West Vancouver Physiotherapy Team
Improve Mobility
The West Vancouver Physiotherapy team brings 12 + years of experience providing physiotherapy care for common conditions like soft tissue injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, nerve pain, post-MVA (ICBC), work injuries and sports-related injuries. Physiotherapy is used to treat a wide variety of physical injuries that stem from disease and illness in addition to physical injury.
Our professional Physiotherapy team specializes in treating a variety of physical difficulties, including injury recovery, neurological rehabilitation, active release techniques, acupuncture, and Graston Technique. Bookmark the West Vancouver Physiotherapy Team page or future reference.
Physiotherapy Experience
With over 12+ years of physiotherapy experience Ren has worked with individuals recovering from motor vehicle collisions & post-operative procedures (e.g. ligament repairs and joint replacements), to those with neurological conditions (e.g. cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries), and with athletes from the recreational to Olympic level.
CONDITIONS WE SEE
Osteoarthritis, Running injuries (ITB / PFPS / Jumper’s knee / plantar fasciitis…), Tennis injuries, Dance injuries, Sports injuries, Degenerative disc disease, Disc herniation / bulge, Spinal stenosis, Muscle pain, Joint pain, Muscle Strains, Ligament Sprains, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Repetitive Strain Injuries, Bunions, Foot pain (bunions / arch pain /heel pain), Osteoporosis, Post-surgical Rehabilitation (knees, hips, ankles, feet, spine, hands…), SI joint pain, Sciatica
Physiotherapy Approach
Ren takes a comprehensive treatment approach that focuses on empowering clients with education on their clinical findings, providing effective therapeutic exercises and identifying injury prevention strategies. Treatment modalities and manual therapies are carefully selected and utilized to facilitate the rehabilitation process. Ren’s comprehensive approach also encourages collaborations with other health professionals such as RMT’s DC’s, MD’s, ND’s, and Certified Pedorthists.
TREATMENT METHODS:
Manual therapy, Active rehabilitation, Electrotherapy, Acupuncture, Deep Tissue Massage, Soft Tissue Manipulation, Joint mobilization, Athletic Taping, Traction, Balance Training / Fall Prevention, Functional Stability Training, Functional Strengthening
Leslie Farrar
Leslie is an experienced therapist who graduated with her Physiotherapy degree from McMaster University in 2001. Leslie holds numerous post-graduate courses in movement retraining (Shirley Sahrmann, Cuveas MEDEK Exercises- Level Two), Orthopedic Manual Therapy (Level One), and Neurodevelopmental Therapy- Intermediate. Leslie was a Professional Associate of the McMaster University School of Health Sciences and has been involved in research projects at various major rehabilitation facilities.
With a wealth of clinical experience that spans across neurological, pediatric and musculoskeletal/orthopedic practice settings, Leslie brings a very functional and personalized approach to help each client optimize their health and performance. The implications of alignment and motor control lie at the heart of her assessment and treatment planning in order for clients to achieve their functional goals. Leslie offers additional experience in infant development, torticollis, developmental orthopedics and disabilities, as well as stroke and neurological rehabilitation. Leslie has a special interest in supporting women and older adults to optimize their health and fitness.
About
Leslie moved to BC from Ontario 10 years ago, with her husband and young family of three boys at the time. She has been very involved volunteering within her sons’ school (who are now all in high school) and within the North Shore community. Her clinical practice has spanned a wide range of environments (private practice, community rehabilitation, and acute care) and she is truly excited to now practice within her local West Vancouver community to support individuals of all abilities to optimize their health!
When not in the clinic, you will find Leslie out and about on the North Shore on a rugby or soccer field, or running our gorgeous BC trails with her lab and Great Dane. Having been born and raised in Ontario, Leslie finds the beauty of the west coast to be a renewing source of energy that is enjoyed every day!
