Ricky Paggao, BMR-PT — Physiotherapist in Winnipeg | Elite Sports Injury Clinics
Ricky Paggao is a registered physiotherapist at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in Transcona, Winnipeg, with 21 years of clinical experience helping patients overcome persistent pain and return to the activities they love.
Ricky specializes in functional dry needling — including electro dry needling with electrical stimulation — functional movement assessment, and corrective exercise, with a particular focus on patients dealing with chronic back pain, chronic knee pain, and chronic shoulder pain who have not found lasting relief elsewhere.
He holds a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy (BMR-PT) and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) from the University of Manitoba.
Credentials & Education
Ricky completed his physiotherapy training at the University of Manitoba School of Medical Rehabilitation and has built an extensive portfolio of advanced certifications over his 21-year career. His specialized training includes:
- Functional Dry Needling Levels 1 and 2 and Electro Dry Needling — Kinetacore (now Evidence in Motion)
- Acupuncture (CAFCI)
- Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) — Functional Movement Systems
- Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Fundamental Capacity Screen (FCS) — Functional Movement Systems
- Mulligan Techniques
- McKenzie Method — McKenzie Institute
- Hardstyle Kettlebell
- Functional Range Conditioning (FRC)
- Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)
He is also an examiner for the National Physiotherapy Competency Exam and serves on a Special Assignments Committee for Dry Needling with the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba.
Core Techniques
Ricky’s clinical practice is anchored in functional dry needling — a technique that uses fine monofilament needles inserted directly into myofascial trigger points to produce a local twitch response in the muscle. This twitch releases the trigger point, reduces muscular tension, restores blood flow to the affected tissue, and triggers a neurological pain-relief response — making it highly effective for patients with chronic muscle pain, repetitive strain injuries, and conditions that have not responded to passive treatment.
Ricky is one of the few Winnipeg physiotherapists trained in electro dry needling, which delivers low-level electrical stimulation through the needles to further depolarize muscle fibres and accelerate tissue healing — particularly effective for patients with persistent pain, nerve-related conditions, or chronic injuries that standard needling alone has not resolved.
Functional movement assessment — specifically the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) — is central to Ricky’s diagnostic process. Rather than treating the site of pain, he uses standardized movement screens to identify the specific dysfunctions in mobility, stability, and motor control that are generating symptoms. This assessment-first model means every treatment session has a measurable target linked to a documented baseline.
Corrective exercise programming using Hardstyle Kettlebell progressions — including Turkish get-ups, swings, cleans, and loaded carries — then rebuilds the functional movement capacity and resilience to prevent recurrence.
At Elite Sports Injury Clinics in Transcona, Ricky’s integrated approach is supported by the clinic’s multidisciplinary team of massage therapists and athletic therapists, enabling coordinated multi-modal care under one roof.
Conditions & Injuries Treated
- Chronic low back pain and lumbar dysfunction — disc-related pain, facet joint irritation, sciatica; SFMA-guided assessment, dry needling, progressive corrective exercise
- Chronic knee pain — patellofemoral pain syndrome, IT band syndrome, meniscal irritation, knee osteoarthritis; hip-and-movement-first assessment model
- Chronic shoulder pain — rotator cuff injuries, shoulder impingement syndrome, glenohumeral instability; functional movement screening of the kinetic chain
- Sports injuries — ankle sprains, muscle strains, tendinopathies, overuse injuries across all sports
- Hip pain and dysfunction — gluteal tendinopathy, hip impingement, pain referred from the lumbar spine
- Neck pain and cervicogenic headaches — postural neck pain, whiplash-associated disorders, tension headaches
- Workplace injuries (WCB) — repetitive strain, lifting injuries, return-to-work rehabilitation
- Motor vehicle accident injuries (MPI) — whiplash, soft tissue injuries, post-collision rehabilitation
- Postural and movement dysfunction — desk workers, tradeworkers, long-standing movement compensations
Ricky has a particular track record with patients who have tried multiple treatments elsewhere without lasting relief — using his functional movement expertise and advanced dry needling skills to find and address the root cause of conditions that have resisted conventional management.
