ALISON BONNYMAN, PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Educational Background
International Aquatic Therapy Faculty’s Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy Course, 12-days, Valens, Switzerland. 2012
Masters of Science, Rehabilitation Science, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
Thesis, Aquatic Exercise effect on Bone Geometry in Osteoporosis. 2009-2011
Bachelor of Science, Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. 1983-1985
Employment
Founder and Instructor, Canadian Aquatic Rehab Instructors , www.aquaticrehab.ca
Mission to organize and promote courses, manage registration, develop content. Provide advanced aquatic therapy
education (4 to 7 courses per year), applying hydrodynamics, with interventions based on the most recent evidence.
Provide consultation to healthcare professionals.
Manage, develop, grow and support a network of aquatic therapists across Canada. 2012 to present
Aquatic Rehabilitation Private Practice, Mississauga 2005 to present
1:1 therapy in warm water pool; varied caseload.
Clinical employment since 1985 available on request.
Academic Program Coordinator, Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto
Responsible for curriculum development and teaching; academic evaluation, career transition; collaboration
with stakeholders to ensure the successful achievement of the OIEPB Program. Managed the day-to-day operations of the Bridging Program within the University of Toronto’s academic framework.. The Program’s goal is delivery of comprehensive education to assist internationally educated physiotherapists in
moving measurably towards licensure. 2012 to 2022
Teaching Designations
Canadian Aquatic Rehab Instructors 2011 to present
Instructor, Teaching evidence-based advanced aquatic therapy across Canada.
University of Toronto OIEPB Program
Assistant Clinical Professor 2012 to 2022
University of Toronto, MScPT Program
Lecturer, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine 2009 – 2022
Aquatic Physical Therapy Lecture and Practicum
McMaster University
Associate Clinical Professor, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University 2011 to 2022
Osteoporosis Lab, OSCE Examiner
Research and Scholarly Activity
PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES
Marinho-Buzelli AR, Zaluski AJ, Mansfield A, Bonnyman AM, Musselman KE. The use of aquatic therapy among rehabilitation professionals for individuals with spinal cord injury or disorder. J Spinal Cord Med.2019. Oct;42(sup1) :158-165.
Bonnyman A. Clinical Commentary on Kalu M et al. Clinical Performance Scores of Internationally Educated Physical Therapists during Clinical Education in a Bridging Program. Physiother Can, 2019 Summer;71(3):285-286.
Clinical Commentary on Gibson AJ, Shields N. Effects of aquatic therapy and land-based therapy versus land-based therapy alone on range of motion, edema, and function after hip or knee replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Physiother Can, Vol 67(2) 2015. DOI: 10.3138/PTC.2014-01-CC
Marinho-Buzzelli AR, Bonnyman A, Verrier M. 2014.The effects of aquatic therapy on mobility functions of individuals with neurological diseases: A systematic review. Clin Rehabil.V29(8):741-751
Bonnyman A, MacIntyre NJ. 2011. State of the evidence regarding the effect of water exercises on bone outcomes in postmenopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Critical Reviews in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine v23:195-212. DOI: 10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.v23.i1-4.140
MSc (Rehabilitation Science) Thesis, Bonnyman, Alison M, "Assessment of Bone Geometry in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis of the Spine Before and After a 6 Month Aquatic Exercise Program" (2011). Open Access Dissertations and Theses. Paper 6317. http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/opendissertations/6317
Bonnyman A, Webber CE, Stratford PW, MacIntyre NJ. 2012. Intra-rater reliability of the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry-based measures of vertebral height in postmenopausal women. Journal of Clinical Densitometry15(4):405-412
MacIntyre NJ, Bennett L, Bonnyman A, Stratford PW. Optimizing reliability of spine curvature measures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis of the spine: An illustration of the use of Generalizability Theory. ISRN Rheumatology, vol. 2011, Article ID 571698, 8 pages, 2011. doi:10.5402/2011/571698
PEER REVIEWED ABSTRACT ACCEPTED FOR PRESENTATION AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
(*presenting author)
