, mental and processing speed. It has been tested on people from the age of 10 to 60 so it has been validated throughout that age range.

SPORTS THERAPY

Sports Physiotherapy is an area that Skyward has focused on since our opening in 2015. We have spent hours on the football/rugby fields, at track and field meets and in the hockey arena providing emergency first responder medical coverage for events.

In the clinic, we use that knowledge from the field to assess and treat injured athletes. Both our physiotherapists and athletic therapist treat sports injuries in the clinic. We use our sports knowledge to analyze movement patterns, strength and mobility deficiencies and then get you back on the field, ice or courts as soon as possible.

Shannon Morrison received her Masters in Sports Physiotherapy in 2005 from Melbourne, Australia and has focused on this area of physiotherapy for the past 19 years. She has been on medical teams at the 2010 Olympics, 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2015 Para Pan-Am Games, 2015 FIFA World Cup and was a physiotherapist with the Canadian Women's Basketball Team from 2007-2011.

Shannon and her staff continue to pursue knowledge in the area of sports physiotherapy and now have an experienced athletic therapist added to the staff. James Sawchuk has worked for Queen's University and Carleton University men's hockey teams as well as representing Canada as the therapist for the Sledge Hockey team at the 2018 Paralympic Games and 2017 World University Games.

Together, we will help you get back to your sport!

VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION

Vestibular rehabilitation is the assessment and diagnosis of injuries to our inner ear or balance systems. Typically, clients report symptoms of dizziness, imbalance, falls, vertigo or visual disturbances.

These symptoms can occur for a variety of reasons and our therapists are trained to assess where the problem is originating from and then creating a treatment plan.

If the diagnosis is BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) then a technique can be done to immediately improve the symptoms in one or two treatments. 

Frequently clients come in expecting the diagnosis of BPPV when that is not the case. The therapist will then create a treatment plan for their injury which typically involve habituation, balance or gaze stabilization (vision) exercises.