Equestrian Physiotherapy in Sherwood Park, Alberta

Physiotherapy for Horseback Riders – Helping You Feel Stronger, Move Better and Ride with Confidence

Horseback riding is an athletic activity that demands strength, balance, mobility, coordination and body awareness. Whether you ride dressage, show jump, barrel race, compete in rodeo or simply enjoy recreational riding, your body plays an important role in how you move and communicate with your horse.

At Acceleration Physiotherapy in Sherwood Park, we offer physiotherapy for horseback riders looking to manage pain, recover from riding-related injuries, improve their movement and return to the saddle with confidence.

From the challenges of maintaining a balanced position in the saddle to recovering after a fall, Leah understands that being a rider is about more than simply getting on a horse. It’s about having the strength, mobility and confidence to enjoy the sport you love.

What makes our approach especially meaningful is that Leah Hickman is a lifelong horseback rider herself. She understands the physical demands of riding not just from a physiotherapy perspective, but from personal experience in the equestrian world.

Book your physiotherapy assessment at Acceleration Physiotherapy in Sherwood Park.

Why Choose Acceleration Physiotherapy for your rehab?

Therapist is Experienced Rider
One-on-One Treatment
Rehab facilities

Physiotherapy Designed for Horseback Riders

Meet Leah

One of the things that makes equestrian physiotherapy at Acceleration Physiotherapy different is that Leah Hickman, one of the physiotherapists here, is a lifelong horseback rider.

Leah understands the equestrian lifestyle and the physical demands that come with it. She knows that riding requires more than simply sitting in the saddle. It involves strength, coordination, balance, mobility, body awareness and the ability to move in harmony with your horse.

She also understands that every rider is different.

A dressage rider may have different physical demands than a barrel racer. A recreational trail rider may have different goals than a competitive show jumper. And a rider recovering from a fall may have very different needs than someone looking to improve their symmetry and comfort in the saddle.

Having a physiotherapist who understands the sport and community can make it easier to communicate your goals and develop a rehabilitation plan that reflects the activities you want to return to.

At Acceleration Physiotherapy, we want to help riders stay active, recover from injuries and continue enjoying the sport that means so much to them.

Riding after an injury

Horseback riding is an incredible sport, but falls and accidents happen. Acceleration Physiotherapy provides rehabilitation for collarbone fractures, shoulder separations, concussion, foot and ankle injuries, and back/neck injuries.

Riding after pregnancy

Pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period can bring changes in abdominal strength, pelvic floor function, hip mobility, balance and overall physical capacity. For equestrians, these changes can affect the ability to maintain a comfortable riding position, stabilize through the trunk and pelvis, and tolerate the physical demands of riding.

Riding with pain

Whether you ride a couple times a week or spend long days at the barn, the repetitive physical demands of horseback riding can contribute to aches, injuries and movement restrictions. Physiotherapy may help low back, hip, thigh/groin, neck, and shoulder pain.

What Our Patients Say

  • I've been to a lot of physio therapy, and hands down Acceleration is one of the best. Knowledgeable staff, friendly, and very professional. If it wasn't for Brit, WCB would have sent me back to work with a meniscus tear, she discovered it, and pushed for the MRI. I'm now a couple months post op and my knee feels like nothing happened. Couldn't do it with out these guys. 10/10.

    Jon G

  • After less than satisfactory treatment at the physio clinics in Fort Saskatchewan, I tried Acceleration. The staff is friendly and helpful. All of the treatments are done one on one in private rooms so you aren't waiting behind a curtain as the therapist bounces between patients. Britt was awesome, explained everything well, answered all of my many questions with patience and understanding. The treatment plan wasn't just a sheet off the wall or "standarized" treatments, it was personalized for what I was experiencing. All treatments were administered by Britt, not by the extra people working there, very different from the heat, tens go home that I received before. I would definitely recommend the clinic and Britt for any physiotherapy you might need.

    Cindy S

  • Shauna has magic hands and is a super super awesome person! I’ll be going for regular massages now! Feels amazing!

    Scott M

  • Brit Chase helped me with hip issues I've been having. She was so helpful and is super knowledgeable. Thanks to her help and advice my body is healing and I hope to return to sports in the near future. The clinic is also very nice. The rooms for assessment and hands on therapy are private and the vibe is very professional - no lineup of people or feeling like you're just a number and no curtains!

    Sarah T

  • I’ve been going for treatments here for many years, and have had only the best experiences. The staff’s knowledge is exceptional, and I’m always taking something new away after each treatment. PT, massage therapy. Helping with practical tips for my cross training and distance running has allowed me to live the active lifestyle I need to have.

    Jacob L

  • I had a great experience at acceleration physio! Brittany helped me over the course of a couple months overcome a wrist drop, she was realistic about timelines and exercises while also being encouraging along the way! I would recommend Brittany to anyone!

    Abigail M

  • After years of chronic neck/shoulder pain and headaches and thousands of dollars spent on massage and chiro, I decided to try physio. Brit created a Clinical Pilates program for me that effectively addressed my issues and the frequency of my headaches has decreased significantly. She listened to my concerns and designed a program that supported my goals but also challenged me. I felt noticeably stronger after a few weeks of my program. She is knowledgeable and encouraging which was especially helpful as I was learning how to use the reformer. Thank you Brit!

    Allison G

  • James at Acceleration Physio has helped me deal with chronic neck pain. With his help and exercise program I have been able to stabilize and get back to a level of normalcy that for a time seemed out of reach. He has become an integral part of my healthcare team and I can’t recommend him enough.

