After having our first child in March 2019, my wife and I decided that it was time to relocate from our small apartment in downtown Toronto. We looked at many different options, but after much debate, we decided that Peterborough would be the right spot for us!

Just an hour outside of Toronto, but with full access to all of the outdoor activities we love, the Kawartha region seemed to call our name. In November 2019, we bought our first house and moved to the west side of Peterborough shortly after!

Once we knew where we would be living, it was time to focus on our work goals. After speaking with a few colleagues that own physiotherapy clinics in Peterborough, namely Connor Massimo at Pulse Physiotherapy and Michael Williams at Trent Health in Motion, it quickly became apparent that there were two underserviced populations in Peterborough – people with neurological and complex injuries, and people who want or need physiotherapy in the community setting. It just so happens that isexactly what Propel Physiotherapy is all about!

After learning about the gap in care, it was an easy decision for me to propose staying on with Propel Physiotherapy and take the lead role in extending our services into this great community. Propel’s management was in agreement, and as of January 2020 we had launched mobile physiotherapy in Peterborough – one of its first mobile physiotherapy clinics.

Since that time, our new home and new city have surpassed all expectations! There has been an overwhelming feeling of connection, especially in the health care world. Every time I mention that I’m new to Peterborough and expanding our business from Toronto, I am met with great words of encouragement, sent a new referral or contact, and happily welcomed into the community.

Through spreading the word about this new service we are bringing to the area, I have made several great connections with people and businesses that have been serving this region for years, including Kim Lamont & Associates Occupational Therapists (a great team of occupational therapists who provide care in the community), Home Instead Senior Care and Comfort Keepers (two amazing organizations that provide a wide range of in-home senior care services), and Activity Haven (a terrific senior’s centre that organizes a wide range of activities and events).

So now that I’ve told you about my story in coming to Peterborough, I want to tell you all about Propel Physiotherapy’s mobile services.

Mobile physiotherapy is the practice of providing physiotherapy assessment and treatment to clients outside of the clinic-based setting. Specifically, I can treat clients in their homes, in the gym, a community pool, their residence, hospitals, schools or any community setting.

During my last nine years with Propel, mobile physiotherapy has been an essential part of my practice, allowing me to see clients that otherwise would never have been able to come through our doors. Mobile physiotherapy allows for access to physiotherapy services for individuals who are unable to come into the clinic for a variety of reasons. It is particularly beneficial for individuals who have difficulty accessing our services in the clinic.

For example, people with severe mobility impairments, those unable to organize transportation, or people living with significant anxiety or stress when exiting their home can still access our services. However, it can also be very useful for people with busy work or school schedules, who just can’t find the time to get into a regular clinic.

Mobile physiotherapy allows for physiotherapy sessions whenever it works for your schedule – early morning, lunch break, or after you get home. For example, one client who was swamped at work and had a busy family life asked if I could come to his home before his kids woke up for the initial assessment, and then had a follow up session at his office! It was the perfect way to address his injury, without having to sacrifice time with his family or busy work schedule.

As part of our mobile or community physiotherapy offering, we provide the following services and therapies:

The Benefits of Mobile Physiotherapy in Peterborough

From countless discussions I’ve had so far with other healthcare providers in the community, there is a clear need for mobile physiotherapists to connect with the clients in Peterborough and surrounding areas who are unable to attend clinic-based services.

Providing assessment and treatment in the spaces where my clients live, work and play allows me to evaluate firsthand where there may be issues and help to address these issues in order to help clients achieve their goals. It also allows me to evaluate an individual’s functional limitations or barriers to a task-specific movement.

For example, while working with an elderly client who sustained a traumatic brain injury, I realized that despite doing well in the clinic setting, my recommendations were not carrying over to his home. We had been practicing using two handrails while going up and down the stairs to ensure his safety, and he was able to complete this task at the clinic. However, after speaking with his occupational therapist, she noted that he looked very unsafe in his home. The solution was to work on this skill repetitively in his home. His wife and occupational therapist noticed a significant change after completing these mobile physiotherapy sessions.

Working together with family members and other health care providers can often lead to different perspectives on the physical, psychological, financial and social needs of the client that might not otherwise be seen in a clinical setting. This can be particularly important in cases involving traumatic brain injury and other neurological injuries.

Physiotherapy for Complex Injuries in Peterborough

There has been a tremendous need for specialized physiotherapy services in the Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes area for people recovering from catastrophic injuries, due to motor vehicle or workplace injuries.

Propel Physiotherapy Peterborough is proud to now be able to provide trusted and experienced complex neurological and orthopedic physiotherapy care for people living in this region. This includes a range of neurological injuries from concussion to severe brain injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and orthopaedic injuries such as hip fractures, shoulder surgeries, chronic back or neck pain.

Our service area covers an approximated 100km radius (or 1-hour drive) around PeterboroughFor any clients outside this radius, treatment options can be negotiated with the individual clinician on a case-by-case basis.

Fees for community physiotherapy include our standard rates for the duration of the session, plus travel time to and from the client.  These services are covered by health insurance providers, equivalent to a typical clinic-based session.

For more information about our mobile community physiotherapy services, please contact our clinic administrative team.

Written by

David Friesen
David FriesenRegistered Physiotherapist
David Friesen is focused on developing innovative and individualized programs to rehabilitate people who have sustained a neurological injury, including stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, as well as complex orthopedic injuries. At Propel, he pursues his passion for helping people work towards their full potential, no matter their limitations or backgrounds. The capacity for recovery following a neurological injury is his driving force.

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