Frequently Asked Questions About
Physiotherapy in Vernon BC

Physiotherapy is a medical practice profession offered to and provided for clients of all ages. Physiotherapists are accredited, licensed and regulated medical professionals who offer care to individuals of all ages suffering from many pathologies and diagnoses.

A Physiotherapist will start by taking a detailed history about your injury and how it is affecting your life. This is a good opportunity for the patient and therapist to get acquainted with each other. Then, we perform a physical assessment that involves muscle and movement testing, joint range of motion, observations, and an analysis of findings. A treatment plan will then be recommended to inform the patient of the best course of action to recover. Several exercises are likely to be given, along with some education on the patient's condition, and some manual therapy to help reduce pain.

Physiotherapy works by assisting the body in a variety of ways - at Arise Physiotherapy, our therapists use manual therapy to break down tight muscle fibers, stretch out muscles and ligaments, massage tight areas that are restricting movement, assist joints through more full ranges of motion, as well as offering, demonstrating and having you perform exercises and stretches custom fit to your body's needs. Solid explanations will be offered so that you understand your body which helps improve your awareness and function.

Our therapists also assess movement patterns, posture, gait or walking/running patterns, and overall lifestyle to find out what to do to help reduce aggravating activities and increase activities that improve symptoms. Regularly doing specific exercises, and just being active in general, allows your body to adapt better, and this is what health is really about. This process tends to help shift focus away from pain and more towards the goals that you may have.

Arriving with a change of clothes, or clothing that helps expose the area of injury, is helpful. It's also helpful to fill out the emailed intake form in advance, making sure we have all the information about your condition, along with your personal details. From a mental standpoint, having a goal or something that you want to get out of Physiotherapy is an excellent way to guide our treatment approach.

Massage therapy tends to focus more on massage and other passive soft tissue techniques. While Physiotherapy can include massage as a treatment, it tends to focus more on active strategies like behavior modification and exercise to help fix the problem. Manual therapy such as joint mobilizations and manipulation may also be used.

Generally, for most injuries, a multi-week treatment approach is ideal as it helps make gradual changes over time. Treatment starts more with pain reduction initially, then shifts to improving strength as symptoms decrease. No injuries are ever the same, and progress is rarely linear. That said, some patients find lasting relief or help from one or just a couple of appointments. What is important is that the patient and therapist are able to communicate about expectations and work together to meet a patient's needs, whatever the timeline is.

Physiotherapists are the experts in recovery after any surgical intervention. They assist clients with education and hands on work for breathing, cardiac, abdominal and musculoskeletal recovery.

Physiotherapists are the experts in all things sports. They are individuals drawn to their professions often because of their own backgrounds in sports and recreation. They provide individualized assessment, diagnosis and activity and treatment advice and protocols for pre-training, prevention and recovery.

Physiotherapists are medical health professionals deeply trained in assessment and evaluation of risk, precaution and contraindications. Physiotherapists provide safe care.

Physiotherapists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, community, homes and clinics. Care can be provided in any location or venue.

Physiotherapists provide treatments including joint mobilizations and soft tissue techniques which enhance and augment chiropractic and massage therapies.

Yes, physiotherapy is covered by health insurance companies and extended care plans. Most physiotherapists can direct bill MOST insurance plans.

The first session with a physiotherapist will be an assessment, including medical history, as well as treatment. An initial home exercise plan is usually included in the first session.

Physiotherapists are experts in health maintenance. They can most often answer and address or request referral appropriately regarding any health inquiry.

Yes! Physiotherapist are very skilled in treatment and education around posture and the issues that result from poor body positions.

Physiotherapist are experts in body position and posture related concerns. All clients seeking physiotherapy care are assessed and treated on an individual basis. Specific exercises for office workers to prevent musculoskeletal issues is a very common practice during assessment and treatment.

Physiotherapists provide a thorough history, physical exam and assessment on an individual basis for all clients.

All physiotherapists address body position and movement disorders. Physiotherapists address a variety of a broad range of skills and treatment techniques including manual therapy, hands on modalities and exercise.