B Sc Physiotherapy
MCPA, CGIMS
gretchen@w4pt.com
Gretchen joined the West 4th Physiotherapy Team in 2004. She graduated with a Bachelors of Physical Therapy from the Faculty of Medicine at UBC in 2003. She is a member of the Physiotherapy Association of BC as well as a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Gretchen has gone on to gain her certificate to practice the Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation technique (IMS) from the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain. She regularly attends post-graduate courses to keep her up to date with new trends and current research in the field of physiotherapy.
Gretchen brings to her physiotherapy career a vast experience in sports, which makes this an area of special interest for her. She started dancing at the age of 6, and then went on to become a 6 year member of the Canadian National Team in Rhythmic Gymnastics. She competed and trained internationally winning medals at the 1995 Pan American Games and was a triple medalist at the 1994 Commonwealth Games , including the team gold! These experiences taught Gretchen the invaluable lessons of hard work, dedication and excellence all of which she brings to being a physiotherapist. Gretchen has coached children of all ages and more recently she has acted as an exercise and conditioning consultant for her former gymnastics club.
Gretchen stopped doing the splits and flips years ago, but now she spends time on her other passion…soccer! She is a member of the Westside Shooters Classics Division, who in 2007 won the Metro Womens’ League and Cup Championships. In October 2009, Gretchen travelled with the Westside Shooters to Sydney Australia to compete at the World Masters Games. A well earned bronze medal has her keen to continue her soccer career.
Another area of interest for Gretchen is working with the older population, recognizing that this generation are more “exercise savvy” than ever before and know the benefits and need for optimal physical well-being. Gretchen also has a special connection with wheelchair sport. She is an assistant physiotherapist with the National Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team and is a personal physiotherapist for the one and only “Man in Motion” Rick Hansen.
Gretchen’s background knowledge and special interest in dance, gymnastics and soccer make her exceptionally well equipped to assess and treat the various injuries related to these sports and others. Outside of the clinic and when she’s off the soccer pitch, you’ll find Gretchen on the slopes snowboarding in the winter or hiking the north shore mountains in the summer.
