Anthony Pelletier - The Holistic Physio

02/04/2026

02/03/2026

I am delighted to announce the grand opening of Flow Motion Therapy in Moncton, a new clinic launched in collaboration with Maryse Arseneau RMT, providing flexible scheduling to accommodate the diverse needs of our clients. Our clinic is situated on Church Street in a historic home that promises to captivate all who enter. To schedule an appointment, please visit: https://flowmotiontherapy.janeapp.com.

Furthermore, I have recently launched my website, theholisticphysio.ca, where I share current and influential information on key factors that significantly impact rehabilitation journeys. I invite you to explore the resources page and provide your valuable feedback.

Quick note: please make sure the front door is fully closed when you arrive — it’s an old door and may need a little extra push.

12/13/2025

Very informative post highlighting evidence-based clinical guidelines for modern physiotherapy practice: exercise and education as the foundation, with passive modalities used only as adjuncts, not as long-term care—and potentially more frequently in the early phases of rehab if they help facilitate movement and confidence.

As someone who appreciates good analogies, I also enjoyed how the closing comparison captured what complete physiotherapy care looks like: not only screening for urgent medical red flags, but also identifying yellow flags that may hinder progress and recovery.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲: 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲

▪️ 🌍 Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain—encompassing conditions like back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain—is the leading cause of disability globally, yet the quality of healthcare provided for these conditions is often suboptimal.
A systematic review by Lin et al. highlights a significant gap between evidence and practice, characterized by the overuse of radiological imaging, surgery, and opioids, alongside a failure to provide patients with essential education and advice.

▪️ 📘 To address this, researchers analyzed 44 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for spinal, hip, knee, and shoulder pain, identifying only 11 that met high-quality standards.
From these high-quality guidelines, they distilled 11 consistent recommendations that constitute best practice care for MSK pain, regardless of the specific body part affected.

◼️ 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

▪️ 🔎 Screen for "Red Flags":
Clinicians should first screen to exclude serious pathologies, such as fractures, malignancy, infection, or severe neurological deficits.

▪️ 🧠 Assess Psychosocial Factors:
It is essential to assess factors such as depression, anxiety, fear of movement, and recovery expectations, as these are critical prognostic indicators.

▪️ 🏃‍♂️ Conduct a Physical Examination:
A physical exam including mobility, strength, and neurological screening is recommended to assist in diagnosis and classification.

▪️ 🖨️ Discourage Routine Imaging:
Radiological imaging (X-rays, MRIs) should not be used routinely. It is discouraged unless serious pathology is suspected, there has been an unsatisfactory response to conservative care, or the results are likely to change management strategies.

◼️ 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

▪️ Patient-Centred Care:
Care must respond to the individual context of the patient, utilizing effective communication and shared decision-making.

▪️ Education and Information:
All patients should receive education about their condition to encourage self-management and provide reassurance regarding prognosis.

▪️ Physical Activity and Exercise:
This is a cornerstone of management; guidelines consistently recommend physical activity, aerobic exercise, or specific strengthening exercises depending on the condition.

▪️ Manual Therapy as an Adjunct:
Manual therapy (hands-on treatment) should only be applied in conjunction with other evidence-based treatments, such as exercise and education, rather than as a standalone therapy.

▪️ Non-Surgical Care First:
Unless there is a specific "red flag" indication, patients should be offered evidence-informed non-surgical care prior to any consideration of surgery.

▪️ Facilitate Return to Work:
Clinicians should actively facilitate the continuation or resumption of work, as staying active is generally beneficial.

▪️ Monitor Progress:
Patient progress should be evaluated using validated outcome measures to ensure the chosen management strategy is working.

◼️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 "𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁𝘀"

▪️ Osteoarthritis (OA):
Arthroscopic lavage and debridement (clean-out surgery) should not be performed for knee OA unless there is a specific rationale like mechanical locking. Additionally, glucosamine and chondroitin are not recommended for disease modification.

▪️ Low Back Pain (LBP):
Paracetamol should not be offered as a single medication, and opioids should not be offered for chronic low back pain. Furthermore, spinal injections and disc replacement are generally discouraged.

◼️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

▪️ 🌍 This review suggests that MSK pain conditions in different body areas share significant similarities regarding mechanisms and management.
▪️ ⚖️ By adhering to these 11 recommendations, clinicians can reduce the waste of healthcare resources—such as unnecessary imaging and surgeries—and improve patient outcomes.
▪️ 🔄 The findings serve as a "common ground" for high-quality care, signaling a shift away from passive, medicalized fixes toward active, educational, and holistic patient management.

