Rehabilitation Services
We provide rehabilitation for a variety of soft-tissue injuries and health-related conditions including: Motor Vehicle Accidents, over-use injuries, lumbar disc herniation, Osteoporosis, Diabetes, aquatic therapy for arthritis, and re-activation programs relating to chronic pain or fatigue. Each condition has special considerations that Personal Trainers and Weight Room Instructors do not have the knowledge to assist you with and are outside of their scope of practice and insurance. Also, many people get into cycles of either doing too little physical activity or too much, which often makes their condition worse.
How Can You Benefit From Kinesiology?
- Healthier daily living
- Reduced incidence of disease and injury
- Reduced incidence of pain and discomfort
- A better understanding of how your body works
- Faster recovery from injury
- Better work, exercise, and sport performance
BCAK Practicing Kinesiologists Are:
- Professionals who have obtained a 4 year university degree in Human Kinetics or Kinesiology from accredited, recognized universities such as SFU, UBC and University of Alberta and Windsor. They can be either a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree. Course content can include: functional anatomy, muscle biomenchanics of movement, cellular biology, cardiac pathophysiology, human growth and development, neural control of movement, nutrition and obesity.
- Able to assess human movement, performance, and function by applying the science of biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, and psychomotor behaviour.
- Involved in the rehabilitation, prevention, and management of disorders to maintain, rehabilitate, or enhance movement, function or performance in the areas of sport, recreation, work, and exercise.
- Professionals who provide consulting services and develop policies related to rehabilitation, ergonomics, and occupational health and safety. They belong to the British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists (BCAK) and abide by the rules and regulations of that association.
Exercise Physiology
One of our kinesiologists is also a Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP) and High Performance Specialist™ (HPS), qualified to administer appropriate submaximal and maximal assessment protocols for the evaluation of physical fitness to athletes and non-athletic individuals. This certification is through CSEP, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.
Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST)
Kerry is also a certified fascial stretch therapist (FST1) and provides table-based stretch protocols to improve joint health, stretch muscles and fascia lines and promote relaxation and healing. This type of treatment is perfect for athletes who want to improve their flexibility and performance but also for those with sedentary lifestyles and with stiff joints, tight muscles, limited mobility, stress tension headaches, and a wide variety of other ailments and maladies.
The body’s fascia is also known as the connective tissue system. It is the most ubiquitous tissue in the body, connecting to all other systems. Structurally, the fascia system suspends, supports and enables all anatomical movement from skin to cells and everything in between. Functionally it is the master communicator of information apart from as well as integrated with the brain. As such, fascia structurally and functionally supports all physiology of the body.
The fascia model we use takes all of this into consideration when evaluating and treating clients or patients. Consequently, FST is a more holistic and global approach. The advantage of using the fascia model is that now you get to affect the entire person. It’s not just about lengthening muscles, but it’s about balancing out the body so that the areas that need the stretching get it, while other areas that might hurt from too much flexibility improve with increased stability. It’s about finesse not force. It involves evaluation of neuromyofascial tissue mobility of major regions of the entire body through tri-planar, highly specific assessments.
Most of the assisted stretching and mobility work of FST is done on a thickly padded table with the client fully clothed, supported by portable stabilization straps. It’s a unique system that can be done easily and efficiently, in the privacy of an individual therapy room, or in an open, public space like a fitness facility. It involves hands-on approach of the therapist while the client relaxes – traction of the limb creating more flexibility in joint capsules, allowing their joints to move through optimal, pain-free range-of-motion. This can often involve some participation of the client in a technique called PNF that allows for greater stretch than usual stretching methods.
Kinesiologists are trained in large, accredited universities all over the world that employ science and peer-reviewed, evidence-based methods in research and practical application just as other disciplines in the medical field.
Insurance Coverage: Kinesiology is usually covered by ICBC if you still have a claim open from a motor vehicle accident. There are some situations where ICBC may not fund a treatment program for kinesiology, so it is best for you to contact them to discuss your particular situation before you attend treatment. You will need a doctor’s referral for an active rehabilitation program by a kinesiologist unless your MVA occurred within 12 weeks of your first appointment – then you do not need a doctor’s referral to attend treatment.
Many extended health plans now offer a global health spending accounts fund that makes you eligible for various services including Kinesiology. You are recommended to check with your provider in advance to find out about specific treatments that fall under their guidelines. The Chamber of Commerce Plans across Canada now have a provision for kinesiology sessions in their extended health section. The extended plan must specify “kinesiology” as being covered, otherwise your receipt will be rejected.
CSEP is a Network Member of ACSM’s campaign to prevent metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease and is committed to supporting the guiding principles of Exercise is Medicine™ which promotes exercise prescription by family physicians.
How to get Extended Health coverage for kinesiology services.
The type of coverage depends to a large extent on what services the employees want. If there is a desire from management and the employees for active, exercise-based rehabilitation or prevention of diseases such as diabetes, high-blood pressure and other metabolic conditions, then the employer can negotiate kinesiology or exercise physiology (CSEP) services into their extended health plans.
What you can do.
Contact your employer and ask for kinesiology services to be covered during the next policy review. You can also contact us at (604) 467-4675 for any additional information.
ATHLETIC TAPING
West Coast Kinesiology offers expertise in athletic taping for athletes and/or sports teams. We provide taping to protect injured areas, promote an earlier and safer return to sport, or to prevent the recurrence of an injury. At this time, only our physiotherapists do taping during a standard physio appointment.
Athletic taping is a procedure that involves the application of specialized tape to the skin to help maintain stability of the bones and muscles during activity. Taping is an effective treatment for relieving pain, stabilizing joints, and creating body awareness. Taping can be used for:
- Joint and ligament support
- Pain control and management
- Postural retraining
- Joint position and proprioception
- Positional correction and increased support
- Sports rehabilitation
Time required varies with the joint(s) and the purpose of taping, but is generally 15 to 30 minutes.
Athletic Tape Fees (including the cost of taping supplies), are as follows:
Small joint taping (foot, ankle, hand, wrist, elbow)………..$15
Large joint taping (knee, hip, shoulder)……………………….$20