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FAQs

Physiotherapy

Q: What should I expect on my first appointment?

A: After you have been greeted by one of our staff members you will be given a tour of our facilities. Your physiotherapist will start with a thorough health history. Then they will go over the history of your injury, asking you questions about how the pain began, or how your injury occurred. The therapist will ask about factors that contribute to your pain such as hobbies, sports, work, and previous injuries.

Q: How long will I be in the clinic each time?

A: If it is your first appointment you can be here for anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour. Usually subsequent appointments last for 30 minutes. If you are being seen for more than one area then it will take around 45 minutes to an hour as well.

Q: Does OHIP cover the treatments?

A: Waterdown Physiotherapy is a private clinic and we do not bill OHIP. However, we can bill for motor vehicle and WSIB claims as well as to your extended health benefits.

Q: Do you do direct billing and do my extended health care benefits cover physiotherapy?

A: We direct bill to most insurance companies as long as your plan allows for it. We can submit invoices to all TELUS eclaim companies, Blue Cross, Greenshield, Empire Life, SSQ, Medic Construction, Nexgen Rx, the cooperators, Sunlife and MDM. If you do not fall under any of these we will provide a detailed receipt after you have paid that you can submit yourself. Although everyone's health and group plans are different, most plans will cover a percentage of the fees. Talk to your health plan provider for more specific details.

Q: What clothes should I wear?

A: As well as preparing mentally, we recommend you prepare physically by wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that will allow us to easily see the skin, joints and muscles around your injury. Shorts underneath pants work very well in winter if we need access to your leg(s) or hip(s). As well as a tank top or short sleeve shirt underneath your sweater or long sleeve shirt works well if we need to access your shoulder(s).

Q: Do I need a doctor's referral to come to physiotherapy?

A: Physiotherapists are primary care providers which means you do not need a doctor's referral. Some private insurance companies do require a medical referral. It is best to check with your insurance provider prior to your first visit.

Q: How many treatments will I need?

A: Every condition is individually evaluated, based on the person and severity of their condition and patient activity expectations. Your physiotherapist will advise you of an appropriate treatment plan after your initial assessment.

Massage Therapy

Q: Why is it important to drink water after a massage?

A: It's beneficial to drink water after your massage appointment because as the registered massage therapist manipulates your muscles, substances are released. Drinking water after your massage helps your body flush out any accumulated materials that were released during the massage.

Q: What to avoid before a massage?

A: You should avoid the following things before a massage:

          -eating a heavy meal

          -drinking alcohol

          -doing strenuous exercise or activities

          -sunbathing

Q: What are possible symptoms/side effects after a massage?

A:       -fatigue/tiredness

          -inflammation

          -muscles soreness

          -nausea

          -redness/warm skin

Q: What should I wear for a massage?

A: We advise that you wear something comfy and stretchy on the legs, e.g. leggings or joggers, and avoid wearing belts, jeans, trousers/shorts without any stretch or lots of pockets; unless you require deep tissue work on the legs, then shorts or underwear will be necessary.

Q: How long do the effects of massage last?

A: Generally speaking, you may feel sore for 24-48 hours after a massage, which is normal. Beyond that, the benefits may last a couple of days to an entire week. There are some things you can do to help the relaxing, stress-relieving benefits last for longer.

Osteopathy

Q: What does Osteopathy help with?

A: Osteopathic treatment is for people of all ages and activity levels. Low, mid, upper back and neck pain or misalignment can often cause symptoms such as indigestion, migraines/headaches, respiratory issues, sore muscles, colic in newborns, chronic pain, prenatal/postnatal issues and more. Osteopathic treatment is beneficial to help treating these symptoms.

Q: Is Osteopathy the same as Chiropractic or physiotherapy?

A: All of these disciplines can treat the same conditions, Osteopathy has a full 

body approach at every visit. Osteopathic Manual Practitioners will use very subtle and gentle adjustments. It is a holistic approach with focus on freeing the path of communications that allow the body to heal. 

Q: What does a treatment look like?

A: Your first appointment will consist of an osteopathic assessment where the practitioner will go over your health history and you can discuss the symptoms that are bothering you. Patients are to wear loose comfortable clothing. The practitioner will then do an assessment of your whole body. If you would like to watch a short clip of what an assessment/treatment looks like you can go to our Instagram page and check it out. 

https://www.instagram.com/waterdownphysio/

Q: Are my treatments covered by my insurer?

A: Extended health benefits often include osteopathic manual practitioners. Please contact your provider for information about your plan. The majority of plans will only cover sessions that have been done by an osteopathic manual practitioner that is a member of OSTCAN.

Q: How many appointments will I need?

A: Each person will be different in how often they will need to attend. It will depend on how long they have had their condition, lifestyle, and state of health. Some people with less serious conditions can feel better right away. You are reassessed at every visit and tailored to what your body needs.

General

Q: What about COVID 19? What extra steps are you taking to protect people?

A: Your health and safety and the health and safety of our staff is extremely important to us. We are following all recommended guidelines from Public Health and our regulatory Colleges. Please see below for more information:

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