Please be advised that my review is completely out of my own personal thoughts and feelings from my own experience at Sport & Spinal and may not reflect what is the usual practise or what you may encounter at your visit.
I went into Sport & Spinal with upper back tension and pain due to some prescription medication causing my muscles to seize up in my back. From the get go, Colin knew what was bothering me once I started telling him how my doctor started me on this new prescription medication that got me really wired within 2 days of taking it. He was able to finish my sentence and was able to identify the symptoms without even placing a hand on me. I was really impressed and I remain so today.
The reason why my visit amounts to a 1 star is because immediately once I laid down on the physicians bed, adjustments or cracks were made to my neck and spine without any notice to me. I did not realize I needed them so you could imagine how surprised I was to hear my neck and spine being cracked. I was told, however, to wrap my arms around me and to be in a certain position when he did this. I was also told that the neck adjustment was something I needed for a long time.
He then assessed my back and asked if I wanted the pain to go away that day. I asked if that was possible and he told me yes and went and grabbed his instruments (his dry needling/IMS needles). I jokingly asked him if it would hurt when he came back and he told me that there would be some discomfort, and that only the muscles that are unhealthy will hurt. He then proceeded to needle me in various parts of my upper, lower back, spinal area, neck, and in the base of my skull. I was in a lot of pain and was sniffling as he was needling every single point. After the IMS needling was done, he proceeded to place what he described as 'equivalent to 30 massage machine' pads on my back, shoulder, and arm, and told me to relax for awhile. I was told when I was leaving that I would be very sore, as if I had an intense workout, and that if my upper back/shoulders continued to hurt in a few days, I needed to return for more treatment.
I left with my arm so sore and my back in so much pain that my range of motion was decreased and my left arm could not hold up my handbag. I got on the westcoast train and was in so much pain sitting that I was almost in tears coming home.
I tried to go do my usual fitness class two days after the session and found that I could not do a single thing I use to be able to do (planks. squats, sit ups, push ups, and light weights) and did not have any strength in my upper body. Mind you, I was not told to avoid any exercise or to do any exercises after my session other than to take a soak with epsom salts.
Within a few days of my session, the soreness wore off and I started having intense pain in my upper and lower back, base of my skull, neck. and there would be loud cracking noises whenever I turned my head and rolled my shoulders. I could no longer sit at my desk job without having intense pain and strain by lunch time.
I ended up going to another physiotherapist 2 weeks later that told me that the treatment I received, while may be accurate in the long run, was way too aggressive for someone who has never received physiotherapy and most likely created additional pain for me. My doctor has now prescribed me anti-inflammatory pain medication for the daily pain and I use a heat patch on my neck and back during the day so that I can carry on my daily tasks. I went to a massage therapist a week after my painful session with Sport & Spinal and was told that I had very dark bruising on my left side from where the massage pads were placed and multiple knots in my back. She thought the bruising was from cupping therapy and was surprised that it was from physiotherapy instead.
So while I understand that Sport & Spinal has great reviews online and has helped a lot of individuals with their different symptoms, I believe it may not be for me who have had no physiotherapy before or was not aware of what kind of therapy is available from a physiotherapist. My upper back/shoulder tension/strain became much much worse that now requires adjustments to be made at my work (a raised up desk, and spinal cushion chair), heat to be used almost 24/7, massage therapy, accupuncture, prescription medication, and another physiotherapists care.
I recommend anyone unfamiliar with what therapy physiotherapists can do to first read up on the different techniques, and to ask lots of questions. Also, if adjustments are not your thing - speak up and tell them! I, unfortunately, was not given notice with what was going to be done and is now faced with a lot more treatment for the next while to correct this.
I was very reluctant to post my review due to the volume of positive 5 stars that Sport & Spinal has received and I'm sure that everyone's visit is different, however, mine was unfortunately not and I don't think I will be returning to Sport & Spin read more
