FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, free parking is located on site, including dedicated accessible parking spaces.
We accept all forms of payment: Cash, Debit and Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex).
Our services are also covered by most extended health benefits. We're glad to direct bill to your insurance company (provided your coverage allows for that). In the event of a co-pay, we kindly ask you to pay after each visit.
If you are being treated through a motor vehicle accident (MVA) or workplace injury (WSIB) claim, your treatment is covered by the insurance company's accident claim.
Yes, we offer direct billing to all major insurance companies.
Bring your insurance card (including secondary information if you're covered through a spouse or significant other), and we'll take care of the rest.
There are some cases when a person's individual coverage doesn't allow us to direct bill, in which case we ask patients to pay up front and submit to their extended health benefits on their own.
*Please note for Osteopathy services we are unable to direct bill to certain insurance companies. You will have to pay and submit to your insurance company on your own.*
This varies between each health care provider, but this is typically what happens.
- Intake forms and Consent - we'll make sure you understand what we're doing, and then you'll sign a few forms
- Arrive on time - help yourself to some complimentary coffee/tea/water. Pet the clinic dog Leroy.
- Your health care provider will guide your through an initial assessment which includes a subjective history and relevant physical exam.
- Treatment will be provided during the first visit, when time permits.
- You will be given some type of homework to start doing/implementing on your own.
Treatment duration varies based on each provider. We will always discuss our treatment plan with you after the initial assessment. Depending on your chief complaints, things can vary drastically. Generally, simple or acute complaints resolve faster than complex or chronic issues.
Regardless of who you see at Absolute Health & Wellness, your health care provider will give you something to do at home. Whether it be exercises or lifestyle changes, the onus is on both of us to improve your health.
We remind our patients: even if you spend an hour a day with us in the clinic, the other 23 hours a day have an equally important impact.
Yes, each practitioner will need to do their own subjective history and physical exam, which means you will be asked to do an initial assessment with each practitioner you see.
This ensures each practitioner gets an in-depth look into your case and nothing is missed. As a result, you will have a better clinical outcome. It's also required by our respective colleges to perform an initial assessment before issuing treatment recommendations.
At Absolute Health & Wellness, we do collaborate between practitioners and your case may be discussed.
In cases where you've been treated in the past, but there's been a large gap since your last visit, you may be asked to do a re-assessment.
The reason is things change over time. Perhaps your complaints are different, in which case we would need to re-assess your new complaint.
If you're coming in with similar complaints after an extended absence, there are cases when the causative factor would be different, in which a re-assessment would be required.
This up to the judgement of your healthcare provider. They'll always discuss with you if a re-assessment is required before the appointment.
We have a great working relationship with The Fit Effect. Our patients may have part of their rehabilitation in the gym setting; we have our own rehab space within the clinic as well. Please note clients of Absolute Health & Wellness must be accompanied by their health care provider while doing rehabilitative exercise at The Fit Effect.
It depends on your coverage.
Typically no, but for Massage Therapy and Physiotherapy SOME insurance policies require a doctor's note. Please check with your insurance company.
Naturopathy and Chiropractic rarely require a note.
Orthotics occasionally need a note.
Yes. All patients are welcome at Absolute Health and Wellness. Our team coordinates care based on the individual case. So you may be seen by the team of physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors and naturopathic doctors.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - PELVIC FLOOR
Your initial assessment will begin by gathering a detailed history of your symptoms as well as other symptoms often associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. These include questions about sexual function, bladder, bowel, low back, hip, and tailbone symptoms. After collecting the subjective history, we move on to a physical exam. The physical exam includes both an external assessment (of areas such as the lower back, hips, SI joints, and pelvic area) and internal assessment to assess the strength and tone of the pelvic floor muscles. An internal exam is done vaginally and rectally, as the pelvic floor runs from front to back.
After the subjective and objective components of the assessment are completed, we will go over the findings together. You will be given exercises or other homework to do and we will discuss how often you need to come for treatment. There is always the opportunity during the sessions to ask questions.
After the assessment, you may be asked to fill out questionnaires that will further explain what is contributing to your symptoms.
Please note that if you ever feel uncomfortable during any point of the exam, it is okay to request that we stop. If you do not want to continue with the exam, we can discuss other options or resume at a later time.
An internal examination is the gold standard for assessment and treatment of conditions related to the pelvic floor. Without feeling the muscles, your pelvic floor physiotherapist will be unable to identify if you have increased muscle tone, or if you can contract your pelvic floor effectively.
However, there are generally many aspects that can be assessed without doing an internal exam. While it is most beneficial if an internal exam can be completed, you will still benefit from coming for an assessment without one.
This will depend on your diagnosis and the complexity of the issue. In general, incontinence or prolapse (without any exacerbating factors) usually require 6-12 treatments. If you have a more complex issue, treatment will likely take longer.
Like any other condition treated by a physiotherapist, there is always some homework to do. Depending on the condition, you may be given exercises to strengthen or lengthen relevant muscles, or asked to complete bladder and bowel diaries or food journals tracking food and fluid intake.
There are a few reasons why doing kegels didn't help. The most common is that the kegels aren't being done properly. People might think they are contracting their pelvic floor muscles when in reality they are contracting more global muscles like glutes or abdominals, or actually pushing down when they should be pulling up. Another issue could be that the pelvic floor muscles are actually too tight and don't know how to relax.
A pelvic floor physiotherapist is trained to check the strength and tone of the pelvic floor muscles via an internal exam. If kegels are required, they will ensure you are able to do them properly. If kegels aren't the answer, they will be able to show you stretches and other techniques to help relax the muscles.