Physiotherapy Services

Physiotherapy at Ascent is an elevated experience. Individual appointments with an experienced and knowledgeable physiotherapist will get you back feeling and moving your best, quickly.

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Physiotherapy at Ascent

Our approach is different

Our advanced physiotherapy is based on active rehabilitation and education and supplemented with hands-on therapy. Through the /Ascent /Approach that includes comprehensive treatment options and unhurried one-on-one appointments, most patients can expect to be feeling better in five to seven visits. We believe that staying active is key to maintaining health and our physiotherapists are here to support your activity and lifestyle goals..

Sessions with our physiotherapy center are longer than most Calgary physiotherapy sessions so you can get more out of each appointment and have confidence that you will receive the best care possible.

Our team of experienced physiotherapists care about each patient and their goals. Our approach is backed by science and gets meaningful and lasting results. Through full body assessments and achievable plans, our goal is to offer the best available manual therapy and exercise rehabilitation programming in a positive environment.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Assessment

We implement a full body and movement-based approach to uncover even the most subtle areas of dysfunction.

Manual Therapy

We start with reducing tension and soreness in soft tissues and restoring mobility of the joints.

Exercise and Movement Therapy

Our sessions have a strong emphasis on teaching personalized mobility, control and strength exercises.

Resilience

We are here to help you feel and move your best for the long term. Protect your body and increase capacity and longevity for the active life you want.

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Testimonials

“An awesome place with incredible practitioners! Physiotherapist Chad Piper was amazing and figured out what was wrong with my lower back when no one else could. After the first time seeing him he helped me tremendously. Chad gave me the tools to strengthen and prevent future lower back injury. I’m very lucky to be strong and healthy now and continue to play my sports!”

– Patrice

“Thank you Natasha Lohues for the treatment plan, providing much need relief, sound advise and a rehab program that brought me back 100% after a workplace injury. Also, as this was my first time to Ascent Health and Sport Therapy, I received a warm welcome from Janine Bain and all staff I encounter. I highly recommend this amazing team of professionals. Truly,”

Janet I

“Ascent is such a wonderful place! I decided to seek out a physiotherapist to help me recover from some post-pregnancy pain and I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what to expect. My experience exceeded my expectations in a big way! Chelsea is the BEST. She is non-judgemental, incredibly knowledgeable, a good listener and so friendly. She has helped me strengthen my body in a way to ease my hip and back pain and her dry needling service has almost eliminated my jaw tension. The front desk staff is also always welcoming and it’s so easy to book and reschedule appointments online. Couldn’t recommend it enough.”

-Ryan

“I had hurt my ankle while running and was uncertain of what to do. I was referred from a friend to go see Natasha and I’m so happy I did! I was given great treatment and a treatment plan to get me back to running, cycling, and playing hockey. She outlined the healing process of my injury and the progressions that I’ll need to take to get back to a full recovery. I couldn’t recommend enough going to see Natasha to help you get back to your full health!”

-Brendan

Additional Therapies

Physiotherapy sessions at Ascent are comprehensive and often include multiple treatment options, such as:

IMS Acupuncture and Dry Needling

A small and thin acupuncture needle is used to relax tight muscles and stimulate the healing of over-sensitive nerves. It also helps stimulate the body to release the body’s own painkillers.

Shockwave

Shockwave, or extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ECSWT), is a non-surgical, non-invasive tool that accelerates healing and regenerates damaged tissue. It is often most effective in cases where the body has not been able to heal itself on its own.

Exercise Therapy

Our Calgary Physiotherapists are experts in using movement and exercises as medicine. Exercise prescriptions will help you rebuild and maintain your joint and soft tissue health for the long term.

Pelvic Health

Pelvic Health Physiotherapy focuses on assessing and improving the function of the pelvic floor muscles from both an internal and external approach.

Functional Range Systems

Functional Range Systems, or FRS® is a powerful one-of-a-kind approach to help increase useable range of motion, improve articular mobility, improve neurological control, increase strength/resilience, enhance athletic performance, decrease incidence of injury, and improve recovery from injuries..

Vestibular Therapy

The vestibular system includes the parts of your inner ear that sense head position and movement.

