By Maria Kristina (MK) Antonious, RPT — Physiotherapist, Co-Owner & Clinical Director
When someone comes to physiotherapy with pain, it is natural to focus on the area that hurts. But over the years, I have learned that pain is often only one part of the story.
How we move, sleep, breathe, exercise, and respond to stress can all influence how we feel. Previous injuries and everyday habits may also play a role. That is why I believe good physiotherapy begins with listening—not only to where it hurts, but to the person experiencing the pain.
How My Journey Began
My journey into physiotherapy began with a simple desire: to help people reduce their pain, move better, and return to the activities they love.
I started working as a physiotherapy assistant in 2000. I loved being part of each person’s progress and seeing what became possible with the right care and support. That experience inspired me to complete a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, followed by a Master of Physical Therapy at Queen’s University in 2010.
For more than 15 years, I have worked with people of different ages, abilities, and activity levels. My experience includes musculoskeletal and spinal conditions, TMJ dysfunction, chronic pain, sports injuries, and post-surgical rehabilitation.
When My Own Health Changed My Perspective
My experience living with an autoimmune condition has also shaped the way I practise.
I understand how frustrating it can be when each symptom is treated separately without anyone stepping back to look at the full picture. You may see one provider for one concern and someone else for another, yet still feel that the pieces are not being connected.
That experience taught me to look beyond the painful area and consider the whole person. It also reminded me how important it is for people to feel heard, understood, and involved in their care.
Looking at the Full Picture
A sore shoulder, painful back, or tight jaw may be influenced by more than one factor. Posture, breathing, sleep, workout form, stress, daily routines, and movement elsewhere in the body may all affect pain and recovery.
This does not mean pain is “all in your head.” Pain is real. It means the body works as a connected system, and lasting progress may require us to consider more than the painful area alone.
My approach begins with a careful assessment. Treatment may then include hands-on techniques, individualized exercise, education, workout-form coaching, and modern rehabilitation tools. When appropriate, I may also introduce breathing, pacing, gradual exposure to movement, and strategies intended to support nervous-system and vagus-nerve regulation.
The goal is not to make treatment complicated. It is to understand what may be keeping someone stuck and create a practical plan that fits their needs and daily life.
Where Evidence and Everyday Habits Meet
My treatment philosophy blends evidence-based Western rehabilitation with principles inspired by Eastern wellness practices.
Western rehabilitation provides research-informed assessment, exercise, hands-on care, and innovative treatment tools. Eastern wellness principles encourage us to consider balance, connection, and the everyday habits that can support recovery.
I do not see these perspectives as opposites. Used thoughtfully, they can create care that is clinically grounded while still considering the person as a whole.
My training includes manipulative therapy, functional dry needling, acupuncture, the McKenzie Method, TMJ rehabilitation, core stabilization, and shockwave therapy. These are tools rather than a one-size-fits-all formula. The right approach depends on the person in front of me.
The Care I Want to Provide
My goal is not only to help reduce pain. I want people to understand their bodies, feel confident moving again, and leave with practical tools they can use in everyday life.
Progress looks different for everyone. It may mean returning to a favourite sport, sleeping more comfortably, completing a workout with better form, or feeling less afraid to move. Whatever the goal, treatment should feel collaborative, realistic, and personal.
This is the philosophy I bring to PhysioFix: listen carefully, look at the full picture, and create a plan around the individual—not simply the diagnosis.
Because pain is only part of the story, and good care begins with understanding the person behind it.