Frequently Asked Questions

Physiotherapy is treatment to restore, maintain, and make the most of a person’s mobility, function, and well-being. Physiotherapy helps through physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, and health and fitness. 
Physiotherapists study the science of movement. They learn how to pinpoint an injury’s root causes. They work with you to solve the problem causing the injury and teach you how to manage your symptoms, and prevent it from coming back.

We have experienced physiotherapists who have specific skills to help maximize your recovery. By offering a range of diversified treatment options and hands on individual care, we ensure that our clients get moving faster. Our team uses a blend of Manual Therapy and IMS  in conjunction with a strengthening exercise regimen that delivers more effective outcomes than typical passive treatments. Our staff pride themselves in developing effective individualized treatment plans that will provide the best outcome for each and every visit.  We put the puzzle together to solve your injury. This includes education, developing attainable short term and long term goals, as well as pain management strategies. We help you manage your injury by addressing all the modifiable risk factors and restoring your function, so you can enjoy your active lifestyle pain-free.

During your first visit you can expect the following:

• We will ask you to fill out an online questionnaire before your appointment with the aim of better knowing your condition of health. This will be sent to the email provided when you book your appointment.  
• We require your personal health number (BC Health Care). We will check if you qualify for MSP subsidized treatment costs. This number is also required for all other claims.
• If you have extended health care benefits, please provide us with your insurance card so we can check your coverage and eligibility for direct billing.
• You will be seen for an initial evaluation by the physiotherapist. This assessment is usually 45-60 minutes and includes your first treatment.

The therapist will discuss the following:

• Your medical history.
• Your current problems/complaints.
• Pain intensity, what aggravates and eases the problem.
• How this is impacting your daily activities or your functional limitations.
• Your goals with physical therapy.
• Medications, tests, and procedures related to your health.

The therapist will then perform the objective evaluation which may include some of the following:

• Palpation – touching around the area of the pain/problem, as well as any other relevant areas. This is done to check for the presence of tenderness, swelling, muscle tension, tissue temperature, inflammation, etc.
• Range of Motion (ROM) – the therapist will move all relevant joints to check for the quality of movement and any restrictions.
• Muscle Testing – the therapist may check for strength and the quality of the muscle contraction. Timing and coordination of movement patterns is commonly addressed. Pain and weakness may be noted.  
• Neurological Screening – the therapist may check to see how the nerves are communicating with the muscles, sensing touch, pain, vibration, or temperature. Reflexes may be assessed as well.
• Special Tests – the therapist may perform special tests to confirm/rule out the presence of additional problems and determine the severity of the injury.
• Posture Assessment – the therapist will help you understand the best postural positions for your daily activities.

The therapist will review their findings and discuss treatment options. An individualized plan is then developed. This plan includes hands on treatment, home exercise programs, self management strategies and education, which help you attain your goals. We will often consult with other members of your health care team (such as your family doctor, massage therapist etc) to ensure continuity of care. 
We encourage communication during the appointment, as well as after. If you have any questions after the appointment, please feel free to contact us via email or phone.

With direct access to physiotherapy in British Columbia, a doctors referral is not necessary to receive treatments at MotionWorx Physiotherapy. However, the physiotherapist may suggest that you consult a doctor for their opinion or to get further tests done. Note that some extended health insurance companies still require a doctors referral for reimbursement of physiotherapy treatments. It is the responsibility of the patient to see if their plan requires a doctors note for physiotherapy coverage.  Motor Vehicle accidents do require a doctors referral.

At this time, we do not treat patients that are claiming with WorkSafe BC (WSBC). We will gladly refer you to one of our trusted allies in healthcare.

Since injuries do not care who you are, how old you are, or what you do for activities, neither do we. We enjoy helping ALL people…especially if you have a great story of how you got hurt. We will always discuss with you the best treatment option, even if it is not physiotherapy. We can refer you to some of our trusted allied health care practitioners.   

