Frequently asked questions

Physiotherapy

Do I need a referral?

You do not need a referral to see a Physiotherapist. We are first-contact healthcare practitioners trained in the assessment and diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders. We will always advise if it is necessary to see your family doctor at any stage. ​If you are using extended health benefits, then sometimes your insurance company will need a referral for Physiotherapy before you submit for reimbursement. Check this with them in advance to avoid any delays.



I have had a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA), can you help?

Yes we can. We accept MVA clients and are happy to help you with your recovery. When booking an appointment please let us know you are a MVA client and we will speak to you regarding any forms that need to be completed before starting your physiotherapy treatment.



Is parking available?

There is limited parking available for our unit, please see PDF attached at the bottom of the webpage for detailed instructions. You are welcome to try and park in our space, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee availability everytime. If you are concerned with your mobility, or would like to request parking for a specific reason, please make this known to your therapist and we will do our best to accomodate. We are easy to access of Hurontario St, where there is plenty of street parking.



What do I need to bring with me?

It is important to wear something that you are comfortable moving in and that allows us to see the joint or area that we will be working on. If it is a lower body injury then it is best to wear shorts, and if it is an upper body injury it is best to wear a tank top so that we can see your shoulder and back as much as possible. If you have any referrals from your doctor or imaging results, please bring those with you as well. If there is anything else you can think of that would benefit your treatment then please bring it along (ie running shoes).



What are your COVID-19 protocols?

We have protocols that have been recommended by the College of Ontario of Physiotherapists and The Ministry of Health. We appreciate your co-operation with these new procedures at this time. 1. Wearing a mask is mandatory in the building. We also ask that you avoid touching your face as much as possible. 2. You will receive a set of screening questions in advance of your in-person appointment, either by email or phone depending on your selected communication preference. 3. On arrival at the office, please wait until your appointment time before coming in so that there is no overlap with other clients. 4. Please sanitize your hands on entering the building. 5. Extra time has been allocated between appointments to allow for cleaning and disinfecting all equipment that was used. 6. Please note that due to the nature of our appointment, at times your physio will be closer than recommended for “physical distancing”, but they will be wearing a mask at all times and will be performing regular hand hygiene. We also offer virtual sessions for those who are uncomfortable attending the clinic. Virtual sessions are an effective way to manage your care. Please contact us if you have any further questions regarding our COVID-19 protocols.



I have extended health benefits, can I use them?

If they cover Physiotherapy then yes you can! We have access to direct billing for the majority of insurance companies and we are happy to do this for you to speed the process along. If direct billing is not available on your plan, we will provide you with a receipt after each session that will include all of the details needed by your insurance company for reimbursement.



Do you provide online appointments?

Yes we do, and we value them very highly. Online appointments over video are a great way to assess and treat a range of physiotherapy conditions. We are able to educate you on your condition, and help you get relief through different exercises and positions, as well as provide you exercise instruction that will help you to a full recovery. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this option of care further.



Will physiotherapy help me?

The best way to answer this is on a case-by-case basis. If you are unsure about whether physiotherapy is right for you, please contact us and we will organise a time for the therapist that is most suited to your needs to speak with you, either on the phone or in clinic. It is important to understand that Physiotherapy is a profession, not a type of treatment. With this in mind, there is a huge variety of treatment options available that may be beneficial to you, so please do speak to us about your options. We encourage everyone not to base your future physiotherapy on your previous experiences.



I have had physiotherapy and other care before without benefit for my condition, why are you any different?

At The Physio Hub, we fully understand how challenging it is to recover from injury, and there are lots of options for treatment. We focus on giving you the time and support that you and your injury needs and being extremely adaptable in the way we provide and give treatment, so that we can suit your needs best. We will spend the time to discuss your case fully, as well as go through a thorough physical assessment. Part of this will be analysing your previous care, and that is a great way to find out what is working and not working for you. We will discuss a plan with you, that makes sense, and set some goals for us to target along the way.



Pelvic Health Physio

What should I expect at my Pelvic Health Physiotherapy assessment?

The first time we meet you can expect to be asked a lot of questions with regards to your overall health, physical activity, the symptoms or signs you are concerned about and any relevant information with regards to your pelvic health (for example, your labour and delivery). You can think of this part of the exam like the detective work to understand not only what is going on physically with your body, but also the impact it has on your life and what your ultimate goals of treatment are. We then look at your overall body stature such as your posture, how you move doing functional things, your spine, your pelvis in standing and your ribs. With your permission, we move to the internal exam. Here we look at the pelvic floor muscles to see what they are doing when at rest. We also test their strength and the time it takes for them to relax completely. Again, we’re looking for clues. We end by explaining our findings and relating them to your symptoms, as well as giving you very tangible homework you can start doing that day whether it’s exercise or changing some routine habits. Often patients report a lot of changes just from the assessment. Before you leave we set out expectations and when we should see you next for optimal treatment and recovery.



Do I have to do an internal exam?

No. Internal exams are a great piece of the puzzle but they are not the entire thing. As pelvic floor physiotherapists, we are trained to be sensitive to our client’s needs and sometimes that means not causing more discomfort by completing an internal exam. This is a discussion you have with your therapist prior to the assessment as well as prior to each treatment session.



Do pelvic health physiotherapists treat ab separation (diastasis recti)?

Yes. We are highly trained in this area!



What does pelvic health physiotherapy treat?

This is a list of common things we treat as pelvic health physiotherapists. It is not exhaustive, and please reach out to us if you are unsure if we are the right people to help you, we are happy to chat! Urinary incontinence (stress, urge, mixed) Fecal incontinence Diastasis recti Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) Pelvic pain Vulvodynia Vaginismus Dyspareunia (painful sex) Pelvic girdle pain Pain associated with endometriosis Chronic low back pain Pelvic pain during pregnancy SI joint dysfunction Chronic prostatitis Interstitial cystitis



Do pelvic floor physiotherapists treat men?

Not all do, but here at The Physio Hub we do.



Can I see a pelvic floor physiotherapist during my pregnancy or should I wait until after?

We highly recommend all pregnant women see a pelvic floor physiotherapist. Not only can we assist with any symptoms you have during pregnancy, we can help you to prepare for labour as well as ensuring you have a better recovery once baby is born. Check in with your health care provider to make sure you are cleared to see a pelvic floor PT. Some conditions limit our ability to complete an internal assessment but the education you gain from one session can greatly help you have a more comfortable pregnancy and help with your postpartum recovery.



Do I have to be pregnant or have had a baby to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist?

No. Many (if not all) conditions we treat are not just associated with pregnancy or birth although media makes it seem that way. For example, people who participate in heavy lifting or a high level of physical activity often report incontinence in their sport which is preventableand treatable.



How is this different than just doing Kegels (I heard that’s all I should do)?

Kegels are very well known these days but much like any exercise, there are no further instructions on how to do them properly, how many to do, how long to hold them etc to get better. Also, many people need to learn how to relax these muscles rather than just Kegel all the time to improve their symptoms. Kegels are just one very small part of the story and often just completing Kegels won’t help you get better.