Physiotherapy FAQ

We get a lot of similar questions at the clinic, so I wanted to share some of the answers to our most frequently asked questions with you:

Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a doctor’s referral to make an appointment with us! Your extended healthcare provider may require one to cover physiotherapy expenses, but every plan is different. It is best to check with your extended medical provider if a referral is a required prior to booking your appointment.

Can I book online?
Yes! We started online booking recently. If you would like to book for the Cambie Village location, please visit: https://insyncphysio.janeapp.com to make your appointment. If you would like to book for Burnaby Heights, please visit: https://insyncphysio-burnaby.janeapp.com

Who is the best physiotherapist at Insync?
All of our physiotherapists are very skilled in their work, and they are honestly all wonderful. However, they do take special interests in particular parts of the body or specific sports. If you would like some guidance as to who might be a good fit for you, please call us and let us know a little bit about your injury and if you have any preferences for types of treatment (e.g. IMS, acupuncture, manual therapy).

Do you work with kids?
Absolutely! We have a number of younger patients that come to see us, and especially many young athletes currently in elementary and high school.

Do you direct bill my healthcare provider?
We currently offer direct billing for Pacific Blue Cross, Green Shield, Sunlife, Standard Life, Manulife, Industrial Alliance, Great West Life and Desjardins Insurance. For any other provider, you will need to pay up front and submit your invoices on your own for reimbursement.

Should I go for physiotherapy or massage?
Ultimately, it is your choice. You know your body best. We will often recommend that you see physiotherapy first and then go from there. The reason being that physiotherapy assessment is a little more in-depth than massage assessment. Your physiotherapist can let your massage therapist know specific muscles or muscle groups that need to be worked on. Together, physiotherapy and massage therapy are very complementary to one another. Great results can come from using both as well as one or the other.

What should I bring to my first appointment?
Many choose to fill out our intake forms online, but if you are not filling out the intake online, please bring your BC Care Card with you. If you have an ICBC or WCB claim, please make sure you have the claim number as well as the date of the accident with you so we can set up the appropriate billing. If you have extended healthcare, please bring your card or policy and ID numbers with you so we can set up direct billing. Otherwise, please be sure to wear or bring with you clothing that is comfortable to move in. If you have a lower body issue, shorts would be best. If your neck and/or shoulders are the issue, a tank top is a great option.

How long will my appointment last?
We book each physiotherapy appointment for 30 minutes. This will be a one-on-one session with your physiotherapist. If your physiotherapist is using heat or ice packs after you appointment, this will like push your time to about 45 minutes in the clinic.

What can I expect for my first appointment?
Your first appointment will be partly assessment and partly treatment. Your physiotherapist will go over your medical history and ask specific questions regarding your injury (e.g. What were you doing when it happened? What aggravates it?). They will then move on to range of motion testing and muscle/strength testing for the specific joint, again looking for what aggravates the injury or what relieves it. They will then move on to treatment, which may involve manual therapy, corrective exercises, ultrasound, IMS, acupuncture or whatever they see fit to decrease irritation and progress you towards your goals.

How often should I come?
Again, every body and every injury is different. After assessment with your physiotherapist, they will be able to give you a better idea of how often they would like to see you to ensure optimal treatment of your injury.

Do you have any other questions? Please feel free to call or email us to discuss any further questions or concerns!