The short version.
TECAR for knee osteoarthritis is a supporting tool: its deep warmth eases stiffness so you can exercise more comfortably, and the lasting benefit comes from the rehabilitation work that warmth makes easier.
- 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 one of the few clinics 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. Its role is to make a stiff joint feel warmer and looser before you start moving, so the exercise itself is easier to do and more likely to become a habit you keep up.
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 one of the few clinics 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. As far as we have been able to confirm, no other clinic on the North Shore currently offers this treatment for knee or hip osteoarthritis.
What actually causes knee osteoarthritis?+
Knee osteoarthritis is a slow, wear-related change inside the 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. It 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. Having it on a scan does not mean your activity has to stop.
Does losing weight help knee osteoarthritis?+
Gradual weight management can reduce knee osteoarthritis pain where extra body weight is adding load to the joint. It works alongside the strongest, best-supported treatment for the condition, which is a steady program of exercise and strengthening the muscles around the joint so they share the load. TECAR is not a substitute for either of these, only a comfort tool that can make the exercise work more tolerable.
What knee symptoms mean I should get checked before starting an exercise program?+
A few knee symptoms need medical attention before you start any exercise or TECAR program: a joint that is hot, red, suddenly very swollen, or comes with a fever, which can point to infection; a knee that suddenly locks, gives way, or cannot take your weight after an injury; or new, severe, or rapidly worsening pain that does not settle. Go to your doctor or Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver for these.
Can TECAR be combined with exercise coaching for osteoarthritis?+
Yes. For knee osteoarthritis, TECAR is paired with a physiotherapy plan and, where useful, exercise coaching through kinesiology. The warmth takes the edge off joint stiffness at the start of a session so the strengthening exercises that build muscle support around the knee are easier to do and push a little further.
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).