Orthopedic Physiotherapy: The WOMB Guelph

What is orthopedic physiotherapy?

Orthopedic physiotherapy focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal issues, including those affecting the joints, muscles, and bones. For prenatal and postpartum mothers, this specialized care addresses unique challenges such as pelvic pain, diastasis recti, postural changes, and recovery from delivery. Orthopedic physiotherapists use evidence-based techniques like manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and education to help you regain strength, improve mobility, and manage pain. Whether you're preparing your body for childbirth or recovering afterward, orthopedic physiotherapy provides tailored support to help you feel strong, confident, and ready for the demands of motherhood.

How can orthopedic physiotherapy help my child?

Orthopedic physiotherapy can be highly beneficial for children, addressing a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions to support their growth and development. Whether your child is dealing with injuries, posture issues, or conditions like scoliosis or flat feet, an orthopedic physiotherapist can create a personalized treatment plan to improve mobility, strength, and function. For active children, it can aid in injury prevention and recovery, while for younger ones, it helps address developmental concerns such as delayed milestones or muscle imbalances. With gentle, age-appropriate techniques, orthopedic physiotherapy ensures your child’s body develops healthily, allowing them to move and play with confidence.

Get to know our orthopaedic physiotherapists!

Shannon Clutton Carr

  • Shannon joins The WOMB Guelph with nearly 15 years of clinical practice in orthopedics, sports injuries, and pelvic health physiotherapy. She rostered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario in the area of pelvic floor physiotherapy in 2018 and has honed a clinical focus on peri-natal and peri-menopausal health. Her specific clinical interests include chronic low back or hip pain, dyspareunia/painful penetration, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, bladder or bowel urgency, pregnancy-related pain conditions, labour and delivery prep, and post-partum recovery and conditioning.

    Shannon is passionate about the biopsychosocial aspects of women’s health and creating a community of women helping women. She firmly believes in honouring matrescence and all it has to offer. She uses education and movement to empower and inspire other mothers to connect to themselves and create a healthy body and mind even while in the throes of major life transition.

    Shannon has successfully built and grown a clinical Pilates program that incorporates full body strengthening, postural control, breath work, and lumbopelvic/core strengthening that pairs beautifully with pelvic floor rehabilitation. She is STOTT Pilates mat and reformer trained since 2011 and continues to teach regularly in the community at local fitness studios and the University of Guelph.

    Shannon recently added the assessment and treatment of infant feeding-related concerns to her repertoire of care. She works with parents to assess and treat common musculoskeletal issues associated with tongue/lip tie, poor latching, mastitis, torticollis, and more. She is continuing to develop this skill set and is excited to be able to co-treat with the lactation and feeding team at The WOMB.

    In 2022, she started peer facilitating virtual support groups for bereaved parents. She has spent many years learning about trauma recovery and navigating life after pregnancy loss at any stage. As a bereaved mother who has also experienced pregnancy after loss herself, she creates a safe space for bereaved mothers to experience trauma-informed pelvic health care. She continues to develop her physiotherapy practice through a trauma-informed lens and collaborates with the network of empathetic practitioners at The WOMB Guelph to help bereaved parents in need of whole body care.

    Shannon grew up dancing ballet in Guelph. Her physical activity is now centered on fitting in Peloton workouts when she can while juggling a busy lifestyle with her young family. She loves reading, movies, good coffee, and baking.

Emma Bonafiglia

  • Emma is a Registered Physiotherapist who practices Pelvic Health, Paediatric, and Orthopaedic Physiotherapy. She completed her Honours Bachelor in Kinesiology at McMaster University followed by her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy at Queens University. Emma has since completed advanced training in pelvic health and is rostered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario to perform internal pelvic exams.

    She provides support for a variety of pelvic health concerns including: bladder and bowel concerns (urinary incontinence, urgency, frequency, fecal incontinence, constipation), pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic girdle pain, persistent low back pain, hip, and tailbone pain, painful intercourse, and diastasis rectus abdominus. Emma also supports women throughout pregnancy, in preparation for labour and birth, and postpartum.

    Emma also works with the paediatric population treating infants, children and youth, with bowel and bladder concerns. This can include things such as constipation, bladder or bowel leaks, recurrent UTI’s, nighttime bedwetting, troubles with potty training, dysfunctional voiding, and more!

    Outside of work, Emma loves to be active! She can be found running, figure skating, hiking, or doing strength and pilates classes. She also enjoys baking, organizing, and continuously learning!