The short answer.
Medstar Sport Physio & Health, at 1325 Marine Drive in North Vancouver, is one of the few clinics in the Metro Vancouver area offering TECAR therapy, with no referral needed to book.
- Medstar Sport Physio & Health is one of the few clinics in the Metro Vancouver area that offers TECAR therapy.
- We are located at 1325 Marine Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3E5.
- You can book online or call (604) 988-5411. No doctor's referral is needed to start physiotherapy in British Columbia.
What TECAR is, in one paragraph.
TECAR stands for capacitive and resistive energy transfer. It is a hands-on treatment that sends a gentle radiofrequency current, at around 500 kHz, through the tissue using a moving electrode. That current creates warmth deep inside muscle, tendon, and joint tissue rather than only at the skin. The warmth and the increased blood flow it brings are used to ease pain, relax tight tissue, and support recovery. You can read a fuller explanation on our what is TECAR page.
One of the few TECAR providers in the area.
If you search for TECAR therapy near Vancouver, you will find very few options. Medstar Sport Physio & Health is one of the few clinics in the Metro Vancouver area, which includes the North Shore communities of North Vancouver and West Vancouver as well as the wider region, that offers TECAR therapy. We say this plainly because patients deserve a clear answer, based on what we have been able to confirm.
For people on the North Shore, this means a treatment that used to require a long trip, or no trip at all because it simply was not available, is now a short drive from home. For people in Vancouver proper, it means you no longer have to leave the region to find it. You can reach us from downtown by taking the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay and continuing a short way along Marine Drive, or by driving over the Lions Gate Bridge or the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. Many of our TECAR patients travel from outside the North Shore for exactly this reason.
Why we brought TECAR to North Vancouver.
TECAR has a long track record in European sport, where it is a familiar tool inside professional football, rugby, and athletics teams. Our team kept meeting patients who had heard about it through sport or while travelling and wanted to know where to find it at home. At the time, we were not aware of anyone else in the Metro Vancouver area offering it. We decided to change that.
Bringing in the equipment and the training was a deliberate investment, not a passing trend. We wanted active people on the North Shore, weekend athletes, and anyone working through a stubborn injury to have access to the same kind of treatment used at a high level overseas, delivered close to home by people who treat these injuries every day.
How TECAR fits our physiotherapy-led approach.
TECAR is a tool, not a cure on its own. At Medstar it sits inside a full physiotherapy plan. A physiotherapist assesses you first, works out what is actually driving your pain, and then decides whether TECAR is a sensible part of your treatment. When it is, we pair it with hands-on therapy and a clear exercise plan so the gains hold once the session ends. If TECAR is not the right tool for your injury, we will tell you that too. You can see how it folds into a course of care on our physiotherapy page, and learn which problems it tends to suit on our pages about who should try TECAR and TECAR for sports injuries.
How to book.
Getting started is straightforward. You can book online through our scheduling page or call the front desk at (604) 988-5411 and we will find a time that works. In British Columbia you do not need a doctor's referral to see a physiotherapist, so there is no extra step before your first visit. If you are not sure whether TECAR suits your situation, call and ask. We would rather have an honest conversation up front than book you in for something that will not help.
We are at 1325 Marine Drive in North Vancouver, one of the few clinics in the Metro Vancouver area offering TECAR therapy, and we are glad to see patients from across the North Shore and from Vancouver alike.
Common questions.
Where can I get TECAR therapy in Vancouver?
Medstar Sport Physio & Health at 1325 Marine Drive in North Vancouver is one of the few clinics in the Metro Vancouver area that offers TECAR therapy. It is reached easily from across the North Shore and from downtown Vancouver by the SeaBus or by the Lions Gate and Ironworkers Memorial bridges.
Is there any other TECAR clinic on the North Shore or in West Vancouver?+
As far as we have been able to confirm, no other clinic in North Vancouver or West Vancouver currently offers TECAR therapy. If you find TECAR closer to home in future, that is a good thing for patients, but right now Medstar is among the first places to offer it in this area.
Do I need a doctor's referral to book TECAR at Medstar?+
No. In British Columbia you can see a physiotherapist directly without a referral. TECAR is delivered as part of a physiotherapy session, so you can book online or call us and start without first visiting your family doctor. A physiotherapist assesses you at your first visit and decides then whether TECAR is a sensible part of your plan, or whether another approach suits your injury better.
How do I get to the clinic if I live in Vancouver?+
We are a short trip from downtown. You can take the SeaBus across to Lonsdale Quay and reach us along Marine Drive, or drive over the Lions Gate or Ironworkers Memorial bridge. Many of our patients come from outside the North Shore for exactly this reason.
Why did Medstar decide to offer TECAR therapy in the first place?+
TECAR has a long track record in European sport, where it is a familiar tool inside professional football, rugby, and athletics teams. Medstar's team kept meeting patients who had heard about TECAR through sport or while travelling and wanted to know where to find it at home, so the clinic invested in the equipment and training to bring it to North Vancouver.
Will I get TECAR at every visit just because Medstar offers it?+
No. TECAR is a tool, not a cure on its own, and it is not used automatically. A physiotherapist assesses you first, works out what is actually driving your pain, and then decides whether TECAR is a sensible part of your treatment. If it is not the right tool for your injury, Medstar will tell you that too.
What is Medstar's exact address for TECAR therapy?+
Medstar Sport Physio & Health is located at 1325 Marine Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3E5, one of the few clinics in the Metro Vancouver area offering TECAR therapy. You can book online or call (604) 988-5411, and the clinic is reachable from downtown Vancouver by SeaBus or by the Lions Gate and Ironworkers Memorial bridges.
Do I need to be an athlete to book a TECAR session at Medstar?+
No. While TECAR has a track record in professional sport, Medstar built the service for active people on the North Shore, weekend athletes, and anyone working through a stubborn injury. A physiotherapist decides whether TECAR fits your specific injury during your assessment, regardless of your sport background.
Related reading
One of the few places to find TECAR on the North Shore
Ask whether TECAR is the right tool for your injury. We'll tell you straight.
Reviewed by Amir Ahmadi, PhD, MSc PT, Registered Physiotherapist, Certified IMS Therapist, College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC). Lead clinician for TECAR therapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. TECAR therapy is one tool within a broader physiotherapy plan; suitability is determined case-by-case during assessment. If you have a pacemaker, active infection, or are pregnant, disclose this before treatment. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).