Karen L Fryday-Field – Physiotherapist | London, ON

Karen L Fryday-Field is a dedicated Physiotherapist. Practicing at Meridian Spine and Joint Physiotherapy - North West London in London, ON, Karen Fryday-Field is committed to high-quality, patient-centered care aligning with College of Physiotherapists of Ontario standards. Karen Fryday-Field's focus is addressing a wide range of muscle, joint, bone, tendon, and ligament conditions. This includes everything from acute injuries like sprains and strains, to chronic pain management, arthritis care, and comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation. Karen Fryday-Field serves patients of all ages, from infants to seniors.

Karen L Fryday-Field completed their degree in Physiotherapy from Western University (Graduating Class of 1980). With extensive clinical experience, Karen Fryday-Field is committed to ongoing professional development and evidence-based physiotherapy practices. Karen Fryday-Field has a particular interest and further training in areas such as Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy.

Karen Fryday-Field's practice philosophy centers on promoting preventative care and long-term wellness for the London community through proactive physiotherapy. Karen Fryday-Field employs a patient-centered approach, actively involving individuals in their treatment planning and goal setting. There is a strong commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous professional learning to provide the best care. Karen Fryday-Field offers consultations in English.

Karen L Fryday-Field provides skilled physiotherapist care for a variety of health concerns, including but not limited to:

Common Musculoskeletal

• Neck Pain and Stiffness: Discomfort, limited range of motion, and persistent tension in the cervical spine (neck), often related to posture, an injury, stress, or sleeping position.
• Knee Pain (e.g., Patellofemoral Syndrome, Meniscal Issues - conservative, Ligament Sprains): Aching, sharp pain, a feeling of the knee 'giving way', or difficulty fully bending or straightening your knee.
• Muscle Strains and Tears: A 'pulled' muscle, often occurring during activities like sprinting, jumping, lifting, or sudden changes in direction, causing immediate pain and difficulty using the muscle.
• Shoulder Pain (e.g., Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy, Impingement, Frozen Shoulder/Adhesive Capsulitis): Common shoulder problems such as rotator cuff issues (tendinopathy, small tears), impingement syndrome, or adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) significantly affecting arm function and daily comfort.

Arthritis

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) & Other Inflammatory Arthropathies: Helping you live well with rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory arthropathies through targeted physiotherapy interventions designed to manage symptoms, preserve function, and promote overall well-being.
• Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): Supportive physiotherapy for individuals with psoriatic arthritis, focusing on managing joint pain and swelling, maintaining range of motion and strength, improving function, and providing advice on activity modification and joint protection.
• Gout (Management of Musculoskeletal Impairments): Helping you regain mobility, reduce discomfort, and improve function in affected joints after a gout episode, as part of your overall gout management plan.

Back Neck Pain

• Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD): Neck, shoulder, and upper back discomfort, often accompanied by headaches or 'brain fog', after a sudden jerking motion of the head, such as in a rear-end collision.
• Postural Back/Neck Pain: Discomfort, aching, stiffness, or muscle fatigue in the back or neck arising from sustained or awkward postures during daily activities, prolonged work (e.g., desk work, computer use), or sleep.
• Spinal Stenosis Symptoms: Often age-related changes leading to pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs with walking (neurogenic claudication in lumbar stenosis) or in the arms/hands (cervical stenosis).
• Herniated Disc / Sciatica / Radiculopathy: Sharp, shooting, electric-like, or burning pain that travels along the path of a nerve due to issues with intervertebral discs or other spinal structures.

This list offers examples of conditions commonly addressed. Diagnosis for physiotherapist is based on individual assessment, so if your specific concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic. Karen Fryday-Field can assess your needs.

• Spinal Decompression / Mechanical Traction: Therapeutic traction for the cervical (neck) or lumbar (low back) spine, used by physiotherapists to help reduce pain, decompress nerve roots, and improve symptoms associated with conditions like disc herniations, sciatica, or spinal stenosis.
• Cryotherapy Application (Cold Therapy): A common physiotherapy treatment for acute injuries, designed to help numb pain, decrease bleeding into the tissues, and minimize secondary hypoxic injury.
• Interferential Current (IFC) / TENS Therapy: The use of specific electrical stimulation devices (IFC or TENS) by your Physiotherapist to provide pain relief, reduce muscle spasm, decrease swelling, or promote muscle activation and re-education.
• Therapeutic Heat Application: A comforting physiotherapy modality that helps to soothe tight muscles, decrease pain perception, and improve the flexibility of soft tissues.
• Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) / Photobiomodulation: Utilizing therapeutic laser to enhance tissue regeneration, reduce pain signals, and manage inflammation as part of your comprehensive physiotherapy care.
• Therapeutic Ultrasound Application: Using therapeutic ultrasound as an adjunct treatment to help reduce pain, decrease inflammation, break down scar tissue, and accelerate the repair of injured soft tissues.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Karen Fryday-Field, or to discuss your specific needs, please contact the clinic.