Marinho-Buzzelli AR, *Bonnyman A, Verrier M. The effects of aquatic therapy on mobility functions of individuals with neurological diseases: A systematic review – AnUpdate.International Congress, Comprehensive Aquatic Therapy Put into Practice.Quetero, Mexico, Oct 29-31, 2016
*Bonnyman A, Ottensmeyer A*, Switzer-McIntyre S*. Diversity, Flexibility, and Respect: Meeting the diverse learning needs of internationally educated physiotherapists. Canadian Physiotherapy AssociationCongressHalifax, NS, June 2015 (1 hour workshop)
*Switzer-McIntyre S, Bonnyman A, Quesnel M. Bridging for Success: Lessons learned by the Ontario Internationally Educated Physiotherapy Bridging Program. World Congress Physiotherapy, Singapore, May 2015
*Switzer-McIntyre S, Bonnyman A, Quesnel,M, Percival N. Bridging for Success: Highlights of the Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program. Ontario Physiotherapy Conference, Niagara Falls, March 2013
*Bonnyman A, Webber CE, Stratford PW, MacIntyre NJ. Assessment of Bone Geometry in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis of the Spine Before and After a 6 Month Aquatic Exercise Program. European Conference on Evidence Based Aquatic Therapy2013, Biannual Scientific Meeting, March 21-23, Izmir, Turkey
*Bonnyman A, Webber CE, Stratford PW, MacIntyre NJ. Assessment of Bone Geometry in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis of the Spine Before and After a 6 Month Aquatic Exercise Program. UHN Current Concepts Conference, January 25, Toronto, ON
Bonnyman A, Webber CE, Stratford PW, *MacIntyre NJ. Intra-rater reliability of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry-based measuresof vertebral height and consistency of vertebral deformity classification in postmenopausal women. American Society for Bone and Mineral Research2011 annual meeting. September 16–20, San Diego
PEER REVIEWED POSTER PRESENTATIONS
*Bonnyman AM, Li Z, Puddicombe N, Hitzig SL, Marinho-Buzelli AR. Using The FITT Principle to Inform Aquatic Therapy Practice After Stroke: A Scoping Review. Poster presented at ICEBAT UK, Winchester, UK. June 22, 2024.
Puddicombe NA, Li Z, Bonnyman AM, Hitzig SL, *Marinho Buzelli A. Using the FITT Principle to Inform Aquatic Therapy Practice Post-Stroke. Poster presented at the Sunnybrook Research Institute Summer Student Research Program Research Day, Toronto, ON, August, 17, 2023.
Marinho-Buzelli AR*, Bonnyman AM. The effects of aquatic therapy on mobility functions of individuals with neurological diseases: a systematic review of literature revealing gaps in evidence in spinal cord injury (sci) aquatic rehabilitation. Top poster abstract in the Patient Care category for Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – UHN’s 6th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference, October 2014.
*Bonnyman A, Webber CE, Stratford PW, MacIntyre NJ. Are DXA-based measures of vertebral height reliable? Canadian PhysiotherapyAssociation2011 Annual Scientific Meeting. July 14-17, Whistler, BC. (poster)
*Bonnyman A, Webber CE, MacIntyre NJ. Isometric Back Extensor Strength is Associated with Vertebral Body Geometry. OntarioPhysiotherapy Association2011 Annual Scientific Meeting InterACTION, April 9, Ottawa, ON (poster)
*MacIntyre NJ, Bennett L, Bonnyman A, Stratford PW. Application of the generalizability theory for determining inter-rater and inter-trial reliability of spine curvature measures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis of the spine using the flexicurve rulerand digital inclinometer. Arthritis & Rheumatism2010:62(10):S547-8 (poster)
PEER REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS
Neuroplasticity and Aquatic Therapy, Clinical course content for part of the Advanced Aquatic Therapy Online Course, Australian Physiotherapy Association, 2022
Promoting Healthy Aging through Aquatic Exercise. Presented at Canadian Physiotherapy Association Healthy Aging Forum 2019, Charlottetown, PEI
The effects of aquatic therapy on mobility of individuals with neurological conditions: A systematic review. Presented at International Conference of Evidence-Based Aquatic Therapy (ICEBAT) 2016, Queretaro, Mexico
Impact of Aquatic Therapy on Bone Geometry. Presented at ICEBAT, Izmir, Turkey. 2013
Intra-rater Reliability of DXA-based Vertebral Height Measures in Women with Osteoporosis, McMaster School of Rehabilitation Science, Poster Presentation, June 8, 2011
Lumbar Spine Geometry and Back Extensor Strength, McMaster School of Rehabilitation Science, Research Rounds, February, 2011
Intra-raterReliability DXA-based Vertebral Height Measures in Women with Osteoporosis, Centre for Appendicular MRI Studies (CAMRIS) Bone Scholars Meeting, Hamilton, December 9, 2010.
