Elora, ON

HEY THERE.

Thanks for stopping by! My name is Kristin and I am a Registered Physical Therapist and The Founder of East Mill Physio. I help injured athletes, active adults, and complex cases that need more than a surface-level fix. I am here to help you optimize function and develop trust in your body, so that you can get back to doing the things you love – now and for the rest of your life.

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MEET THE REST OF THE TEAM

supporting the lifelong health and movement of

EMP Animation

the athlete who keeps getting hurt

THE ROAD TO EMP.

A decade of clinical training, research, and practice built around helping people get back to doing what they love - now and for the rest of their lives.

Through the journey, the goal has become more and more clear: to build a model of care that is comprehensive, individualized, and thorough. It is a model of care that supports people in recovering efficiently, optimizing their health, and performing at their best, for the long haul. Every step of this journey, from graduate research, to clinical leadership has brought that vision to life as East Mill Physio.

Training Timeline

Education & Training

2007–2011

Education

BSc Exercise Science — summa cum laude

State University of New York at Buffalo · Buffalo, NY

Graduated with multiple academic excellence awards and scholar-athlete recognition — the foundation of a career built at the intersection of sport, science, and human performance.
2012–2014

Education

Post-Degree Studies, Organic Chemistry

Wilfrid Laurier University · Waterloo, ON

Organic chemistry deepened a love of science and the satisfaction of working through a complex puzzle — a mindset that has quietly informed clinical problem-solving ever since.
2013–2015

Education

MSc Physical Therapy

University of Toronto · Toronto, ON

Supported by national and provincial graduate scholarships, including the CIHR Health Professional Student Research Award and the H.J. Watson Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Early research reinforced a commitment to evidence-based practice and set the tone for the kind of thorough, informed care that would define the work ahead.
2015–2017

Practice

Registered Physiotherapist

Developed an interest in supporting the unique needs of youth and teen athletes while pursuing advanced training to broaden the depth of care available to clients.

McMaster Contemporary Medical Acupuncture · CPA Orthopaedic Division Level 2 Upper · The Pelvic Floor Piston Science (Parts 1 & 2)
2017–2020

Leadership

Co-Founder & Practice Team Leader

Took on a leadership role in building a clinic from the ground up — mentoring clinicians, consulting on business operations, and continuing to deliver specialized care to youth and teen clients. The vision of a better model of care was taking shape.

McMaster Advanced Neurofunctional Sports Performance · Advanced Motor Control for the Spine & Pelvis · The Female Athlete – Core & Pelvic Floor
2018

Research

Research Publication

Co-authored research demonstrating how advanced practice physiotherapists can meaningfully improve access to rheumatology care — published in Physiotherapy Theory and Practice.
2020–Present

Founder

Founder & Registered Physiotherapist

East Mill Physio · Elora, ON

East Mill Physio was founded on the belief that people deserve more than a rushed appointment. They deserve a care experience that is truly comprehensive, individualized, and designed to help them recover efficiently and thrive long-term. Every aspect of the practice — from scheduling to treatment philosophy — reflects that commitment.

Health Pros for Healthy Teens · Functional Sports Medicine · Sport Physiotherapy Canada Certificate Candidate · Treating and Training the Female Runner
2021–Present

Founder

Founder, Coach & Physical Therapist

Empow(HER) Volleyball · Elora, ON

Founded a volleyball program integrating physiotherapy, performance coaching, and education specifically designed for teen girls, their parents, and their coaches. A natural extension of the belief that comprehensive, proactive care and empowerment go hand in hand.

MY STORY.

The truth is that I didn't actually start out wanting to be a physiotherapist (insert embarrassed emojii). I started out as an athlete with multiple injuries, countless trips to the trainer, and ultimately, a career-ending injury that I now know, could have ended differently.

As a young athlete, I grew up playing a variety of sports. By the time I hit my teenage years, I was my dance studio’s tallest ballerina en pointe, and had dabbled in most sports – but none of these sports came close to grabbing hold of my heart like volleyball did.

On the court, my tall, gangly teen self, immediately felt like I had finally found my place, and my people.

