Get Winter-Ready Before You Hit the Slopes

Did you know Peak to Shore offers medical management of your osteoarthritis?

Call today to ask about Hyaluronic Acid (HA) injections, or regenerative medicine options like nSTRIDE and PRP.

In joints, cartilages are protected by a viscous gel called synovial fluid (joint fluid). This fluid allows joints to move freely and protects them by acting as a shock absorber. Synovial fluid contains high hyaluronic acid (HA) levels, a viscoelastic substance that plays a massive role in normal joint function, normal joint fluid balance and protection.

Usually, hyaluronic acid is continuously broken down and replaced in a well-balanced manner. In osteoarthritis, its breakdown becomes higher than the replacement rate, causing negative synovial fluid changes. This leaves the joints, particularly the cartilages, prone to damage.

At Peak to Shore Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine, we help individuals affected by osteoarthritis to mitigate the condition’s effects through advanced treatment options, including Monovisc (HA) injections.

nSTRIDE injection is an autologous protein solution (APS) containing anti-inflammatory cytokines and anabolic growth factors. It is one of the latest biologic regenerative treatments used in treating knee osteoarthritis.

As an autologous solution, it is obtained by separating white blood cells and platelets from your blood and concentrating them in a small volume of plasma, using the APS kit. The obtained APS is then injected directly into the osteoarthritic knee joint.

How Does nSTRIDE Injection Work?

A Platelet-Rich Plasma(PRP) injection is a solution containing concentrated levels of platelets in plasma. This treatment is a new form of regenerative medicine currently being used to enhance the healing of various musculoskeletal system injuries, involving cartilages, tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones.

How PRP Injection Treatment Works

PRP solution contains concentrated levels of platelet growth factors, which stimulate tissue repair. PRP injections deliver high concentrations of these platelet growth factors to the injured tissues of the musculoskeletal system. Once introduced to the injured tissue, various growth factors play different roles to ensure fast and effective healing of the damaged tissue. Some of the roles they play include:

Welcome Sydney and Amy to our Physiotherapy Team!

How Winter Sports Affect the Body

If you’ve ever thought skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing is a fantastic workout, you are correct! These activities engage nearly every major muscle group and demand joint stability, quick reflexes, and controlled movements–all in cold and uneven terrain. However, without proper conditioning, you run a high risk of developing an injury.

Winter Sports Injuries We See at Our Clinic

How Physiotherapy Helps You Stay Strong and Active

1. Pre-Season Conditioning: Make sure you’re prepared for your winter sport of choice with custom programs to improve your mobility, strength, and endurance. These programs often focus on exercises that prepare the muscles, joints, and ligaments to handle repetitive stresses:
   • Strength training in the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and core to stabilize knees and hips.
   • Balance and proprioception drills to train your body to react quickly to changes in terrain.
   • Mobility work to help your joints move efficiently through their full range
   • Cardiovascular training to build stamina for long days on the slopes or trails
2. Injury Prevention and Performance Optimization: In addition to general conditioning, we can also work with you to identify and address potential areas of weakness or imbalance that put you at a higher risk of injury. As a bonus, reducing your injury risk often improves your overall performance, too! These programs might include:
   • Functional movement screenings to identify weaknesses or imbalances before they lead to injury.
   • Custom bracing and taping to provide additional support to vulnerable joints like knees and ankles.
   • Education and sport-specific advice, such as proper warm-up routines, stretching techniques, and posture awareness, to help you stay safe and efficient throughout the season.
3. Post-Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation: Sometimes, injuries occur even with the best preparation. In those cases, early intervention with our team will make a big difference in helping you restore mobility, strength, and function. We offer several techniques to help get you back on the slopes: 
   • Manual therapy to ease tight muscles and boost blood flow to the injured area.
   • Shockwave therapy to stimulate tissue healing and manage acute pain.
   • Therapeutic exercise programs to retrain injured areas safely and progressively.
   • Return-to-sport assessments to ensure you regain full strength and stability before resuming activity.