Why Leslie became a Physiotherapist
Leslie has always been an energetic, athletic and optimistic individual. She knew from a young age that she wanted to help individuals of all abilities to optimize their health and abilities. Physiotherapy allowed Leslie to combine her love for working with a wide variety of people, including athletes, children with special needs, and older adults, with a focused skill set to maximize health and activity. Leslie thrives on the connection built with clients in helping them to achieve personal success and enjoy the process!
Athletics
Throughout her youth, Leslie competed as a gymnast and as a field hockey player at the provincial, national and varsity levels. As an adult, Leslie has been an avid runner, completing numerous marathons, half marathons and has adventured into the 5 Peaks Mountain Running Trail Races. As a mom to three active teenage sons, Leslie has also learned to ropes of rugby, football and freestyle skiing. She has also been a volunteer coach with West Vancouver Soccer throughout the past eight years.
Something you should know about Leslie
Leslie loves to learn about others’ backgrounds and adventures! Leslie lived in Japan for a year (and loves to practice the few Japanese words she can still muster), speaks conversational French and travels for experience every chance she can.
Cassidy Swenson
Qualifications:
Cassidy graduated from the Master’s of Physical Therapy program at the University of British Columbia after completing her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. She also has her Level 1 Manual Therapy Certification.
Specialties/Approach:
Cassidy has experience with many different client populations including athletes, geriatrics, neurological populations, post-surgical, and chronic pain. Regardless of the injury or condition, Cassidy takes a goal-oriented approach and strives to get her clients back to doing the things that are important to them.
About:
Cassidy grew up as a highly competitive dancer and continued as a dance teacher while completing her education. In her spare time you can find Cassidy outdoors, whether it be hiking, kayaking, camping, watching the sunset, or playing spikeball at the beach.
Why she became an PT:
Cassidy always was very interested in human anatomy and physiology and its connection to movement. She decided that combining her interests with helping others would make for a very exciting and rewarding career!
Athletics:
Cassidy lives an active lifestyle and is always out hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, jogging, or biking. After a long hiatus, she is also getting back into skiing! In her past, she was also a part of a variety of semi-professional dance companies based out of Vancouver, BC.
Something you should know about her:
Cassidy is actually a small town girl at heart! She grew up on a small farm before venturing out to the big city.
Elliott Marsh
Education:
Masters of Science in Physiotherapy with honors from the University of East Anglia (UK).
Masters of Kinesiology and Coaching Science from the University of British Columbia.
Bachelors of Kinesiology and Health Science from the University of British Columbia.
Member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia.
Continuing professional development courses in: Myofascial soft tissue release, Kinesio-Tape, Reconciling Biomechanics and Pain Science, Concussion and Vestibular Rehabilitation and Functional Dry Needling.
Experience/Approach:
Elliott believes that physiotherapy should be holistic in nature, considering the impacts of physical injury on a patient’s work- and social-life. Physiotherapists should seek to provide patients with the clinical expertise to aid in the rehabilitation of current injuries, while also empowering patients through education. In doing so, physiotherapists are able to help in the prevention of re-injury enabling patients to continue pursuing the activities that are meaningful to them. He Currently coaches and provides athletic therapy services for high-performance field hockey players at Rob Short Coaching Academy.
Elliot has experience as Head Physiotherapist for the Canadian Women’s National Field Hockey Team and as the Athletic therapist for the UBC Varsity Women’s Field Hockey Team 2010-2012.
Athletics:
Played field hockey internationally for the Canadian Senior Men’s and Junior Men’s National Field Hockey Teams from 2007-2013.
Despite having retired from competitive international competition, Elliott still enjoys pushing his mental and physical limits. Elliott is currently competing in off-road triathlon and looking to qualify for the World Championships in Maui. Outside of competition-related training, Elliott can often be found enjoying all that the pacific northwest has to offer. From backcountry skiing and surfing in the winter, to mountain biking, trail running and rock climbing in the summer, Elliott finds he feels most like himself when he is out in the elements. If you happen to be out in the North Shore trails keep your eyes peeled for Elliott and his two dogs Quinn and Kaia.