◼️ Analogy

▪️ Treating musculoskeletal pain is like navigating a ship through a storm.
▪️ 𝗕𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 is like immediately firing distress flares (opioids) or abandoning the ship for a lifeboat (surgery) at the first sign of rough waves, without checking the hull or the weather report.
▪️ 🧭 Best practice, as described in this review, is like a skilled captain steadying the wheel. They first check for major structural breaches (𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀), check the crew’s morale (assess psychosocial factors), and rely on their charts rather than staring blindly into the fog (discourage routine imaging). Most importantly, they keep the ship moving forward (encourage physical activity) and make small course corrections (manual therapy as adjunct) rather than letting the storm paralyze the vessel.

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⚠️Disclaimer: Sharing a study or a part of it is NOT an endorsement. Please read the original article and evaluate critically.⚠️

Link to Article 👇

11/01/2025

THIS! 🙌 I see it all the time, an overstimulated nervous system creates the perfect environment for chronic pain. Naturally utilizing your vagus’s nerve potential for parasympathetic activation is often underestimated and under discussed. In reality, it’s an essential component to kickstart chronic pain management that is free and effective.

“I’m exhausted, but I can’t stop.”

That’s what Marie, a 42-year-old mother of three, told me at her appointment last month.

She wasn’t sleeping, had digestive issues, felt wired but tired, and cried on the way to work more than she cared to admit.

Blood work? Normal.
Thyroid? Fine.
Hormones? Normal.
But her nervous system? Completely overwhelmed.

What Marie was experiencing wasn’t a mystery illness. It was burnout, and it wasn’t just in her mind. It was deep in her biology.

Chronic stress keeps us locked in sympathetic overdrive, the fight or flight mode meant for emergencies.

But when stress is unrelenting, your body forgets how to turn it off. Your heart races, cortisol stays high, your gut shuts down, sleep becomes light and fragmented, and no amount of vacation seems to fix it.

You’re not supposed to be in “fight or flight” while responding to emails.

Here’s the thing:
🧠 We have a built-in reset switch, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the vagus nerve is the key to turning it on.

💡 Want to help your body shift from stressed to safe?
Try these science-backed ways to activate your vagus nerve:

• Deep breathing: Try box breathing (inhale 4 sec, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4) for just 2 minutes.
• Cold exposure: End your shower on cold or splash cold water on your face.
• Gargling, humming, or singing: These stimulate vagal tone through the vocal cords.
• Meditation or prayer: Stillness calms the entire nervous system.
• Connection: Laughter, hugs, and eye contact with someone you trust are powerful healers.

Eighty percent of parasympathetic traffic flows through the vagus nerve, and these actions help activate it.

Marie didn’t need another supplement.

She needed to feel safe.
She needed permission to slow down.
And most of all, she needed to retrain her body to leave survival mode.

🧘‍♀️ Burnout isn’t solved with bubble baths. You can’t vacation your way out of it.

It’s solved by giving your body the signals it needs to heal. Increasing parasympathetic tone helps.

If this resonates with you or someone you know, don’t scroll past it.

This could be the reminder they need.

And never hesitate to reach out for help from someone you love, or from a licensed therapist.

In this situation, most of my patients would tell me that they don’t want to burden others with their problems, but studies seem to show the exact opposite.

And in the vast majority of cases, friends will feel honoured and privileged to have a relationship so meaningful and precious enough to make them the person that is called upon in moments of need.

You have to put your own oxygen mask on first before you help others with theirs.

💚 Dr. Jules

10/27/2025

💭 “What if the hardest falls in life are the ones that teach us the most?”

One year ago, I had a fall that changed the way I see my body, my sport, and even my work as a physiotherapist. Here’s what I learned about pain, fear, and trust. 👇

I was on a 11b route. The start was a breeze — making my way up to a cave entrance that doubled as a perfect resting spot.

The second half of the route was where the real challenge began. It was my first time trying this climb, so I didn’t know what to expect. Still, it was within my skill zone, and I was making good progress up the steep rock face.

Then I reached the crux — the hardest part. I was physically tested, but I kept pushing through.

At the last bolt, I placed my right foot on a far-away hold, freed one hand to grab my rope, and went to clip it into the next quickdraw.

My foot slipped.
Here I go. 🫣

Now, I’ve taken plenty of falls before — but none like this one.

Because of the extra rope my belayer had given me, and the position I was in, there was a lot of slack. I counted in my head:
One… two… three…

Normally, the rope catches after a second. This time, I braced for a hard catch.

When the rope finally started to slow me down, my feet found nothing but air. Normally, I’d be upright with my feet toward the wall, ready to absorb the impact.

But my instincts kicked in — I flattened my body horizontally, trying not to hit my head on the top of the cave or my feet on the bottom.

That instinct… wasn’t the best one. 😅

When the rope finally caught, my pelvis shot upward and my back snapped downward.
E = mc², right?