    Robin L

  • Brilliant practitioners at Acceleration Physiotherapy. Suffered from a knee/hip issue that was causing significant pain and loss of quality of life. Acceleration’s team put a plan in place to ensure the issue was properly assessed. They told me it would take a few sessions to properly determine the cause. After three sessions the issue was accurately diagnosed and I was given a treatment plan that began to show results and reduce pain immediately. Issue is practically resolved now and Acceleration’s team have given me a clear plan to ensure issue doesn’t reoccur. I also felt a genuine concern for my recovery and desire from the team to diagnose the issue I was facing. That was a nice feeling.

    Dave S

  • Brittney is amazing. Her knowledge is so extensive that she always has an answer and solution to my problems. She has made my life so much better after my foot surgery. I used to go to her at her former work place and was so happy i could find her at Acceleration. I recommend her to all my friends. Thanks so much, Brittney, you go above and beyond in your work.

    Judith G

  • James is hands down the best physiotherapist I’ve ever worked with. I’ve seen him for acute and chronic issues and always have great results. His assessments are thorough, his treatment plans are helpful, and he makes customized adjustments as treatment progresses. No generic treatments and waiting around while your physiotherapist bounces between multiple appointments. You get his full attention the whole time and the space is very comfortable. I wouldn’t go anywhere else!

    Kelsey C

  • Brittney and her team at Acceleration Physiotherapy are professional, courteous and well trained in all aspects of personal physical therapy. My time with Britney was excellent – always cheerful, ready to help, an excellent listener, but most important to me was that she was able to explain what we were doing to fix me, why we were doing it and show how in a simple way to achieve the results I needed. I will definitely come back to Brittney if I need to and would recommend anyone to contact her and Acceleration Therapy to assist them in their recovery.

    Mark G

  • I guess what I really appreciate about Brittney is that she made me better. I’ve been out x-country skiing 3 times over the past 3 or 4 weeks and enjoy it so much because I am simply pain free. No more wobbling and hobbling and I can fully enjoy this wonderful winter sport. Further, I appreciate Brittney’s professionalism, knowledge and skill as a physiotherapist and I feel valued and treated as an important client. I will gladly recommend Brittney to any of my family or friends if they are looking for a  physiotherapist. No hesitation whatsoever.

    Keith B

  • I cannot recommend James highly enough. His thorough evaluations and precise, tailored treatments made an immediate and lasting impact to my carpal tunnel related issues. To say IMS has been a miracle would not be a far stretch. With his direct and down-to-earth approach, I am educated on my condition and know I am getting the best physiotherapy treatment possible with each visit. Simply put, there is no one better!

    Stephanie

  • James is the best - from my early days playing hockey to now in my mid-40’s I have had many Physiotherapists work with me for various injuries and none have been as comprehensive, knowledgeable and engaged as James. He is really about getting his patients back to real life as soon as possible, having fun, and no unnecessary clinical fluff. I trust him completely for myself, my wife and young daughters who are athletes themselves. We wouldn’t think to go anywhere else.

    Chad

  • I highly recommend James Squire as a physiotherapist. He offered me exceptional care by using multiple modalities in my treatments to improve my mobility and strength, relieve my pain, and restore my physical function.

    Amanda

  • I recently started to see James Squire about a shoulder injury. My shoulder worked, but certain movements caused a great amount of pain. The biggest issue was my sleeping. I would wake up 5-6 times a night in excruciating pain. After 4 weeks with James, there was a huge difference. Within 8-9 weeks, workouts felt great and I could sleep through the night pain-free. It was a long process, but one I was confident that James could help me with. He was polite, professional, knowledgable, and made it easy for me to comprehend my injury. He made sure I had the knowledge and understanding to continue on my own. I would highly recommend James to anyone with an injury!

    Keagan

  • I came to James after suffering a significant shoulder injury playing football. He was able to accurately identify the cause and severity and prepare a successful treatment plan that allowed me to return to my sport without any symptoms. He is able to combine his medical knowledge with his own sports experience to provide the best service possible for an athlete.

    Tony

Frequently Asked Questions About Equestrian Physiotherapy

Should I see a physiotherapist after falling off my horse?
If you experience pain, reduced mobility or an injury after a fall, a physiotherapy assessment may be helpful. More serious injuries, suspected fractures, head injuries or significant trauma should be medically assessed first.

What is equestrian physiotherapy?
Equestrian physiotherapy is physiotherapy focused on the physical needs of horseback riders. It may address riding-related pain, injuries, strength, mobility, balance, posture and movement patterns that affect comfort and function in the saddle.

Can a physiotherapist help if I feel crooked in the saddle?
Yes. A physiotherapist can assess your strength, mobility, balance and pelvic control to identify physical factors that may contribute to asymmetry. Other factors, including saddle fit and the horse’s movement, may also need consideration.

Can physiotherapy help me return to riding after a fracture?
Yes. Once your fracture has been appropriately assessed and your treating medical professional has cleared rehabilitation, physiotherapy can help restore mobility, strength, balance and functional capacity. Your return to riding will depend on the type of fracture and your stage of healing.

Do I have to be a competitive rider to see Leah?
Not at all. Physiotherapy is beneficial for recreational riders, trail riders, competitive equestrians and anyone who wants to improve their comfort and physical function while horseback riding.

Can I see a physiotherapist if I am not currently injured?
Absolutely. You can seek physiotherapy to address movement restrictions, improve strength and mobility, work on physical conditioning or prepare your body for the demands of riding.

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Book Equestrian Physiotherapy in Sherwood Park

Your horse depends on you to communicate clearly, move effectively and maintain balance. Your body deserves the same attention and care that you give to your horse.

Whether you’re dealing with back pain after riding, recovering from a horseback riding accident, struggling with hip mobility or simply looking to feel stronger and more balanced in the saddle, Acceleration Physiotherapy is here to help.

Ready to get back in the saddle?