“My Perfect Profession.” - Lakeridge Health Physiotherapist Shares Her Love and Passion for Her Work

May is National Physiotherapy Month, a time to recognize the commitment, dedication, and compassionate care physiotherapists provide as part of the interprofessional health-care team. Using exercise, modalities, education, and other hands-on treatments, physiotherapists treat a variety of conditions and injuries, including musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, and neurological, both in adult and paediatric patients. 

Saloni Malhotra is one of these amazing physiotherapists at Lakeridge Health. Saloni primarily assesses and treats patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis. “Part of my role is to evaluate patients to see if they require primary joint replacements,” explained Saloni. “Educating patients on managing their symptoms and about the procedures and treatments they receive is another key part of my role.”

It was during her first year of undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto that Saloni found her calling to physiotherapy. “I had attended a career fair where I learned about the profession and how exercise, education, manual treatment, and modalities are able to help patients restore their function and movement,” explained Saloni. “That described my perfect profession as it combined my love for fitness with health promotion.”

When asked about her favourite part of her job as a physiotherapist, Saloni expressed her love for connecting with patients and helping them problem solve. “The most satisfying aspect is being part of their journey and improving their function and quality of life,” said Saloni. “I have been so fortunate to have found a career that I am still so passionate about, even to this day.”