Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that are frequently asked as well as some brief answers. Should you need more information, please feel free to contact us at Thorncliffe 403 275-7728 or thorncliffe@ncspt.com and Beddington 403 295-8590 or beddington@ncspt.com
Q: Why choose Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy?
A: We have experienced Physical Therapists who have specific skills to help maximize your recovery. By offering a range of diversified treatment options and hands on individual care, we ensure that our clients get moving faster. Our team uses a blend of Manual Therapy in conjunction with strengthening exercise regimen, and balance training that delivers better results than typical conventional physiotherapy programs. Our staff prides themselves in developing validated/proven treatment protocols that will provide the best value for each and every visit. We put the puzzle together for solving your chronic lower back pain. We can manage your lower back pain by addressing all the modifiable risk factors and restoring your function, so you can enjoy your active lifestyle pain-free.
Q: What are your hours of operation?
A: 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday, and Saturday 8am to 2pm.
Q: Where are you located and how do I get there?
A: Link to Mapquest (you will need postal code) or verbal description:
Beddington: Suite 153, 8220 Centre Street NE Calgary, AB. T3K-1J7
a.)Coming from the South: driving north on Deerfoot, take Beddington Trail exit ramp that take you over Deerfoot, then turn left of Beddington Boulevard, then down to Centre street and turn right, then right again into the Beddington Co-op Shopping Centre Mall parking lot. Access the mall through the Calgary First Bank entry. We are straight ahead at suite #153, you will see our logo on the window.
b.)Coming from the North: drive south on Harvest Hills boulevard into the trench by the golf course and under Beddington Trail and then merge onto Beddington Trail South, then turn right at Beddington Boulevard, then right at Centre street, and right again into the Co-op Shopping Centre mall parking lot. Access the mall through the Calgary First Bank entry. We are straight ahead at suite # 153, you will see our logo on the window.
Thorncliffe: Suite 20, 5440 4th Street NW Calgary, AB. T2K-1A8
a.)Exit off Deerfoot on McKnight Boulevard going West. Turn right at 4th Street NW and go 2 blocks north until you see the Thorncliffe Professional Centre (2 storey brick building) on your right. Turn into the parking lot. If the parking lot is full you can park on Simons Road behind the building on the street. The stairs and elevator are located on the north side of the building. We are on the second floor suite 20. First office on the left.
Q: What can I expect upon my initial visit to the clinic?
A: We suggest that new patients (CHR-fractures, post-op, low-income, WCB, Private) arrive 20 minutes prior, MVC patients arrive 30 minutes early to their scheduled assessment time in order to fill out a health questionnaire and to become acquainted with the clinic’s policies. The therapist will perform a detailed initial assessment including a thorough physical examination. This initial assessment can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 60 minutes. At the end of the assessment the Physical Therapist will explain your injury/condition and discuss your treatment options with you, and set up a treatment plan. If time is available Manual Therapy treatment and self management education will begin that day. In most cases you will receive treatment that first day.
Q: What can I expect during my treatment session?
A: What treatment you receive depends a lot on your injury/condition and it’s stage of healing. In general treatment will consist of manual mobilization or manipulation to restore movement and reduce pain, rehabilitation exercises in the clinic and at home to regain movement, strength, and function, modalities for pain. We will provide tips for management of your condition in the short term to help you recover faster and recommendations and exercises in the long term so the condition does not come back. Your physiotherapist may also use other modalities such as traction, acupuncture, intramuscular stimulation (IMS)/dry needling.
Q: Do I need a doctor’s referral?
A: Direct access to physical therapy has been available in Alberta since 1995, which means that a doctor’s referral is not necessary to receive physical therapy treatment. However, the physical therapist may suggest that you consult a doctor for their opinion or to get further tests done. Note that some extended health benefit plan insurance companies still require a doctor’s referral for reimbursement of physiotherapy treatments. It is the responsibility of the patient to check their coverage. WCB claims do require a doctor’s referral. Motor Vehicle Collision patients do not require a referral. Calgary Health Region (CHR) requires a referral for fractures and surgery patients and the rehab has to take place within 3 months of the surgery date.
Q: Is Physical Therapy covered through Alberta Health Care?
