Physiotherapists are university educated healthcare practitioners who specialize in restoring movement and function.

Your session may include a combination of education, manual therapy, cupping, IMS/Dry Needling, education and exercise prescription.

Exercise and performance based physiotherapy is for those who are working towards strength and aerobic based goals. Whether you are wanting to try running your first 5k or are working towards a long backcountry hike, I will tailor each training program to your needs and goals. I assesses the physical requirements of your activity and I will put you on the most optimal path to getting you there pain free. My programming for each client may include, but is not limited to, resistance training & weight lifting, stretching, Pilates and aerobic conditioning.

Most sessions booked with me under this treatment will be spent almost solely in the large, fully equipped gym that the clinic is located in. We will spend the time reviewing & performing your exercise plan.

Please note, if you are wanting to work on a reformer (Clinical Pilates), please book in with me at Gastown Physio & Pilates, located in Gastown, Vancouver.

Dry needling, also referred to as Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS), is a therapeutic modality used by highly trained Physiotherapists. It is based on his understanding of neuromuscular physiology and the concept of neuropathic pain. In IMS, fine needles are inserted into myofascial trigger points, which are hyperirritable spots within muscles and surrounding tissues. These trigger points can cause pain and dysfunction due to the sensitization of nerve pathways. By stimulating these points with needles, IMS aims to elicit a "twitch response" or a reflex contraction, which in turn helps reset the nervous system, improve blood flow, and promote healing in the affected areas. This approach, rooted in modern pain science, distinguishes IMS from traditional acupuncture and emphasizes the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying muscular pain and dysfunction. This treatment can be a part of a regular Physiotherapy appointment and does not need to be booked separately.

A 60-minute in depth assessment on our treadmill is for those who may be having trouble resolving a running-related injury with conventional treatment or is looking to improve their running technique and performance.

These assessments are focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of running injuries and will also including analysis of your shoes and general movement patterns before the treadmill assessment. Your assessment includes:

1. Detailed review of your running history

2. Detailed physical examination to assess range of motion, strength, mobility, flexibility and neuromuscular control

3. Video analysis of your running technique on our treadmill

4. A biomechanical analysis and assessment of your running mechanics

5. Science-backed suggestions on how to improve your running technique to help with injury recovery/prevention and improvement of your running effectiveness

6. Training advice, gait retraining strategies based on your analysis and personalized home exercise program

7. Advice on running shoes and footwear

Clinical Pilates is used for patient-specific treatment, with the goal of increasing strength, mobility and increasing overall body awareness. Clinical Pilates has been adapted by healthcare professionals from the work of Joseph Pilates and is performed on a mat, reformer, or chair. The benefits of Clinical Pilates is that it combines the expertise of a Physiotherapist’s knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, rehabilitation and injury prevention, with the effective method and principles of Pilates. Each session is facilitated by a Registered Physiotherapist (me!), and will focus on the basic principles of breathing, spinal alignment, muscles mobility & strength, and deep abdominal connection. 

*Please note - this service is only available at Gastown Physio & Pilates. Please book accordingly.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialized branch of physiotherapy that treats dysfunctions involved in urinary, bowel and sexual functions. The muscles are located in the pelvic bowl between the sacrum and the hip bones, and can be assessed both internally and externally. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help treat the following:

-Urinary incontinence, frequency & urgency

-Pain in the hips, sacrum, SI joints, low back, abdomen and thighs

-Diastasis recti rehab

-Pregnancy related pain

-Postpartum care

-Cesarean rehabilitation

-Round Ligament Pain

-Tailbone pain

-Pelvic organ prolapse

-Painful intercourse

-Chronic pelvic pain

-Plus many other conditions and dysfunctions