About Marianna Varpalotai
Marianna Varpalotai is a highly experienced Certified Athletic Therapist and Kinesiologist serving patients at Bones & Balance Physical Therapy & Rehab in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Holding a Master’s degree in Athletic Therapy, Marianna brings over three decades of clinical expertise in sports rehabilitation, injury prevention, concussion management, and athletic performance recovery.
Marianna earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Physical & Health Education and Health Sciences from Queen’s University — a foundation that gives her a uniquely comprehensive understanding of the human body in motion. A former varsity soccer and hockey player herself, she has lived the athlete’s experience firsthand, which shapes the empathetic and results-driven care she delivers to every patient.
Credentials & Certifications
Marianna holds the following professional designations:
- Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT(C)) — registered and certified since 1991
- Kinesiologist — specializing in movement assessment and functional rehabilitation
- Certified ImPACT Athletic Trainer — qualified to administer and interpret ImPACT concussion baseline and post-injury testing
These certifications make Marianna one of the most comprehensively qualified athletic therapy practitioners in the Niagara Region.
Career Highlights
Marianna’s career spans elite athletic environments, post-secondary institutions, and community-level sports medicine — giving her unmatched breadth of experience:
- Medical Team Member, Athens Paralympics 2004 — Provided elite-level athletic therapy support to para-athletes competing on the world stage.
- Head Athletic Therapist, Ridley College (13 years) — Led the athletic therapy program for one of Canada’s most respected independent schools, managing injury prevention, sideline care, and rehabilitation for student-athletes across all sports.
- Athletic Therapist, Brock University — Delivered varsity-level care to university athletes, managing acute injuries and long-term rehabilitation programs.
- Concussion Management Specialist for All Athlete Levels — Works with youth, recreational, semi-professional, and elite athletes on comprehensive concussion assessment, management, and safe return-to-play protocols.
Specialized Services
1. Athletic Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation
As a Certified Athletic Therapist, Marianna provides evidence-based treatment for musculoskeletal injuries sustained during sport and physical activity. Whether you’re recovering from an ankle sprain, ACL tear, rotator cuff strain, or overuse injury, Marianna develops individualized rehabilitation plans to restore strength, mobility, and function. Explore our Physiotherapy services for a full picture of how we support your recovery.
2. Concussion Management
Marianna is one of Niagara Falls’ leading concussion management specialists, certified in ImPACT testing — the gold standard tool for baseline neurocognitive assessment and post-concussion monitoring. She works with athletes of all levels, from youth sports participants to university competitors, guiding them through safe, structured return-to-learn and return-to-play progressions. Learn more about our dedicated Concussion Therapy in Niagara Falls.
3. Kinesiology & Movement Assessment
As a trained Kinesiologist, Marianna analyses movement patterns, posture, and biomechanics to identify underlying dysfunctions that contribute to pain or injury. This science-based approach underpins all her treatment plans, ensuring that rehabilitation addresses root causes — not just symptoms.
4. Vestibular Rehabilitation Support
Concussion and head injuries often affect balance and vestibular function. Marianna collaborates closely with the broader Bones & Balance team to ensure patients with vestibular symptoms receive comprehensive support. Discover our Vestibular Therapy services.
Why Choose Marianna Varpalotai for Athletic Therapy?
- 30+ years of certified practice as an Athletic Therapist — a level of experience rare in any clinical setting
- Paralympic experience that reflects her capability in high-stakes, high-performance environments
- Dual academic background in Physical & Health Education and Health Sciences from Queen’s University
- Athlete-centered philosophy — as a former competitive athlete herself, Marianna understands the physical and psychological challenges of injury recovery
- Concussion expertise at every level — from youth hockey players to university varsity athletes and weekend warriors
- Integrated team approach — works alongside the full Bones & Balance team to deliver multi-disciplinary care under one roof
Conditions Marianna Commonly Treats
- Sports-related injuries (sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations)
- Concussions and post-concussion syndrome
- ACL, MCL, and meniscus injuries
- Rotator cuff and shoulder impingement
- Ankle instability and chronic sprains
- Overuse and repetitive strain injuries
- Post-surgical athletic rehabilitation
- Balance and coordination disorders
Book an Appointment with Marianna
Whether you’re an athlete recovering from an injury, a student managing a concussion, or someone looking for expert movement and rehabilitation support, Marianna Varpalotai is here to help.
Book Your Appointment Today — or call us at (905) 358-8088.
Bones & Balance Physical Therapy & Rehab is located at Pio Plaza, 8685 Lundy’s Ln Unit 8, Niagara Falls, ON L2H 1H4, serving patients across Niagara Falls and the surrounding Niagara Region.
A Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT(C)) is a regulated health professional trained in the prevention, assessment, immediate care, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries — particularly those related to sport and physical activity. Certified Athletic Therapists complete a rigorous academic and clinical training program and must pass national certification exams through the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA). Marianna Varpalotai has held her CAT(C) designation since 1991, bringing over 30 years of hands-on experience to her patients at Bones & Balance Physical Therapy & Rehab.
While both Athletic Therapy and Physiotherapy focus on rehabilitation and restoring physical function, there are key differences. Athletic Therapists specialize primarily in musculoskeletal injuries — the bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissues — with a strong emphasis on sport and activity-related injury. Their training includes sideline emergency care, injury prevention programs, and return-to-sport planning. Physiotherapists have a broader clinical scope that also includes neurological, cardiorespiratory, and pediatric conditions. At Bones & Balance, Marianna works alongside our Registered Physiotherapists to ensure patients receive fully integrated, multi-disciplinary care.
ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is the most widely used computerized concussion evaluation tool in the world. It measures memory, reaction time, processing speed, and attention — establishing a baseline before a concussion occurs, and tracking recovery after one. As a Certified ImPACT Athletic Trainer, Marianna uses this tool to objectively guide return-to-play and return-to-learn decisions for athletes at all levels. Without baseline and post-injury data, concussion recovery is largely guesswork. ImPACT removes that uncertainty. Learn more about our Concussion Therapy in Niagara Falls.
A Kinesiologist is a specialist in human movement — the science of how the body moves, and why it sometimes moves incorrectly. Kinesiologists assess posture, gait, biomechanics, and functional movement patterns to identify the root causes of pain, weakness, or injury. Marianna's kinesiology background allows her to go beyond treating symptoms and design rehabilitation programs that correct the underlying movement dysfunctions driving a patient's condition. This is especially valuable for athletes dealing with recurrent injuries or chronic pain. Explore our Physiotherapy services to see how movement assessment fits into our overall approach.
Absolutely not. While Marianna has extensive experience working with competitive athletes at the collegiate, university, and Paralympic level, she treats patients of all activity levels and ages. Whether you play weekend recreational hockey, are a student-athlete managing a concussion, or simply want expert rehabilitation after a sports or activity-related injury, Marianna's skills apply directly to your recovery. She is a concussion management specialist for all athlete levels — from youth to elite.
Booking is easy. You can request an appointment online through our website or call us directly at (905) 358-8088. Our clinic is located at Pio Plaza, 8685 Lundy's Ln Unit 8, Niagara Falls, ON L2H 1H4, and is open Monday to Saturday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. We welcome patients from across Niagara Falls and the surrounding Niagara Region.