Meet Josh. A Winterberry Physiotherapist.

Tell us about your work at Winterberry Physiotherapy. What’s your role?
I am a registered physiotherapist. Essentially, my role is to determine the source of a patient’s pain or dysfunction and identify the factors contributing to it. These can range from lifestyle factors such as stress, poor sleep, or obesity to muscle imbalances and biomechanical issues. Once an assessment and diagnosis have been established, I determine the appropriate treatment to target the factors causing the problem.

What made you want to work in this area of healthcare?
I grew up playing sports as a kid and had injuries that resulted in working with an athletic therapist. As a teenager, I thought it was the coolest job. I loved science in high school, and at every step of my academics I was drawn toward physiotherapy.

What is the educational background of a physiotherapist? Where did you go to school?
I studied kinesiology at Brock University, graduating with a B.Sc. in Kinesiology. I then went on to study physiotherapy at McMaster University, graduating with an M.Sc. in Physiotherapy. Since then, I have completed numerous continuing education courses and certificates, including an advanced practice certificate that focuses on a wider scope of patient health and overall medical management—such as awareness of standards and criteria for ordering and interpreting imaging, medications, and bloodwork.

What made you want to be part of the Winterberry Physiotherapy team compared to other clinics?
My previous role focused largely on assessing and diagnosing while making treatment recommendations, without providing the therapy myself. I worked in this specialized advanced practice role for several years and was looking to get back to a more traditional therapeutic role. Being connected to a family health team with a large interdisciplinary network was very appealing. It’s crucial to have open lines of communication for our shared patients in terms of timely access to diagnostic imaging, bloodwork, and flagging any potential concerns. I had a very good impression of the clinic, team, and culture here during the interview process, and that has certainly been my experience since starting.

Is there an average day in the clinic for you?
Typically, my day consists of conducting assessments and treatment sessions with clients/patients. Assessments involve listening to the patient and determining which physical tests to conduct. This includes a full medical background and subjective history, followed by observation of factors such as posture and gait. I look at movement patterns and range of motion, assess strength and muscle tightness, and then perform palpation and special tests to establish a diagnosis.
Treatments are typically focused on either “loading” or “unloading.” We may initially want to “unload” a structure via rest, ergonomic changes, bracing, activity modifications, or strengthening surrounding muscle groups. “Loading” involves progressively increasing the amount of force that a structure can handle, usually through a series of exercises that increase its capacity. In my view, these are the most important factors. In-house treatment modalities such as soft tissue release, joint mobilizations, shockwave therapy, ultrasound, and TENS are also used to help control pain and promote tissue recovery.

What is your favourite part of your job?
I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of the job and helping people take control of their pain and injuries. It is a very rewarding profession, being able to see people achieve their goals and return to meaningful activities. I’ve always enjoyed working with people and take pride in providing the best care I can.

When you’re not at Winterberry Physiotherapy, what will we find you doing? (Hobbies, etc.)
My wife and I have three children ranging from 7–12 years old. I coach minor hockey, and my kids play hockey, golf, soccer, and gymnastics—that takes up most of my time. Outside of that, I play hockey, enjoy golfing, and like hitting the gym.