Frequently Asked Questions
At Apollo, our approach to multi-disciplinary health is different. Many clinics offer the same services we do, at a similar cost, in similar venues. So why choose Apollo?
First and foremost, we cultivate a positive, healthy environment. Our team consists of happy, confident people who love what we do, practice what we preach, and truly want to help others; this gives us a strong foundation for our treatments.
Second, Apollo practices integrity. Our health care practitioners treat each patient objectively. We feel that it is of paramount importance to put your interests first. If one type of treatment doesn’t seem to be the best fit, we refer you to another type within our walls. And if it seems that another type of practitioner would be best suited to help you, we refer to someone outside of the clinic. It’s about you as the patient, not us as the practitioner.
Finally, at Apollo we live by the saying, “two heads are better than one.” Many of our patients see more than one of our practitioners. We make it our mission to have outstanding communication between our practitioners, which means that we discuss mutual patients’ cases (with the permission of the patient, of course!). This means that you get two (or more) qualified people with different health backgrounds working on helping you feel better, faster.
The first time you visit Apollo, you will be asked to come a few minutes early to fill in some forms. This paperwork will consist of a health history form and a clinic policies form. After that, the practitioner will come and get you from the waiting area and you will head to the treatment area, which will be either a room or a cubicle.
Massage: The RMT will go over your health history with you, and then perform a short assessment, typically lasting no more than 15 minutes in most cases. They will go over your expectations for the treatment, explain how to undress, and answer any other questions you may have. First visits for massage are usually 60 minutes, including the intake and assessment.
Physiotherapy: The Physiotherapist will go over your health history with you, and then perform a comprehensive assessment, typically lasting between 45 and 60 minutes. They will look at your posture, range of motion in different joints, and execute other tests specific to your particular issues. After the assessment, the physiotherapist may include some treatment (manual therapy, ultrasound, stretching or otherwise), and will assign you some exercises to perform at home.
Chiropractic: The Chiropractor will go over your health history with you, and then perform a comprehensive assessment, typically lasting between 45 and 60 minutes. They will look at your posture, range of motion in different joints, and execute other tests specific to your particular issues. After the assessment, the Chiropractor may include some treatment (manual therapy, stretching, or an adjustment), and may assign you some exercises to perform at home.
This is a question that can make or break how well you get, and how fast. Unfortunately it’s not always an easy question to answer. Our practitioners will lay out a treatment plan for you after the first visit or assessment that represents the ideal treatment schedule for you. At Apollo, everyone is different – we don’t use cookie-cutter treatment plans that have you scheduled to come in three times a week for life. Our practitioners take into account any conditions or dysfunction you have, and your own personal goals for treatment, as well as your preference, budget, and availability.
This depends on the reason for your visit. A quick call to the office should sort this out – our front desk staff will ask you a couple of simple questions and will then recommend which practitioner to see. If you were referred to a specific type of treatment by your physician or someone else, you can request that treatment type when you book your appointment.
No. Pain in general is not “normal” (but it sure is common!). Pain is a symptom of dysfunction, and often shows up late in the game, after your body has sent you other signals that something is amiss. These signals could include aching, twinges, fatigue, irritability, or the feeling that something is just “off”. Part of what we do at Apollo is help you increase awareness of your body’s signals, so that you may notice them earlier and head off pain.
Sometimes, yes. But pain is your body’s way of telling you to really pay attention. And if you’ve been injured or have dysfunction, your body may adapt after awhile and you will be able to “ignore” the pain. Temporarily. Rest assured, however, that untreated pain will return, and will often be worse than the first time. Best to come see us; a treatment can make the difference between a minor injury and a chronic one.
Massage
Nope! You will be asked to “undress to the level of your comfort” before a massage begins. This means that you can take it all off, leave it all on, or anywhere in between. Keep in mind that during a massage, you are between two sheets at all times. In order to treat you, the RMT will undrape specific areas of your body (like your back), but will never expose any private or sensitive areas. He or she will go over the areas to be treated with you before the massage, and explain how the draping works.
Our entire bodies are covered in muscle. Muscle moves us around all day. If you’re like most people, you work long hours, sit in the car too much, and generally put your body through a lot on a daily basis. If you work out at the gym or play sports, excellent! That also challenges your muscles daily (albeit in a different way). The point is, we can almost always benefit from a therapeutic massage. Massage increases circulation, relaxes muscles, and makes you feel really good. A t the very least, it forces you to take an hour for yourself every once in awhile! J
Yes, massage therapy is appropriate for individuals of all ages, including infants, children, and the elderly; however, there are some conditions for which massage therapy is not appropriate. Apollo’s qualified Massage Therapist are trained to recognize these cases.
The practice of massage therapy is regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and is therefore a Regulated Health Profession. Only individuals who have completed the requisite training and have met the strict competency requirements of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) can call themselves a “Massage Therapist” or a “Registered Massage Therapist”. (www.rmtao.com)
Absolutely! All of our massage therapists are registered, which means they have completed the required certification through an accredited college. Receipts will be provided at the front desk after your treatment.