You should wear comfortable clothing that allows you to expose the area that we will be evaluating and treating. For example, if you have a knee problem, it is best to wear shorts. For a shoulder problem, a tank top is a good choice, and for low back problems, wear a loose fitting shirt and pants, again so we can perform a thorough examination. If you forget, we can provide you with a pair of shorts or a gown.

Treatment sessions typically last 30 to 60 minutes per visit.

This is highly variable. You may need one visit or you may need months of care. It depends on your diagnosis, the severity of your injury, your past medical history, etc. You will be re-evaluated on a regular basis and if you are required to see your doctor, we will provide you with a progress report with our recommendations.

All Physiotherapists that are allowed to practice in British Columbia MUST be registered with the College of Physiotherapists of British Columbia.

For many patients, one of the primary objectives is pain relief. This is frequently accomplished with hands-on techniques, modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and/or heat or cold therapy. Movement often provides pain relief as well. Your physiotherapist will provide you with the appropriate exercises not only for pain relief but to recover range of motion, strength, and endurance.

In some cases, physiotherapy techniques can be painful. For example, recovering knee range of motion after total knee replacement or shoulder range of motion after shoulder surgery may be painful. Your physical therapist will utilize a variety of techniques to help maximize your treatment goals. It is important that you communicate the intensity, frequency, and duration of pain to your therapist. Without this information, it is difficult for the therapist to adjust your treatment plan.

If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident (includes motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian accidents), and are insured by ICBC, you are eligible for up to 25 physiotherapy treatments to be used within the first 3 months of your accident. You no longer require a doctor’s referral to qualify for your initial treatments. Our therapists will provide a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan for your recovery and provide your ICBC adjuster (and lawyer if applicable) with detailed reports and updates on your care. ICBC covers $89 per follow up visit for your physiotherapy treatments, for which our clinic bills directly. There is no user fee at MotionWorx Physiotherapy for ICBC claims.

MSP (Medical Services Plan) provides up to 10 visits per year (combined annual limit for physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy and non-surgical podiatry) for those who qualify for low income subsidization. MSP only covers $23 per visit. You will be responsible for paying a $77 user fee, given our private physiotherapy rates are $100 per visit. If you are unsure if you qualify for this service, we can check for you through our Electronic Medical Reporting system – you simply need to provide use with your name, birth date and personal health care number (PHN).

MotionWorx Physiotherapy does not have a contract with WSBC, and therefore, we are unable to provide treatment for you if you were injured at work and are claiming through WSBC. We are more than happy to refer you to one of our trusted physiotherapy allies where we know your care will be held to the same standard to which we uphold.

Yes we do! If you were injured at home or participating in one of your favorite sports/activities and your injury is interfering with your ability to work your regular duties/hours, you might be eligible for physiotherapy services through your short or long-term disability insurance. Our therapists will be in close communication with your disability rehabilitation coordinator to provide them with reports, updates on your progress/treatment plan and help create a Gradual Return to Work Plan if needed to help you return to work safely. MotionWorx will provide direct billing to your disability company for these services if they are covered.

In many cases, private health insurance will cover all or a portion of your physiotherapy treatment. We are now able to direct bill to many health insurance companies. If not, please pay for your appointment following each session. A receipt will be issued. You will need to send the original receipts to your insurance company to be reimbursed along with the physicians referral (some insurance companies do not request a physician referral).

Visa, Master Card, Interact Debit and Cash are accepted.

If you have any questions, please talk to our receptionist so we can help you clarify the process.

Clients will often need to continue with home exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist. You will be provided with a detailed exercise program via email (or printed). If you plan on continuing with a regular exercise program or sport, please discuss possible modifications required with your physiotherapist.
Others will complete their rehabilitation and return to normal daily activities.
It is important that you communicate your goals to your therapist, so he/she can develop a custom program for you.

We often book within the week, but this can change on seasons and times of the year. We will always do our best to accommodate your schedule and book an appointment as soon as possible.
Please contact our receptionist and they will do their best to accommodate you.

You can call our reception at 778-478-WORX (9679), or book online. To book online, we require you to be a patient returning for a follow-up of a recently assessed injury. Please discuss this option with our receptionist if you prefer this method. We can show you how!