Adventure Physiotherapy

Adventure Physiotherapy The official page for Adventure Physiotherapy Ltd. Stay up to date on what we as a clinic are doing!

Check out our second location downtown Grande Prairie at Unit 105 10126 97Ave! Physiotherapy Clinic which opened in the Spring of 2017 offering physiotherapy, services with a special interest in pelvic health and sport injury management.

06/03/2026

Pain around the low back, buttock, or pelvis may be coming from the SI joint
SIJ dysfunction (sacroiliac joint dysfunction) is a common source of pain that is often mistaken for “just low back pain.” The sacroiliac joints connect the spine to the pelvis and help transfer load during walking, lifting, sitting, and standing. When movement becomes either too stiff or too mobile, symptoms can develop. Physiotherapy interventions such as exercise and manual therapy have good evidence for reducing pain and disability.

⚠️ What You Might Notice
Pain around one side of the low back or buttock 🍑
Pain when going from sitting to standing 🪑
Discomfort with prolonged standing or walking
A feeling of pelvic instability or asymmetry
Pain sometimes referring into the groin or upper thigh

🤝 Our Whole-Body Clinical View
We don’t only focus on the joint itself. The SI joint works as part of a full load-transfer system involving the lumbar spine, pelvis, hips, abdominal wall, diaphragm, pelvic floor, and surrounding fascia. When breathing patterns are restricted, one hip becomes stiffer, or the pelvis is overloaded during repetitive lifting, walking, pregnancy, or sport, the SI region may begin to compensate. From this perspective, SIJ dysfunction often reflects impaired force transfer between the trunk and lower limbs, rather than a single isolated joint problem. Current evidence supports a combined approach of manual therapy, stabilization exercises, movement retraining, and load management.

If low back or pelvic pain keeps returning and feels difficult to localize, the SI joint may be an important part of the picture.

✨ Come see us — we’ll help you understand how your pelvis and spine are sharing load.

Follow our page for trusted physiotherapy education, and feel free to send us a DM if this is something you’re dealing with.

06/02/2026

Deep buttock pain that travels down the leg may be piriformis syndrome 🍑🦵
Piriformis syndrome (often also called deep gluteal syndrome) can create pain, tingling, or numbness that feels similar to sciatica. Many people notice symptoms with prolonged sitting, driving, walking uphill, or after heavy glute-focused activity. Conservative physiotherapy treatment with stretching, manual therapy, and movement retraining is commonly recommended.

⚠️ What You Might Notice
Deep ache or sharp pain in the buttock
Pain or tingling traveling down the back of the leg ⚡
Symptoms worse with sitting for long periods 🪑
Discomfort with stairs, walking uphill, or running
Tightness through the hip and outer glute region

🤝 Our Whole-Body Clinical View
We don’t only focus on one deep hip muscle. This condition is often influenced by how the low back, pelvis, hip rotation, breathing, and surrounding soft tissues are managing load together. When the deep gluteal region stays tense or overloaded, it may irritate the sciatic nerve pathway and create symptoms down the leg. Limited hip mobility, prolonged sitting, poor pressure management, or compensations from the low back can all contribute. From this perspective, physiotherapy aims to improve hip mobility, pelvic control, neural mobility, and load sharing across the whole lumbopelvic system, rather than only “stretching one muscle.” Evidence supports manual therapy, stretching, and targeted exercise as first-line care.

If buttock pain or sciatica-like symptoms are limiting your daily life, there are supportive strategies that can help 🤍

✨ Come see us — we’ll help you understand what may be irritating the nerve pathway.

Follow our page for trusted physiotherapy education, and feel free to send us a DM if this is something you’re dealing with.

06/01/2026

This is a great taping technique to use for an athlete with an irritable Achilles tendon who just needs to get through the next sporting event. However, this is not recommended to use as a long term strategy.





05/29/2026

Pain on the outside of the knee may be IT band syndrome 🏃‍♀️🦵
Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) is one of the most common causes of outer knee pain, especially in runners, cyclists, and athletes who do repetitive leg movements. The pain is usually felt on the outside of the knee and often worsens with running, stairs, or downhill walking. Recent evidence suggests it is more related to compression and load sensitivity than simple “friction.”

