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Why did I become a Physiotherapist?

I always knew I wanted to be in healthcare, it was a question of where. I knew that I wanted to positively impact lives, I wanted to start and end a journey with a patient while seeing positive physical, tangible, objective changes. I also knew I wanted to be instrumental in empowering others and key in increasing their quality of life. So, I decided to become an orthodontist. I had braces later in life (university), removed 6 teeth (it was a humbling chapter) and my orthodontist was cool, calm and collected. The entire experience from installation to removal was empowering. Decision made. After shadowing three
orthodontist and one dentist, I reluctantly studied and wrote the Dental Admission Test (DATs).

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The exam prep brought little joy to my life, I didn’t feel excited for a career in dentistry and with that I cameto the realization that maybe Dentistry was not it, maybe there was

another way, another path. During this time, my youngest brother was going through physiotherapy for an acute knee injurysustained while playing rep soccer. I was his unpaid chauffeur. His physiotherapist was active, engaging,extremely knowledgeable and made rehabilitation fun. He set realistic goals and educated andempowered him throughout the entire process.

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The Physiotherapist saw the journey from beginning toend.  My brother experienced positive, physical, tangible, objective changes. He returned to high repsoccer and received an MVP award that year. Decision made.

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Why did I become a Pelvic Floor Therapist?

 

From 2010 – 2015 I practiced as a Physiotherapist for a highly active population. During this time, I was fortunate to see returning patients for different

injuries and conditions. These in turn referred me to their friends, relatives and partners. We would discuss life events and daily occurrences. Invariably, I was accompanying patients through various stages of their life i.e. dating, engagement, marriage,
pregnancy, post pregnancy. Through it all we discussed everything; be it subjectively random unexplainable low back and hip pain, the resolute strength of mothers everywhere, what amazing
restaurant we were just at, to incontinence and painful intercourse; nothing was left untouched. I started to refer these patients to Pelvic Floor Therapists and realized the significant positive impact that
these specialists had to my patient’s quality of life. They came back empowered. Decision made. Thus, began my journey into pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Joanne Ukposidolo

What is my education & training?

I graduated from McMaster University with a double major in Biology & Psychology (H.BSc, 2007). Shortly after, I completed a two year intensive Masters program in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto (M.Sc PT, 2010).
 

As a lifelong learner, I have taken numerous postgraduate courses for movement systems and
dysfunctions, specific musculoskeletal conditions and kinesiotaping (KT1&KT2)

 

I was intrigued by acupuncture for pain relief and musculoskeletal disorders and became a Certified
Medical Acupuncture Provider through the McMaster Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program (2012). I coupled this course with Functional Integrated Needling for Sports Management in order to design and implement adjunct acupuncture treatment plans for pain relief and muscle activation.

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Orthopedic Courses

 

  • Soft Tissue Release (2011)

  • APTEI: Shoulder Complex Part I & Part II (2011)

  • APTEI: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (2015)

  • APTEI: Advanced Physical Therapy Lumbo-Pelvic Complex (2011)

  • McMaster Contemporary Medical Acupuncture for Health Professionals (2012)

  • Functional Integrated Needling for Sports Injury Management (2013)

  • Canadian Bobath Instructor: The Study of Human Movement (2015)

  • Mulligan Concept: Lower Quadrant (2013)

  • Fundamentals of Kinesio taping: KT1 (2013)

  • Advanced Kinesio taping KT2 (2013)

  • McKenzie- Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy (MDT): Part A Lumbar Spine (2016)

  • Selective Functional Movement Assessment SFMA (2016

  • Fascial Distortion Model (FDM): Lower Body (2016)

  • RedCord Neurac Level I: (2017)

  • RedCord Neurac Level II: Upper & Lower Body with Stimula (2018)

  • Sports First Responder (2015 – Present)

  • Don Joy Service Provider (2018- Present)

 

While working as an orthopedic therapist for many years, I began to understand the importance of
pelvic floor muscles as an integral component of the core unit. I took extensive specialized courses in Pelvic Health pertaining to urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, chronic and acute pelvic pain, gastro-intestinal disorders and pre and post-natal conditions. I am a Certified Pelvic Floor Therapist and a passionate educator and advocator when it comes to core musculature, including proper breathing techniques and its incorporation into rehabilitation and performance.
 

Pelvic Health Courses

 

  • Non-Internal Introductory Pelvic Floor (2014)

  • The Diaphragm/Pelvic Floor Piston for Adult Population (2015)

  • Level I: The Physical Therapy Approach to Male & Female Urinary Incontinence (2016)

  • Level II: Female and Male Pelvic Pain (2016)

  • Pregnancy & the Pelvic Floor (2016)

  • Pelvic Girdle Pain & The Pelvic Floor (2016)

  • Level III: Clinical Skills for Treating Pain (2017)

  • The Female Athlete: Bulletproof your Core & Pelvic Floor (2017)

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders & The Pelvic Floor (2018)

  • The Use of Pessaries for Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation (2019)

 

I am a member of Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Orthopedic and Sports Division and Women’s Health Division.

