Lauren Meschino – Physiotherapist | Toronto, ON

Lauren Meschino is a dedicated Physiotherapist. Practicing at Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, ON, Lauren Meschino is committed to high-quality, patient-centered care aligning with College of Physiotherapists of Ontario standards. Lauren Meschino addresses 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. Lauren Meschino serves adults.

Lauren Meschino completed their degree in Physiotherapy from McGill University (Graduating Class of 2011). With clinical experience, Lauren Meschino is committed to ongoing professional development and evidence-based physiotherapy practices. Lauren Meschino has a particular interest or further training in areas such as Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy.

Lauren Meschino employs a patient-centered approach, actively involving individuals in their treatment planning and goal setting; promoting preventative care and long-term wellness for the Toronto community through proactive physiotherapy; empowering patients through clear education about their condition and practical self-management strategies for lasting results. Lauren Meschino offers consultations in English.

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

Common Musculoskeletal

• Neck Pain and Stiffness: Aching, soreness, or sharp pain experienced in the neck, which may include muscle spasms, trigger points, or reduced flexibility.
• 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.
• Shoulder Pain (e.g., Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy, Impingement, Frozen Shoulder/Adhesive Capsulitis): Discomfort felt around the shoulder blade, at the top of the shoulder, or radiating down the arm, making simple tasks challenging.
• Wrist and Hand Pain (e.g., Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De Quervain's Tenosynovitis, Strains): Symptoms in your hand or wrist that impact your ability to perform your job, hobbies, or essential self-care tasks, addressed by specialized hand physiotherapy.

Joint Pain

• Osteoarthritis (Knee, Hip, Spine, Hands, Other Joints): Commonly known as 'wear-and-tear' arthritis, this condition affects various joints, often worsening with age, overuse, or previous injury, and can significantly impact daily function.
• Tendinopathy/Tendonitis (e.g., Achilles, Patellar, Rotator Cuff, Tennis/Golfer's Elbow): Pain, tenderness, swelling, and dysfunction in a tendon (the strong cords that attach muscles to bones) due to overuse, repetitive strain, injury, or degeneration. Common sites include the Achilles, patellar tendon (knee), rotator cuff (shoulder), or elbow (tennis/golfer's elbow).

Back Neck Pain

• 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.
• Herniated Disc / Sciatica / Radiculopathy: Back or neck pain that often radiates into an arm or leg, potentially with numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning sensations, due to a spinal disc problem (herniation, protrusion, or bulge) compressing or irritating a nearby nerve root (radiculopathy). Sciatica specifically refers to radicular pain down the leg.
• Postural Back/Neck Pain: Pain and muscle tension related to ergonomic factors at work or home, muscle imbalances, and suboptimal body mechanics or movement habits.
• Spinal Stenosis Symptoms: Nerve compression symptoms due to a narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal or the small openings where nerves exit the spine (foramina), most commonly in the lumbar (lower back) or cervical (neck) regions.

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. Lauren Meschino can assess your needs.

• Spinal Decompression / Mechanical Traction: The application of gentle, controlled mechanical or manual force to distract (stretch) spinal segments, aiming to alleviate pressure on intervertebral discs, nerves, and facet joints.
• Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) / Photobiomodulation: The application of specific wavelengths of light energy (cold laser) by your Physiotherapist to targeted tissues to reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration at a cellular level.
• Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT): A non-invasive, evidence-based treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing, reduce pain, and promote tissue regeneration in stubborn soft tissue conditions that haven't responded to other therapies.
• 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): Cold therapy techniques applied by your therapist to effectively alleviate acute pain, reduce inflammation, and manage muscle soreness or spasm.
• Other Electrotherapy Applications (e.g., NMES, FES): Utilizing electrophysical agents as an adjunct to your physiotherapy treatments to aid recovery, improve muscle function, manage pain, or reduce swelling, tailored to your specific condition.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Lauren Meschino, 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 Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital, physiotherapy is focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health and daily activities. Lauren Meschino frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• If recovering from a concussion and dealing with lingering symptoms like dizziness or headaches is preventing you from fully enjoying performing tasks requiring fine motor skills and dexterity with ease, Lauren Meschino offers expert guidance and tailored treatment. Physiotherapy focuses on attaining understanding how to prevent future flare-ups and manage their condition long-term, often utilizing targeted exercises, manual therapy, and education to help you regain your previous level of function.
• When my baby/child having trouble with their motor skills, like delayed rolling, sitting or walking is limiting your lifestyle and preventing you from doing running their usual 5k route without knee pain, physiotherapy with Lauren Meschino can help you work towards improved core stability and control, leading to better posture and reduced strain. The aim is to restore optimal function so you can comfortably and safely return to the things you love.
• Struggling with the frustration of dealing with pelvic pain or bladder/bowel control issues (for both men and women)? Lauren Meschino develops individualized physiotherapy programs specifically aimed at achieving implementing practical strategies to avoid re-injury during work or daily life. This is key to helping you get back to doing spending hours gardening comfortably, without subsequent back or knee strain with confidence and significantly reduced discomfort.
• Through personalized physiotherapy at Lauren Meschino's clinic, common concerns like feeling like my joints are just 'wearing out' and getting harder to move are thoroughly assessed and addressed with the objective of getting back to hiking, running, or cycling pain-free and with renewed vigor. This often involves a combination of in-clinic treatment, education, and self-management strategies, helping people to once again enjoy activities like managing the physical demands of their job without constant pain.

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

Lauren Meschino practices at Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital, situated in the Kensington Market, Chinatown, Grange Park neighborhood of Toronto. The clinic is conveniently located near Yonge-Dundas Square and is accessible via TTC (Subway, Streetcar, Bus). Our clinic is accessible. Ample parking is generally accessible close to the clinic entrance.

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 Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital 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 ON 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. Check your individual insurance policy before your first appointment.

What are Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital's operating hours?

Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital is typically open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and some practitioners offer Saturday appointments from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. However, hours can vary by practitioner and day, so please call our office or check our website/online booking portal for the most current hours and specific practitioner availability.

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.

Does Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital offer direct billing to private insurance companies?

Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital offers direct billing for most major private insurance companies such as Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, Blue Cross, etc. Please bring your insurance card and policy details to your first appointment and always confirm your specific coverage details with your insurance provider. You are responsible for any portion not covered by your insurance.

What types of conditions do Physiotherapists at Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital 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, 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 Spinal Decompression / Mechanical Traction, Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) / Photobiomodulation, 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. Check your private insurance for private clinic coverage.

Altum Health, Toronto Western Hospital
399 Bathurst Street, Krembil Discovery Tower, 3rd Floor
Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8

Phone: (416) 603-5185

Lauren Meschino 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: XXX08

Verify registration with The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: https://portal.collegept.org/en-US/public-register/display-member-contact/?id=66c81b85-9002-e811-8136-480fcfeae051

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