Physiotherapists treat the whole body. We believe in an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation including physiotherapy, registered massage therapy, and injury or sport specific exercise programs. Our focus is on orthopaedic medicine: the treatment of muscles, joints, and soft tissue problems of the spine and limbs.

When should I consider your Clinic?

If you are a high level athlete or have a specialized need (such as rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction), we have physiotherapists with high levels of expertise in this area.

If you have a complex musculoskeletal problem, perhaps unimproved after previous attempts at treatment, we have physiotherapists who are Fellows of Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy, and are highly skilled practitioners in these fields.

If you are a dancer, and require physiotherapy secondary to any acute or chronic injuries, we can help. Physiotherapy is also an excellent choice for a dancer interested in injury prevention and strength and conditioning with an emphasis on core strength and feet/ankles.

If you require acupuncture or similar physiotherapy treatments, Boyd Glyn-Williams is certified to provide this type of service.

If you complain of a general physical problems including low back pain, shoulder pain or neck pain, the high level of expertise available to you at this Clinic will secure accurate and focused treatment.

Typically we treat problems such as:

Arthritis

Physiotherapy treatment for joint inflammation

Physiotherapy treatment for joint inflammation Ergonomics

Evaluation and resolution of postural problems and work-related injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, low back, and neck pain

Evaluation and resolution of postural problems and work-related injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, low back, and neck pain Orthopedics

Treatment of muscles, joints and soft tissues problems of the spine and limbs including the use of manual therapy and electrotherapy

Treatment of muscles, joints and soft tissues problems of the spine and limbs including the use of manual therapy and electrotherapy Orthotics

Physical therapy gait and postural assessment and prescription or orthotics

Physical therapy gait and postural assessment and prescription or orthotics Osteoporosis

Physiotherapy exercise prescription to strengthen bones and prevent falls and fractures

Physiotherapy exercise prescription to strengthen bones and prevent falls and fractures Overuse syndromes

Physiotherapy treatment for tendonitis

Physiotherapy treatment for tendonitis Pediatrics

Physiotherapy treatment of children under 16 who have orthopedic and neurological conditions

Physiotherapy treatment of children under 16 who have orthopedic and neurological conditions Post-surgical issues

Physiotherapy for spinal discectomy and fusion, hip and knee replacement

Physiotherapy for spinal discectomy and fusion, hip and knee replacement Post Motor-Vehicle Accident

Physiotherapy for conditions related to car accidents

Physiotherapy for conditions related to car accidents Pre and Postnatal care

Physical therapy treatment for pre and post pregnancy conditions

Physical therapy treatment for pre and post pregnancy conditions Rheumatology

Physiotherapy treatment of acute and chronic conditions characterized by inflammation, soreness, and stiffness of muscles, and joint pain due to degenerative joint disease

Physiotherapy treatment of acute and chronic conditions characterized by inflammation, soreness, and stiffness of muscles, and joint pain due to degenerative joint disease Spinal Manipulation

Physiotherapy treatment strictly reserved for physiotherapists who completed advanced physiotherapy training and exams in Spinal Manipulation Therapy and who became Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapists (FCAMT)

Physiotherapy treatment strictly reserved for physiotherapists who completed advanced physiotherapy training and exams in Spinal Manipulation Therapy and who became Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapists (FCAMT) Sports Injury

Physiotherapy treatment of sprains, strains, ligament tears and other athletic injuries using techniques such as sport specific exercises, taping, bracing, laser, ultrasound and electrotherapy

Physiotherapy treatment of sprains, strains, ligament tears and other athletic injuries using techniques such as sport specific exercises, taping, bracing, laser, ultrasound and electrotherapy Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)

Physiotherapy treatment of discomfort, pain or degenerative joint disease in the jaw muscle function and neck and shoulder muscles such as osteoarthritis, as well as rheumatoid arthritis in the jaw joint

Physiotherapy treatment of discomfort, pain or degenerative joint disease in the jaw muscle function and neck and shoulder muscles such as osteoarthritis, as well as rheumatoid arthritis in the jaw joint General Exercise Therapy

Individualized progressive exercise programmes appropriate and specific to the Client’s needs, supervised by a certified exercise therapist

Some of the modalities used by physiotherapists include

Orthopedic Manual Therapy

Soft Tissue Mobilization

Electrotherapy

Lazer

Traction

Shockwave Therapy

Functional Dry Needling

Gunn IMS

IMS AND FUNCTIONAL DRY NEEDLING

Trigger point dry needling, also referred to as intramuscular stimulation (IMS) and/or intramuscular therapy (IMT) is an invasive procedure in which an acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin and muscle.