Clinical Approach & Philosophy
Ricky’s approach to physiotherapy begins before treatment starts. Every new patient undergoes a structured movement assessment using FMS or SFMA protocols to establish a baseline and identify the specific movement dysfunctions contributing to their pain. This assessment-first model means treatment is not reactive but systematic — each session has a measurable target, and progress is tracked against the baseline established at intake.
Ricky does not treat the site of pain alone. He identifies the chain of movement compensations that led to the injury — often a dysfunction in mobility or stability elsewhere in the body — and addresses those root causes directly.
A first appointment begins with a genuine conversation about how the injury is affecting daily life and performance goals, followed immediately by movement assessment and treatment in the same session. Patients leave with specific corrective exercises and a clear explanation of what is driving their pain and how the program will resolve it.
Patient Outcomes
Over 21 years of practice in Winnipeg, Ricky has helped patients recover from life-altering injuries and guided elite athletes to performance breakthroughs — with the same commitment to finding what is really driving the problem.
He has a particular track record with patients who have been through multiple treatments elsewhere without resolution, using his functional movement expertise and advanced dry needling skills to achieve results where other approaches have fallen short.
Personal & Community
Originally from Brandon, Ricky has called Winnipeg home since 2012. Outside the clinic, he brings the same passion for movement to his personal life — training with kettlebells, strength training, running, and playing soccer.
He is actively involved in the broader physiotherapy community, having worked with the College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba, the Manitoba Physiotherapy Association, and the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators. He is a father of three young boys and volunteers in their school and sports activities.
Ricky practices at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in Transcona — a full-service location offering physiotherapy, massage therapy, and psychotherapy, co-located with Legacy Sport Medicine and Performance Healthware.
Book your appointment with Ricky Paggao
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ricky Paggao, treatment approach, and booking.
Ricky Paggao, BMR-PT, is a registered physiotherapist at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in Transcona, Winnipeg, with 21 years of experience. He specializes in functional dry needling — including electro dry needling with electrical stimulation — functional movement assessment using SFMA protocols, and corrective exercise programming with kettlebell progressions. Ricky focuses on chronic back pain, chronic knee pain, and chronic shoulder pain in patients who have not found lasting relief through previous treatment. Book at physiowinnipeg.com.
Yes. Ricky Paggao at Elite Sports Injury Clinics Transcona has 21 years of experience treating chronic low back pain, disc-related pain, and sciatica in Winnipeg. His approach uses the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) to identify the root cause movement dysfunction — not just treat where it hurts — combined with dry needling to release muscular trigger points and progressive corrective exercise to rebuild spinal stability and prevent recurrence.
Electro dry needling combines traditional dry needling with low-level electrical stimulation delivered through the needles, producing stronger muscle activation, deeper trigger point release, and accelerated tissue healing. It is particularly effective for persistent muscle pain, chronic conditions, and nerve-related symptoms that haven't responded to standard needling or physiotherapy. Ricky Paggao at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in Transcona is one of the few Winnipeg physiotherapists certified in this technique. Book at physiowinnipeg.com.
The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a standardized clinical movement screen that identifies dysfunctions in mobility, stability, and motor control driving musculoskeletal pain. Rather than treating where it hurts, Ricky Paggao at Elite Sports Injury Clinics Transcona uses SFMA to find the specific movement pattern breakdown causing the pain — then builds corrective exercise to address that root cause. This is why his approach works for patients who have tried other treatments without lasting improvement.
Ricky Paggao is accepting new patients at Elite Sports Injury Clinics in Transcona, Winnipeg. No referral is required. Book online at physiowinnipeg.com or call the Transcona clinic directly. Ricky treats chronic back pain, chronic knee pain, chronic shoulder pain, sports injuries, WCB workplace injuries, and MPI motor vehicle accident injuries.