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Physiotherapists in ON and the standards set by The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

At Meridian Spine and Joint Physiotherapy - North West London, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Karen Fryday-Field frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Tired of post-operative stiffness and weakness that's slowing down my recovery interfering with setting up and taking down equipment for hobbies or sports? Karen Fryday-Field uses a blend of physiotherapy techniques to help you achieve effectively managing chronic pain and reclaiming an active lifestyle and regain your freedom of movement.
• With Karen Fryday-Field's help, managing general muscle strains and pulls from overdoing it at the gym or in the garden to achieve a smoother and stronger postpartum recovery becomes a clear journey, allowing patients to confidently re-engage with life and activities like driving for longer periods without neck or back pain.
• Physiotherapy with Karen Fryday-Field can be a transformative turning point for those affected by dealing with ongoing pain and stiffness after a car accident, like whiplash. The shared goal is achieving feeling more energetic and less weighed down by physical discomfort, paving the way for you to enjoy reading a good book for hours without experiencing neck pain or headaches and a more active, vibrant life.
• Through personalized physiotherapy at Karen Fryday-Field's clinic, common concerns like managing stiffness, tremors, and movement challenges with Parkinson's disease are thoroughly assessed and addressed with the objective of experiencing significant pain relief, allowing for a more comfortable daily life. This often involves a combination of in-clinic treatment, education, and self-management strategies, helping people to once again enjoy activities like enduring their daily commute, whether driving or on public transit, without stiffness.

Your personalized physiotherapy plan, developed with Karen Fryday-Field, will be designed to help you reach your specific functional and wellness objectives.

Karen Fryday-Field practices at Meridian Spine and Joint Physiotherapy - North West London, situated in the Oakridge, Westmount North neighborhood of London. The clinic is conveniently located near Budweiser Gardens and is accessible via London Transit Commission (LTC). Our clinic is accessible. Street parking and nearby paid lots offer convenient options for visitors.

Is physiotherapy treatment supposed to be painful?

While some physiotherapy techniques might feel uncomfortable or cause a temporary increase in soreness (similar to muscle soreness after a new workout), especially when working on stiff joints or tight muscles, it should not be excessively or intolerably painful. Your Physiotherapist will discuss what sensations you might expect with different treatments and will always aim to adjust the intensity and techniques to ensure you are as comfortable as possible while still achieving therapeutic benefits. Constant communication about your comfort level is very important.

What is manual therapy in physiotherapy?

Manual therapy refers to specialized hands-on techniques used by a Physiotherapist to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. This can include joint mobilization (gentle, rhythmic gliding movements), joint manipulation (skilled, high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts, where appropriate and within the therapist's scope and with your consent), various soft tissue mobilization techniques (like massage, myofascial release, trigger point release), and neural mobilization (gentle techniques to improve nerve movement). The primary goals are to reduce pain, improve range of motion, restore optimal joint mechanics, reduce muscle tension, and enhance tissue repair and function.

Is there anything specific I should bring to my first physiotherapy appointment?

For your first visit, please bring your provincial health card (e.g., Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card, if applicable for any publicly funded programs or simply for identification), any relevant medical information such as a doctor's referral note (if you have one), reports from recent imaging (like X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound scans), and a list of your current medications. Also, if you plan to use private health insurance, bring your insurance card or policy details. Finally, wear or bring comfortable clothing suitable for assessment and movement.

Is physiotherapy covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in ON?

OHIP generally does NOT cover physiotherapy services in private outpatient clinics for most of the population. Publicly funded physiotherapy is available in specific situations (e.g., post-hospitalization for certain conditions, for children/youth, seniors, or through Community Physiotherapy Clinics/Family Health Teams), but eligibility criteria are strict and there may be waitlists. It is strongly recommended to check your private insurance for private clinic coverage.

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a Physiotherapist in ON?

Patients in ON can typically see a Physiotherapist directly without a physician's referral (direct access). However, some private/extended health insurance plans require a referral for reimbursement. Check your insurance policy before your first appointment.

Approximately how many physiotherapy sessions will I need?

The number of physiotherapy sessions required varies greatly depending on the nature and severity of your condition, its duration, your treatment goals, your body's response to therapy, and your adherence to home exercises. Your Physiotherapist will discuss a proposed treatment plan after your initial assessment and will re-evaluate your progress.

Meridian Spine and Joint Physiotherapy - North West London
1261 Beaverbrook Ave., Unit 3
London, ON, N6H 0G6

Phone: (519) 472-0454

Karen L Fryday-Field is regulated by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and Physiotherapy Act, 1991 in ON and is a registered member of The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

Registration Number: XXX32

Verify registration with The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: https://portal.collegept.org/en-US/public-register/display-member-contact/?id=8971d95f-8902-e811-813c-480fcff44541

Always consult with your primary healthcare provider before starting any new treatment program.