Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Physiotherapy encompasses physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, performance improvement, and health promotion. At Dockside Physiotherapy, our Registered Physiotherapists help clients become stronger and more flexible, increase freedom/ease of movement and mobility, reduce pain and the need for pain medications, and prevent injury to help people stay active and return to normal activities/work.

A Physiotherapist is a university-educated medical professional specializing in neuromusculoskeletal health. At Dockside Physiotherapy, we use education, manual therapy, progressive movements or exercises, and many other modalities to treat pain and injuries. We work WITH clients to build personalized recovery plans to help restore function and overcome physical impairments that limit their daily lives.

Canadian regulations require Physiotherapists to hold an undergraduate degree and a two-year Master’s degree in Physiotherapy as of the early 2000s. Beyond formal education, they must pass national licensing examinations and submit annual self-reports to provincial colleges to demonstrate competency.

Yes, physiotherapy at Dockside Physiotherapy is absolutely safe! Client safety is our top priority, involving thorough screening and clear communication to minimize risks. Our team only uses manual techniques and modalities that are specifically suited to your condition and comfort level, ensuring every treatment plan is appropriate and effective.

On your first visit, we actively listen and take a detailed history to best understand the problems you are currently experiencing, the location and nature of your pain, and your individual health goals. This is followed by a thorough physical exam to help determine the underlying cause of your pain or functional limitations.

After the assessment, we will explain our findings, answer your questions so you understand the diagnosis and available treatment options, and determine whether or not there is a need to refer you for medical imaging or to another healthcare provider/specialist (e.g. orthopaedic surgeon, sports physician, etc).

A short treatment consisting of hands-on care, education, and/or exercise will follow at the end to get the ball rolling so you have some of the tools necessary to be successful in your recovery. Your first visit will last 45 to 60 minutes, depending on which option you choose.

At Dockside Physiotherapy, follow-up treatments typically last 30 minutes, but we also have 45- and 60-minute options available. Sessions usually start with a brief reassessment. The core treatment involves a personalized blend of hands-on manual therapy (like joint mobilization or massage), specific exercises, pain education, and modalities (IMS/dry needling, ultrasound, etc) to support your recovery goals.

Yes! At Dockside Physiotherapy most major private health plans, including WorkSafeBC, ICBC, MSP, FNHA, DND, Veterans Affairs, and RCMP, cover our services and we offer direct billing for convenience. While a doctor’s referral is not required to see us, we recommend confirming specific coverage requirements directly with your insurance provider in advance in case one is needed. In the event we are unable to directly bill your insurance provider, we’ll provide you with a detailed receipt so you can submit the claim on your own.

A joint manipulation is the ‘pop’ or ‘click’ you hear when a joint is moved quickly through a very small range of motion. This sound is believed to be the result of a drop in pressure within the joint cavity where some of the gases are dissolved in the joint fluid, creating a tiny bubble that rapidly collapses upon itself. Neat, hey?

Joint manipulation is traditionally thought of as a technique performed on the spine, but it can also be done on the wrists, hips, SI joints, ankles and toes.

Before a manipulation is performed we thoroughly assess the person and the target region of the body to determine if it would be appropriate and safe in each individual case. As with all physiotherapy treatments, we always make sure you are comfortable with having a manipulation before we perform one, and we’ll choose an alternate treatment if you are not.

IMS stands for Intramuscular Stimulation, also known as “dry needling” and utilizes the same needles used in acupuncture—but this technique is very different. In dry needling, nothing is injected, unlike in “wet” needling, which injects medicine such as cortisone.

“Does it hurt?” is usually the next question, and this depends on the individual circumstance. While it can be an intense technique, it’s very beneficial in reducing pain and improving movement by reducing muscle tone, improving muscle activation, and resetting nerve-related pain. It feels like a deep, achy pressure, but is not meant to feel sharp, shooting, burning, piercing or searing. We keep in close communication with you during needling to ensure what you’re feeling is what you should be feeling!

At Dockside Physiotherapy, the frequency of your visits depends on your specific goals, injury severity, and healing timelines. Our primary objective is to help you achieve independence as quickly as possible. We prioritize long-term recovery through movement and education, aiming to minimize your need for ongoing clinical visits by empowering you with home-based recovery tools.