Karina Zinn, Physiotherapist, BMR-PT
There are two types of patients who walk through the doors of a physiotherapy clinic: one who is new to physiotherapy, and one who has been to a different clinic in the past. What both these types of individuals have in common is that they are nervous. One feels totally clueless and vulnerable, and the other may have had a bad experience with physiotherapy in the past. Neither knows what to expect. They also share the desire to heal from what ails them, as well as the hope that they will be treated by a physiotherapist who is kind and devoted to his or her patients. Not every physiotherapist fits this description, but Karina Zinn, physiotherapist at Elite Sports Injury Physiotherapy Clinics, does. Read on to find out why this highly talented physiotherapist loves her job and her patients.
Interview with Karina Zinn, Elite Sports Injury Physiotherapist
Q) How long have you been a physiotherapist? What brought you to Elite?
A) I’ve been a physiotherapist for the past 6 years; I have been with Elite for 4 ½ of those years. I was drawn in by Elite’s team atmosphere and the direction of care the clinic was taking. Our clinic allows for and encourages active patient participation to give people a sense of control and involvement in their rehab process.
Q) What do you like most about the culture at Elite Sports Injury Physiotherapy Clinics? What unique thing do you personally contribute to your workplace?
A) I love the positive learning environment Elite offers. We all come from different backgrounds and have different strengths, which gives us a great opportunity to learn from each other and share techniques/experiences. I love to learn and put a lot of effort into continuing education. I am also a big believer in having fun while you work. Patients can sense when you are enjoying yourself and love what you do, which also gives them a sense of comfort with you. I feel I have a good mix of fun and work in my practice.
Q) Name one condition that you believe can often be dodged by preventative physiotherapy?
A) I think overuse injuries could be significantly reduced by this. If we have the chance to balance assymetries, compensation patterns, and poor movement control in the body, we can help to avoid undue stress on muscles and joints to allow people to enjoy the things they love to do!
Q) Why should a person not suffering with bodily pains participate in a physiotherapy program? What benefits will he or she probably derive from it?
A) Preventative physiotherapy can help correct poor movement patterns, which aren’t always painful. At Elite, we regularly carry out movement screens and functional testing to highlight these faults and develop programs aimed at fixing the faults and reducing the risk of injury. I love a quote by Grey Cook, a prominent figure in the Rehabilitation Community: “First move well, then move often.” Physical activity has been shown to impact us in many ways including in our mood, appetite, and energy levels. We could all use a little more movement in our day!
Q) Who is your favorite type of patient to work with? Why?
A) No word of a lie, I truly enjoy the large range of demographics we get at our clinic; it’s what I love about private practice! From young athletes to elderly clients, you get a chance to make a difference in their lives. Everyone has a different story. I love getting to connect with them and help them reach their goals.
Q) What do you wish was common knowledge about physiotherapy?
A) That it treats a larger range of injuries than just ankle sprains and low-back pain. Some areas that people are often surprised by include vestibular rehab for patients suffering with Vertigo or inner-ear problems, women’s health for a variety of pelvic-floor problems, or the FMS (functional movement screen) for athletes looking for preventative intervention!
Q) When was the last time you witnessed physiotherapy changing a patient’s life? Tell us a little about it.
A) That’s the beauty of our profession — we get a chance to work with people and make an impact on their lives pretty much daily. It might only be small success, but it means a great deal to a person who is gaining back independence or pain-free movement. Living in pain is a terrible way to live! When you can help someone break out of that cycle, it’s a very rewarding feeling.
Q) What condition would you like to learn more about and work more with?
A) I have recently started my certification for Neuro Kinetic Therapy (NKT). It is an approach to deal with injury or movement faults by identifying and improving the connection between our brain and muscles. This can be applied to many different conditions from acute to chronic injury. I am excited to take my next level of certification for NKT in the new year and continue to incorporate it into my practice.
Q) Which health problems are you really good at treating?
A) This is a tough one because each injury varies, but I would have to say knee injuries are often challenging yet rewarding. I can get very creative with the exercise programs, depending on what I am looking to get patients back to.
Q) List three fun facts about yourself 🙂
A) Oh boy, I love being active — especially trying new sports/activities that take me out of my comfort zone. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting in the kitchen! And my goal for 2017 is to be able to rock a handstand.
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Interested in working with the energetic, bright, and compassionate physiotherapist Karina Zinn? If so, contact Elite Sports Injury Physiotherapy Clinics to schedule an appointment. Taking the risk of reaching out may result in much greater health and a richer existence, both now and in the future.