My whole body bent backward — I swear I felt the back of my head almost touch my shoulder blades.
Stars. No wind left in me. 🌌

My girlfriend and her best friend saw the whole thing.
My friend couldn’t stop talking from fear.
My girlfriend was speechless, thinking the worst.
And I was just… in shock.

After a few minutes, I got back on the route.
I needed to.

To push through the fear — not just for myself, but to show my friends that fear wouldn’t take the best of me. That I could still do this sport that brings me so much joy and strength. 💪

With adrenaline still pumping and a better understanding of the route, I sent it on my second try.

When I rappelled down, I felt the soreness in my lower back.

As a physio, I knew I’d be sore for a few days — and I was. But the soreness lingered for six weeks.

A year later, I’m still climbing and still pushing myself. But something has changed.

The fear is still there… just a little.
I take fewer risks. I don’t push as hard as I used to.

Maybe it’s respect for the sport.
Maybe I just need a few more “normal” falls to rebuild that confidence and push my limits again.

This experience taught me something that ties deeply to my work as a physiotherapist.

If I hadn’t faced my fear that day, maybe I would’ve never climbed again.

Maybe my back wouldn’t have healed and strengthened through the gradual, gentle rehab I gave it — by respecting my limits at first, then progressively rebuilding my strength.

🧠 Pain is inevitable. Injuries happen — it’s part of being human.
But suffering is optional.

When fear outweighs the trust you have in your body, pain and suffering coexist.
When you trust your body’s resilience and its ability to heal, pain begins to fade — guiding you back to strength and function.

I became a physiotherapist because I have a deep admiration for the human body. ❤️

It’s capable of incredible healing, resilience, and strength when given the right conditions:
time, load, and patience.

The biggest obstacle to that process?
Our ego.

Can we step aside and let the body do what it’s built to do?

✨ That’s what I learned… from one bad fall.

Have you ever had an injury or setback that changed your perspective?
I’d love to hear your story below. ⬇️

10/13/2025

This week, a patient asked me an interesting question:

“What is your specialty as a physiotherapist?”

Although this question took me a bit by surprise, I was pleased to have the opportunity to reflect on it and answer as authentically as I could.

My first instinct was to reply that I don’t have a specialty per se. For me, what’s most important — and fulfilling — in my professional life is being able to help just about anyone, whether they’re suffering from an acute injury or a chronic condition.

That said, the term “specialist” is officially reserved for physiotherapists who have completed advanced post-secondary training in a specific field. Currently, there are no physiotherapists in New Brunswick who can legally use the title “Specialist.”

So after giving it some thought, I realized that to truly answer her question, I needed to reframe it:

“What part of my profession allows me to stand out from other physiotherapists?”

Without hesitation, I answered that my knowledge and experience in the treatment of chronic pain is what helps me stand out.

When it comes to chronic pain, the rules of rehabilitation differ significantly from those used to treat an acute injury, such as an ankle sprain.

In treating chronic conditions, not only must you be well-versed in human neuro-musculoskeletal pathophysiology (as you would for an acute injury), but you must also be able to wear a different professional hat — one that sometimes resembles that of a psychologist.

Although the sensations of pain in persistent conditions may feel similar to those experienced during an acute injury, different regions of the brain become active in each case.

This happens because the brain has an incredible ability to change, adapt, and reprogram itself at any age — a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.

However, neuroplasticity isn’t always beneficial. The brain can also learn maladaptive responses, thought patterns, and behaviours.

In the acute stage of an injury, a specific region of the sensory cortex lights up when we experience pain. For example, if I put my hand on a hot stove, the area of the brain responsible for interpreting the stimulation from my hand’s thermal and pain receptors activates immediately. This triggers a reflex in the motor cortex that allows me to pull my hand away — pain, in this case, is essential for survival.

Pain is felt in the body, but it’s the brain that interprets and decodes these signals, then decides on the appropriate response.

Thanks to advances in medical imaging, we now know that chronic or persistent pain activates different brain regions — primarily the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. These areas are involved in our personality, emotions, memory, and perception of experiences.

Because pain is a vital survival mechanism, the brain would rather overreact and produce intense pain for something minor (like a paper cut) than underreact to something serious (like a gunshot wound).

When we live in a constant state of fear that something is wrong with our body, we send “danger” messages to these brain regions. Over time, they become hypervigilant in an effort to protect us — and this vicious cycle of overprotection and hypersensitivity is what we call neuroplastic pain: pain learned through repeated exposure and reinforcement.

Fear itself — and our attempts to control or avoid it — becomes the cornerstone of this cycle.

Understanding the role of fear in the pain experience, and learning not to let it take the driver’s seat, is the first step toward treating chronic pain.

PS:
I’ve recently been reading a workbook recommended to me by Dr. Richard Dumais, who leads the Pain Clinic at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre.

