The short version.
- Osteoarthritis is gradual, wear-related change in a joint that causes pain and stiffness. The most effective treatment is exercise, strengthening, and staying active, with weight management where it applies.
- TECAR is a supporting tool. Its deep warmth can ease stiffness so you can move and exercise more comfortably during a session.
- TECAR does not reverse arthritis or regrow cartilage. The lasting benefit comes from the rehabilitation work it makes easier.
What osteoarthritis is.
Osteoarthritis is a slow, wear-related change inside a joint. Over many years the smooth cartilage that cushions the bone ends thins and roughens, and the joint can become painful, stiff, and harder to move. In the knee and hip this often shows up as a deep ache, morning stiffness that eases as you get going, and discomfort after a long walk or a flight of stairs.
It is very common, and having it on a scan does not mean your activity has to stop. Many people with arthritic joints stay mobile, comfortable, and active for years with the right plan. The goal of care is not a perfect joint. It is a joint that lets you do what matters to you with less pain.
What actually helps the joint.
The strongest, best-supported treatment for knee and hip osteoarthritis is movement. That means a steady program of exercise, strengthening the muscles around the joint so they share the load, and staying active in daily life. Where extra body weight is adding load to the joint, gradual weight management can reduce pain too. HealthLinkBC has plain-language guidance on managing osteoarthritis at healthlinkbc.ca.
This is the part that genuinely changes how the joint feels and functions over time. Stronger muscles, better movement habits, and regular gentle loading help the joint cope. Everything else, including TECAR, is there to support that work, not to replace it.
Where TECAR fits in.
TECAR therapy uses a high-frequency electrical current, at around 500 kHz (500,000 cycles per second), to create a comfortable deep warmth inside the tissue. For an arthritic joint, that warmth has a simple, practical use. It can take the edge off stiffness at the start of a session and make the joint feel looser and more tolerant of movement.
That matters because a warmer, more comfortable joint is easier to work with. When the knee or hip is less stiff, you can move it through a fuller range and push a little harder on the strengthening exercises that build the muscle support the joint needs. In other words, TECAR is a warm-up and comfort tool that opens the door to the rehabilitation work, which is the part that actually helps.
We pair it with a physiotherapy plan and, where useful, exercise coaching through kinesiology. Medstar Sport Physio and Health is the only clinic in the Metro Vancouver area offering TECAR, so this is a tool you will not find at most North Shore practices.
What TECAR will not do.
We want to be clear and honest about this. TECAR does not reverse osteoarthritis. It does not regrow worn cartilage or undo the changes inside the joint. Any claim that a machine can rebuild an arthritic knee is not something we will make.
What TECAR can offer is short-term comfort and easier movement during your sessions, so the exercise program works better for you. If you are looking for that kind of practical support alongside a proper rehabilitation plan, it can be a genuinely useful part of the picture. If you want to understand who tends to benefit, see our page on who should try TECAR.
When to get it checked first.
- A joint that is hot, red, suddenly very swollen, or comes with a fever can point to an infection or another urgent problem. This needs prompt medical care, not warmth or exercise. Go to your doctor or to Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver.
- A knee that suddenly locks, gives way, or cannot take your weight after an injury should be properly assessed before you start any program. That pattern can mean something other than arthritis.
- New, severe, or rapidly worsening pain that does not settle deserves a check-up. When in doubt, get it looked at first.
Common questions.
Can TECAR cure my knee arthritis?+
No. TECAR does not reverse osteoarthritis or regrow lost cartilage, and no honest clinic should tell you otherwise. Its job is to make the joint feel warmer and more comfortable for a session so you can do the exercise and strengthening work that genuinely helps. The lasting benefit comes from the rehabilitation program, not the warmth itself.
Does TECAR replace exercise for osteoarthritis?+
It does not. Exercise, strengthening the muscles around the joint, and staying active are the most effective and best-supported treatments for knee and hip osteoarthritis. We use TECAR alongside that work, never instead of it.
Will it hurt?+
Most people find TECAR comfortable. It delivers a gentle, controllable deep warmth using a high-frequency current at around 500 kHz (500,000 cycles per second). Your physiotherapist adjusts the intensity to a level that feels pleasant, and you can ask them to lower it at any point.
Is TECAR available anywhere else near me?+
Medstar Sport Physio and Health is the only clinic in the Metro Vancouver area offering TECAR. We are at 1325 Marine Drive in North Vancouver, and you can call (604) 988-5411 or book online.
Related reading
The only TECAR on the North Shore