Helen
Ries
L.
BscKin, BscPT, CGIMS, CAFCI
Clinic Owner/Manager, Physiotherapist, Running Specialist
Helen is a graduate of the University of Alberta, holding both a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She has worked as a physiotherapist in private practice clinics in the Edmonton area, and prior to moving to Vancouver, spent 18 months working in a busy outpatient physiotherapy department in a private hospital in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Helen has a ‘patients come first’ philosophy. She believes that optimal function relies not only on overcoming the physical limitation of a particular injury, but also in considering all aspects of a person’s life. She attempts to match treatments with her clients’ personal schedules, their prior experience with exercise, and their goals for future activity. Assessments and Treatments are based on the whole-body approach of The Discover Physio Series Integrated Approach for Facilitating Change. Treatments incorporate specific exercise prescription with manual therapy, acupuncture/IMS and soft tissue techniques. Core stability exercises are key to any treatment program prescribed; as such, pilates, yoga and foam roller techniques are integrated where appropriate.
Helen has a keen interest in athletics. While in Aberdeen, she provided physiotherapy expertise for a sports medicine clinic run in association with the Grampian Institute of Sport, treating both nationally and internationally competitive athletes. Since moving to Vancouver she has been involved with the Sun Run InTraining Program as a Clinic Coordinator and Clinic Leader and continues to present as a Guest Speaker to various running clinics across the Lower Mainland. In addition, she has previously worked with varsity and club level soccer, rugby, and wrestling teams, as both an athletic therapist and conditioning coach.
Helen participates in numerous team and individual sports, having previously competed nationally in soccer and duathlon. Other personal athletic highlights include the Victoria Marathon, the Canadian Death Race and the Edmonton, Vancouver First Half and Vancouver Scotiabank Half Marathons.