North Vancouver · since 2017
Physiotherapy in North Vancouver.
Hands-on, one-on-one sports physiotherapy at 1325 Marine Drive. Doctoral-level physiotherapists, advanced modalities (TECAR, Class IV laser, IMS), and direct billing for ICBC, WorkSafeBC, and major extended-health plans.
Why patients choose Medstar
A physiotherapy clinic, not a physio factory.
North Vancouver has plenty of clinics where you share an exercise gym with three other patients and a junior runs you through a sheet. We don't work that way. Every appointment at Medstar is one-on-one in a private treatment room, with the same physiotherapist start to finish. The first visit is 60 minutes, and you leave with a working diagnosis, your first round of hands-on treatment already delivered, and a small set of exercises calibrated to where you actually are.
We treat what every other clinic in town treats — ACL post-ops, frozen shoulders, runner's knees, low back pain, ICBC whiplash, post-concussion. The difference is the hour and the clinician you get for it. The physiotherapists on staff are doctoral or master's-level, every one of them registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia, and several hold post-graduate IMS certifications through UBC.
What we treat
The conditions we see most weeks in North Vancouver.
Each link below is a dedicated page with the assessment, treatment, and recovery timeline for that condition — not a generic overview.
Knee & ACL
Knee injury & ACL recovery
ACL post-op, meniscus tears, ski-season MCL sprains, and the slow-burn anterior knee pain that follows marathon training.
Shoulder
Shoulder & rotator cuff
Rotator cuff tendinopathies, impingement, frozen shoulder, post-op repairs — all behave differently. We sort out which is yours first.
Spine
Low back pain & sciatica
From acute disc flare-ups to the chronic ache nobody can quite explain. Movement-first care that respects how you actually live.
ICBC / whiplash
Whiplash after a crash
Rear-ended on the Upper Levels? The first 12 weeks matter most. ICBC pre-approved, no upfront cost, we handle the paperwork.
Foot & heel
Plantar fasciitis & heel pain
Stabbing first-step pain in the morning. Shockwave therapy, calf loading, and a fix that actually outlasts the cortisone shot.
Running injuries
Runner's knee & IT band
Patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome, the km-5 zing. Gait analysis, hip-driven strength, and a real return-to-run plan.
Concussion
Concussion & post-concussion
Symptom-guided return to school, work, and sport. Vestibular, oculomotor, and cervical rehab for the symptoms that linger past week one.
Sciatica
Sciatica & nerve-driven leg pain
Burning down the back of the leg, pins and needles in the foot. We find what positions calm the nerve and build a plan around them.
Disc involvement
Disc bulge & herniation
Disc-driven back and leg pain. Directional preference work, manual therapy, and an honest take on imaging and surgical referral.
Hip & groin
Hip pain & groin injuries
FAI, labral tears, gluteal tendinopathy, groin strains. We find the actual source — then build a plan around it.
Ankle & Achilles
Ankle pain & Achilles injuries
Ankle sprains that keep coming back, Achilles tendinopathy, chronic instability. Evidence-based rehab from day one.
Services under one roof
Hands-on care plus the advanced modalities most clinics don't have.
Sports physiotherapy is the core. Beyond that, we run a full multidisciplinary clinic out of one Marine Drive address — so we can layer modalities on top of hands-on care when the case needs it.
Hands-on care
Sports Physiotherapy
One-on-one assessment, hands-on treatment, and a load-based recovery plan. The core of everything we do.
IMS / Dry Needling
Fine needles into dysfunctional muscle motor points to release chronic tightness and trigger points.
Registered Massage Therapy
Therapeutic and sport massage from a Registered Massage Therapist. Direct-billed to most plans.
Manual Osteopathy
Whole-body hands-on therapy. ~90% manual work, restores function across joints and fascia.
Acupuncture
Traditional acupuncture with a Registered Acupuncturist — for chronic pain, headaches, stress, hormonal balance.
Kinesiology & Active Rehab
Exercise-based rehab from a Practicing Kinesiologist. ICBC pre-approved active claims.
Advanced modalities
Shockwave Therapy
Acoustic pulses that wake up stubborn tendinopathies — plantar fasciitis, Achilles, calcific shoulder.
High-Power Laser Therapy
Class IV photobiomodulation for fast pain relief and deep tissue regeneration — first on the North Shore.
TECAR Therapy
Targeted radiofrequency that generates deep tissue heat — only TECAR on the North Shore.
Custom Orthotics
3D-scanned, prescription orthotics for biomechanical imbalance, plantar fasciitis, and lower-limb overuse.
Insurance & coverage
Most patients pay nothing at the visit.
We direct-bill ICBC and WorkSafeBC for pre-approved sessions, plus all major extended-health plans. If you're not sure what your plan covers, send a message before booking — we'll check it for you.
