Today we’re focusing on one of our amazing team members, Daniel Linaric. Whether you’re a recent graduate that’s just starting out, a long-time practitioner, or even a patient, we’re sure you’ll love getting to know what it’s like to be a practicing registered massage therapist in beautiful Burnaby B.C., enjoy!
Name: Daniel Linaric, RMT
Education: West Coast College of Massage Therapy
Clinic(s): Highgate Health in Burnaby, British Columbia
Area of focus: Trigger Point Release, joint mobilizations, Swedish Massage, fascial release, pregnancy massage, Motor Vehicle Accident rehabilitation
Motto or Personal Mantra: Learn something new every day
What drew you to pt Health?
The people! Two of my classmates from WCCMT work at Highgate and they were kind enough to arrange an interview for me with their clinic manager Steve Moreland. Even though I wasn’t actively looking for a new job, I jumped at the opportunity after meeting Steve, hearing about pt Health, and faced with the option of working with my friends. I am so happy I did. I chose to be a contractor because I’ve been one for most of my working life and didn’t need extended health benefits; it seemed like the best choice for me.
What’s your average day like?
On an average day, I’ll see 7-10 patients over 7-8 hours. Like most RMTs, I treat everything from neuropathies, sprains/strains, pregnancy pains, tendinopathies, trigger points, and frozen joints. I don’t take many breaks, but when I have the chance, I like to share a laugh with our PTs, chiro and the wonderful PCCs up front.
How long have you worked at pt Health?
I’ve been with pt Health for about 18 months and hope to continue indefinitely.
What is one of your favourite stories of how you helped a patient?
I’m thankful that I have stories to choose from, but one recent patient jumps to mind. A young gentleman came to see me after suffering for eight years from mid-upper back pain and restricted cervical range of motion from old accidents. His pain negatively affected his sleep, his ability to do his job pain-free, and limited his involvement in the sports he loves. After 2-3 months of treatment, he says he’s “90 percent” better and back to working and playing as he was a decade ago!
The treatment plan was pretty straight forward. My goals were to:
- Improve C-spine ROM using passive and PNF stretching, and stripping traps and scalenes after neck/shoulder warm-up
- Decrease nagging interscapular pain caused by chronic trigger points with trigger-point point-pressure, fascial stretches and scap mobes
- Reduce overall tension by stripping erectors and lamina groove, subscap release and pec major pin and stretch.
This might sound technical, but it wasn’t a complicated or demanding case. It shows that simple techniques applied consistently can greatly improve quality of life.
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
My patients are usually surprised when they ask me if my daughter is in high school or university and I tell them she’s still in diapers.
My Korean clients have a laugh when halfway through a treatment I’ll say something in Korean. I spent eleven years there teaching English.
Interested in joining the pt Health team as a registered massage therapist? See careers in your area here.
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