Elyse Benest is a Physiotherapist based in Stirling with a particular interest in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports injury rehabilitation, exercise-based rehabilitation, and orthopaedic recovery. Originally from Canada, Elyse completed a BSc (Hons) in Athletic Therapy at Concordia University before moving to Scotland to further develop her clinical knowledge by completing an MSc in Physiotherapy at Queen Margaret University.
Elyse works with people experiencing a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, helping them reduce pain, restore movement, build confidence, and return to the activities that matter most to them. Her combined background in Athletic Therapy and Physiotherapy allows her to deliver evidence-based rehabilitation programmes tailored to each individual's goals, whether recovering from injury, managing persistent pain, or returning to sport after surgery.
Career
Elyse began her therapeutic career at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, where she trained as an Athletic Therapist and gained extensive experience working with athletes of all levels across a variety of sports, including ice hockey, speed skating, rugby, and football.
A highlight of her degree was completing a placement with the Montreal Alouettes, a professional team in the Canadian Football League, where she provided pitch-side injury management and rehabilitation support. She also completed clinical rehabilitation placements at the PERFORM Centre in Montreal, developing skills in sports injury assessment, exercise prescription, injury prevention, return-to-sport planning, and performance-focused rehabilitation.
Alongside her sporting experience, Elyse worked as a Physiotherapy Assistant within a musculoskeletal rehabilitation clinic, supporting patients through structured exercise programmes and evidence-based rehabilitation.
Following qualification as an Athletic Therapist, Elyse relocated to Scotland to expand her clinical knowledge and pursue a Master's degree in Physiotherapy. During her physiotherapy training, she completed placements throughout NHS Lothian across a broad range of inpatient and outpatient specialties, including musculoskeletal physiotherapy, respiratory medicine, hand therapy, amputee rehabilitation, orthopaedic rehabilitation, acute medicine, and inpatient care. This diverse clinical experience has equipped her to assess and treat a wide variety of conditions while working collaboratively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Alongside her clinical training, Elyse has also contributed to physiotherapy and health science research, presenting her work at scientific conferences and receiving scholarship and research funding awards during her academic career.
Approach
Elyse believes successful physiotherapy starts with understanding each person's goals, lifestyle, and the impact their condition is having on everyday life. She takes a personalised, patient-centred approach, ensuring every assessment is tailored to the individual while taking time to explain her findings, answer questions, and develop rehabilitation goals collaboratively.
Her treatment combines education, hands-on therapy where appropriate, and progressive exercise programmes designed to improve strength, flexibility, movement, and long-term function. Whether helping someone recover from surgery, overcome a sports injury, or manage ongoing musculoskeletal pain, Elyse focuses on delivering practical rehabilitation strategies that empower patients to move with confidence and return to the activities that matter most to them.
Her ultimate goal is simple: to help every patient move in the way that matters most to them - comfortably, confidently, and with lasting results.
Interests
- Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
- Sports Injury Rehabilitation
- Exercise-Based Rehabilitation
- Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
- Strength and Conditioning
- Injury Prevention
- Return-to-Sport Rehabilitation
- Mobility and Functional Recovery
Elyse enjoys staying active throughout the year. During the winter, she enjoys skiing and following ice hockey, while the warmer months are often spent exploring Scotland by road bike. Outside the clinic, she is also an experienced swimming instructor, teaching both children and adults, and has spent many years involved in swimming as both a lifeguard and instructor.
Therapist Qualifications
MSc Physiotherapy (Queen Margaret University, 2026)
BSc (Hons) Athletic Therapy (Concordia University, 2023)
Lifeguard & Swimming Instructor
Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists Registration: 129318
Member of the Health & Care Professions Council Registration PH156268
