Hayden Lau, MPT — Physiotherapist in Winnipeg | Elite Sports Injury Clinics
Hayden Lau is a registered physiotherapist at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in St. James, Winnipeg, holding a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) and Bachelor of Kinesiology (B.Kin) from the University of Manitoba. Hayden takes a distinctly holistic approach to physiotherapy — integrating manual therapy, exercise therapy, and principles drawn from his background in Chinese martial arts and chi-gong to assess and treat how the body moves as a whole rather than in isolated painful parts. He specializes in chronic low back pain, hip impingement, sports injuries across all levels and activities, and the full breadth of musculoskeletal conditions across all ages.
Credentials & Education
Hayden completed his Bachelor of Kinesiology and Master of Physical Therapy at the University of Manitoba. He brings a unique background in Chinese martial arts and chi-gong — practices that develop an advanced understanding of balance, coordination, body awareness, and efficient movement that directly informs his physiotherapy assessment and treatment. Originally from Hong Kong and living in Winnipeg since 2016, Hayden brings cultural breadth and a naturally collaborative, patient-centred approach to his clinical practice.
How Hayden Treats
Hayden’s treatment approach integrates manual therapy — including joint mobilizations that use graded accessory movements to restore restricted articular mechanics and reduce pain, and soft tissue techniques that release myofascial tension and improve tissue extensibility — with targeted exercise therapy to reinforce the movement quality that manual therapy creates. His chi-gong and martial arts background provides an additional lens for assessing balance, coordination, and movement efficiency that conventional physiotherapy training does not address — helping him identify why patients move the way they do, and how to retrain movement patterns that are perpetuating injury.
Rather than treating the site of pain alone, Hayden evaluates how different parts of the body are contributing to the patient’s presentation — identifying the underlying movement patterns, imbalances, and compensatory habits that have developed over time. This systemic view is why patients who have had previous treatments focused only on the area of pain often see different outcomes with Hayden — the contributing factors that were maintaining the problem are identified and addressed, not just the symptom.
Conditions & Injuries Treated
Hayden treats a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in St. James, Winnipeg. His most common presentations include:
- Chronic low back pain — functional movement assessment to identify the true drivers of pain; combination of manual therapy, progressive strength work, and movement confidence coaching; patients experience steady improvement within 4–8 weeks with a clear plan for managing and preventing future episodes
- Hip impingement (FAI) — deep groin pain and pinching with hip flexion; assessment of joint mechanics and hip-pelvic muscular control; joint mobility improvement, movement modification, and progressive hip stabilizer and core strengthening; reduced pinching and improved mobility within 4–6 weeks
- Sports injuries — muscle strains, ligament sprains, overuse injuries across all sports; accurate diagnosis, early load management, and structured sport-specific rehabilitation with progressive strength, speed, and confidence milestones; return to sport safely with improved resilience and reduced re-injury risk
- Knee pain — chronic and acute; full kinetic chain assessment; manual therapy and progressive strengthening targeting movement pattern contributors
- Shoulder pain — rotator cuff conditions, impingement, instability, and frozen shoulder; movement assessment and progressive rotator cuff and scapular rehabilitation
- Neck pain and whiplash — cervical mobility restoration, manual therapy, and progressive strengthening
- WCB workplace injuries and MPI motor vehicle accident rehabilitation in Winnipeg
Hayden does not treat TMJ conditions — referring these to appropriate specialists.
Clinical Approach & Philosophy
Hayden’s treatment philosophy focuses on understanding both the source of symptoms and how the body is moving as a whole — rather than only treating the area of pain. Many issues are influenced by underlying movement patterns, imbalances, or habits that develop over time, and identifying those factors is a central part of his approach. He also draws from martial arts and chi-gong principles — which focus on balance, coordination, and moving more efficiently — to inform how he understands and retrains movement.
A first appointment begins with a conversation to understand the history of the issue, daily activities, and any previous injuries or treatments — identifying patterns that may be contributing to the problem. A full movement assessment follows, looking at mobility, strength, and control alongside a focused examination of the affected area. Treatment usually begins in the same session with hands-on techniques and targeted exercises, with clear next steps provided so the patient leaves with a practical plan moving forward.
What patients consistently describe about Hayden is the level of detail and clarity in both assessment and treatment — the time he takes to connect how different parts of the body are contributing to the issue, which often explains why previous treatments that focused only on the site of pain did not produce lasting results.
Patient Outcomes
A recreational hockey player came to Hayden with chronic knee pain that had been present for a long time and was limiting his enjoyment of the sport. Previous treatments had focused mainly on the knee itself, producing only short-term relief. Hayden took a more holistic approach — combining hands-on therapy to reduce pain and stiffness with a structured exercise program aimed at improving overall movement quality, strength, and control. Particular attention was placed on correcting the movement habits that were contributing to ongoing stress through the knee joint. Within a few weeks, pain had significantly reduced and return to recreational hockey was possible without ongoing limitations. The main outcome was not only symptom resolution but improved confidence in movement and a clearer understanding of how to manage and prevent recurrence.
Personal & Community
Originally from Hong Kong, Hayden moved to Winnipeg in 2016 and has built his physiotherapy career here. Outside the clinic, he practises Chinese martial arts and chi-gong, goes hiking, and trains in the gym. His martial arts and chi-gong background is not incidental to his clinical practice — it informs how he understands the body, evaluates movement efficiency, and teaches patients to move with better balance and coordination during rehabilitation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Hayden Lau, treatment approach, and booking.
Hayden Lau, MPT, is a registered physiotherapist at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in St. James, Winnipeg. He holds a Master of Physical Therapy and Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Manitoba. Hayden specializes in chronic low back pain, hip impingement, sports injury rehabilitation, and a holistic movement-based approach informed by his background in Chinese martial arts and chi-gong. He treats the full breadth of musculoskeletal conditions across all ages and activity levels.
Yes. Hayden Lau at Elite Sports Injury Clinics St. James takes a movement-based approach to chronic low back pain — assessing the functional drivers of pain, not just the site. He combines manual therapy with progressive strength work and movement confidence coaching. Most patients experience steady improvement within 4–8 weeks, leaving with a clear plan for managing and preventing future episodes. Book at physiowinnipeg.com — no referral required.
Hayden Lau at Elite Sports Injury Clinics St. James assesses hip impingement by evaluating joint mechanics alongside hip-pelvic muscular control — identifying both the structural and movement contributors to pinching and pain. Treatment focuses on improving joint mobility, modifying aggravating movements in daily life and sport, and progressively building strength in the hip stabilizers and core to offload the joint. Most patients experience reduced pinching, improved mobility, and return to activity within 4–6 weeks.
Chi-gong is a traditional Chinese practice that develops body awareness, balance, coordination, and efficient movement through deliberate breathing and movement sequences. Hayden Lau at Elite Sports Injury Clinics St. James draws from his martial arts and chi-gong background to assess movement efficiency and balance contributions to musculoskeletal pain — going beyond what conventional physiotherapy assessment identifies. This informs how he retrains movement patterns and helps patients move more efficiently and sustainably.
Hayden Lau is accepting new patients at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in St. James, Winnipeg. No referral required. Book at physiowinnipeg.com or call the St. James clinic. Hayden treats chronic low back pain, hip impingement, sports injuries, knee pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, WCB workplace injuries, and MPI motor vehicle accident cases. He does not treat TMJ conditions.