51st Ave

Cory Choma

PT, CGIMS, Clinical Specialist (Pain) (Senior Physiotherapist)

Cory has been in clinical practice since 1996 and is a founding member of CSA. He is one of only 4 Clinical Specialists in Pain Science in Canada and one of a handful of people awarded an ISTOP (Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain) Honorary Fellowship. Cory has been teaching GunnIMS domestically and internationally since 2003 and is a senior instructor for the Continuing Professional Development branch of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. GunnIMS is appropriate for stubborn, recurrent or longstanding pain that appears to be resistant to treatment and has a significant peripheral neuropathic component. Cory and Dr. S. Goodman are contributing authors in the text ‘Trigger Point Dry Needling: An Evidenced and Clinical-Based Approach’ where they present a chapter on GunnIMS. In addition to his chronic pain management practice, Cory has great experience helping injured athletes return to sport.

Designations: Clinical Specialist (Pain Science); Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy; Certified Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation (Instructor); Honorary Fellow of the Institute for the Study & Treatment of Pain; Injury Management Consultant, Alberta Auto Injury Program; Registered member of Alberta’s dry needling roster.

Marissa Stepnisky

PT, CAFCI (Physiotherapist)

Currently on maternity leave

Marissa is a physiotherapist with a passion for helping people work, play and move to their maximum ability. Marissa completed her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta in 2014. She is CAFCI certified in acupuncture and is trained in Gokavi Transverse Technique (GTT), a method of dry needling acupuncture used to treat soft tissue restriction and myofascial pain. She is also trained in the treatment of dizziness/vertigo.

Marissa has experience working with people of all ages and fitness levels. She uses a combination of manual therapy, therapeutic modalities and client education with a strong focus on individualized exercise plans to help her patients reach their personal goals. She has a strong belief in a holistic approach to treatment, with a focus on both the mind and body.

She was a competitive gymnast in her youth and continues to be involved in the sport. With this love of sport, she has a special interest in looking at movement patterns and imbalances in the body that can affect an athlete’s performance.

I am also trained in vestibular rehabilitation and by using infrared goggle technology, I can help with many causes of dizziness/vertigo. This technology allows certain eye movements to be detected, which provide information about a number of conditions that helps me determine the underlying problem.

Outside of clinic life, Marissa can be found spending time with her husband and daughter. She enjoys practicing yoga, going hiking, rock climbing or anything else that lets her enjoy the outdoors.

Designations: Master of Science in Physical Therapy, CAFCI (Certificate of Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute), Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies (With Distinction, Deans list), Bachelor of Commerce

Lynne Dey

PT (Physiotherapist)

Currently on a leave of absence until September 2020

Lynne treats injuries ranging from sprains/ strains to fractures/ dislocations to chronic conditions. She has extensive experience in post-surgical and post-trauma rehabilitation. Additionally, she has knowledge in the area of hand and wrist injuries. Lynne provides treatment that may include manual therapy (hands on treatment), education on managing your injury, exercise prescription and therapeutic modalities. Lynne has a lengthy background in figure skating and has a unique understanding of the injured athlete.

Outside of the world of physiotherapy Lynne is involved in figure skating as a judge – from the grassroots local level to the international elite level.

Designations: Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy

Michelle Bibeau

PT (Physiotherapist)

Daniel Gregg

PT (Physiotherapist)

Daniel received his Master’s degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Alberta. His other educational experience includes a Master’s degree in Physical Education and Recreation from the U of A, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology with Kinesiology at Acadia University.

Daniel’s passions revolve around sport and activity for all ages, including experience working with children and youth, to more mature populations.  As a previous varsity football athlete, track and football coach, and participant year long in recreational activities such as golf, hockey, and skiing, he has a keen understanding of sport-related ailments. With the addition of working with athletes, he is familiar with post-surgical protocols and the means required to treat, and prevent injuries from occurring. His educational experience with rehabilitation in children with disabilities founded his holistic, psychosocial based treatment that guides his practice.

Treatment options Daniel utilizes include therapeutic exercises, modalities (i.e. Interferential Current (IFC), heat, ice, Ultrasound), manual therapy, and personalized home-programs with self-management techniques.

Daniel relishes in the opportunity to work with clients to solve and understand the complexities of their ailments leading to a return to sport or activity. He firmly believes physiotherapy is a tool to work with clients to identify and meet their personal goals, while promoting long term self-management and empowerment of their health and well-being.

Designations: Master of Science in Physical Therapy, Master of Arts in Physical Education and Recreation, Bachelor of Science in Biology with Kinesiology.

Tanya Lastovka

PT, CGIMS (Physiotherapist)

Tanya graduated from University of Alberta in 2001 with a BSc in physiotherapy. She began her career in Canmore, Ab where she worked with national level cross country and downhill skiers. When she moved to Edmonton, she switched gears and worked with chronic pain and general orthopedic clients. Because of this, she is comfortable treating a wide range of clients and feels that communication and education is the key to a successful therapist/client relationship.

