Darrah Chanel Tan – Physiotherapist | Toronto, ON

Darrah Rivera is a dedicated Physiotherapist. Practicing at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - St. John's Rehab in Toronto, ON, Darrah Rivera is committed to high-quality, patient-centered care aligning with College of Physiotherapists of Ontario standards. Darrah Rivera focuses on addressing a wide range of muscle, joint, bone, tendon, and ligament conditions. This includes everything from acute injuries like sprains and strains, to chronic pain management, arthritis care, and comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation. Darrah Rivera serves seniors and other patients in the community.

Darrah Rivera completed their degree in Physiotherapy from Robert Gordon University (Graduating Class of 2021). With clinical experience, Darrah Rivera is committed to ongoing professional development and evidence-based physiotherapy practices. Darrah Rivera has a particular interest or further training in areas such as Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy.

Darrah Rivera empowers patients through clear education about their condition and practical self-management strategies for lasting results; Darrah Rivera adopts a collaborative approach, working with patients to achieve their movement and functional goals. Darrah Rivera offers consultations in English.

Darrah Rivera provides skilled physiotherapist care for a variety of health concerns, including but not limited to:

Post Surgical

• Post-Knee Replacement Rehabilitation (Total or Partial Knee Arthroplasty - TKA/PKA): Specialized physiotherapy after knee joint replacement surgery to help you regain independence, optimize your surgical outcome, and return to desired daily activities and hobbies.
• Post-Hip Replacement Rehabilitation (Total or Partial Hip Arthroplasty - THA/PHA): Guidance on hip precautions (if applicable for your surgical approach), a progressive exercise program, and functional retraining after hip surgery to help you achieve your goals.

Back Neck Pain

• Postural Back/Neck Pain: Muscular pain, trigger points, and tension headaches resulting from habitual poor posture, which can be addressed with postural re-education, exercises, and ergonomic advice.
• Herniated Disc / Sciatica / Radiculopathy: Pain, pins and needles, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg resulting from irritation or compression of a spinal nerve, often managed effectively with physiotherapy techniques like McKenzie method or neural mobilization.
• Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD): Symptoms resulting from a whiplash injury, which can vary in severity (WAD Grades I-III) and duration, requiring a comprehensive physiotherapy approach for recovery.

Common Musculoskeletal

• Hip Pain (e.g., Bursitis, Muscle Strains, Labral Issues - conservative): Hip problems that interfere with your mobility, sleep, and daily comfort, which can be effectively managed with physiotherapy interventions.
• Muscle Strains and Tears: A 'pulled' muscle, often occurring during activities like sprinting, jumping, lifting, or sudden changes in direction, causing immediate pain and difficulty using the muscle.
• Neck Pain and Stiffness: Discomfort, limited range of motion, and persistent tension in the cervical spine (neck), often related to posture, an injury, stress, or sleeping position.
• Low Back Pain (Acute or Chronic): Aching, sharp, or persistent pain located in the lower back, which may sometimes extend into the buttocks or legs, limiting your comfort.

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. Darrah Rivera can assess your needs.

• Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT): ESWT for chronic tendinopathies, heel spurs, and other musculoskeletal problems, aiming to break down scar tissue, increase blood flow, and trigger a healing response.
• Therapeutic Ultrasound Application: Ultrasound therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, often used to prepare tissues for manual therapy or exercise, or to manage acute and chronic soft tissue injuries.
• Therapeutic Heat Application: Application of therapeutic heat to prepare tissues for exercise, manual therapy, or stretching, or to manage chronic muscle soreness and joint stiffness.
• Interferential Current (IFC) / TENS Therapy: Utilizing targeted electrical currents to help alleviate pain, manage discomfort, and support healing in conjunction with other physiotherapy interventions.
• Cryotherapy Application (Cold Therapy): The application of cold packs, ice massage, or other cold modalities by your Physiotherapist to reduce swelling, inflammation, muscle spasm, and acute pain, particularly after an injury.
• Other Electrotherapy Applications (e.g., NMES, FES): Application of various forms of electrical stimulation, such as Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) for muscle strengthening and re-education, or Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to assist with movement, as prescribed by your Physiotherapist.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Darrah Rivera, 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 Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - St. John's Rehab, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Darrah Rivera frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Many find that numbness, tingling, or weakness in my hands, arms, feet, or legs significantly impacts their ability to doing household chores like vacuuming, mopping, or laundry without pain. Darrah Rivera helps patients target feeling more stable and confident on their feet, especially on uneven surfaces with physiotherapy, making a return to these activities possible.
• At Darrah Rivera's physiotherapy practice, individuals with needing to improve my breathing patterns or lung capacity are guided towards getting back to hiking, running, or cycling pain-free and with renewed vigor. The focus is on enabling you to once again participate fully and comfortably in activities you enjoy, such as enduring their daily commute, whether driving or on public transit, without stiffness.
• For those whose dealing with pelvic pain or bladder/bowel control issues (for both men and women) has made managing shopping trips and carrying bags without excessive fatigue or pain seem like a distant memory, Darrah Rivera's physiotherapy care offers a clear path toward a feeling of being 'unstuck' and more supple. Effective, evidence-based treatments can be instrumental in helping you get back to managing shopping trips and carrying bags without excessive fatigue or pain with greater comfort and renewed confidence.
• The path to recovery from recovering from a concussion and dealing with lingering symptoms like dizziness or headaches and achieving returning to their workout routine with greater confidence and better performance for simply enjoying leisurely daily walks around their neighborhood for fresh air often starts with expert guidance. Darrah Rivera, a skilled physiotherapist, provides just that.

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

Darrah Rivera practices at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - St. John's Rehab, situated in the Newtonbrook, Willowdale neighborhood of Toronto. The clinic is conveniently located near the University of Toronto (St. George Campus south edge) and is accessible via TTC (Subway, Streetcar, Bus). Our clinic is accessible. Free patient parking is typically available on-site or nearby.

Will I be given exercises to do at home?

Yes, a personalized home exercise program is a crucial and integral component of most physiotherapy treatment plans. Your Physiotherapist will prescribe specific exercises tailored to your condition, abilities, and goals. These exercises are designed to complement your in-clinic treatment, help you manage your symptoms effectively between sessions, accelerate your recovery, and empower you with tools for long-term self-management. Your active participation in your home program is key for optimal results.

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 Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - St. John's Rehab 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.

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 (this is known as direct access). However, some private/extended health insurance plans do require a doctor's referral for reimbursement of physiotherapy services. We strongly advise you to check the specific requirements of your individual insurance policy before your first appointment.

What types of conditions do Physiotherapists at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - St. John's Rehab treat?

Our Physiotherapists treat a wide range of musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, issues like back and neck pain (CNESST / WCB / WorkSafe Claim Rehabilitation), joint problems (such as arthritis or post-surgical recovery), sports injuries, and nerve pain. We also have therapists with specialized skills in areas like Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and general physiotherapy. Our treatments often involve Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), Therapeutic Ultrasound Application, and patient education to help you achieve your functional goals.

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. We strongly advise checking your private insurance for private clinic coverage.

What is Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - St. John's Rehab'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.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - St. John's Rehab
285 Cummer Avenue, North York
Toronto, ON, M2M 2G1

Phone: (416) 226-6780

Darrah Chanel Tan 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: XXX23

Verify registration with The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: https://portal.collegept.org/en-US/public-register/display-member-contact/?id=22b58f55-ef5c-ec11-8f8e-000d3a0a00ab

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