Home Stretch Therapy

Laura Imhoff remembers the uncertainty of being injured and unable to play soccer. At Home Stretch Therapy in South Osborne, she wants each client to feel supported, with time and attention given to their recovery.

Laura describes her sessions as one-on-one care, staying with each client from beginning to end. She wants clients to feel that their recovery is a priority and to have time to work towards the goals of each appointment.

From Sport to Service to Healing

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Laura studied athletic therapy at the University of Manitoba and earned her national certification. She also served in the naval reserves for 16 years. She credits that experience with helping her stay calm under pressure in how she responds to serious injuries.

Sports were part of her military years, too. A soccer player, Laura tore one ACL at 21 and the other at 28. She experienced recovery both before and after training as an athletic therapist. She remembers the uncertainty of being unable to play and the fear of another injury. Supporting people through those parts of recovery became an important reason for her career choice.

A Car, a Table, and Home Turf Therapy

After three years working at another clinic, Laura started her own practice. Her early mobile service needed little equipment: “all I needed was a car and a table,” she recalls. Clients followed her into the new business, which she developed gradually.

Laura first called the business Home Turf Therapy, offering home visits before setting up a treatment room in her own home. As she developed her stretch therapy services, she renamed it Home Stretch Therapy. For her, the name also described helping clients through the final stages of recovery. After years of growing the business, support from the Women's Enterprise Centre helped her move into a dedicated clinic.

A South Osborne Clinic Built Around Personal Care

Laura has worked in the current location for four years. She describes it as her dream clinic, with lighting and a cosy setting that help clients feel at ease. Visits are by appointment, with online booking and a secure buzzer for entry.

She has chosen to keep the business small and retain control over its direction while also supporting other practitioners' careers. The clinic's website describes a team approach to care built around each therapist's unique skills, matching each client with the right therapist.

Fascial Stretch Therapy and a Whole-Body Approach

Further training in fascial stretch therapy was an important step in Laura's practice. She explains that it encouraged her to consider the whole body, rather than only the area where someone feels pain. Through continued training, she has also added dry needling within her scope of practice.

For clients returning to sport, she is particularly interested in the later stages of rehabilitation. Soccer involves cutting, twisting, and sudden changes of pace. Laura describes helping people prepare for those movements in a controlled setting, building strength and confidence before returning to less predictable play.

Athletic Therapy for Everyday Movement

Laura also wants people to understand that athletic therapy is not limited to competitive athletes. Daily tasks, caring for a home, and staying active all place demands on the body. She explains that athletic therapists assess muscle and joint injuries and help clients understand their recovery. A doctor's referral is not needed to see her.

Warm, Calming Care from Skilled, Compassionate Therapists

Public reviews give specific examples of that care. Donna describes the clinic as “warm and calming” and says Laura had her practise exercises so she knew what to do after leaving. Murat, writing about Courtney, praises the time she takes to investigate concerns and find an approach suited to the person. He describes her as both skilled and compassionate.

Staying Active in the South Osborne Community

Laura's work also extends to the field through a partnership involving the Assassins Rugby Club. She wants to build further connections with neighbouring South Osborne businesses through free public fitness sessions that bring people together for circuit workouts.

She still plays soccer on Fridays, and her dog, Tags, joins her at the clinic on Wednesdays. From its home-visit beginnings to its current neighbourhood setting, Home Stretch Therapy remains a small, owner-led business with personal appointments and a local community connection.