A: No. The only public funding that is available is the Calgary Health Region for patients who have had a fracture, surgery, or are low income patients. There is some paperwork involved for the low income patients before you can book your first appointment. We recommend you come down to the clinic to get the paperwork first. Fracture (broken bones) and Surgery patients can start right away.
Q: How much time should I allow for treatment?
A: Physiotherapy treatment can take up from 30 minutes to 60 minutes on average. Massage therapy can either be for 30, 60, or 90 minutes, depending on the condition.
Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: Your therapist will be able to give you an approximate number of treatments needed but this is easier to determine once the patient has been seen a few times. Some long-standing conditions will probably take more time to treat than recent, acute conditions.
Q: Do you direct bill to Extend Health Benefits (EHB) Plans?
A: No, you are given a receipt for each treatment that you must submit to your EHB plan for reimbursement. The amount of reimbursement depends on your company’s plan. The receipt will include the Therapist’s registration # with the College of PT of Alberta.
Q: I have a disc problem that has been diagnosed by MRI. Can I be helped by physiotherapy?
A: When a disc problem is diagnosed through imagery, one of the roles of the initial physiotherapy assessment is to decide if these findings correlate with the clinical picture. In an average pain free population, some people present with disc pathology on MRI. This is why it is so important to treat the clinical signs and symptoms of the patient and not the radiology finding. Disc problems present in many different ways. Some patients will have back pain only, others will have leg pain from nerve irritation and others will have both. No recipe exists for treatment and everyone’s condition must be treated individually. Physiotherapy is often very helpful for patients presenting with disc problems. Only those with severe, unrelenting symptoms and with positive neurological findings that are not responding to conservative treatment, may need to have surgery. There should always be a trial of conservative treatment prior to any surgical decision and physiotherapy is a very good and safe option.
Q: I suffer from headaches. Can professionals at your clinic help me?
A: Cervicogenic or neck headaches can mimic migraines or can trigger migraines in migraine sufferers, this can become a condition called chronic daily headache. Treating the neck, upper back and shoulders can relieve the neck headaches that may be mimicking or triggering the migraines thus reducing their frequency. Many headaches have a mechanical component to them that is often related to the neck. These type of headaches are called cervicogenic headaches. Often Cervicogenic headaches present with a mechanical dysfunction of the top 2 joints in the neck. Manual therapists, have the tools to assess and treat the various factors that can contribute to headaches. These treatments often help decrease the intensity and frequency of headaches.
Q: What is the difference between regular Physiotherapy and Manual Therapy treatments?
A: Manual therapy is a specialization in orthopedic physiotherapy. It is mostly taught at the post-graduate level and consists of various level courses that are taken over a number of years. A Manual Therapist acquires advanced knowledge and skills in clinical biomechanics, pathology, assessment and feel of joint movement, soft tissue flexibility, nerve mobility and muscle recruitment. To become recognized in the field of Manual Therapy, the physiotherapist must successfully go through an examination process set up by the Orthopedic Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. The successful completion of the examination process leads to a residency and then a fellowship diploma in the field.
Q: What is the difference between Manual Physical Therapy treatments and Chiropractic treatments?
A: The philosophy behind the two forms of treatments are quite different. Although some tools, such as spinal manipulation, may be similar, they are not used for the same purposes. Manipulations are only one of many tools that a Manual Therapist can use. Mobilizations and soft tissue techniques may often be more indicated than manipulations, especially with recurring problems. Physiotherapy emphasizes the active component of the treatment. This is achieved by teaching the patient specific exercises and proper movement patterns in order to give the patient tools to self-treat. This will help minimize dependency and recurrence of problems.
Q: What kind of education do Physical Therapists/Physiotherapists receive?
A: Bachelor’s Degree which has now been changed to a Master’s Degree in the last few years. After graduating our Physical Therapists pursue the post-professional Diploma in Advanced Manual Therapy in Orthopaedics, certification in IMS Dry Needling or Acupuncture, and Pelvic Floor.
Q: I have received Physiotherapy in the past and it did not work, is there a chance that rehabilitation at Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy would be successful?
A: Yes, due to our comprehensive assessment and treatment with our experienced Physical Therapists and a combination of advanced manual therapy and pathology specific rehabilitation exercises, and IMS Dry needling or Acupuncture can provide improved results when conventional physiotherapy has failed.