It’s truly a masterpiece when it comes to understanding chronic pain. The accompanying workbook helps you uncover parts of your subconscious that may be fueling protective behaviours contributing to your pain. I highly recommend it to anyone open and brave enough to explore their fears and emerge wiser and more compassionate toward themselves and others.

10/02/2025

Hey everyone! 👋

New business cards are in 😃 As many of you know, I’m working at Clinique Robichaud-Lévesque Clinic here in Moncton.

I have openings tomorrow and spots next week for anyone who’s been thinking about booking in—whether it’s for injury prevention, recovery, or just to feel and move better in your daily life.

If you’d like to grab a spot, just send me a message, call the clinic or book online on the website listed below! I’d be happy to help you out!

Thanks for all the support 💚

Salut tout le monde! 👋

Je suis super content de vous montrer mes nouvelles cartes d’affaires 😃 Comme plusieurs le savent déjà, je travaille à la Clinique Robichaud-Lévesque ici à Moncton.

J’ai des plages horaires de disponibles demain et la semaine prochaine pour ceux et celles qui aimeraient prendre rendez-vous—que ce soit pour la prévention des blessures, la réadaptation ou simplement pour mieux bouger et vous sentir bien au quotidien.

Si ça vous intéresse, envoyez-moi un message, appelez directement à la clinique ou prennez-vous même un rdv sur notre site web listé en bas de la page! Ce sera un plaisir de vous aider!

Merci beaucoup pour tout votre soutien 💚

📍 5 cr Flanders Ct, Moncton, N.-B.
📞 (506) 857-0095
🌐 https://robichaudlevesque.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/39

09/29/2025

Such an important message, Dr. Jules Dr. Jules Cormier! 🙌

As physiotherapist, I’ve seen both sides of this story:

➡️ Working preventively with people who want to stay active and independent.
➡️ Supporting patients in hospital after a hip fracture, helping them regain mobility and dignity in the most challenging circumstances.

Those experiences have made it crystal clear to me: prevention is always better. Once a fracture has happened, recovery can be long, difficult, and often life-changing. But with simple, consistent balance and mobility training, we can dramatically reduce those risks and keep people moving with confidence. 🌿

That’s why my work now focuses on prevention—helping people restore natural movement, improve stability, and feel empowered in their bodies. It’s never too early (or too late!) to start.

If you’d like guidance on how to make mobility and balance a natural part of your lifestyle, I’d love to support you.

Here’s to aging with strength, grace, and independence. 💚

09/25/2025

✨ Excited to announce that I’ve joined the team at Robichaud-Lévesque Clinic as a physiotherapist! Grateful for this new chapter and looking forward to helping my new patients on their journey to recovery and wellness.

✨ Heureux d’annoncer que j’ai rejoint l’équipe de la Clinique Robichaud-Lévesque en tant que physiothérapeute! Reconnaissant pour ce nouveau chapitre et impatient d’accompagner mes nouveaux patients vers leur guérison et le bien-être.

🇬🇧 We are exited to announce that Anthony Pelletier will be joing us as physiotherapist at the RL Clinic 💥.

Anthony is not your typical run-of-the-mill physio. With experience in both the private and public sectors, he takes the time to understand you, not just your symptoms. His approach is rooted in evidence-based treatment and guided by a thorough history and assessment to uncover the true cause of your pain or dysfunction🦴.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury or managing a long-standing condition, Anthony combines clinical expertise with a whole-person perspective, focusing on education and tailored exercises that empower you to move better and feel better, for the long term🫰.

This isn’t a quick-fix, it’s physiotherapy done differently, thoughtfully, holistically, and with purpose.

Please give us a call at 506 857 0095📞 for an in person consultation at the RL Clinic with Anthony👨‍⚕️.

🇫🇷Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer l'arrivée d'Anthony Pelletier comme physiothérapeute à la Clinique RL 💥.

Anthony n'est pas un physiothérapeute ordinaire. Avec de l’expérience dans les secteurs privé et public, il prend le temps de vous comprendre, et pas seulement vos symptômes. Son approche s'appuie sur un traitement fondés sur des données probantes et est guidée par une analyse et une évaluation approfondies afin de découvrir la véritable cause de votre douleur ou de votre dysfonction🦴.

Que vous soyez en rétablissement après une blessure ou que vous gériez d’une condition de longue durée, Anthony combine expertise clinique et approche globale, en mettant l’accent sur l'éducation et des exercices sur mesure pour vous aider à bouger et à vous sentir mieux, sur le long terme🫰.

Ce n'est pas une clinique de solutions rapides. C'est de la physiothérapie pratiquée autrement, de façon réfléchie, holistique et avec intention.

Appelez-nous au 506 857 0095📞 pour une consultation en personne avec Anthony👨‍⚕️ à la Clinique RL.