Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy across MedRehab Group

Physiotherapy is the core of what we do and it is available at every one of our twelve clinics. Thirty-two registered physiotherapists work across the group, each regulated by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Find your nearest clinic below. Whichever one it is, the approach is the same: a proper assessment first, a plan built around what you need to get back to, and hands-on treatment combined with exercise you can actually keep up.

The people who come to us for physiotherapy fall into a few recognisable groups. Some have an injury with a clear start, a fall, a tackle, a lift that went wrong. Some are recovering from surgery and need to rebuild movement and strength safely. Some have been hurt in a car accident or at work, where treatment is funded through a claim rather than a health plan. And a great many have pain that has no single cause, a back or a neck or a knee that has been complaining for months. All of these are physiotherapy problems, and the assessment is where we work out which one you have.

What is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is the assessment and treatment of problems with movement: pain, stiffness, weakness or loss of function after an injury, an operation, an illness or plain wear and tear. A registered physiotherapist works out what is driving the problem, treats it with hands-on techniques and exercise, and teaches you how to stop it coming back. In Ontario it is a regulated health profession under the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, and you can see a physiotherapist without a referral.

Do I need a referral for physiotherapy in Ontario?

No. Ontario physiotherapists are primary healthcare providers, which means you can book directly without seeing a doctor first. This is called direct access, and we explain it in more detail on our direct access page.

Two exceptions are worth knowing. Some extended health plans ask for a doctor’s referral before they will reimburse physiotherapy, so check your own policy wording. And treatment funded through a car accident claim or a WSIB claim follows its own process, which we handle for you. Neither stops you booking; they only affect who pays.

What physiotherapy treats

These are the conditions we see most, across all twelve clinics. If yours is not listed, book anyway; the assessment will tell you whether physiotherapy is the right route.

• Low back pain and neck pain, whether recent or long standing
• Sciatica and other nerve pain radiating into the arm or leg
• Knee, hip and ankle injuries, including ligament and meniscus problems
• Shoulder pain, rotator cuff injuries and frozen shoulder
• Sports injuries, from weekend strains to competitive rehabilitation
• Recovery after surgery, including joint replacements and repairs
• Injuries from motor vehicle accidents
• Workplace injuries and repetitive strain
• Arthritis and the stiffness that comes with it
• Tension headaches originating in the neck

How we treat

Physiotherapy is not one technique, and the right combination depends on what the assessment finds. Across the group our physiotherapists draw on these approaches. Not every approach is offered at every clinic, and your therapist will tell you at the first visit what your plan will involve.

• Manual therapy. Hands-on mobilisation and manipulation of joints and soft tissue to restore movement and reduce pain. The foundation of most plans.
• Therapeutic exercise. Specific, progressive exercise to rebuild strength, control and confidence. The part that makes results last, and the part patients most often skip.
• Sports rehabilitation. Structured return to training and competition, with load managed so you come back once rather than twice.
• Post-surgical rehabilitation. Working alongside your surgeon’s protocol to restore range, strength and function after a procedure.
• Shockwave therapy. For stubborn tendon problems such as plantar fasciitis and tennis elbow, at clinics with the equipment.
• Dry needling. Fine needles into trigger points to release tight muscle, used alongside manual work and exercise.
• Work conditioning. Rebuilding the capacity to do a physical job, often as part of a return to work after a claim.

What physiotherapy will and will not do

Done properly, physiotherapy reduces pain, restores movement, rebuilds strength and, most importantly, teaches you how to keep the problem from coming back. The evidence for it is strong across musculoskeletal conditions, and it is the first-line treatment for most of what we see.

What it will not do is work without you. A plan that consists only of what happens on the treatment table, once or twice a week, gives limited results. The exercise between visits is where most of the improvement happens, and your physiotherapist will be straightforward about that. It also will not fix everything in three visits. Some problems resolve quickly; long-standing pain and post-surgical recovery take longer, and you will be given a realistic view rather than a hopeful one.

What to expect at your first appointment

Everyone has different needs, and there is no standard plan that fits everyone. Your first visit is an assessment. Your physiotherapist will ask how the problem started, what makes it better or worse, and what you need to be able to do again. They will evaluate your mobility, balance, range of motion and the severity of your pain, and take into account your goals and any health risks that might hold you back.

You may be asked to perform basic movements, such as sitting down, standing up, walking, lifting, stretching or reaching, so the therapist can see how you move rather than only hearing about it. Once they have a clear picture, they will explain what they think is going on and build a treatment plan around it. Treatment usually begins in the same appointment. You leave with exercises to start at home and a realistic view of how many visits you are likely to need.

Who provides it

Every physiotherapist at MedRehab Group is registered with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, which regulates the profession, sets its standards and handles complaints. Registration means a university physiotherapy degree, national examinations and ongoing professional requirements. It is also what your insurer looks for on a receipt.

Thirty-two physiotherapists work across our twelve clinics, supported by physiotherapist assistants who help deliver exercise programmes under a physiotherapist’s direction. Because our clinics also run massage therapy, chiropractic care and acupuncture, your physiotherapist can bring another discipline into your plan without sending you to a different address.

Cost, insurance and how treatment is funded

Most extended health plans in Ontario cover physiotherapy, usually up to an annual amount. We direct bill most major insurers, so in many cases you pay only the portion your plan does not cover. Bring your policy details to the first visit and our reception team will confirm your coverage before treatment starts.

If you were injured in a car accident, physiotherapy is normally funded through your accident benefits rather than your health plan. We handle the assessment paperwork and coordinate with your insurer. You can read how that works on our car accident physiotherapy page.

If you were injured at work, treatment is funded through WSIB, and we are a provider under its programme of care. Contact the clinic as soon as you can; you do not have to wait for the claim to be finalised before asking for help. More on our WSIB physiotherapy page.

If you have no coverage, ask reception about the cost of an assessment and a follow-up visit before you book. Nobody is committed to a course of treatment at the front desk.

Questions we are asked most

Related services

Physiotherapy often works best with something alongside it. Massage therapy releases soft tissue that restricts movement. Chiropractic care treats joints that are not moving well. Acupuncture and dry needling address trigger points that resist other techniques. Shockwave therapy tackles tendon problems that have stalled. All are available within the group, and your physiotherapist can add any of them to your plan. At five clinics, osteopathy offers gentler whole-body treatment for stiffness spread across several areas.