⚠️ What You Might Notice

Sharp or burning pain on the outside of the knee 🔥

Pain during running, stairs, or downhill walking

Symptoms that begin after a certain distance or time ⏱️

Tightness along the outside of the thigh

Discomfort with cycling or repetitive knee bending 🚴

🤝 Our Whole-Body Clinical View

We don’t only focus on the painful knee. The IT band is part of a full movement chain connecting the pelvis, hip, thigh, and knee. How the hip muscles control the leg, how the pelvis stays stable, and how the foot absorbs force all influence the stress placed on the outside of the knee. Research strongly supports that hip strength, movement control, and load progression are key parts of recovery. Current evidence also suggests that trying to “stretch the IT band” itself is less helpful than improving how the whole lower limb manages force.

If outer knee pain is limiting your running, training, or walking, there are very effective physiotherapy strategies that can help
✨ Come see us — we’ll help you understand what is overloading the outside of your knee.
Follow our page for trusted physiotherapy education, and feel free to send us a DM if this is something you’re dealing with.

05/28/2026

Pain just below the kneecap when jumping or landing may be jumper’s knee 🦵
Jumper’s knee, also called patellar tendinopathy, is common in sports that involve repetitive jumping, sprinting, and sudden direction changes — like volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track. It often develops gradually from repeated load on the tendon rather than a single injury.

⚠️ What You Might Notice

Pain just below the kneecap during jumping or landing 🏀

Discomfort with stairs, squats, or running

Morning stiffness around the front of the knee

Pain that warms up during activity but returns later 🔄

Tenderness when pressing on the tendon

🤝 Our Whole-Body Clinical View

We don’t only focus on the painful tendon. The patellar tendon is part of a full force-transfer chain involving the foot, ankle, calf, quadriceps, hips, pelvis, and trunk control. When jumping volume, landing mechanics, or training load increase faster than the body can adapt, the tendon may become overloaded. From this perspective, a jumper's knee is often a load-capacity mismatch, not simply “inflammation.” Evidence strongly supports progressive tendon loading, isometric pain-relief exercises, and gradual return-to-sport progression as the main physiotherapy approach.

If knee pain is limiting your sport or training, the good news is tendons respond well to the right loading strategy
✨ Come see us — we’ll help you rebuild tendon strength and return to sport safely.
Follow our page for trusted physiotherapy education, and feel free to send us a DM if this is something you’re dealing with.

05/27/2026

Small, spring-like movements can be surprisingly valuable as we age
Many older adults are told to “move carefully” or avoid dynamic movement. While safety is important, gentle bouncing or light rhythmic movements can actually support the body’s ability to stay adaptable, coordinated, and resilient.

⚠️ What You Might Notice
Feeling stiff after sitting or resting for long periods
Slower balance reactions when walking or turning
Reduced confidence with quick or unexpected movements
A sense that the body feels “heavy” or less responsive

🤝 Our Whole-Body Clinical View
Healthy movement isn’t only about slow and controlled exercise. The body also relies on elasticity and quick responsiveness. Gentle bouncing-type movements (such as light heel raises, soft mini-hops, or rhythmic stepping) stimulate joints, muscles, connective tissues, and the nervous system in ways that slow movements alone cannot. These motions help the body practice absorbing and returning force, supporting balance reactions and coordination. From this perspective, carefully guided dynamic movement can help maintain mobility, confidence, and overall functional capacity as we age.

If you or a loved one feel stiffness, reduced balance, or hesitancy with movement, supportive guidance can make a meaningful difference 🤍

✨ Come see us — we’ll help find safe and appropriate ways to keep your body moving with confidence.

Follow our page for trusted physiotherapy education, and feel free to send us a DM if this is something you’re dealing with.

05/13/2026

Tingling, numbness, or heaviness in the arm may be thoracic outlet syndrome

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) happens when the nerves or blood vessels are compressed between the neck, collarbone, and first rib. Many people notice symptoms in the neck, shoulder, arm, or hand, especially with overhead work, prolonged sitting, or repetitive upper-body activity. Physiotherapy is considered first-line treatment, especially for the neurogenic type.