NON-PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES OR PRESENTATIONS
Water Wellness: Serving your Whole Community, Parks and Recreation Ontario Conference, Hamilton, 2023
Aquatic Therapy ShopTalk, CPA website blog, November 2019.
First Canadian Aquatic Therapy Conference, Presented on BRRM, Documentation, Foundations of Aquatic Therapy, Deep Water Aquatic Therapy and a conference organizer. October 18-20, 2019. Fairview Seniors Centre, Cambridge.
Electronic Hospital Records Update, OPA Perspectives Newsletter, Fall 2019.
Aquatic Therapy for Arthritis. Arthritis Society Online Newsletter, Spring 2018.
CPA 2 Minute-2 Slides Clinical Pearl–“Aquatic Therapy – an Amazing Tool in your Clinical Toolbelt”. Presented at Canadian Physiotherapy Association Congress, Halifax 2015.
Osteoporosis Guidelines for Primary Healthcare Team Physiotherapists in Ontario. An OPA initiative. 2015
Seniors Health Division of CPA, Online access, Winter 2015
Post-Graduate Opportunities, A presentation for Westgate District OPA, September 2014
Osteo-Circuit Website article, August 2014
Oncology Division of CPA, Online access newsletter, Winter 2013
APTEI Update Newsletter, Aquatic Rehabilitation, Spring 2013
Workshops and Continuing Education Presentations
CARI Aquatic Therapy Courses; Foundational/Condition-Specific/Advanced. Over 60 courses taught across Canada since 2012. Listed on website. Descriptions on website.
Aquatic Therapy Network of India. “Spinal Cord Injury, SCI: A Journey with Aquatic Therapy. September, 2021.
Podcast Interview with ‘Aquatics’. Aquatic Physical Therapy for Orthopaedic Clients. March 11, 2021.
Aquatic Rehab Interest Group, meet 4 times per year, practical session at Clarkson Warm Water Pool.
OSCE and MCQ Exam Skills Preparation 1-day Workshops, on-site - Toronto. October, 2013; April, 2014, October 2014. Development, management and implementation of Mock OSCE practice.
Community Teaching/Consulting
Community Talks to MS Society, Strokers, Fibromyalgia Groups, Mississauga, Oakville 2010 to present
Program Consultant, Group Instructor, Aquatics Department, City of Mississauga 2004 to 2010
Service and Professional Leadership
Canadian Representative of International Organization of Aquatic Physical Therapy (IOAPT), Division of World Congress of Physical Therapy 2011 to present
Ontario Physiotherapy Association, member of Board of Directors 2017 - 2021
U of T Medical Faculty Council Member 2014 - 2016
Neuromusculoskeletal Modular Advisory Committee, OIEPBP 2014 - 2015
Interprofessional Education Facilitator. Health Mentor Program, U of T 2014 - 2020
CardioRespiratory Modular Advisory Committee, OIEPBP 2013
Ontario Physiotherapy Association, Westgate District President 2012 to 2018
Professional Affiliations
International Aquatic Therapy Faculty, Associate Member 2023 to present
Member of WCPT Aquatic Physical Therapy International, Canadian Representative 2012 to present
Member of Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA) 1985 to present
Member of Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) 1985 to present
Honours
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto., Teaching Recognition Award 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
School of Rehabilitation Science, Knowledge Translation Award, McMaster University 2011
Recent Aquatic Post-Graduate Physical Therapy Education
Aquatic Therapy Refresher; Yellow Cross Facility, 6-day, St.Maarten; J.Lambeck 2022
Comprehensive Aquatic Certification Course, 12-day, Valens, Switzerland; J. Lambeck 2012
AquaStretch™ Fundamentals, 2-day, Newmarket; C. Jasinskas 2012
Evidence-Based Aquatic Therapy, 3-day, Minneapolis; A. Salzman 2009
Previous courses from 1985 available on request.