5 Answers to Your Active Rehab Questions
After your accident, active rehab is the “final lap” of your recovery. If you’re suffering from injury or pain after a car crash, perhaps you’re already seeking physiotherapy and massage treatment. Here’s 5 answers to questions you might be wondering about active rehab!
1. What's the difference between physiotherapy & active rehab?
Physiotherapy is hands-on treatment for injuries and pain relief. During a session with a physiotherapist, you are typically a passive recipient of treatment. For more info, visit our Physiotherapy page.
Active rehab is exercise-based treatment for restoring mobility and improving strength, after injury recovery. During an active rehab session with a kinesiologist, you are an active participant.
2. Can I do physiotherapy & active rehab at the same time?
Absolutely. Oftentimes your physiotherapist will recommend beginning an active rehab program after several physiotherapy sessions have assisted your injury recovery, and when you are ready for strengthening.
If you are seeing us 1-2x a week for physiotherapy, you may continue physiotherapy once a week while also incorporating active rehab sessions 1-2x a week as part of your recovery to full healing.
3. How long is an active rehab program?
Your kinesiologist will work 1-on-1 with you for 45 minutes, 1-2x per week. ICBC pre-approves 12 active rehab sessions, though some patients may benefit from up to 24 sessions. After your initial visit, your kinesiologist will work with you to build a treatment plan around your capacity and needs.
4. Are ALL my expenses covered for active rehab?
ICBC patients are pre-approved for 12 active rehab sessions if their accident has occurred within the last 3 months. If your accident was more than 12 weeks ago, we can request a treatment extension from your claim adjuster. In some cases, ICBC covers a monthly gym/community centre pass.
And yes—while you complete your active rehab program, you will still have full access to other health services like physiotherapy and massage therapy. For more information on ICBC claims and how we can help, visit our ICBC page.
5. When/How should I start active rehab?
Start a conversation with your physiotherapist, as they can best recommend how to transition you between physiotherapy and active rehab sessions, and make sure your recovery journey is manageable and effective.
Vector credit: @juicy_fish, storyset
