Rebecca graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. She initially developed her main interest for muscle balance and exercise prescription while working in North Vancouver. This is where she took Shirley Sarhmann’s muscle balance courses that inspired her present focus on specific exercises to treat mechanical dysfunctions. She moved to Banff in 2000 and started working at Banff Physical Therapy. She rapidly developed extensive knowledge in sport rehabilitation. Working monthly with our local orthopaedic surgeons at their intake clinics, Rebecca is always up to date and educated on all of the recent surgical techniques and rehabilitation protocols. This ensures a seamless transfer of patient care from the operating room to the physiotherapy gym. Rebecca also completed her acupuncture certification in 2004. It is through a diligent home exercise program and habitual change of postures that Rebecca believes is the solution to a pain free healthy body. Since arriving in Banff, Rebecca’s family has grown! She now is the mother of 3 active boys. In the winter, you can see her most weekends at Lake Louise. In the summer they are out hiking, biking, and enjoying all the outdoor lakes in the area. Personally, Rebecca keeps fit with boot camp classes, yoga, mountain biking, road biking and trail running with friends. Committed to helping you achieve your physical therapy goals, Rebecca will do everything she can to help you.
Fabienne was born and raised in Banff. After graduating from the Banff Community High School she moved to Edmonton where she completed both a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta.
Fabienne has a decade of experience as a physical therapist and has recently completed her sports physiotherapy diploma after numerous years working with different high-performance athletes. For the past six winters, she has worked for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team at various downhill skiing venues around the globe. She has attended over 50 World Cup ski races, helped prepare athletes for the 2018 Olympics, and has been to three World Championships. She has also worked with many other professional and amateur athletes including professional rock-climbers, big-mountain skiers, elite gymnasts, and hockey players.
Her treatment philosophy is that injuries occur from not only trauma but also dysfunctional movement. She believes assessing global movement patterns and identifying dysfunctional movement patterns is key to understanding pain or dysfunction. She understands that injuries can be difficult and enjoys easing that process.
She uses a variety of hands-on techniques including manual therapy, functional dry needling/IMS, soft tissue release, and exercise based therapy. The goal of these treatments is to individually guide patients in resolving their pain, restoring and optimizing movement, and preventing further injury.
Fabienne competed in many sports including alpine ski racing, gymnastics and varsity level pole vaulting. She also enjoys traveling, playing tennis and golf, and training in Crossfit. It is her love for people and living an active lifestyle that made her choose a career in physiotherapy.
Nani grew up in the Bow Valley and is a climber, mountain biker, and skier. As a current coach and former member of the Youth National Climbing Team, she has both seen and personally experienced many injuries. This fuelled her desire to learn more, and she went on to complete a Bachelor of Kinesiology majoring in Athletic Therapy, as well as a Master of Science with the International Olympic Committee-sanctioned Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre at the University of Calgary. There she had the opportunity to conduct research into youth and adult climbing injury. She went on to complete a Master of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta wanting to further apply this knowledge. She now works as a coach and therapist with the Youth National Climbing Team, Alberta Provincial Team coach, and Head Coach with the Canmore Youth Climbing Team.
Her belief is that guiding post-injury rehabilitation is only a part of what physiotherapy can provide. Rather than simply being reactive, preventing injury should also be a focus. Improving whole body mechanics, and working to strengthen and decrease imbalances will optimize both general health as well as high performance. She uses various soft tissue techniques and manual therapy, dry needling/IMS, and therapeutic exercise in her treatments.
Physiotherapy BSc, MScPT, Functional Dry Needling
Josh was born in Edmonton, where growing up he participated in a variety of sports including baseball, hockey, volleyball and track. He attended the Baseball Academy at St. Francis Xavier High School in Edmonton, where he intended to work towards the goal of playing collegiate baseball, however multiple injuries led Josh to pursue education in Rehabilitation. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Psychology minor at the University of Alberta in 2015, where he worked as an assistant trainer with the University of Alberta baseball team for the 2015 season. Josh then completed a Master of Science of Physical Therapy in August 2019 at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
Josh could not be more excited to call the Bow Valley home. He loves spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, biking and skiing. His new dog Izzy also keeps him very busy, with frequent dog park visits. You can also find Josh working out at Summit Lifestyle and Performance or playing Slow-pitch in the Banff Mixed Slow-pitch League.
As a Physiotherapist, Josh hopes to help others return to the activities they enjoy by guiding and assisting them through the rehabilitation process. Through many sports injuries, Josh knows the difficulties of the recovery process. He will offer consistent communication and an evidence-based practice to meet your recovery goals. His approach to treatment will focus on manual therapy, soft tissue techniques, IMS/dry needling and exercise prescription, to get you back to doing the things you enjoy.
Leah graduated with a Masters of Physiotherapy from Queen’s University and completed a Bachelor of Kinesiology at Dalhousie University. Originally from Nova Scotia, Leah has now ventured to The Rockies for a new adventure after beginning her career in Toronto!
Finding ways to work closely with her patients and returning them to what they enjoy in life, is vital to her treatment plan. Leah takes a holistic, hands-on approach to care, considering all components essential to individualized recovery. She feels an evidence-based approach to treatment is fundamental and loves integrating new skills into her practice. Leah has post-graduate training in dry needling, running rehab, functional mat Pilates, vestibular/concussion rehab and pelvic health.
Leah loves to help athletes and weekend warriors get back to what they love. She has worked closely with runners, cyclists, racquet sport athletes, golfers, and hockey players. She also completed clinical education hours in Melbourne, Australia working with unique high-performance athletes. She is eager to work with the many skiers, hikers and bikers in Banff! Leah has a special interest the pelvic floor and is committed to treating both men and women who suffer from generalized pelvic/low back/hip pain and urogenital/ano-rectal dysfunction. She especially loves to work with concerns related to pregnancy and post-partum recovery throughout the lifespan.
In her spare time Leah enjoys running, golfing, hiking, cycling, skiing, snowshoeing, Pilates, strength training and camping. She is also a skilled baker and loves to provide her friends and family with fresh goodies!