By the time I got to university on a volleyball scholarship, I had become an expert at pushing through pain. I put up good numbers, while staying at the top of my classes, but with each trip to the training room, I had a growing sense of frustration with my body and a growing sense of resentment for the sport I had once fallen in love with. So, as many athletes do, I doubled down on my training, thinking that training harder would help me overcome the pain.

But, on November 5th, 2010, my body sent me a message I couldn't ignore. I woke up with a shooting pain down the back of my leg and was unable to stand up straight. What followed was weeks of bouncing between practitioners who told me nothing was wrong, gave me stretches too painful to complete, and ultimately told me I just needed to find a way to play. So, I did ... somehow ... despite being unable to make it to class, I found a way to make it through the rest of the season, but not without paying the price.

Kristin Bignell, Registered Physical Therapist volleying a volleyball

I wasn't listened to. I didn't feel supported. And I wasn't given answers or a clear direction.

The moment that changed everything.

I remember lying on the couch one afternoon, unable to stand long enough to get a glass of water, texting my closest friends to let them know I couldn't make it to a show I'd been looking forward to for months. Something about missing something so simple, and feeling so let down by my own body ignited a fire in me.

I knew I couldn't keep living this way. I needed real support. I needed to advocate for myself.

From there, things moved quickly. Long story, short: I had back surgery for a herniated disc, returned to play six months later and finished out my career. But things never quite felt right. I had lost so much trust in my body, in my coaches, in my rehab, and ultimately in my sport. When I graduated, I turned down offers to play at the national level and packed away my knee pads for five years. I wasn't ready to give up volleyball. I just felt like I had no other choice.

Kristin Bignell, Registered Physical Therapist after a volleyball match

Why I became a physiotherapist

and why it matters for you.

It wasn't until I started working as a physiotherapist that the full picture came together. I began to recognize in my clients, schooling and research all of the things that had been missed for me as a youth athlete and young adult - signs nobody caught, old injuries that weren't fully addressed and compensations that added up.

But it wasn't just my career that filled in the gaps. In retirement, I found myself on the other side of the treatment table, and it was there that I discovered acupuncture and a neurofunctional approach to physical therapy that changed things for me personally. Years of lingering back discomfort that I had quietly accepted as just part of my story disappeared. And with that relief came something I hadn't expected: complete confidence in my body again. I suddenly had the freedom to play volleyball again, without hesitation.

Here's the truth: Many injuries don't happen overnight. They build slowly over time and the compensations that lead to pain are the same ones that predispose you to injury or pain and are the same ones that can limit your performance. What was missing for me was a thorough assessment and comprehensive approach.

Whether you're dealing with a brand new injury, something that has nagged at you for years, or you simply want to get ahead of all of it before it becomes a problem, the story BEHIND the symptom matters just as much as the symptom itself.

For the person with a new injury: I know what it feels like to be hurt, dismissed, and handed a list of stretches that don't work. You deserve someone who actually listens, looks at the whole picture, and helps you understand what happened, so it doesn't happen again.

For the person with a persistent, nagging injury: I also know what it's like to manage around something for so long that you stop believing it will ever fully go away. It can. But it requires looking deeper than where it hurts.

For the athlete or active adult who wants to stay ahead of it: I wish someone had shown me what I know now - that there are signs your body gives you long before it breaks down, and that with the right support, you can train smarter, move better, and do what you love for the rest of your life.

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What we do differently.

At EMP, we don't just treat the injury in front of us. We look at the intersection of neurofuction, metabolism, and biomechanics to create a truly comprehensive plan.

Using a neurofunctional approach, we examine how your nervous system is driving (or failing to drive) your movement and sensation, how your metabolic system is functioning to support optimal healing and recovery, and how your body is moving and loading through space.

Because the way you move matters just as much as why you move that way. We look at the whole picture: what set you up for this, what's been compensating along the way, and what needs to change for results that actually last. Then we collaborate with your broader healthcare team to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

We are here to be your teammate - one who listens, digs deep, and gives you the knowledge and support to trust your body and get back to doing the things you love, for life.

Kristin Bignell, Registered Physical Therapist holding a volleyball

READY TO CHAT?

I am so happy you are here and I look forward to working with you! If you are feeling hesitant and aren't sure if this approach is right for you, please reach out and we can set up a time to chat and see if it feels like a good fit!