Matthew Powell

I am a graduate of the Auckland School of Physiotherapy in New Zealand and have worked and studied in several countries since graduating in 1982. After 3 fascinating years working in the Middle East, I returned to New Zealand and completed my post graduate studies in manual and manipulative therapy (1988). I then spent 4 years working and cycle touring in the UK and Europe before coming to Canada in 1992. Through West 4th Physiotherapy I have taken care to develop a clinic that upholds the highest standards of professional expertise and offers precise, personal physiotherapy care. Since that time I have continued a commitment to post graduate orthopaedic education, taking courses and updating skills regularly. In addition to manual, exercise and manipulative skills I am a certified Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation practitioner. My professional strength is in the assessment and treatment of both orthopaedic and sporting injury, especially where more than one body area is involved. I enjoy unravelling complex musculo-skeletal issues, either traumatic or wear and tear related and in working out underlying causative factors. My treatment approach uses manual (hands on) and manipulative therapy, specific movement prescription, biomechanical analysis and where needed, needling techniques. I am a strong believer in educating the patient about underlying causation and believe in working with other members of the health team who may already be providing care. I have been an active sports participant my entire life. As I grew up in New Zealand it is not surprising that I spent 20 years playing rugby and cricket, sailing and cycling and suffering resulting injuries. Those early injuries have given me a great personal appreciation of injury care and what is required in the successful recovery process. They also provided the motivation to pursue a career which I find still find endlessly interesting, stimulating and challenging.