Zia Homiar Poonjiaji

Zia Homiar Poonjiaji provides skilled physiotherapist care for a variety of health concerns, including but not limited to:

Common Musculoskeletal

• Low Back Pain (Acute or Chronic): Lower back issues that restrict your ability to bend, lift, sit for long periods, or enjoy your usual activities without discomfort.
• Knee Pain (e.g., Patellofemoral Syndrome, Meniscal Issues - conservative, Ligament Sprains): Knee problems that limit your ability to stay active, perform daily tasks, or enjoy your hobbies, for which physiotherapy offers effective solutions.
• Wrist and Hand Pain (e.g., Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De Quervain's Tenosynovitis, Strains): Aching, burning, sharp pain, or a 'pins and needles' sensation in the wrist, thumb, or hand region, sometimes waking you at night.

Joint Pain

• 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).
• Osteoarthritis (Knee, Hip, Spine, Hands, Other Joints): A degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage and underlying bone, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility in affected joints like the knees, hips, spine, or hands.

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.
• Postural Back/Neck Pain: Discomfort, aching, stiffness, or muscle fatigue in the back or neck arising from sustained or awkward postures during daily activities, prolonged work (e.g., desk work, computer use), or sleep.
• 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. Zia can assess your needs.

• Patient Education & Self-Management Strategies: Teaching you essential strategies and exercises to manage your symptoms independently, accelerate recovery, and prevent future problems.
• Soft Tissue Mobilization & Release Techniques: Targeted manual methods performed by your Physiotherapist to release tight or overactive muscles, address fascial restrictions, and alleviate pain arising from soft tissue dysfunction.
• Postural Assessment and Correction: Detailed analysis of your static and dynamic posture, with tailored exercises, stretches, and advice to help you improve alignment and reduce strain on your body.
• Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Assessment: An in-depth examination to fully understand your specific condition, allowing your Physiotherapist to create an effective and personalized rehabilitation plan.
• Manual Therapy (Joint Mobilization & Manipulation): Application of precise, passive movements to joints to decrease stiffness, relieve pain, and facilitate easier, more comfortable movement.
• Functional Movement Screening (FMS™/SFMA™ if certified): A systematic screening process, such as FMS™ or SFMA™ (if your Physiotherapist is certified), to understand how you move and guide preventative or corrective exercise programs.

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

• Zia believes that everyone deserves to move well and feel their best. If wrist pain and tingling, possibly from carpal tunnel syndrome, especially at night is hindering your ability to getting back to their regular, consistent gym workouts, a personalized plan focusing on building the necessary muscle support for their joints, reducing the risk of re-injury can make all the difference.
• Zia frequently assists patients in overcoming the effects of pain or weakness that's stopping me from enjoying my favorite hobbies. A carefully designed physiotherapy program, potentially including specialized manual techniques and progressive exercises, targets restoring normal movement patterns essential for everyday tasks and supports your enthusiastic engagement in desired activities like running their usual 5k route without knee pain.
• Struggling with the frustration of recovering from a concussion and dealing with lingering symptoms like dizziness or headaches? Zia develops individualized physiotherapy programs specifically aimed at achieving decreased frequency and intensity of headaches related to neck or postural issues. This is key to helping you get back to doing taking group exercise classes at the community center with confidence and significantly reduced discomfort.
• At Zia's physiotherapy practice, individuals with soreness and tightness in my Achilles tendon, especially after exercise are guided towards enjoying cycling or swimming regularly without pain or limitation. The focus is on enabling you to once again participate fully and comfortably in activities you enjoy, such as taking energetic, long walks with their dog every day.

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

Zia practices at Ontario Health, located in the Bay Street Corridor (Discovery District) neighborhood of Toronto. The clinic enjoys a convenient location near Rogers Centre and is easily accessible via the TTC (Subway, Streetcar, Bus). Our clinic is accessible. Ample parking is generally accessible close to the clinic entrance.

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

In Ontario, you typically do not need a doctor's referral to see a physiotherapist. This is known as direct access. However, even though a referral isn't legally required to book an appointment, some private health insurance plans may require one for coverage. It is strongly recommended that you check with your insurance provider before your first appointment to understand their specific requirements for physiotherapy reimbursement.

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

Many private health insurance plans offer coverage for physiotherapy services, but the details vary widely. Before your first appointment, contact your insurance provider to determine: your annual maximum for physiotherapy, any per-visit limits or co-payments, whether a doctor's referral is needed for reimbursement, and if direct billing is available. If Ontario Health offers direct billing and your plan allows it, we can bill your insurer directly for the covered portion. You'll be responsible for any co-payment or remaining balance. Bring your insurance card and policy details to your first appointment. If direct billing isn't possible, we'll provide a receipt for you to submit to your insurer.

Is there anything specific I should bring to my first physiotherapy appointment?

For your first visit, please bring your provincial health card (e.g., Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card, if applicable for any publicly funded programs or simply for identification), any relevant medical information such as a doctor's referral note (if you have one), reports from recent imaging (like X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound scans), and a list of your current medications. Also, if you plan to use private health insurance, bring your insurance card or policy details. Finally, wear or bring comfortable clothing suitable for assessment and movement.

What is manual therapy in physiotherapy?

In physiotherapy, manual therapy involves hands-on techniques used by your physiotherapist to reduce pain, improve joint movement, relax muscles, or enhance nerve mobility. These techniques may include joint glides, sustained pressure, soft tissue massage, and, when appropriate, joint manipulations. It's a key component of improving your body's movement.

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

Physiotherapy services in private clinics are generally not covered by OHIP. Publicly funded physiotherapy is available through specific programs (e.g., post-hospitalization for certain conditions, for children/youth, seniors, or through Community Physiotherapy Clinics/Family Health Teams), but eligibility is limited, and there may be waitlists. It's essential to check your private health insurance plan for coverage, as many private insurers offer significant benefits for physiotherapy services.

Ontario Health
525 University Avenue, Fifth Floor
Toronto, ON, M5G 2L3

Phone: (416) 323-6868

Zia Homiar Poonjiaji 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: XXX38

Verify registration with The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario: https://portal.collegept.org/en-US/public-register/display-member-contact/?id=62986053-8d02-e811-8134-480fcff4f671

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