Satish Lakshmanan, a registered physiotherapist in Sarnia for over 11 years and founder of Lambton Physiotherapy and Rehab, is challenging common misconceptions about pain management. At the heart of his philosophy is a simple but powerful statement displayed in his clinic: “Rest is not the solution.”
Lakshmanan’s journey into physiotherapy was inspired by personal experience. Growing up in India, he witnessed his mother overcome chronic knee pain with physiotherapy treatments, shifting her reliance on rest and medication to exercises that improved her mobility. This experience sparked his passion for helping others live pain-free and active lives.
He jokingly says that except for himself, his high school friends all aspired to become medical doctors, but he prefers his approach to pain management, noting that injury rarely happens at an opportune time of life.
While working with the German prosthetics company Ottobock, Lakshmanan worked rehabilitating amputated patients to walk and even run again. This experience influenced his path and he went on to earn his master’s degree in physiotherapy in 2003, specializing in musculoskeletal sport therapy. After graduating, he began his career in India before moving to Malaysia in 2008, where he worked as a clinical instructor and shared his conviction that to maintain a good health status, both physically and mentally, the body requires a balanced muscle structure.
He uses the Bluewater Bridge as an analogy to explain how the body functions. If one of the support cables is pulled too tight, it creates imbalance and weakens the entire structure. Similarly, tight muscles can place pressure on joints, leading to pain, compensatory injuries, and long-term damage.
Lambton Physiotherapy and Rehab is a hub for both innovative treatments and education. The clinic mentors Lambton College co-op students, providing hands-on experience with therapies such as ultrasound and interferential current (IFC). These non-invasive treatments improve blood flow, reduce swelling, and relieve pain to promote faster recovery. The clinic also offers advanced options like laser therapy for nerve repair and radial shockwave therapy to treat tendon and ligament injuries.
Lakshmanan’s philosophy, “Rest is not the solution,” is central to his approach to pain management. A poster bearing the phrase hangs in the reception area of Lambton Physiotherapy and Rehab, printed and framed by his son, who grew up hearing the mantra at the family table. The belief is shared by his wife, Deepa, a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist who also practices at the clinic.
The clinic provides flexible service for appointments, personalized exercise instruction in the clinic’s exercise room, complete with video instruction and phone communication between sessions to guide the process of healing and a return to full mobility. Lakshmanan emphasizes that pain management requires active participation, with tailored exercise programs designed to restore mobility, reduce the risk of reinjury, and often prevent the need for surgery.
By combining advanced treatments, individualized care, and a strong focus on education, Lakshmanan and his team are encouraging patients in Sarnia to take an active role in their recovery and long-term health.