What is Specialized Exercise Therapy?
Exercise therapy is a regimen or plan of physical activities designed and prescribed for specific therapeutic goals. Its purpose is to restore normal musculoskeletal function or to reduce pain caused by diseases or injuries.
Exercise training or therapy can take many different forms. For some people, it may be moving more and sitting less, and for others it may mean getting on a bike, jogging or lifting weights. Each injury or movement dysfunction is different. This means that every individual being prescribed exercise will have an exercise program specific to that individual. The ultimate goal is to use specialized physical activity to improve health, function and overall well-being.
We use exercise for the following programs:
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If you are a new client looking to attend our Physiotherapy Rehabilitation classes (Core Connect, Pilates, Bonefit and GLA;D) at EPA or GWHA, as required by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, a 40-60 minute Physiotherapy Assessment will be necessary prior to joining the class. This Assessment will screen you to ensure you can safely participate in the class, meet eligibility criteria and discuss your goals. (An assessment fee will apply).
If you are a current client (who has already had an Assessment) looking to attend our Physiotherapy Rehabilitation classes (Core Connect, Pilates, Bonefit and GLA;D), you MAY have to attend a 20-40 min Physiotherapy Pre-Screening appointment (for Pilates and Core Connect only). This Pre-screening will determine your eligibility and ensure you can safely participate and discuss your goals. If you hope to return to a class for an additional block of sessions, another 20min Pre-Screening is required to determine appropriateness.
Core Connect Group Class
Are you someone who experiences hip pain, low back pain and/or pelvic floor dysfunction (leakage, pressure/heaviness or pain) and are unsure of where to start?
The Core Connect is a group exercise class that can benefit anyone with these concerns. This supervised environment helps improve awareness of body mechanics and help strengthen your core and lower extremities. It is suitable for anyone experiencing:
- Pelvic floor dysfunction (urinary leakage, pelvic heaviness/pressure)
- Low back pain and/or tightness
- Hip pain and/or tightness
The Core Connect class will help you become more aware of your whole pelvic girdle and all the muscles that attach to it and will help you learn:
- how to connect the pelvic floor with other core muscles during exercise.
- how to up-train your weaker core muscles
- how to down-train your dominant/tense muscles
The Core Connect Class is a group class that is designed to help eliminate urinary leaks, pelvic heaviness/pressure and aches/pains in your low back and hips and help you feel more prepared to start your new/renewed fitness journey.
Join the class instructor, as they provide a customized exercise program to help meet your goals. They will guide you through hip and back mobility exercises, pelvic floor and core awareness/strengthening exercises and teach you how to become more aware of your whole pelvic girdle. Learning how to connect the pelvic floor/core muscles during specific exercises can help you up-train your weaker core muscles and down-train your stronger, larger muscles, all while gaining a better connection with your body’s foundation – your PELVIS!
Registration is now open!
**If you are a current patient at EPA and your physiotherapist has referred you to attend this class, you will be booked for the class duration. For each, a total of $40/class x # of sessions of the class will be due upon registration.
If you are not a current patient at EPA, you will have to be assessed by a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist to ensure you are appropriate to attend the classes. This is an additional fee, otherwise, the billing will be the same as our current patients.
Classes may be covered under physiotherapy benefits if you are referred by an EPA physiotherapist.**
OSTEOARTHRITIS
We are pleased to offer the GLA:D™ specialized exercise program for the treatment, both preventatively, pre-surgery and post-surgery for hip and knee osteoarthritis.GLA:D™ Canada is an education and exercise program for those with stiff and/or painful knees and/or hips or those with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis.
GLA:D™ participants report less pain, reduced use of painkillers, fewer individuals on sick leave, and being more physically active.
EPA’s Certified Therapists are here to lead you on. How to learn to control your movements and proper posture, build muscular strength through functional exercises and educate on how to apply these exercises to everyday activities.
To learn more about GLAD visit click here.
The GLAD program is offered at the following EPA Locations:
OSTEOPOROSIS
BONEFIT is a specialized exercise program to target BONE LOSS . For over 20 years, EPA has also researched and developed a unique exercise approach to Osteoporosis. Many of our sites also have “BONEFIT” certified instructors to complement our own program.
To learn more about the osteoporosis program view Brochure
The BONEFIT program is offered at the following EPA Locations:
ENHANCED PHYSIOTHERAPY
The Enhanced Physiotherapy Program offered at Eramosa Physiotherapy is a program offered to current physiotherapy clients who their Physiotherapist feels would benefit from a supervised, dedicated exercise session to enhance their progress. It is a guided 1 on 1 exercise session with a Clinician specializing in exercise, supervised by your Physiotherapist.
