Faq’s

How quickly you recover is determined by many factors unique to you. These factors include the extent of damaged tissue, how long you have had the injury, your nutritional habits, your emotional state, the state of your immune and endocrine systems, your genetic predisposition and other factors. We will review these factors with you when you come in for your evaluation. If appropriate, we can refer you to a physician or other practitioner who can address specific needs. Your body’s response to exercises and manual techniques will also help us to estimate how long it could take for you to regain function.

After your evaluation, you and your therapist will determine the number of times you will need to be seen. The extent and seriousness of your injury will be a primary consideration for determining the amount of treatment you will need. On average, we see clients 1-2 times a week for 4-8 weeks.

The length of any specific exercise program depends on the stage of your injury and the overall health of your connective tissue. Generally, you will have reduced pain within 1-2 weeks on an exercise program. However, it is important to remember that connective tissue cellular repair takes up to one year. Most of our clients progress to an independent home exercise program that they continue to do 1-2 times per week after finishing therapy in the clinic. Remember that being out of pain is only the first step to your complete recovery.

An initial consultation is 45-60mins in duration. A follow-up consultation for the same injury will be approximately 30-45 minutes. Our physiotherapists pride themselves on time management and keeping to their appointment schedules, but occasionally there are unexpected circumstances that may arise.

Please bring or wear clothing suitable for easy examination of the area of your body to be assessed. For lower limb assessments shorts are appropriate. For back, neck or shoulder examinations ladies might prefer to bring or wear a singlet top, bikini top, or suitable bra.

Prior to beginning hydrotherapy you will need to book an initial consultation with one of our physiotherapists for assessment of your injury, function and suitability to the pool. Your assessment may include baseline measurements of functional tasks to assist with keeping track of your progress as you improve. We will also ask you specific questions to make sure you are suitable to attend the hydrotherapy pool.

Medicare does not cover physiotherapy unless you have a Chronic Disease Management Plan (previously named Enhanced Primary Care Plan or EPC) that has been given to you by your GP. Your GP will advise whether you are eligible for this plan.

If you are eligible for the Chronic Disease Management Plan, please tell us at the time of booking your appointment.

The Chronic Disease Management Plan entitles you to up to five physiotherapy treatment sessions per calendar year however, physiotherapy is also combined with other Allied Health Professions, so be careful you do not overlap. These sessions do not accumulate with each successive year.

Osteopathy, as practiced in Canada by manual osteopathic practitioners, is a type of manual therapy (meaning we use our hands to assess as well as treat) which aims to restore optimal function in the body.

By positively affecting and balancing the nervous system, which is in close relationship with all of the other systems of the body, osteopathy can be very helpful in the resolution of many conditions.

In your first session, you can expect to go over your health history with the osteopath as well as having a discussion about what your needs are. An assessment will be done, which includes observation of posture and tests to determine where treatment will be most indicated. With the remaining time, a treatment will be given. In subsequent appointments, there will be a quick assessment (in order to see what changes have occurred and again, to guide the process), and more time will be spent on treatment, which can take place with you sitting, lying face up, face down, or on your side.

Ideally, for the assessment (and possibly for the treatment) shorts or loose/stretchy pants are worn, and if you are comfortable, a sports bra (for women) and no shirt (for men). Your comfort is very important however, so if you are not okay with disrobing, accommodations will be made. There is a blanket and heating pad handy so you will not be chilled.

Osteopathic treatment is covered by many private insurance plans. Please check with yours to see what your coverage is, as individual plans vary. It is important to note that osteopathy is not a service that can be directly billed to insurance companies. You will be given an invoice with my billing numbers on it and you will need to submit this invoice (and a doctor’s referral, if required – again, please check), to receive the reimbursement for the cost.