What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a hands-on approach to restore, maintain, and make the most of a patient’s mobility, function, and well-being. Physiotherapy helps through physical rehabilitation, injury prevention and health and fitness. Physiotherapists are trained in musculoskeletal, surgical, and neurological conditions and work closely with medical physicians and other health care professionals for recommendations of care.
While every patient’s conditions and recovery goals are unique, our physiotherapists will conduct a full comprehensive assessment to evaluate the challenges you may be facing such as: preventing injuries, treating an active injury, physical limitations & restrictions, decreased function and presence of pain. They will help you with improving and relearning movement patterns, increasing strength, function, flexibility, balance, posture & gait and help decrease pain through various manual therapy techniques and utilizing modalities such as shockwave, laser, ultrasound, IFC, dry needling, stretching & exercise therapy. Our physiotherapists will get you involved in your own recovery! You can read more about how we treat at BeActive Physio by clicking here
How do I know if Physiotherapy will help me?
A large majority of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions can be greatly improved if not
eliminated with the help of physiotherapy. Physiotherapy can also help with surgical
conditions, neurological conditions, and balance issues. Working with you and your doctor,
we can discuss your options and help determine if physiotherapy will be the right choice
for you. Contact us today to discuss your current condition and set up an initial assessment
or telephone consult if you choose.
What types of education/training do your therapists have?
Physiotherapists have years of university level training in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology
(study of joint movement), neurology, and many of the other medical sciences. Our
physiotherapists have graduated from accredited physiotherapy programs and are
registered and licensed with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Depending on the
university, the physiotherapy program is either a bachelor’s or masters level degree.
Additionally, our therapists continue to further their education by pursuing qualifying
certification with their college for advanced programs in physiotherapy. Rest assured, your
therapist is well trained to evaluate and treat your condition.
Why should I choose BeActive Physio?
As a patient you have the right to receive care at any clinic you choose. BeActive Physio is to ensure our community is healthy by putting our patients
care and well-being above everything else; we are a pillar of care in the Oakville
community. You will experience a friendly, caring, relaxed environment while receiving the
highest quality of care with educated and experienced health professionals. We offer
private rooms for your one-on-one treatments and house state-of-the-art physiotherapy
equipment and modalities. Our administrative team’s focus is to ensure an easy, flexible,
and committed clerical process to provide an excellent patient experience. We invite you to
read our patient testimonies & reviews
here.
Who will I see?
At BeActive Physio we pride ourselves on one-on-one patient care. This means that
your primary care clinician will provide your treatments directly as we feel strongly that this
will ensure the highest level of care and communication regarding your injury/condition.
We have a multidisciplinary team to choose from including Physiotherapists, Registered
Massage Therapists and a Pedorthist who can assist with Custom Made Orthotics. As our
patient, you can choose which therapist(s) you want to be a part of your recovery team.
What types of Physiotherapy do you provide?
There are several categories in which physiotherapy can be branched into to be offered to
various individuals. We recommend reading our health blog article
here to learn about all the different types of physiotherapy we offer.
What happens during my first visit?
During your first visit you can expect the following:
- Arrive at your appointment having completed your online digital intake. This would have been emailed to you or you can fill it out here
- YYou will provide us with your referral for physiotherapy/massage/orthotics if you have one. If you don't have a referral, let us know when you schedule your first visit with us (note - a referral is not always needed).
- We will take a copy of your extended health benefit card.
- You will be seen for the initial evaluation by the therapist.
- 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 rehabilitation goals.
- Discussion with the therapist regarding your history of 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. This is done to check for the presence of tenderness, swelling, soft tissue integrity, tissue temperature, inflammation, etc.
- Range of Motion (ROM) - the therapist will move the joint(s) 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. Pain and weakness may be noted. Often the muscle strength is graded. This is also part of a neurological screening.
- 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.
- Posture Assessment - the positions of joints relative to ideal and each other may be assessed.