In Canada, before a health profession can be exempted from charging HST the profession must be regulated in a minimum of five (5) provinces. Registered Massage Therapists are a regulated health profession currently in only three (3) provinces, Ontario, Newfoundland and British Columbia. Until more provinces become regulated, most Massage Therapists are HST-registered under the rules established by the Canadian Government and are required to charge HST. (www.RMTAO.com)
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy services may be delivered or carried out by a variety of clinicians, such as assistants,kinesiologists or Physiotherapists. Only Registered Physiotherapists can assess a patient’s condition and create a treatment plan, however.
Physiotherapists which have completed additional education beyond the entry-to-practice level can perform acupuncture. Because acupuncture is a higher risk activity, these Physiotherapists must have rostered their acupuncture skills on the public registry of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.
You do not need a physician referral to be assessed and treated by a Physiotherapist. Depending on your extended benefits plan, however, you may need a physician referral in order to be covered. Check with your insurance plan if you are unsure.
Chiropractic
An adjustment is a highly skilled and precise movement usually applied by hand to a joint of the body. Adjustment loosens the joint to restore proper movement and optimize function. When a joint is adjusted, a gas bubble escapes causing the popping noise you may have heard about. Chiropractic adjustment techniques have been researched extensively. Complications are rare and side-effects, such as temporary soreness, are usually minor. Your chiropractor is well-trained to determine if your problem will respond to chiropractic care or if you require referral to another health care provider.
Eight out of ten Canadians will experience back pain at some point in their life, and at least one third of people in Ontario will have back pain at any given time. For many people, the pain can keep them away from work, school or even their day-to-day activities. If pain causes interruptions and restrictions in the activities of your daily life then you should consult a health care provider. Chiropractors are regulated primary health care professionals, and they are one of only five classes of health care professionals in Ontario that are able to use the title Doctor, with its accompanying rights and obligations. Chiropractors are highly educated and extensively trained to assess, diagnosis, treat and prevent conditions disorders of the spine, joints, muscle and nervous systems. These disorders may include back pain, neck pain, headaches, referring pain in your arms and legs, etc.
Many patients seek chiropractic treatment for wellness care. Others, like seniors, who find that treatment helps them to maintain mobility and good range of motion. Pain should never become a way of life, especially when there is qualified help available.
There are many reasons to seek chiropractic care: Work, accidents, sports injuries, household chores, even the stress of daily living can cause painful joint and spinal problems. Even if you do not have painful symptoms, chiropractic care can help you maintain healthy spine and joint function.
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of headache, and neck and back pain. It has an excellent safety record. However, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. Even common over-the-counter medicines carry a risk. Most patients experience immediate relief following an adjustment, however, some may experience temporary pain, stiffness or slight swelling. Some patients may also experience temporary dizziness, local numbness, or radiating pain. However, adverse effects associated with spinal adjustment are typically minor and short-lived.
Chiropractors are legislated as primary contact health professionals in every province in Canada. This means that patients can consult them directly. However, chiropractors often work closely with medical doctors, many of whom refer to chiropractors when they believe chiropractic treatment will help alleviate a patient’s condition. Similarly, chiropractors frequently refer to medical doctors when necessary.
Chiropractic care cannot “cure” every ailment, but there is some evidence to indicate that adjustments may have a beneficial effect on a variety of conditions. Adjustment may alleviate some of the secondary or referred pain, arising from the response of the musculoskeletal structures to the primary cause.
Yes. Many amateur and professional athletes use chiropractic treatment as part of their overall health care, fitness and maintenance program. Chiropractic is often used to improve muscle and joint conditioning, which has a direct effect on an athletic performance. Treatment works to improve biomechanical function and enhance overall conditioning, important in situations where there is continuous repetitive movement. Chiropractic care also help athletes fine-tune their muscles and joints for high level performance, and may reduce long term wear and tear. Finally, treatment can be used to prevent, and sometime shorten, the healing time of injuries.
Athletes most often select treatment to improve their performance, whereas the average consumer will select chiropractic care to help manage aches and pains. In some cases treatment will be similar, but in all cases a treatment plan will be developed according to the goals and condition of each patient. In the case of professional and elite athletes, chiropractors often work in conjunction with other health care professionals, including medical doctors and/or sports medicine doctors, massage therapists and physiotherapists.
X-rays can play an important role in diagnosis and are taken when a need has been determined after taking a patient case history and conducting a physical examination. Chiropractors receive 360 hours of education in radiology covering a full range of topics from protection to X-ray interpretation and diagnosis. Governments in every province have recognized the training and competence of chiropractors to take and interpret X-rays and have granted them this right.
Treatment for Burnout
If you are experiencing Burnout, book an appointment with Apollo Physical Therapy. Our team of Ottawa physiotherapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and registered massage therapists can help. We have a convenient central location to serve you with ample parking and wheelchair access.
