Service
Physiotherapy
Assessment-led treatment for your muscular and skeletal system — from acute pain and sports injuries to arthritis, stroke recovery and spinal cord injury rehabilitation.
Answer six quick questions and we'll suggest a starting point — about one minute.
What your treatment can include
Every plan starts with a thorough assessment, then draws on the techniques your body responds to:
- Manual therapy & joint manipulation
- Therapeutic exercise programs
- Shockwave therapy
- Electrical stimulation & ultrasound
- Cupping & heat therapy
- Concussion management
- TMJ (jaw) treatment
- Vestibular & dizziness rehab
- Pelvic floor & postpartum physiotherapy
- Preventative care & conditioning
What we see most
Physiotherapy at Matrix Rehab covers a wide span of musculoskeletal problems — from a sudden injury to something that has been nagging for years. These are the reasons people book most often:
- Back and neck — low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, herniated disc, spinal stenosis
- Shoulder and arm — rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulder, shoulder impingement, tennis and golfer's elbow, carpal tunnel
- Hip, knee, foot — hip pain, knee pain, IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy
- Accident and workplace injuries — whiplash, sports injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, repetitive strain
- Head, jaw and balance — concussion recovery, TMJ and jaw pain, vertigo and dizziness, headaches
That is not the whole list — see every condition we treat, or call us if yours is not there.
How care works here
Every case starts with an unhurried assessment: what happened, what makes it better or worse, and what the problem is actually stopping you from doing. Your physiotherapist then builds a plan around your specific presentation and your goals, and adjusts it as you respond — the details are decided case by case rather than pulled from a template, because two people with the same diagnosis rarely need the same thing.
We will be straight with you about what we are seeing, including when something falls outside what physiotherapy should handle. If your presentation needs imaging or a physician's opinion, we will say so and help you take that step.
Not sure whether physiotherapy is the right starting point? Call us to book a free 15-minute phone consult and talk it through with a physiotherapist first.
Your first appointment
Bring anything that helps us understand the problem — imaging reports, a specialist letter, your ICBC or WorkSafeBC claim number if you have one — and wear or bring clothing that lets us see and move the area we are assessing. Here is what to expect on your first visit.
Common questions
Do I need a doctor's referral to see a physiotherapist in BC?
No. Physiotherapy is direct-access in British Columbia, so you can book without seeing a doctor first. The exception is paperwork rather than access: a small number of extended health plans still ask for a referral before they will reimburse, so it is worth checking your own plan before your first visit.
Will treatment be painful?
Assessment sometimes means reproducing the movement that bothers you, and some hands-on techniques can feel briefly uncomfortable. None of it should be something you have to endure — you set the limit, and telling your physiotherapist what you are feeling genuinely changes what they do next.
How many visits will I need?
We will not give you a number at the door, because an honest answer depends on what the assessment finds and how your body responds. What we will do is reassess as we go and give you a clear read on progress, rather than booking you into an open-ended block.
Can I claim physiotherapy through ICBC or WorkSafeBC?
Yes. After a crash, ICBC's Enhanced Care coverage pre-approves physiotherapy visits in your first 12 weeks with no referral needed, and we bill ICBC directly. For an accepted WorkSafeBC claim, physiotherapy is the service we direct bill to WSBC. Full details on ICBC and WorkSafeBC claims.
Direct billing: we submit the claim for you, but your insurer decides what it pays. We can bill your plan, though we cannot look up your coverage, limits or deductibles — and anything your insurer does not cover is payable at your visit. How direct billing works →