The therapist will then formulate a list of ailments you are having, and how to treat and help you rehabilitate. A plan is subsequently developed with the patient's input. This includes how many times you should see the therapist per week, how many weeks you will need therapy, home exercise programs, patient education, short-term/long-term goals, and what is expected after discharge from therapy. This plan is created with input from you, your therapist, and your doctor (if applicable).
What should I wear?
You should wear loose-fitting clothing 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. For low back problems, wear a loose-fitting shirt and
pants, again so we can perform a thorough examination. Our facility has private rooms as
well as a restroom you can utilize to change clothes. Additionally, each room is stocked
with appropriate clothing should you forget to bring some.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
- A prescription (if needed) for physiotherapy, massage, or orthotics from your referring physician.
- Insurance information (we will make a copy of your card).
- Fill out your digital Intake which was texted or emailed to you.
- If you were unable to complete your digital intake online, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment to complete your paperwork.
- In case of an automobile accident or worker’s compensation claim, also bring any case manager or insurance adjuster contact names, phone numbers, and claim number.
- Please wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to your problem areas.
How long with each visit last?
Your initial Physiotherapy Assessment will be 1 hour long and follow up treatments will be
30 minutes per visit.
How many visits will I need?
Each patient’s diagnosis is different; your therapist will develop a plan of care that is right
for you. Your plan of care and number of visits will be determined during your first visit and
explained to you by our physiotherapist.
Will it hurt?
Physiotherapy is not meant to hurt, but to relieve pain. However, as you restore your
mobility, pain levels, at times can fluctuate. You might experience some temporary
soreness from using muscles that are weakened or recovering. This is a normal response
to therapy treatment. Good communication with your therapist will help minimize any
discomfort. We want you on your way to quick pain relief and back to normal activities.
Do you offer programs for me once I’m better?
At BeActive Physio, your therapist will review with you a continuing home recovery
program. If needed, your therapists will utilize our gym facility to provide you education,
hands on application & coaching for your recommended exercises and determine what
equipment may be beneficial so that you feel confidant with your continued recovery at
home.
Does extended health benefit insurance cover my treatment?
Yes, most benefits cover a portion if not the full cost of our services. However, Extended
Health Benefit coverage varies depending on your individual policy provisions. We
recommend visiting your benefit providers website or calling them directly to obtain
information regarding your coverage and to learn if your policy requires a doctor’s referral
to process claims. Our clinic offers billing to most major benefit companies, please visit our
insurance plan page and do not hesitate to contact our clinic (905) 849-9119 for more
information. In most cases, we are unable to determine or guarantee benefit eligibility
prior to your scheduled appointment.
What type of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, check, debit card, and credit card. We are happy to discuss payment plan
options as well. It is our policy that payment is made at the time of service. Your insurance
benefits will be determined before your second visit, and you will be informed of what, if
any, payment is necessary on that date.
Are you OHIP funded?
BeActive Physio is a private clinic, which means we are not able to bill the Ontario
Health Card for your services. However, should you be receiving elective surgery for hip(s)
or knee(s) replacements through an Ontario hospital, you may qualify for treatments and
billing under the Bundle of Care Program by the Ontario Ministry of Health. Our clinic is
registered with the hospitals, and we can bill with your Health Card for that program
exclusively.
Do you accept WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) patients?
We regret to inform you that we are unable to accommodate patients who are covered by WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) at this time. Our healthcare facility primarily serves private and extended health benefit patients, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We suggest exploring other healthcare options that may be better suited to your needs. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Do you accept Motor Vehicle Accident patients?
Unfortunately, we do not accept patients who have been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Our healthcare facility only accommodates private and extended health benefit patients. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope that you can find suitable healthcare services that can cater to your needs. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
I have additional questions
We’d be happy to help answer any questions you may have, please give us a call at the
clinic (905) 849-9119 or email us at
info@beactivephysio.ca