Mercedes is a registered physiotherapist and a lactation consultant. She enjoys dancing, swimming, hiking, and knitting. She lives in Calgary with her husband, daughter, and puppy.

Mercedes completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology degree (first class honours) from the University of Calgary in 2008. She did research for Speed Skating Canada and the Human Performance Laboratory on sport injuries and running shoe materials.

She graduated with a Master of Physiotherapy from the University of Western Ontario in 2010. There, she took electives in pain management and sport physiotherapy.

In 2014, Mercedes received a Certificate in Pain Management from the University of Alberta. This 18 month program involves extensive training in acute and chronic pain.

Mercedes has recently finished a Master of Health Management from McMaster University.

Her lactation education comes from BreastEd and she continues to work with – and learn from – lactation specialists in the Calgary area.

In addition to university programs, Mercedes has also been certified in acupuncture and has taken several courses on vestibular rehabilitation (dizziness), concussion management, and pelvic floor.

“Pursue a life of possibilities”
We are often told that incontinence is part of being a mother, that painful intercourse is normal for some people, or that breastfeeding is hard and we should stop. Older adults hear that their aches and pains are age-related and that they’re too old to be helped. At Vida, we encourage you to pursue what you think is possible. 

Our approach to physiotherapy is simple: empower people to achieve their health goals. This is done through:

• Thorough assessments (1 full hour one-on-one with a physiotherapist)
• Collaborative goal setting
• Extensive education
• Manual therapy, acupuncture if appropriate
• Communication with other health professionals involved in the care
• Self-care and exercises between appointments
• Appropriate time between appointments to allow for progress
• Ongoing re-assessment and discharge planning

Most of our patients require only 1-5 appointments. By spacing them appropriately and focusing each session on manual therapy and education, you are able to make progress on your own time. Adequate time between appointments also allows you to report back with obstacles and challenges you encounter.