Tanya’s ultimate goal in treatment is to correct underlying problems that could cause the reoccurrences. Her treatments may include IMS, postural correction and strengthening, hands-on therapy, modalities and exercise.

When she is not at work Tanya can be found on the pool deck, with her kids who are competitive swimmers or walking her dog.

Designations: Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, Certified Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation.

Himani Shah

PT (Physiotherapist)

Himani obtained her Physiotherapy degree from India in 2014, and in 2016 obtained her certification in Fitness training from Humber College in Toronto. She also obtained her Yoga Teacher certification in India in 2012. She has worked in multiple physiotherapy clinics in different parts of Canada as both a physiotherapist and physiotherapist assistant before she made the decision to settle down in Edmonton with her husband.

Himani is keen to learn new things and expand her knowledge in the field of physiotherapy such that she can deliver the best care for her patients. She intends on developing her skills with orthopaedic courses, IMS needling, and a Connect Therapy certification.

Himani loves working as a physiotherapist because it provides her the opportunity to work with people. Her treatment methods focus on hands-on techniques, home exercise programs and education for her patients. Furthermore, Himani believes her patients share her role in improving their health, and they should be working side by side to achieve the desired goals.

In her spare time, Himani loves listening to music, travelling and hiking. She loves all outdoor activities and being surrounded by nature.

Emilie Dick

PT (Physiotherapist)

Emilie has her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Alberta, where she also competed as a varsity track and field athlete in 300m and 400m sprints. Her experience with athletics has given her an interest in helping athletes rehabilitate from sports injuries. She is also hoping to specialize in helping people manage chronic and complex pain.

Her treatment approaches are very much focused on therapeutic exercise. She believes that movement is so important to many aspects of life, and as such she wants to help people move and participate in activities they find meaningful. During her clinical experience as a student she discovered that she is a huge nerd when it comes to learning about how humans experience pain. She loves learning about how physical therapists can have a role in managing chronic pain; treatment sessions will involve her providing evidence-based education on the neuroscience of pain and developing personalized management plans along with manual therapy and pain-management modalities.

When she is not in the clinic, Emilie enjoys getting outdoors to skate in the winter and hike and bike in the summer. She loves testing her fitness and is continually looking for new exercise challenges! If she’s not out and about you can probably find her reading, historical fiction or fantasy novels being her favourite.

Designations: Master of Science in Physical Therapy

Carey Leal-Janvier

RMT (Massage Therapist)

Nicole Petryliak

RMT (Massage Therapist)

A graduate of Grant MacEwan’s esteemed Massage Therapy program, Nicole is trained and passionate about catalyzing the treatment of pain through massage therapy. She welcomes all ages and physical challenges and fills her treatments with a unique focus that both relaxes and caters to the therapeutic needs of each patient. Nicole’s top interests are athletic, pre and post natal, and chronic pain; though she offers treatment options for all conditions including: Myofascial, Lymphatic Drainage, Parent Guidance/Infant Massage, Joint Mobilization and Pain, and Digestion – while specializing in Deep Tissue and Trigger Point Therapy. Nicole is a member of the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada

Mark Cocks

Personal Trainer

Mark has a strong history of competitive athletics and has made health & performance through movement the focus of his career. After graduating the University of Alberta with a BSc in Kinesiology, Mark has worked with professional hockey and football players, as well as athletes in lacrosse, soccer, volleyball and golf. Currently, he is an assistant coach with the University of Alberta Track & Field Team. 

Success with high-performance sport is only part of Mark’s ventures. With a special interest in bridging the gap between acute care physiotherapy and long-term injury free activity, he has partnered with CSA Physiotherapy to provide activity planning and supervision in consultation with the Physical Therapy team.

Krysta Forrest

Personal Trainer

Krysta’s personalized approach focuses on flexibility, strength and cardiovascular health — functional fitness that enables clients to enjoy their lives to the fullest.

She is a CSEP-CPT (Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology) certified personal trainer and holds a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Alberta. She has been a personal trainer for over a decade. During that time Krysta has developed a specialization in working with older adults to prepare for joint replacements, prevent and recover from injury and rediscover the joy of a body in motion.

Krysta was a competitive rugby player, weightlifter and has run several triathlons. Her current passion is kettle bell training.

Her philosophy? Fitness is enjoyable, it can even be fun, and that working your body in a safe way on a regular basis contributes to a healthier and happier life.

Emily Behnke

Treatment Coordinator - On Maternity Leave

Emily graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and became a Certified Massage Therapist in her home state of California. With several years of combined hospitality and hands-on therapy experience, joining the team at CSA Physiotherapy was a natural fit when she immigrated to Canada. Emily has since become the administrative “quarterback” for the clinic. In addition to leading the front desk, her primary focus is the coordination of MVA and WCB claims; serving as a liaison between patients, therapists, case managers, and adjusters. Are you confused or stressed about the claims process? Do you need help scheduling appointments to keep pace with your therapist’s recommended treatment plan? Emily is the person to help.

In her free time, Emily enjoys traveling, hiking, backcountry adventures, golfing, and spending time with her husband and puppy.

Maralee

Office Administrator