1. Why choose the MAA Sports Medicine Clinic?
We have an experienced team of health care professionals consisting of physiotherapists, accupuncturists, osteopaths and athletic therapists, who have specific skills to help get you better FAST. By offering a range of diversified individual care treatment options, we ensure that our clients get to their pre-injury status ASAP. We use our unique approach of treating the cause to relieve your pain and stop it from returning. We accomplish our goals of getting you better with an approach of hands on (manual therapy) treatment, individualized specific exercises of strengthening and stretching used in conjunction with the latest in electro-modalities available. Our staff prides themselves in developing and implementing validated/outcome based treatment protocols that will provide the best value for each and every visit. We work with you to decrease your pain and get you back to your active pain-free lifestyle as quickly as possible.

2. What happens on my first visit?
During your first visit at our clinic, you can expect the following:

• Please arrive at your appointment 10-15 minutes early as you will need to complete an intake form.
• You will provide us with your prescription for physical therapy, if you have one,
• Your therapist will meet with you and go through an initial evaluation, answering any and all questions that you might have.

During your evaluation  session, your therapist will discuss with you the following:

• Your medical history.
• Your current problems or any complaints.
• Pain intensity, what aggravates/eases your problem.
• How this is impacting your daily activities or your functional limitations.
• Your goals with the therapy that you will go through.
• Medications, tests, and procedures related to your health.

The therapist will then make a list of problems you are experiencing, and how to treat those issues. A plan will then be subsequently developed with the patient's input. This  will include how many times you should see the therapist per week, how many weeks you will need therapy, home programs, patient education, short-term/long-term goals, and what is expected after discharge from therapy.

3. What do I need to bring with me?
Make sure you bring your physiotherapy referral (provided to you by your doctor) if you have one. We prefer that you also bring with you a t-shirt and a pair of shorts.

4. Do I need a referral from a doctor?
Physiotherapists do have direct access, which means that a doctor's referral is not necessary to receive physical therapy treatment. However, the physiotherapist 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 ask for a doctor's referral for reimbursement of physiotherapy treatments.

5. How many visits would I need?
This will depend on a case by case situation. You may need one visit or you may need weeks to months of care. It depends on your diagnosis, the severity of your impairments, your past medical history, etc. You will be re-evaluated on a regular basis and when you see your doctor, we will provide you with a progress report with our recommendations.

6. How long will my visit be with my therapist?
Treatment sessions typically last 45 to 60 minutes per visit.

7. Is my therapist certified?
All of our health care professionals are fully licensed and board certified by their respective national and provincial governing bodies complete with  their full accreditation and proper insurance.

8. Is physiotherapy right for you?
Physiotherapy will help any individual with problems affecting the level of functionality of the musculo-skeletal system. This therapy specializes in the fields of sports and physical fitness.
Our physiotherapists apply various techniques to treat you such as manual therapy, sports therapy and progression through exercise, etc.
Our patients can expect to improve their balance, their endurance, their strength and their coordination, which will help them stay active every day. Physiotherapy is offered in all of our clinics.

9. I have a disc problem that was diagnosed by an MRI. Can my condition be helped by physiotherapy?
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.

10. What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a system of therapy based on the concept that the body can formulate its own remedies against diseases when it is in a normal structural relationship, has a normal environment and enjoys good nutrition.
Osteopathic medicine bases its treatment techniques on the principle that the body acts as a whole. Osteopathy is particularly concerned with maintaining correct relationships between bones, muscles, and connective tissues. The practice of osteopathy often includes chiropractic-like adjustments of skeletal structures. Based on straightforward, humane principles, Osteopathy allows both practitioner and patient to restore natural function and balance through work on the body and its tensions.

11. What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine involving the insertion of hair-thin acupuncture needles into the skin at specific points on the body to achieve a therapeutic effect. No drug is injected. No side-effects. Acupuncture is a safe and effective method to encourage natural healing, enhance mood and energy, reduce or relieve pain and suffering, improve function of affected areas of the body, restore balance of the body's vital energy which promotes health.

12. What is Athletic Therapy?
The Scope of Practice of a Certfied Athletic Therapist includes the prevention, care, and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries. Prevention includes musculoskeletal and postural evaluation, hands-on musculoskeletal treatment, equipment selection, fitting and repair, warm-up, conditioning programs, prophylactic or supportive taping, and adapting to the activity environment and facilities. A Certified Athletic Therapist assesses injuries and conditions, uses contemporary rehabilitative techniques, therapeutic modalities, soft tissue mobilization, physical reconditioning, and supportive strapping procedures to promote an environment conducive to optimal healing in preparing the individual for safe reintegration into an active lifestyle.

13. If I just have a question to ask, will there be someone at your clinic that could help me?
At the MAA Sports Medicine Clinic, our ultimate goal is getting you better as quickly and painlessly as possible. Our friendly and knowledgeable clinic administrators will assist you in choosing the correct professional to consult, in the case that you are unsure. Once assessed, a treatment plan and timeline will be established. Should additional services be necessary to facilitate healing or to maintain a pain-free transition, they will be recommended to you. Our clinics have extensive networking in the communities we serve and will guide you to the appropriate professional, if not available in our clinics. Working together with our helpful team, you will achieve the goals set in a safe and efficient manner.

We look forward to assisting you to reach your rehabilitation and prevention objectives in the near future.