What are my areas of focus?


Orthopaedic & Sports Physiotherapy

 

  • Repetitive Strains & Sprains

  • Tendinopathies

  • Postural Conditions

  • Low back pain

  • Lumbopelvic dysfunction

  • SIJ pain

  • Muscular Imbalances

  • Temporomandibular Disorders

  • Shoulder impingement

  • Rotator Cuff Syndromes

  • Post-Operative Rehabilitation

  • Acupuncture

  • Dry Needling

  • Kinesiotaping

  • Don Joy Brace Provider

 

Pelvic floor Physiotherapy

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I am passionate about women’s health and wellness and work on

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  • Stress Urinary Incontinence

  • Urge Urinary Incontinence

  • Mixed Urinary Incontinence

  • Overactive Bladder

  • Urinary Hesitancy/Dyssynergia

  • Bowel Dysfunction

  • Pregnancy and post-partum pain and incontinence

  • Endometriosis

  • Pudendal Neuralgia

  • Interstitial Cystitis (IC or painful bladder syndrome)

  • Levator Ani Syndrome

  • Dyspaerunia

  • Coccydynia

  • Vulvodynia

  • Vestibulodynia (Vulvar Vestibulitis)

  • Vaginismus

  • Clitoridynia and PGAD

  • Bladder Pain Syndrome

  • Pelvic girdle pain

  • Diastasis Recti Abdominus (DRA or “Mummy Tummy”)

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse

What do I love about being a physiotherapist?

I love empowering people! Physical and mental health are so intertwined, and I enjoy being an active key component in increasing my patient’s quality of life! Whether by educating individuals about their condition, or actively engaging patients in order to achieve their specific rehabilitation goals, I am here for all of it. Let’s get you moving, pain free and, returning to activities that bring you joy!
 

As a Physiotherapist, I have been blessed to have awesome patients; you are all inspiring. There is
always a lesson to be learned and a reason to pause and self-reflect. I love working in this field, I’m constantly in awe of the human body. More importantly, faced with patients who are currently
physically compromised, I am constantly challenged to appreciate my privilege and ability to walk, run, jump, swim, to move!

What are the techniques I use most?

In addition to core Physiotherapy training and assessments I utilize Selective Functional Movement Screen assessments (SFMA) and Neuromuscular activation in order to identify root causes of injuries, limitations or muscular imbalances. I work collaboratively with patients in an active holistic approach using manual therapy, soft tissue techniques, exercise prescription and physical modalities (i.e. ultrasound and acupuncture) for pain control.
 

I’m a firm believer in educating patients about their condition, providing postural correction and activity modification in order to treat and prevent re-injury.
 

As a certified Pelvic Floor therapist, I am an enthusiastic educator when it comes to core musculature including proper breathing techniques and its incorporation into rehabilitation and performance. I use this knowledge in addition to mindfulness and intention in all areas of my practice.

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  • Manual therapy

  • Soft Tissue Release

  • Active Tissue Release

  • Kinesiotaping

  • Don Joy Bracing

  • Acupuncture

  • Exercise Prescription

  • Selective Functional Movement Assessments

  • Red Cord Neurac: Neuromuscular activation

  • Modalities

What attracted me most to team-based health?

The awesome complexity of the human body attracted me to a team-based health approach. We are not one-dimensional beings, every person is unique, root causes are sometimes not easily identifiable and factors that contribute to symptoms or delay/impede recovery can be stealth and multifaceted. To address these multilayers there needs to be a holistic, collaborative, multidisciplinary team-based
approach. A health care team that can assess, educate, refer, rehab, prevent, and maintain an individual to lead their best life provides this high quality of care and it is what drew me to team-based health.

If I’m not at work, where can you find me?

Outside of the clinic, I have a healthy obsession with playing squash, ultimate frisbee and any High
Intensity Interval Training classes/activity. I respect yoga (please read; I fear yoga. The tightness

everywhere forces me to attend on an intermittent basis. Every sweaty moment I am there I want to cry. However, my body feels great during and after, I glow from within and my skin is as radiant as 10,000 suns. Having said that, throughout the entire ordeal I yearn for the end pose, my favourite pose, shavasana) I understand that it is the physical tax I must pay to continue quick bursts sports and activities. I enjoy defying gravity and love hiking mountains. I love travelling and immersing myself in cultures. I come back renewed, recharged and with a higher appreciation for life. I read quite a bit; it feeds my soul. Let’s make a book club! Also, I really enjoy food. I’m thinking about what I want to eat 75% of the time.

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