The frequency and duration of these sessions are individualized to the needs of each client as recommended by their Physiotherapist and can range typically from 20-40 min of time in addition to their regular physiotherapy session.
The Enhanced Physiotherapy program is offered at the following EPA Locations:
SAFE Program- Strengthening for Arthritis & Fall Prevention Exercise Program
SAFE offers an active solution that is mastered in the clinic and taken away as a home or gym-based program. The exercises target people who are at risk for Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis and Falls. This program can also be a confidence-building bridge for other clients who already attending physiotherapy that has been recommended to strengthen their core, hips and/or knees as a primary goal to treat their condition.
Clients are directly supervised by our Registered Kinesiologists, twice a week for 40–60-minute sessions, where it may be appropriate to work in conjunction with our Registered Physiotherapists.
SAFE exercises feature “neuromuscular training” – where exercises are functional with the goal of making everyday tasks like going up or down stairs EASY!
The Enhanced Physiotherapy program is offered at the following EPA Locations:
PHYSIO PILATES: a specialized exercise program to target low back and hip pain, core stability and posture
What is Physiotherapy Pilates?
Pilates is an exercise method that integrates postural and breathing awareness into a program designed to strengthen the core muscles. Physio Pilates has been shown to address current concerns and is the key to the prevention of the following conditions:
- Low back pain
- Upper back pain & stiffness
- Postural concerns
- Hip stiffness or chronic “tight hips”
- Pelvic floor concerns such as incontinence
- Return to fitness & Postpartum programming
Goals of Physio Pilates
At EPA we strive to provide our clients with the tools and confidence to continue their home exercise program, either independently or in our community. After the completion of our rehab-based physio pilates class, our clients are ready to adopt exercise as a regular strategy to keep them healthy in the future.
Our Physio Pilates Program is instructed by a Physiotherapist who is also a Certified Pilates instructor. Physio Pilates consultations are offered on-site, during a one-on-one session and are required by the Ontario College of Physiotherapists before starting classes. After the consultation, private Mat AND/OR Reformer sessions are available. Our program is ideal for anyone who has completed their rehabilitation plan and is looking to improve their health through an advanced independent exercise program.
If you are a new or returning client of EPA, as required by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, we will do a 20-40 minute clearance assessment appointment (our assessment fee will apply to this appointment) to discuss your goals and concerns and clear your participation.
Insurance: Physio Pilates fees are eligible for insurance reimbursement if your plan allows it and a receipt with the instructor’s College registration number will be provided at the end of every session/class you attend.
If you are interested in registering for an upcoming session of Physio Pilates classes, please connect with our teams at:
For more information see here View Brochure.
Physiotherapy Bike Fitting
Love Cycling but your hands get numb while riding? Get a hot spot on your foot? Sore low back after sitting in the saddle? Worried that your bike setup is causing you pain?
Seeking out a bike fit performed by a physiotherapist has many benefits to overall comfort, injury management and performance. A physical injury or concern can present itself during or following a bike ride but its cause is beyond the scope of a regular bike fit.
This is where the expertise of a physiotherapist can provide you with the knowledge and education to further reduce your area of concern and not only prescribe exercise but also ensure your bike is appropriately fitted to your riding style and physical characteristics.
A physiotherapist-driven cycling assessment may be the key to ending pain, and injuries such as:
- Low back pain
- Knee pain
- Wrist/Hand pain and/or numbness
- Foot pain and/or numbness
- Achilles tendonitis
- Neck pain
- Saddle/ pelvic pain
Meet Wil- Registered Physiotherapist, MSc (PT) Bike Fit Canada-Level 1
Wil has always had an interest in cycling having watched the Tour de France each summer for as long as he can remember. This interest really took off in 2020 as he started joining a few local friends for regular weekend rides. Now you can’t get him off the bike, riding 3-4x per week both outside and indoors on his bike trainer. He also regularly participates in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 2 day ride covering more than 220 km! Cycling is a sport of precision, fitness and biomechanics which fits well into the Physiotherapy Profession. The opportunity to combine Wil’s passion for the sport of cycling with his profession is a natural fit, and he is incredibly excited to help people with similar interests who might be struggling with pain, stiffness or other cycling related injuries that could benefit from a proper bike fit!