Beyond the Basics: Solving Vancouver’s Most Stubborn Pains with Specialized Care

In a city as active as Vancouver, a “one-size-fits-all” approach to recovery rarely works. Whether you’re training for the Sun Run, navigating a complex ICBC claim after a collision on Highway 1, or dealing with the repetitive strain of a tech career, standard stretches sometimes aren’t enough.

At Backs in Action, we’ve evolved beyond the traditional clinic model. We’ve assembled a “Specialist Cluster” of practitioners in East Vancouver to tackle the cases that haven’t responded to traditional care elsewhere.

1. The “Invisible” Injury: Vestibular & Dizziness Rehab

If you’ve been in a car accident, “whiplash” isn’t the only concern. Dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues are often the most debilitating symptoms of a concussion or neck trauma.

• The Expertise: Our vestibular team brings over 20 years of collective experience to every assessment.
• The Goal: We don’t just “hope” the dizziness fades. We use targeted habituation and balance retraining to get you back to navigating the Skytrain and grocery aisles without a second thought.
• ICBC Coverage: Vestibular rehab is a critical component of post-MVA recovery and is often fully covered under your claim.

2. Precision Recovery: Hand Therapy with Mahboobeh Khosravi

Your hands are your livelihood. Whether it’s a workplace injury covered by WorkSafeBC or chronic “texting thumb,” hand injuries require a specialized touch.

• The Specialist: Mahboobeh Khosravi focuses on the intricate mechanics of the hand, wrist, and elbow.
• The Treatment: From custom splinting to sensory re-education, our hand therapy program is designed to restore the grip and dexterity you need for both work and play.

3. The Foundation: Custom Orthotics & Gait Analysis

Often, the root cause of chronic back, hip, or knee pain isn’t in the back at all—it’s in the feet. Our feet are the foundation of every step we take, and even a slight imbalance can create a ripple effect of pain throughout the entire body.

• The Tech: Using advanced GaitScan™ technology, our Chiropractors map your foot pressure in real-time to identify biomechanical failures.
• A Novel Solution: Our custom-molded orthotics are engineered specifically to your foot structure. They are a primary intervention for plantar fasciitis, bunions, and chronic lower back fatigue.
• Insurance Ready: As a prescribed medical intervention, custom orthotics are covered by most extended health insurance plans in BC.

4. Internal Strength: Pelvic Health with Denise Wong

Pelvic health is about more than just “kegels.” It’s about core stability, chronic pain management, and functional movement.

• The Specialist: Denise Wong provides a safe, private environment to address pelvic floor dysfunction, whether it’s postpartum recovery or persistent pelvic pain.
• The Impact: A stable pelvic floor is the foundation for almost every other movement in your body, from lifting your kids to heavy gym sessions.

5. Advanced Tools: IMS & Shockwave Therapy

For chronic “knots” and stubborn tendonitis that won’t quit, our team utilizes advanced physiological triggers:

• IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation): All of our physiotherapists are trained in IMS (dry needling) to “reset” deep-seated neural pathways and release chronic muscle shortening.
• Shockwave Therapy: Available through all our Chiropractors and Physiotherapists, this technology uses acoustic waves to “re-start” the healing process in chronic injuries like tennis elbow or Achilles tendonitis.

6. Accelerated Healing: Cold Laser Therapy with Peyman Khademi

For patients seeking a non-invasive, pain-free way to accelerate tissue repair, Cold Laser Therapy (Low-Level Laser Therapy) is an industry-leading solution.

• The Practitioner: Peyman Khademi utilizes Cold Laser to trigger cellular regeneration at a deep level.
• The Benefits: Unlike high-power surgical lasers, Cold Laser is gentle and non-thermal. It is exceptionally effective for reducing acute inflammation, relieving chronic joint pain, and speeding up recovery for ligament sprains and muscle strains.
• Who it’s for: It is an ideal alternative for patients who are needle-phobic (making it a great partner to IMS) or those with highly sensitive acute injuries where manual therapy might be too painful.

7. The Surgical Alternative: Dochim Acupuncture (Acupotomy) with Albert Jeong

For patients who have been told that surgery is their only remaining option for chronic pain, Dochim Acupuncture offers a powerful, minimally invasive alternative.

• The Practitioner: Our designated Dochim specialist, Albert Jeong, is highly trained in this advanced structural technique.
• The Technique: Dochim (or Acupotomy) utilizes a specialized ‘needle-knife’—a tool as thin as a standard acupuncture needle but with a tiny flat blade at the tip. This allows our specialists to perform ‘closed surgery’ by physically releasing internal adhesions, scar tissue, and contractured ligaments that standard needles cannot reach.
• What it Treats: Dochim is uniquely effective for complex conditions where tissue has become ‘stuck’ or hardened, including:
  • Spinal Stenosis & Disc Herniation: Decompressing areas where hardened tissue is pinching nerves.
  • Trigger Finger & Carpal Tunnel: Releasing the tight sheaths and adhesions causing restricted movement.
  • Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): Breaking up deep scar tissue to restore a full range of motion.

8. Medical Facial Acupuncture: Relieving Tension at the Source

While facial acupuncture is famous for rejuvenation, at Backs in Action, we use it as a powerful medical tool for complex head and neck issues.

• The Focus: We target TMJ (Jaw Pain), chronic tension headaches, and facial nerve issues like Bell’s Palsy.
• The Result: By releasing deep facial tension, we address the root cause of headaches that traditional massage sometimes can’t reach.

Q: What makes Backs in Action different from other East Vancouver clinics? A: Unlike single-service clinics, Backs in Action offers a multidisciplinary, integrated approach. We specialize in complex ICBC and WorkSafeBC cases using a combination of Vestibular Rehab (20+ years experience), specialized Hand Therapy, Pelvic Health, IMS, Shockwave therapy, Dochim Acupuncture and custom Orthotics. We offer direct billing and are located steps from the Renfrew Skytrain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do you offer direct billing for ICBC and WorkSafeBC? A: Yes. We handle all direct billing for ICBC and WorkSafeBC claims. For new ICBC claims, most treatments are pre-approved within the first 12 weeks post-accident.

Q: How do I know if I need Vestibular Therapy versus general Physio? A: If you experience dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea with movement, or “brain fog” following a head or neck injury, Vestibular Therapy is usually the recommended intervention. Our specialists provide an objective assessment to determine the root cause of your balance issues.

Q: Is Dochim Acupuncture (Acupotomy) painful? A: While the idea of a ‘needle-knife’ can sound intimidating, the procedure is minimally invasive and performed with precision. Patients typically feel a sensation of pressure or a ‘release’ as the adhesion is addressed. Because it targets the root structural cause of pain, many patients find the results are more immediate and longer-lasting than standard needling.

Q: What is Cold Laser Therapy, and does it hurt? A: Cold Laser Therapy is completely painless. It uses specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissue and is used to help accelerate the healing process. It’s often used by patients with chronic pain, tendonitis, or acute swelling who want a non-invasive treatment option.

Q: Are custom orthotics covered by my insurance? A: Most extended health plans (Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, etc.) cover custom orthotics. Our Chiropractors provide the full biomechanical report and gait analysis required for your reimbursement.

Q: Can I book multiple specialty services on the same day? A: Absolutely. Our multidisciplinary approach is designed for convenience. You can coordinate your Pelvic Health, Hand Therapy, and Chiropractic sessions to minimize travel time.