⚠️ What You Might Notice
Tingling, numbness, or pins-and-needles into the arm or hand ⚡
Neck and shoulder pain or heaviness
Symptoms worse with overhead positions 🙋
Weakness or fatigue in the arm during work or gym activity
Discomfort with prolonged desk posture 💻

🤝 Our Whole-Body Clinical View
We don’t only focus on the neck or shoulder. The thoracic outlet is a shared space where the neck, rib cage, collarbone, shoulder blade, and breathing system all interact. Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, tight chest tissues, reduced scapular control, repetitive overhead movement, and shallow breathing can all reduce space around the brachial plexus and surrounding vessels. From this perspective, symptoms often reflect compression created by posture, muscle imbalance, and poor load transfer across the upper body, rather than one isolated tissue problem.

Current evidence strongly supports postural retraining, stretching, manual therapy, nerve glides, and scapular strengthening as the main physiotherapy approach.

If arm tingling, shoulder heaviness, or neck pain keeps returning, the thoracic outlet may be an important piece of the puzzle.

✨ Come see us — we’ll help you understand what may be compressing the area.

Follow our page for trusted physiotherapy education, and feel free to send us a DM if this is something you’re dealing with.

05/11/2026

Mouth breathing may be contributing to your neck pain and TMJ symptoms

Breathing through the mouth—especially during sleep, stress, or long hours at a desk—can quietly change head posture, jaw muscle tension, and how the neck carries load. Over time, this may contribute to jaw tightness, headaches, neck pain, and TMJ discomfort. The relationship between TMJ dysfunction and cervical posture is strongly supported in the literature.

⚠️ What You Might Notice
Jaw pain, clicking, or clenching 😬
Neck stiffness or pain by the end of the day
Headaches around the temples or behind the eyes 🤕
Forward head posture during work or screen use 💻
Dry mouth, poor sleep, or waking with jaw tightness 🌙

🤝 Our Whole-Body Clinical View
We don’t only look at the jaw. Mouth breathing often changes the position of the tongue, jaw, head, neck, and rib cage. When the tongue rests low and the mouth stays open, the head often drifts forward, increasing load on the cervical spine and tension around the jaw muscles. At the same time, breathing may become more upper-chest dominant, reducing diaphragmatic support and increasing overall muscle guarding. From this perspective, TMJ and neck pain often reflect how the jaw–neck–breathing system is working together, rather than a single isolated joint problem. Physiotherapy focusing on the jaw and cervical spine has been shown to improve pain and function.

If jaw pain and neck tension keep returning, your breathing pattern may be an important piece of the puzzle

✨ Come see us — we’ll help you understand how breathing, posture, and jaw tension are connected.

Follow our page for trusted physiotherapy education, and feel free to send us a DM if this is something you’re dealing with.

05/08/2026

As we age, we tend to become less bouncy. Introducing a bit more bounce into your day can help your joints to tolerate more impact and become more resilient. Give it a try!

Kayla Gitzel is returning to work on June 1, 2026 after her maternity leave!She’s so excited to welcome back her previou...
05/01/2026

Kayla Gitzel is returning to work on June 1, 2026 after her maternity leave!

She’s so excited to welcome back her previous patients, and is also accepting new ones.

Kayla treats a wide range of conditions, including:
Pelvic floor (women, men, and children)
Pediatrics (meeting milestones, torticollis, head shape concerns)
Vestibular (including BPPV and dizziness)
Jaw/TMJD
And general body aches/pains!

She is also trained in IMS dry needling and cupping.

Recently, Kayla took additional training in breastfeeding-related conditions. She can support infant latch/feeding, tongue tie, and mastitis concerns!

Give us a call to book 780-532-0548

Address

#107 10126 117 Avenue
Grande Prairie, AB
T8V7S4

Opening Hours

Monday 6:30am - 7pm
Tuesday 6:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 6:30am - 4pm
Thursday 6:30am - 7pm
Friday 6:30am - 4am

Telephone

+17805320548

Website

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