Allison Erin Martins

Allison Erin Martins provides skilled physiotherapist care for a variety of health concerns, including but not limited to:

Neurological

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) / Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy addressing physical impairments following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or acquired brain injury (ABI), including issues with balance, coordination, strength, mobility, spasticity, endurance, and cognitive-physical integration.
• Parkinson's Disease Management & Movement Therapy: Specialized physiotherapy exercises and movement strategies (e.g., LSVT BIG® principles, amplitude-based training, cueing techniques) to improve balance, gait (walking), posture, flexibility, coordination, and overall motor function in individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

Arthritis

• Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): An inflammatory arthritis that can affect some people with psoriasis (a skin condition), causing joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and sometimes affecting tendons (enthesitis) and ligaments. Can affect small or large joints, often asymmetrically, and sometimes the spine.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) & Other Inflammatory Arthropathies: Physiotherapy as an important part of a multidisciplinary team approach to managing rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis), helping to minimize disease impact and maximize quality of life.
• Gout (Management of Musculoskeletal Impairments): Exercises and advice to manage the impact of gout on your joints, improve mobility, and reduce the likelihood of long-term joint damage.

Vestibular Balance

• General Balance Deficits and Increased Fall Risk: Physiotherapy aimed at improving your balance, coordination, lower limb strength, reaction time, and confidence to reduce your risk of falling and enhance safe mobility in your home and community.
• Vestibular Hypofunction (Unilateral or Bilateral): Reduced function of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) inner ear balance systems (vestibular organs), leading to persistent dizziness, gaze instability (difficulty keeping vision clear during head movement), imbalance, and sometimes nausea.
• Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD / 3PD): A chronic functional dizziness disorder characterized by persistent sensations of dizziness, unsteadiness, or non-spinning vertigo (often lasting for 3 months or more), typically exacerbated by upright posture, active or passive motion, or exposure to complex or moving visual environments (e.g., busy supermarkets, scrolling on a screen). Often follows an acute vestibular event, medical illness, or period of psychological distress.

This list offers examples of conditions commonly addressed. Diagnosis for physiotherapist is based on individual assessment, so if your specific concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic. Allison Martins can assess your needs.

• Balance Training & Falls Prevention Programs: Targeted exercises and strategies designed by your Physiotherapist to improve your stability, coordination, lower limb strength, and body awareness (proprioception), thereby reducing your risk of falls, particularly beneficial for older adults or individuals with balance impairments.
• Stretching & Flexibility Programs: Specific stretches designed by your therapist to target tight muscle groups relevant to your condition, helping to improve your flexibility and reduce your risk of injury.
• Personalized Therapeutic Exercise Prescription: A carefully selected set of exercises specific to your condition and abilities, aimed at restoring function, reducing pain, improving movement, and preventing future issues.
• Core Stability & Strengthening Training: Developing control, strength, and endurance in your core musculature for improved functional performance, pain reduction, and prevention of re-injury.
• Strength & Conditioning for Rehabilitation and Performance: Targeted exercises using resistance (such as bodyweight, resistance bands, free weights, or gym equipment) to build muscle strength, power, and endurance, tailored to your specific rehabilitation needs or performance goals.
• Fibromyalgia & Widespread Pain Management: Tailored physiotherapy including gentle exercise prescription (e.g., aquatic therapy, graded aerobic exercise), pain management education, activity pacing strategies, stress reduction techniques, and gentle manual therapies for individuals living with fibromyalgia or other widespread pain conditions.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Allison Martins, or to discuss your specific needs, please contact the clinic.

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Physiotherapists in ON and the standards set by The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

At Allison Martins, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Allison Martins frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• At Allison Martins's physiotherapy practice, individuals with feeling like my joints are just 'wearing out' and getting harder to move are guided towards enjoying family vacations and outings with more energy and less pain. The focus is on enabling you to once again participate fully and comfortably in activities you enjoy, such as maintaining an upright posture while working on their computer for hours.
• Don't let my child walking on their toes most of the time dictate what you can and cannot do. Allison Martins offers physiotherapy solutions aimed at effectively managing chronic pain and reclaiming an active lifestyle, helping you reclaim hitting the slopes for a full day of skiing or snowboarding in winter and enjoy a more functional life.
• Allison Martins believes that everyone deserves to move well and feel their best. If that 'pins and needles' feeling that won't go away is hindering your ability to simply being able to get through a workday without constant pain interruptions, a personalized plan focusing on decreased frequency and intensity of headaches related to neck or postural issues can make all the difference.
• The journey to waking up feeling more refreshed with considerably less pain and stiffness when faced with persistent feeling generally stiff, achy, and less mobile than I used to be is made smoother and more effective with Allison Martins's expert physiotherapy care, often leading to a fulfilling and active return to pastimes like participating in water aerobics or other pool-based exercises.

