By Trevor Greenway

In an ideal world, every one of Louise Killens and Patrice Guay’s patients would be a former client.
They could never guess how many clients they’ve treated at PhysioSport Chelsea over the years, but if you asked them just how many of them they wants to return, they’d say zero.
“It’s a different philosophy,” said Killens, sitting in her Chelsea practice just off Hwy 105. Killens sold her practice to Guay earlier this January, but is staying on for the next two years to help with the transition. The business is celebrating 20 years this February, and she said she’s feeling a bit nostalgic for the business, Chelsea and her clients.
“Our philosophy is that we are there, not to empower you, but to give you the tools so that if [an injury] ever starts coming back, you know what to do,” explained Killens. “So, it’s not about having to come back three times a week, x number of times for several months. It’s more about, if you ever need us again, give us a call.”
Guay, who will fully take over PhysioSport when Killens retires in the next two years, is more emotional about “breaking up” with his clients once he’s mended their nagging injury.
“We say, ‘See you next time,’ well, hopefully not next time, but hopefully somewhere else, other than the clinic,” said Guay, who has been at PhysioSport for three-and-a-half years. “I like like to say to people, ‘Well, now you are feeling better, so now we’re divorcing.’”
When Killens looks back on the past 20 years, the word that she said describes her feelings best is gratitude. She said she’s grateful that she chose to set up her business in such an active village where most residents are health-minded and want to remain active as they get older. She added that she’s grateful for the “word-of-mouth” promotion that has helped her business grow from just a small physio office to a clinic that now includes massage therapy, cranial sacral, concussion therapy, reflexology and a host of specialized physiotherapy approaches. But most of all, Killens said she is reminded why she loves her job so much when she sees a patient come in with chronic pain and leave a different person.
“When somebody comes in with pain, and by the time you see them maybe three or four times, their personality starts to blossom,” said Killens. “Part of it is because they are feeling better and because, when you are in pain, it’s not fun.”
Killens said her approach to physiotherapy has always been about using communication and “hands on” therapy to get at the root of a problem.
“You have to love what you do, and I think physiotherapy, broadly, is very much based on communication – both mental and physical,” she added. “In physio, there’s a science and an art, and your hands are your art. You need to be able to feel. If we don’t actually go in and feel things, then you might as well just look up exercises on Google and just do them.”
Guay specializes in addressing deep muscular tension with dry needling and the Graston technique and also has completed several courses in concussion and vestibular rehabilitation, as well as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and neck dysfunctions.
For more information on PhysioSport Chelsea, visit them online at www.physiosportchelsea.ca.