Welcome to Rankin Physiotherapy.
My name is Susan Rankin and my practice is focused on physiotherapy treatments related to facial nerve damage and vestibular (balance & dizziness) problems. View the Treatment List here.
Please use this site to familiarize yourself with my services and request appointments.
Susan Rankin; Physiotherapist, BSc.PT; MHSc
Certified Vestibular Therapist
On May 25 to 27, Susan Rankin successfully completed the Shift Concussion Management course.
Post concussion syndrome was presented as a “brain energy” issue. Many of the symptoms post-concussion include dizziness, headache, nausea, fatigue, and fogginess caused by the brain’s inability to produce the energy required to sustain its normal processes.
Rest is important for a few days up to 2 weeks, but interspersed with daily walking, no sleeping in the daytime and eliminating visual tasks. Yes, that means no computers, no phones and no TV.
Music, talking-books and walking outside are all encouraged in the early stages. Then a balance between vestibular, visual-motor, and cervical treatments should begin as the symptoms subside.
In order to achieve good results all areas need to be assessed and treated.
Jackie Diels and Susan Rankin held a 3-day workshop to advance train 6 more facial therapists.
From left to right in the picture are: Heather Bhide, Helen Gatling-Austin, Erica Pitsch, Jackie Diels, Susan Rankin, Heather Smith, Jessica Johnson and Matt Ban.
Their contact information is listed below:
I’m pleased to let you know that Jay Cooling, PT and Advanced trained Facial Therapist has just launched a private, mobile physiotherapy service. He will be seeing people in the comfort of their own homes anywhere from Strathmore to Calgary, Alberta. He can be reached by phone at 1-403-969-1477 or by email:
jaycooling@physioonthemove.ca
Check it out at www.physioonthemove.ca
Jay recently assisted with the latest Calgary Advanced training workshop. I wish him all the best as he embarks on this next phase in his professional career.
In the United Kingdom it’s Facial Palsy Awareness Week.
On November 3, 2017, amid swirling snow and minus temperatures, the Introductory Facial Neuromuscular Retraining course took place in Calgary. 9 therapists from Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer were in attendance with a variety of professional backgrounds: speech language pathologists, physical therapists and an occupational therapist.
On the following two days, November 4 and 5, six therapists continued on to do the Advanced Facial Neuromuscular Retraining workshop. This involved seeing a wonderful group of facial patients who gave up their time to be models for the learning therapists. The participants practiced assessment, education and treatment with support of experienced therapists: Susan Rankin, Pauline Dueck, Kristin Bell, Heather Brickwell, Jay Cooling, and our special guest, Jackie Diels. There was a lot of learning happening for everyone as the experienced therapists also picked up tips from each other.
The new advanced trained Alberta facial therapists are: Karrie Page, Karen Schultz and Nathan Doerksen from Red Deer. Sarah Cote-Lechelt, Tania Buchanan and Jana Rieger are from Edmonton.
Contact Information:
Nathan Doerksen, Physical Therapist
Red Deer Hospital, Out Patient Physiotherapy Department
tel: 403-406-5538
nathan.doerksen@albertahealthservices.ca
Karrie Page, Registered Speech Language Pathologist
Red Deer Hospital, Red Deer Alberta
tel: 403-342-8678
Karrie.page@ahs.ca
Karen Schultz, Physical Therapist
Red Deer Hospital, Out Patient Physiotherapy Department
tel: 1-403-406-5538
karen.schultz2@albertahealthservices.ca
Tania Buchanan, Occupational Therapist
Edmonton, Alberta (sees adults and paediatric patients in Edmonton)
taniabuchanan24@gmail.com
Sarah Cote-Lechelt, Physical Therapist
Blue Quill Physical Therapy, Edmonton, Alberta
tel: (780)988-2222
Sardave@shaw.ca
Jana Rieger, Speech Language Pathologist
University of Alberta
jana.rieger@ualberta.ca
The 13th International Facial Nerve Symposium (IFNS) was held August 3 to August 6, 2017 in Los Angeles.
The IFNS is held every 4 years and brings together Facial Plastic Surgeons, Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons, Head and Neck surgeons as well as Facial Therapists. There were 500 people from all over the world in attendance.
I had the opportunity to meet therapists from Belgium, Brazil, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain and of course the US, among other places. As a facial therapist these Symposia allow me to share ideas about how we treat the face with others who share a similar passion for their work.
The next International Facial Nerve Symposium will be held in Seoul, Korea in 2021.
The article, linked below, outlines the “SO STONED” mnemonic used in the diagnosis of vertigo.
The article written by Wuyts, Van Rompaey, and Maes has eight different dimensions that characterize vertigo complaints and help clinicians in their diagnosis.
You can read the article here.
A recent article in the New York Times provides some interesting insights on the topic of dizziness.
“Dizziness is not a disease but rather a symptom that can result from a huge variety of underlying disorders or, in some cases, no disorder at all.”
You can read the article here.
Here’s an interesting article from the Burnaby Hearing Centre related to how Yoga can help improve your balance. Click on the image below.
This past week-end was an incredible time of learning and sharing. Three new Physiotherapists came to learn their Advanced Techniques in Facial Neuromuscular Retraining. We spent time discussing, assessing, and treating a variety of facial palsy patients.
Thank you to all my patients who so generously offered their time while allowing us to scrutinize their faces. Thanks also to Maria Zerjav who kindly gave us access to her clinic and provided valuable assistance.
The three new Physiotherapists are:
Kirsty Nicol who works at Neuromotion Physiotherapy, 303-531 Yates St., Victoria, (250-590-7878). I am very pleased to have someone in Victoria who can see island patients.
Sarah Kennedy who works from Westside Physiotherapy and Hand Clinic, 230-1245 West Broadway, Vancouver (604-731-6225). Sarah joins Maria Zerjav who owns and works at the same clinic and was advanced trained in February.
Christina Wong works at Electra Health Floor, 970 Burrard St. and 535 Hornby St., Vancouver, (604-685-4325). Christina’s practice is conveniently located in downtown Vancouver near St Paul’s Hospital.