Your personalized physiotherapy plan, developed with Allison Martins, will be designed to help you reach your specific functional and wellness objectives.

Allison Martins's practice is conveniently located in the Bay Ridges, West Shore neighborhood of Pickering, near Altona Forest and easily accessible via Durham Region Transit (DRT). Our clinic is accessible. Free patient parking is typically available on-site or nearby.

What is Allison Martins's appointment cancellation policy?

We understand that schedules can change unexpectedly. To ensure we can accommodate all our patients efficiently, we kindly request at least 24 hours' notice for any appointment cancellations or rescheduling. This allows us to offer the time slot to other patients who may be waiting for care. A fee may be charged for late cancellations (less than 24 hours' notice) or missed appointments without sufficient notice. Please contact our clinic as soon as possible if you need to make any changes to your appointment.

I have private health insurance. How does that work with physiotherapy payments?

Many private health insurance plans offer full or partial coverage for registered physiotherapy services. We recommend you contact your insurance provider directly before your first appointment to understand the specifics of your plan. Key things to check are: your annual maximum for physiotherapy, any per-visit limits or co-payments, whether a doctor's referral is required for reimbursement, and if your plan allows for direct billing by the clinic. If Allison Martins offers direct billing and your plan allows it, we can often bill your insurer directly for the covered portion. You would then be responsible for any co-payment or remaining balance not covered by your plan at the time of service. Please bring your insurance card and all necessary policy details to your first appointment. If direct billing is not possible, we will provide you with an official receipt that you can submit to your insurer.

Will I be given exercises to do at home?

Yes, in almost all cases, you will receive a customized home exercise program. These exercises are carefully chosen by your Physiotherapist to specifically target your issues and help you achieve your functional goals faster and more effectively. Performing them as recommended is very important for your progress and for maintaining the improvements you make during your clinic visits.

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a Physiotherapist in ON?

Patients in Ontario can typically see a Physiotherapist directly without a physician's referral (direct access). However, some private/extended health insurance plans require a referral for reimbursement. Check your insurance policy before your first appointment.

Is physiotherapy covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in ON?

OHIP generally does NOT cover physiotherapy services in private outpatient clinics for most of the population. Publicly funded physiotherapy is available in specific situations (e.g., post-hospitalization for certain conditions, for children/youth, seniors, or through Community Physiotherapy Clinics/Family Health Teams), but eligibility criteria are strict and there may be waitlists. Check your private insurance for private clinic coverage.

Does Allison Martins offer direct billing to private insurance companies?

Please contact the clinic to confirm direct billing capabilities. Bring your insurance card/information and confirm your coverage details with your provider.

Approximately how many physiotherapy sessions will I need?

The number of physiotherapy sessions varies greatly. It depends on factors including the nature and severity of your condition, its duration, your goals, your body's response to therapy, and your adherence to the home exercise program. Your Physiotherapist will discuss a proposed treatment plan after your initial assessment.

What is physiotherapy and how can it help me?

Physiotherapy helps you move effectively and comfortably. Your Physiotherapist will create a personalized treatment plan involving exercises, hands-on techniques, and advice to help you achieve your functional goals and live a more active life.

Allison Martins
888 Voyager Ave.
Pickering, ON, L1V 7G2

Phone: (416) 779-9723

Allison Erin Martins is regulated by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and Physiotherapy Act, 1991 in ON and is a registered member of The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

Registration Number: XXX59

Verify registration with The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: https://portal.collegept.org/en-US/public-register/display-member-contact/?id=8721bcbc-8c02-e811-8134-480fcff4f671

Always consult with your primary healthcare provider before starting any new treatment program.