sERVICES

PHYSIOTHERAPY

The Physiotherapists at CORE are university educated health care professionals. The emphasis of the treating physiotherapist is to assist people with restoring, maintaining, and maximizing their strength, function, movement, and overall well-being. The physiotherapists at CORE place a high priority on educating clients about their injury and what can be done to prevent future injuries or disability.

When you have your first appointment with a physiotherapist at CORE, they will complete a comprehensive assessment, which will include:
• Health history
• Evaluation of pain and movement patterns
• Strength and joint range of motion
• Reflexes and sensation testing
• Cardiorespiratory status.

Additionally, depending on the client’s specific needs, the physiotherapist will examine relevant medical information such as:
• X-rays and laboratory tests
• Pertinent medical records
• Surgical and/or specialists

Collectively from the assessment, the physiotherapist will establish:
• A diagnosis and then work in partnership with you, and all others involved in your care
• Develop individualized goals and treatment programs

Physiotherapy treatments can include:
• Therapeutic exercises
• Manual therapy
• Acupuncture
• Electrical modalities such as TENS or ultrasound
• Work simulation exercise and/or functional restoration programs.

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OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

“Occupational therapy is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the daily occupations of life” (Townsend& Polatajko, 2007, p. 372). (CAOT- Website definition)

Job Site Analysis (JSA)
CORE offers Job Site Analysis. This assessment is used to clarify the functional requirements of a job. It involves an occupational therapist going into the workplace to perform a systematic review of the major physical components of a job including the postures and forces required to be exerted as part of the position. The JSA is typically guided by the employer and/or the employee as the occupational therapist gathers information. The data collected is through: observation, interview and objective measurements taken onsite with an industrial scale, a push/pull dynamometer and a standard measuring tape. Information gathered in the JSA supports the defined treatment goals, rehabilitative exercise programming and return to work planning.

Transitional Return to Work Plan
A transitional return to work plan is a structured plan of hours and duties, used to facilitate a client back to their meaningful occupation. CORE is dedicated in working collaboratively with the treatment team, the client, the employer, and the stakeholder, ensuring a safe and timely return to the workplace. A transitional return to work plan allows a client with temporary functional limitations, to safely return to the workplace in a defined and gradual fashion. Each plan is highly individualized based on the person’s injury: the demonstrated functional abilities, the employer’s availability of appropriate transitional duties, and the functional requirements of the position.

Job Site Visit (JSV)
The occupational therapists at CORE offer Job Site Visits. This is an assessment, which involves the occupational therapist meeting the employee in the workplace to provide transitional support and to offer individualized suggestions to assist the client’s ability to successfully perform their work duties. During the job site visit, specific focus is placed on tasks the employee finds challenging. The occupational therapist will provide recommendations as appropriate to assist the employee to perform the identified task though activity grading/modification strategies, body mechanics techniques etc.

Ergonomic Assessment
Our occupational therapists at CORE have extensive experience in conducting ergonomic assessments. This assessment is completed with the employee at their workstation, ensuring the components of the workstation are arranged and adjusted in an ergonomically appropriate manner to fit the individual client.

Home Visit
An assessment conducted by an occupational therapist within the clients home to review the home environment and the individuals ability to perform their activities of daily living within the home. Recommendations are then provided in an effort to optimize the client’s safety in performing their required daily activities within the home.

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PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

CORE Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre offers professional, confidential psychological services in a casual relaxed atmosphere. We offer both assessment services and treatment options for most psychological concerns. Goals are collaboratively determined with most treatments lasting for between five and 10-sessions.

Some of the problems we can offer assistance for include:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Phobias
• Panic disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anger Management
• Substance Abuse
• Stress Management
• Chronic Pain/Pain Management
• Loss and Grief
• Assertiveness
• Communication Skills.

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MASSAGE THERAPY

CORE offers Massage Therapy. This encompasses hands on mobilization of the human body's soft tissues, this includes: muscles, skin, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments and membranes. Massage Therapy has been beneficial service in conjunction with physiotherapy or as a stand-alone treatment.

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FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS

One-day Key Functional Assessment:
The one day Key Functional Assessment (KFA) is designed to assess individuals’ workday tolerance (WDT), workload level and validity. This assessment can be used to measure ability and compare this to job demands.
Maximum assessment time: 4 hours

Two-day Key Functional Assessment:
This assessment includes the standardized assessment of the one-day KFA with the added second day reassessing workload levels, workday tolerances and specific job simulation/tasks. This assessment offers information on how a client functions and presents with 2 consecutive days of activity, adding further validity to the functional parameters as established during the first day.
Maximum assessment time day one: 4 hours
Day two: 2-4 hours

Rehabilitation Assessment:
This assessment formally measures sitting, standing and walking as well as workload levels. Psychological screeners are optional. This assessment is typically used prior to clients participating in rehabilitation programs and is viewed as a baseline for function/rehabilitation.
Maximum assessment time: 4 hours

WCB Form E:
This assessment is required of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. It is a quick reference to a client’s function. This assessment assesses clients’ frequent and occasional weights both lifting and carrying. Static and/or dynamic pushing and pulling are also assessed. Sitting, standing and walking are reported by the client.
Maximum assessment time: 30 minutes

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VOCATIONAL SERVICES

Transferable Skills Analysis (TSA)
An assessment used to identify alternate vocational options for individuals who are unable to return to their pre-accident/pre-disability job. This assessment reviews the individual’s functional abilities, work history, experience, interests and labour market information to identifying alternate potential employment choices.

As side from transferrable skills analysis, vocational services offer clients assistance with:
• Resume and cover letter writing
• Reviewing interview styles/technique
• Detailed supported job search (which involves identifying appropriate job advertisements which match a client’s function)