Treatments tailored to you.

Shockwave therapy (ESWT) uses high-energy acoustic pulses to stimulate metabolism and circulation in injured tissue, breaking down calcific deposits and promoting growth-factor release in stubborn chronic injuries. At Medstar, shockwave is used most often for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, calcific shoulder tendinitis, patellar tendinopathy, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, and tennis elbow. Most patients notice measurable improvement within 3 to 6 sessions spaced 5 to 7 days apart. Sessions last 10 to 15 minutes and can cause mild post-treatment soreness, which generally resolves within 24 hours.

High-Power Laser Therapy (HILT) uses a Class IV photobiomodulation device to deliver concentrated light energy into deep tissue, something low-level laser devices cannot achieve. The photons are absorbed by mitochondria, stimulating ATP production and triggering anti-inflammatory cascades that accelerate tissue regeneration. Medstar Sport Physio was the first physiotherapy clinic on the North Shore to offer this technology. It is most effective for acute sports injuries, chronic joint and tendon pain, post-surgical swelling reduction, rotator cuff tears, low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, and Achilles tendinopathy. A typical course is 6 to 10 sessions.

TECAR Therapy uses targeted radiofrequency energy, specifically Capacitive and Resistive Energy Transfer (CRet), to generate deep endogenous heat within muscle and connective tissue without heating the skin surface. This controlled deep warming promotes muscle relaxation, pain relief, improved circulation, and accelerated tissue repair. Medstar Sport Physio is one of the few physiotherapy clinics on the North Shore to offer TECAR Therapy. It is used alongside manual therapy and exercise for muscle strains, chronic tendinopathies, joint stiffness, and post-surgical recovery.

Manual osteopathy takes a whole-body approach, assessing and treating the interconnected musculoskeletal, visceral, and craniosacral systems rather than focusing solely on the site of pain. A session is approximately 90 percent hands-on work: joint articulation, soft tissue manipulation, fascial unwinding, and gentle myofascial techniques applied across the full body. Physiotherapy is more targeted, using evidence-based exercise prescription, manual therapy, and electrotherapy modalities for specific tissue or joint dysfunction. At Medstar, physiotherapy and manual osteopathy are frequently combined within a single treatment plan. Our osteopath holds a Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Practice (DOMP).

Yes. Kinesiology (active rehabilitation) is covered under most active ICBC claims. Sessions build core stability, strength, and endurance through progressive exercise, and are used both as a standalone service and alongside physiotherapy for patients recovering from a motor vehicle accident. Bring your ICBC claim number to your first kinesiology appointment and the front desk will confirm your session allowance before you start.

Medstar makes custom orthotics from both foot scanning and foam casting, depending on what the assessing clinician determines gives the most accurate fit for your foot shape and gait pattern. Custom orthotics are prescribed for foot pain, postural imbalance, and to help prevent structural deformity from progressing, and are fitted after a hands-on assessment rather than sold off a shelf.

Medstar Sport Physio direct bills ICBC, WorkSafeBC, and most major extended health plans for physiotherapy, RMT massage, IMS dry needling, shockwave, laser, TECAR, acupuncture, and custom orthotics. Direct billing means the clinic submits the claim on your behalf and you are not out of pocket while waiting for reimbursement, provided your plan covers the specific service booked.

Book a physiotherapy assessment first. Every treatment plan at Medstar starts with a one-on-one evaluation where a clinician examines your injury, discusses your goals, and recommends which modalities fit: manual therapy alone, or a combination with IMS, laser, TECAR, or shockwave. Most conditions respond to more than one approach, so the assessment is what matches the tool to the tissue rather than guessing from a service list.

Yes. Combining services is common at Medstar, for example physiotherapy paired with RMT massage for muscle tension, or IMS added to a physiotherapy plan for a stubborn trigger point. Your physiotherapist coordinates the combination so each session builds on the last rather than treating each service in isolation. Extended health plans typically cover each service under its own separate benefit category, so combining rarely creates an extra out-of-pocket cost.