Kristina Guy has a simple message — physiotherapy does not have to hurt.
A physiotherapist at UHN for the past 23 years, Kristina now works on Unit 1 at Toronto Rehab, Lyndhurst Centre, helping people with spinal cord injuries redefine their future.
From hydrotherapy sessions to seating assessments and wheelchair skills training, her days are always full and often long.
“I would say that stretching and strengthening exercises are components of our work in physiotherapy, but mostly we are problem solvers,” says Kristina.
“We are experts in movement and I hope it’s becoming less common that people believe physiotherapy has to be painful to be effective.”
Working with the spinal cord injured population across all the continuum of services, Kristina understands the broad scope of physiotherapy and the value its practitioners bring.
“What has become very clear is that a physiotherapist can have a really meaningful impact on the lives of patients far beyond the time they interact with us formally,” says Kristina.
“We provide care based on our unique skills and areas of expertise that patients value immensely.”
At UHN, more than 450 physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants serve thousands of patients across all clinical programs. They are integral members of clinical, research, and education teams working in a variety of clinical settings across the organization. These settings include critical care, emergency care, medical and surgical units, inpatient and outpatient rehab, transitional care units and complex continuing care.
“We are essential members of the UHN Team that play a vital role in helping patients regain movement, function and independence,” says Linda Pugliese, Discipline Coordinator – Physiotherapy at UHN.
“Working in a variety of clinical settings along the continuum of care, we use our clinical expertise and skills to provide patient-centered care, optimize physical function and most importantly improve the patient’s overall quality of life,” Linda says.
When Jean Dilag starts her workday as a physiotherapist assistant, she’s not only preparing equipment or reviewing schedules, she’s preparing to help restore a person’s overall well-being.
“As a team we work together with patients to help them achieve as much independence as possible,” Jean says.
“Physiotherapy restores a patient’s sense of dignity and empowers them to participate in life to the best of their abilities.”
Jean, who her friends call “Bean,” has worked as a physiotherapist assistant for nearly two decades in the Complex Continuing Care Units at UHN’s Toronto Rehab, Bickle Centre.
Day-to-day, Jean supports patients with complex care needs, including those who’ve experienced a stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s, Guillain-Barré Syndrome and patients on dialysis.
It’s a role she sees as incredibly rewarding because of the relationships she builds with patients and their families.
While some think of physiotherapy as merely massages and post-injury exercises, those in the field know the scope of care goes far deeper.
As Sophie Mendo, an acute care physiotherapist, puts it: “Physiotherapists are often labelled as the ones who ‘walk patients’, but we have so much knowledge and incredible skills that go beyond this.”
Sophie works on Unit 6B, Thoracic Surgery and Respirology at UHN’s Toronto General Hospital, caring for patients when at their most vulnerable.
Here, she specializes in post-operative and chronic respiratory care, supporting others through lung transplants, cancer surgeries, chronic respiratory conditions and lung diseases.
“A typical day for me is fast-paced and deeply patient-centred. As physiotherapists we assist patients in doing incredible things while they are often most vulnerable.
“Physiotherapy can be lifesaving,” says Sophie.
Over the last year, UHN physiotherapists have mentored 185 physiotherapy students — ensuring the next generation of therapists continue to innovate and inspire.
Behind every mobility aid adjusted, every joint supported, every breath made easier and every life restored is a physiotherapist focused on improving both movement and momentum.
Their work may not always make headlines, but it changes lives in ways most will never forget.
As Kristina says, “It’s super rewarding to see people years after they were a patient at UHN and realize how some of the things they learned from you has helped them engage fully in their lives.”
No one ever changed the world on their own but when the bright minds at UHN work together with donors we can redefine the world of health care together.
