Frequently Asked Questions

Where Can I Find a Physiotherapist?

As a patient, you have the right to receive physiotherapy at any place you choose. At Amped Physiotherapy, you will receive the highest quality care while achieving the results you need.

We pride ourselves on providing a positive, encouraging environment with well-trained, friendly staff. We are confident in our ability to help you reach your goals.

What should I know about physiotherapy?

Physiotherapists are university trained, direct access regulated health professionals. We use a hands-on approach to relieving pain and restoring function. Physiotherapists are medical experts in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions and work closely with physicians.

Our physiotherapists evaluate your movement patterns, identify the cause of your pain, and work to eliminate it.

While every patient’s condition and pain is unique, our physiotherapist will use a variety of hands-on techniques, strength exercises, education and coaching to relieve pain quickly and restore your function to optimum levels.

Our overall goal is to restore pain-free mobility and function and to prevent the injury or pain from recurring.

Do physiotherapy treatments 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.

Can I benefit from physiotherapy treatments?

Our mission at Amped Physiotherapy is 3-fold: to help you recover from your injury, to help you avoid unnecessary medications and surgeries, and to give you the tools you need to improve your strength and fitness levels. Working with you and your family physician, sports physician or surgeon, we can discuss your options and help determine if physiotherapy will be the right choice for you. Call us today to discuss your current condition or request an appointment now

Do I need to see my doctor prior to booking my physiotherapy assessment?

Although physiotherapists are primary care providers, some extended health insurance plans require a doctor’s referral in order to reimburse you for your physiotherapy sessions. Check with your extended health provider.

If your extended health provider does not require a physician referral, it is not necessary to see your doctor prior to having a physiotherapy assessment. However, some clients are more comfortable seeing their doctor first.

Do I need to wait until I have the results of my diagnostic test (X-ray, MRI, etc) prior to seeing the physiotherapist?

In most cases, we do not need the results of your tests prior to seeing you. One exception is if you are concerned that you have a bone fracture or a muscle/tendon rupture. In most other cases, the results of the diagnostic tests will not change the initial physical therapy treatment plan. Specifically, if you are awaiting MRI results for a knee injury (ligament and/or meniscus), shoulder injury (labrum, rotator cuff tear), or back injury, the results of the test are not necessary for us to begin treatment.

Does everyone you treat get better?

There are never any guarantees in the health care world. However, if the health care practitioner and the client/patient are committed to working towards common goals, most outcomes are successful.

How long will it take?

Every person is unique and every problem is unique. Some of our clients eliminate their pain and restore their function in 2 to 3 weeks. Some problems take 6 to 8 weeks, some can take a few months, and in rare cases, longer. Treatment should only be continued if it is helping. If our treatment plan isn’t helping, it should be changed. The treatment response is highly variable and depends on:

How complicated and difficult the problem is
How long you have had the problem
How significant the structural damage is
How committed you are to solving the problem
Your motivation
Your ability/willingness to modify your activities, aggravating factors, etc.

How much will it cost?

Again, this is variable, and it is always important to discuss financial considerations of your treatment with your physiotherapist. Cost is based on the total number of treatments required (which is not the same as how long it will take).

Over the past 5 years, we have tracked the average number of treatments required to help our clients achieve their goals (eliminating pain and restoring their function). The average number of treatments is 8. Keep in mind, this is an average. Some clients require fewer treatment sessions, and some require more.

Our goal is always to provide the solutions in the most time efficient and cost effective manner. If the treatment isn’t working, the plan needs to be changed. In some cases, there are other factors and/or other providers that can help (eg. physicians, massage therapists, psychologists, coaches, etc). Feel free to discuss alternative/additional service providers.

Who is your knee specialist (elbow specialist, shoulder specialist, etc)?

To determine what is causing the pain or functional limitation in a specific area (for example, the knee), it is important to understand the impact of the areas above and below. This important principle is referred to in concepts such as the joint by joint approach, regional interdependence, and the kinetic chain.

For many of the knee problems we see, the best treatment solution includes addressing problems (often weakness the client is not aware of) in the hip and/or the foot and ankle.

For the low back, addressing problems with the pelvis/hip and the thoracic spine is important.

All our physiotherapists are skilled in the process of identifying the underlying cause(s) of your pain and treating accordingly.

Do you treat clients injured in Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA's)?

Yes, we treat clients who have been injured in Motor Vehicle Accidents. This includes cyclists and pedestrians hit by vehicles.

Once you call and report a claim, you will be sent a package from your automobile insurer. This package contains your claim number, date of accident, adjuster’s name, phone number and fax number. This is the information we need to complete the treatment plan that is sent to your car insurance company. You may book an assessment prior to receiving this package, but need to provide us with the information as soon as possible so that you may be approved in a timely manner and begin treatment.

For further information, see our Motor Vehicle Accidents and Injury section under our specialty programs page.

Can you direct bill to insurance companies/providers?

We can submit your bill on your behalf to the following private insurance companies: CINUP, Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance, Cowan, Desjardins Insurance, First Canadian, Great-West Life, Industrial Alliance, Johnson Inc., Johnston Group Inc., Manulife Financial, Maximum Benefit, Sunlife Financial (excluding Policy 055555 – Federal plan). Please note that we are not set up to have the insurance providers pay us directly, only to submit on your behalf. Most providers will have your claim(s) assessed and funds paid to you within a few days.

Why don't you treat WSIB claimants?

If WSIB claimants were free to book regular assessment and treatment sessions with our facility, we would be happy to help them. Unfortunately, WSIB restricts the clinics that their claimants can attend, and is not willing to cover reasonable physiotherapy costs that are necessary to provide high quality physiotherapy services. We are not willing to provide inferior physiotherapy service to our clients, as we believe in offering the highest level of physiotherapy services that we can.