It’s part of physiotherapy and is not acupuncture.

What is Trigger Point Dry Needling?

Trigger point dry needling is physical intervention that uses dry needles to stimulate trigger points, diagnose and treat neuromuscular pain and functional movement deficits. 1

As the name implies, dry needling is primarily directed at myofascial trigger points.

Physical therapists around the world practice trigger point dry needling as part of their clinical practice and use the technique in combination with other physical therapy interventions. A high degree of kinaesthetic perception allows a physical therapist to use the needle as a palpation tool and appreciate differences in the density of those tissues pierced by the needle.

Although some people refer to trigger point dry needling as a form of acupuncture, it did not originate as part of the practice of traditional Chinese acupuncture. The difference being that there are distinct anatomical locations of myofascial trigger points within muscle tissue, whereas acupuncture points have point specificity on the body.

There is substantial medical literature on IMS and dry needling that has been subjected to peer review.

Many common diagnoses, such as Achilles tendonitis, lateral epicondylitis, frozen shoulder, chondromalacia patellae, headaches, plantar fasciitis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), and others, might, in fact, be the result of neuropathy, and associated myofascial trigger points.

Intramuscular therapy has been very successful for patients with chronic low back pain and sciatica symptoms. Shortening of the paraspinal muscles, particularly the multifidi muscles, can lead to disc compression, narrowing of the intervertebral foramina, and/or cause direct pressure on the nerve root, which subsequently would result in peripheral neuropathy and compression of super sensitive pain receptors, resulting in pain and dysfunction.

In layman’s terms, the treatment uses acupuncture needles, to target specific muscles that have contracted and become shortened. These shortened muscles compress and irritate the nerves. This treatment can greatly reduce tightness and pain while increasing flexibility and range of motion.

The treatment involves dry needling of affected areas of the body without injecting any substance. The needle sites can be targeted at the site of taut, painful muscle bands, and/or can be near the spine where the nerve root may have become irritated and super-sensitive.

An important note is needling of a normal muscle is painless. In contrast, a shortened muscle will ‘grasp’ the needle and produces a cramping sensation. Intramuscular dry needling can reduce pain and soften these trigger points while increasing flexibility and range of motion.

IMS AND FUNCTIONAL DRY NEEDLING VISIT FEES

Initial visit is $95. Consecutive visits are $90. Premium assistance user fee is $35, and ICBC user fee is $45.

Who has access?

Everyone in BC has direct access to physiotherapy services. As a result, a doctor’s referral is not necessary. However, we recommend you consult your physician. In most cases, this will promote a team approach to your rehabilitation. When a private insurance group such as ICBC is involved, an initial referral is useful.

Fees

Those on Premium Assistance and with an active Medical Services Plan are entitled to 10 visits per year. A user fee of $30 ($35 with Boyd Glyn-Williams, who combines acupuncture with physiotherapy) per visit is payable at the time of the visit. Patients with active ICBC coverage pay a $10 fee at the time of each visit. Registered First Nations’ members are charged a $30 user fee ($35 with Boyd) each visit. The private fee is $90 for the first session and $85 for each consecutive one. The length of the session varies depending on the complexity of the problem being treated, the number of necessary modalities, and the duration of educational sessions specific to the injury. Please note that in most cases treatments rendered at this Clinic exceed the standard clinical time.

Visits

The initial visit will begin with the subjective examination in the form of questions and answers focusing on your reasons for seeking help from a physiotherapist. This is followed by the objective examination where your therapist will look at the part of your body appropriate to your problem. For most conditions, you will need to remove at least some of your clothes. If you have a neck problem you will need to remove your upper body clothing and for a low back pain problem, you will need to remove lower body clothing also. The Clinic will provide you with shorts or gowns to wear (or you could bring your own). You should feel very comfortable during this process. If you would prefer a female or male therapist, you need to make it clear when you book in. After the examination is completed, your physiotherapist should give you a working diagnosis and the kind of treatment he/she has in mind, with some idea of how long that should go on for. Once you consent, the treatment will commence during your first visit. It is important you clearly understand what is being aimed for and why various techniques are being performed. All previous medical records pertinent to your condition could be faxed or e-mailed to the Clinic prior to the initial session.