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Practitioners

Chad Piper

Physiotherapist

Chad believes that active participation from both therapist and patient is essential to rehabilitation and injury prevention and is looking forward to helping people on their journey back to the mount …
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Chelsea Darrach

Physiotherapist

Chelsea always played competitive sports, and since moving to Alberta has become passionate about ski-mountaineering, rock climbing, and mountain biking. She draws on her knowledge of these activitie …
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Natasha Lohues

Physio & Pelvic Health

Natasha is a big believer in the power of movement and loves to help people achieve their goals, no matter how big or small! …
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Our Team

Conditions

Our Calgary physiotherapists are highly experienced and can work with you in a variety of ways to address these issues to maximize your overall physical health, fitness, and well-being.

Some of the common conditions we treat include:

Muscular and joint aches and pains
Neck pain
Headaches
Migraines
Back pain
Sciatica
Disc bulge and herniation
Sports and recreation injuries
Chronic pain
Osteoarthritic pain
Knee pain
Joint replacements
Pelvic health
Vertigo and dizziness
Concussion management
Pregnancy related back and pelvic girdle pain
Pre- and post-operative rehabilitation
Pediatrics
Motor vehicle accident and WCB injuries
Anyone looking to lead a more active and healthier lifestyle

FAQ

What can I expect during a physiotherapy session at Ascent?

Physiotherapy sessions are comprehensive! Initial assessments are 1 hour in length and subsequent visits are 30 minutes. During your first visit, the physiotherapist will want to know about your health history as well as your current complaint. Your home and work life as well as your level of physical activity may also affect your health, so don’t be surprised to be asked questions about these. We take our time to get to know you and your goals.

You can expect a combination of hands-on treatment in addition to exercise and movement-based therapy during each visit with your NW Calgary physiotherapist. In addition, our physiotherapists are also trained in cupping, medical acupuncture, dry needling, kinesiotaping, Functional Range Systems, and Hypopressive Training (Pelvic Health and core).

What makes physiotherapy at Ascent different?

If you have been to physiotherapy in the past, expect a different experience at Ascent. Our physiotherapy sessions seek to spend more time with you, the patient – no more hand-offs to assistants. Feel confident about your care with a detailed treatment plan outlining exactly how we will work together to reach your goals. Count on a team approach with expert communication between your therapist and your healthcare team. Expect more from your therapists and find an elevated experience through the /Ascent /Approach.

Do I need a doctor’s referral or prescription to see a physiotherapist?

Nope, you do not! In Canada, physiotherapists are primary healthcare providers, and everyone has direct access to physiotherapy services. This means you do not need a referral from your doctor before you see a physiotherapist. Keep in mind, some insurance companies may require a referral from your doctor to receive reimbursement for your treatment. We advise you to check with your insurance provider to determine their requirements.

I was referred to another clinic by my doctor. Can I still come to Ascent for physiotherapy treatment?

Definitely!
You are in control of choosing the healthcare provider you feel will work best for you. At Ascent we want to empower everyone to take the time in selecting the health care professional that aligns best with their values and goals. If you are still unsure if Ascent is the right fit for you, consider booking a free 15-minute consultation with one of our physiotherapists. They will be happy more than happy to speak with you.

How long will I need treatment?

This is a common question. The number of treatments will depend on a few different factors including the nature and severity of your injury, your general health and physical fitness levels, and your personal goals. With many injuries, we find people will begin to feel better after 3 to 4 treatments.
Additional treatment after the pain has resolved may be something to consider if your goals center around returning to activity, maintaining mobility and strength, or preventing future injuries. Our Calgary sports physiotherapists will work with you to determine the optimal frequency and number of treatments but ultimately, it is always the patient’s choice.

What should I wear to my appointment?

Wear something comfortable, easy to move in, and that will allow your therapist easy access to the area being treated. If we are looking at the shoulder or neck, tank tops or sports bras work great. If we are focussing on the knee or hip, shorts are ideal.

I’m in a lot of pain today, should I still come in for my appointment?

Definitely!
We understand that when you’re in pain, you don’t feel like yourself. Some of our goals through physiotherapy center around pain control and providing you tools to manage this pain. In the clinic, when pain levels are high, we can utilize different manual therapy techniques and modalities to settle your symptoms at the physiotherapy centre. In addition, we can provide you with self-management techniques to continue at home.