Ashley and Gilles have close to 35 years of experience between them and have worked together side by side for over a dozen years. They quickly realized they both operated by the same mantra/motto - “give all your positive energy and impart as much knowledge as possible to your patient so that each patient can achieve their goals of maximal pain-free function.” This relentless desire brought about their personal lifelong goals of owning and operating a professional clinic with an atmosphere that both patients receiving treatments and the staff working on them would feel comfortable in.
In order to provide the highest quality of care to our patients, our physiotherapist(s) give 100% of their attention and appointment time one-on-one with you the patient, without the use of any assistants. Our highly-trained therapist(s) take the necessary time to provide a detailed one hour assessment and comprehensive hand-on treatment. We feel it is more effective to take the time to talk with the patient, to observe/analyze movement, to feel the muscle and joint mobility in order to get to the root of your problem(s). Getting to the source is the key to avoid “band aid treatments” and to maximize your time as well as outcomes.
Each person is given a treatment approach that may utilize advanced hands-on manual therapy techniques, soft tissue releases, neural tissue mobilizations, specific home exercise programs, electrotherapy/ultrasound, acupuncture /IMS, taping techniques and education.
Our physiotherapist(s) also practices medical acupuncture/IMS. Both these types of therapies utilize small needles to stimulate healing, relieve pain/spasm, decrease inflammation, increase circulation, and assist muscle relaxation. Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is a technique used to commonly treat neuropathic pain and chronically shortened muscles. It is a total system for the diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain syndromes (chronic pain conditions that occur in the musculoskeletal system when there is no obvious injury or inflammation).
Your therapist will provide you with an exercise program tailored specifically to your needs and goals. We also communicate directly, when appropriate and with patients permission, to any personal trainers, yoga or Pilates instructors to ensure everyone is on the same page s that you achieve those goals without setbacks.
Our massage therapist perform all appropriate and sanctioned forms of manual and hydro therapy taught and governed by the CMTO in the registered massage therapist diploma program. Here at Apex, we are pleased to offer TGM as a specific diagnostic and treatment approach to the massage therapy client. All practitioners at Apex have taken both Upper and Lower TGM introduction courses and have undergone intensive one on one teaching sessions given by Ashley Gilbert .R.M.T (founder and teacher of TGM methodology of massage.
Gilles graduated from McGill University with a B.Sc. in Physical Therapy in 2000 and has over 17 years of experience in private orthopaedic practice. He completed his Diploma of Advanced Orthopedic Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy in 2007, and is a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (FCAMPT). His is certified in the Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation needling technique, medical acupuncture with The Acupuncture Foundation of Canada, and trained in soft tissue release with the Grasten technique. In addition, he is a qualified mentor to physiotherapists n the Orthopedic Manual and Manipulative therapy program of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. On a more personal note, Gilles can be easily talked into a conversation about the Philadelphia Eagles and his small work-in-progress wine collection.
Ashley C,T, Gilbert graduated from Sutherland Chan Massage School in Toronto of 2003. Soon after he graduated, Ashley went on to manage a spa and health services business in the British Virgin Islands where he developed his business management style/skills to add to his massage practice. Upon returning to Toronto in 2005 he began development of the The Gilbert Method of rehabilitation, his own personal brand of spinal decompression and neural decongestion which he now teaches and performs almost exclusively at Apex. Ashley is currently a registered massage therapist with over 14 years of treatment experience, TGM instructor and co-director at Apex Physiotherapy and Massage Clinic.
Natalie Aviles is a Sutherlan-Chan graduate with extensive knowledge on pain recovery. In 2006 she was involved in a highway car accident, where she sustained many injuries and after the accident suffered from neuropathic pain for 9 years before fully recovering. Natalie has learned first hand the techniques and modalities that really help with recovery. After being to several pain clinics and may health practitioners, it was her RMT, Ashley Gilbert who really helped her recover the most. He inspired her so much that she decided to quit her successful career as a Dental Technician and follow her path as a Registered Massage Therapist. Natalie is now happily working with Ashley at Apex Clinic using his specific methods of rehabilitation treatment. Her specialities are assessing the body carefully, listening to the symptoms put forth by the client and finding the cause of the problem, working with techniques such as the Gilbert Method”, fascial release, trigger point therapy, muscle stripping, as well as visualization and breathing techniques to help the body release blocked areas that are holding tension.
Janice is a skilled practitioner, having practiced 5 years in multidisciplinary clinics throughout the GTA (facilitating recovery in post-operation thoracic & orthopedic surgeries, stroke recovery, breast massage – post mastectomy/implant surgeries, and special-needs ambulatory patients). With a previous athletic background as a competitive rhythmic gymnast (Canadian provincial and national team; trained in Russia; also cross-trained with the Bolshoi ballet company and Cirque du Soleil), 8 years practice as a counselling therapist, and a daily practice in Ashtanga yoga and meditation, Janice has a mindful and unique understanding of the body along with functional anatomy. Her personal experiences with athletic injuries and rehab recovery from a severe car accident in her 20’s give her intrinsic insight into what it takes to listen to patients, alleviate pain and create structural integrity, as well as strengthen the mind-body connection.
Her massage style is based on the TGM principles: fascial manipulation decongesting the spine and peripheral nervous system. What that translates to is a style that is dynamic, specific and deep tissue, specializing in listening to the body intuitively and treating the root cause rather than only addressing symptoms. She enjoys challenging cases that offer an opportunity to explore and look deeper within the multiple layers that comprise our human body, as well as collaborating with other therapists to ensure the best results. Janice also encourages patients to be active participants in their treatment planning, addressing patient goals and ongoing needs.
When she’s not in the city working you’ll generally find her outdoors with her dog Marley. Her other interests include; archery, bow hunting, fishing, traditional Chinese medicine, gardening & cooking.
Our physiotherapist has nearly 20 years of experience and has the highest qualifications in Orthopedic Manual Therapy in Canada. (Designation: FCAMPT - “The Standard for Exceptional Care”)
TGM (short for The Gilbert Method) is a fascial release and tractioning technique which approaches rehabilitation of the spine and appendages from a whole new point of view. TGM practitioners target the congestion around the peripheral nervous system, seemingly brought on by immobility and sitting, using various fascial techniques. The tractioning reverses the effects sitting has on the muscles of the spinal column and also calms many hyperactive neural system dysfunctions. Founded by Ashley Gilbert, R.M.T. and taught alongside Ian Kamm, R.M.T., The Gilbert Methodology of rehabilitation is primarily used by the massage therapists at Apex Physiotherapy and Massage.
Our physiotherapist(s) also practices medical acupuncture/I.M.S. Both of these types of therapies utilize small needles to stimulate healing, relieve pain/spasm, decrease inflammation, increase circulation, and assist muscle relaxation/lengthening.
We are located at: 55 St.Clair Ave West., suite 230, Toronto, ON M4V 2Y7
If you have questions or need additional information, please call:(416) 927-9954 or use our Contact Form!