- ICBC Enhanced Care — pre-approved for the first 12 weeks after a crash, no upfront cost
- WorkSafeBC — pre-approved for accepted claims, no upfront cost
- RCMP and Veterans Affairs Canada — direct-billed
- Pacific Blue Cross, Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, Green Shield — direct-billed where eligible
- MSP — covers a portion of 10 combined visits/year for premium-assistance recipients
- Self-pay welcome — no referral required to book
The clinicians you'll actually see
Doctoral-level physiotherapists. Same clinician every visit.
You'll be booked with the same physiotherapist for the whole course of care — not rotated between juniors. Every bio includes credentials, registration, and a public academic profile where available.
Registered Physiotherapist
Amir Ahmadi
PhD of Physiotherapy, MSc PT · Certified IMS Therapist · Practicing Kinesiologist · Former Associate Professor of Physiotherapy.
Registered Physiotherapist
Sanaz Davarian
PhD of Physiotherapy, MSc PT · Certified IMS Therapist · Former Assistant Professor of Physiotherapy.
Osteopathic Manual Practitioner (DOMP)
Amin Norouzi
Hands-on osteopathic care focused on restoring function and removing the root cause of pain.
Registered Massage Therapist
Kevin Herter
Therapeutic and sports-focused massage to relieve pain, restore mobility and accelerate recovery.
Registered Physiotherapist
Ali Shafiei
Sport and orthopaedic physiotherapy with a focus on manual therapy and exercise-based rehabilitation.
Registered Counsellor
Marziyeh Abbasi
Mental health support for clients navigating injury, recovery and life transitions.
Practicing Kinesiologist
Kiana Javanmard
Active rehab and exercise prescription for ICBC, post-surgical and sports recovery clients.
Neighbourhoods we serve
One clinic, the whole North Shore.
Each link is a neighbourhood page covering the access notes — drive times, parking, transit — and the referral patterns we see most from that area.
Common questions
What North Vancouver patients ask before booking.
Do I need a doctor's referral to see a physiotherapist in North Vancouver?+
No. Physiotherapists in British Columbia are primary-care practitioners — you can book directly without a referral. Your extended-health plan may still require one for reimbursement, so check your policy wording. ICBC and WorkSafeBC do not require a physician referral for physiotherapy.
Does MSP cover physiotherapy in BC?+
MSP covers a portion of 10 combined visits per calendar year for premium-assistance recipients (low-income coverage) across physiotherapy, RMT, chiro, acupuncture, podiatry, and naturopathy. For everyone else, MSP does not directly fund physiotherapy — most patients use extended-health benefits, ICBC, or WorkSafeBC. We confirm your specific coverage before booking.
Where is the clinic and how do I get there?+
Medstar Sport Physio is at 1325 Marine Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3E5 — the central Marine Drive corridor between Capilano and Lonsdale. Free parking in the rear lot and on Marine Drive. The R2 Marine Drive RapidBus stops nearby; the SeaBus from Waterfront connects via a short bus ride from Lonsdale Quay.
Do you direct-bill ICBC and extended-health plans?+
Yes. We direct-bill ICBC (Enhanced Care, pre-approved for the first 12 weeks after a crash), WorkSafeBC, RCMP, Veterans Affairs Canada, and most extended-health insurers including Pacific Blue Cross, Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life (Great-West Life), Green Shield, Equitable Life, and Desjardins. Most patients pay nothing at the visit.
What is the difference between sports physiotherapy and regular physiotherapy?+
Same regulated scope — both are delivered by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia. The difference is caseload and approach. A sports physio sees more loading-related, return-to-activity, and post-surgical sport cases day to day, so the assessment and rehab planning tend to be more performance-oriented. The treatment toolkit is the same: manual therapy, exercise prescription, IMS, electrotherapeutic modalities.
How long is the first appointment and what does it cost?+
Initial assessment is 60 minutes; subsequent visits are 30 or 45 minutes depending on what the case needs. Current rates and direct-billing details are on the Jane booking page. For ICBC, WorkSafeBC, RCMP and Veterans Affairs patients, the covered visits are direct-billed — you pay $0 at the visit.
Do you treat ICBC motor-vehicle injuries?+
Yes — ICBC physiotherapy is a significant part of our caseload. Under BC's Enhanced Care model you're pre-approved for 25 physiotherapy sessions across the first 12 weeks after a crash, with no GP referral and no upfront cost. Send us your claim number (or book even if you don't have it yet) and we coordinate with ICBC directly.
Do you treat children and adolescents?+
Yes — primarily adolescent sport injuries: growth-plate-related issues like Osgood-Schlatter and Sever's disease, sport concussions, ACL post-op rehab, and overuse injuries from youth sport. A parent or guardian attends the first visit for patients under 16.
Book your appointment
Recover faster, perform better.
Same-week appointments available. Direct billing with most insurance providers.