Physiotherapy in Nanaimo: your questions, answered

No. In British Columbia, you can book a physiotherapist like Kayla Larsen without a doctor's referral. Some insurance plans want a referral before they pay you back, so check your plan first. BC physiotherapists are regulated by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).

No. Many people come in for ongoing tension, stiffness, or stress-related aches, or just to keep moving well. At Kayla Larsen's Nanaimo clinic, a visit can focus on everyday aches as well as pain you already have.

Use the booking link at the top of any page. It opens the online schedule for Multidimensional Health, where you pick a time that works for you. Kayla is currently accepting new clients. A first visit is a 50-minute session.

Kayla starts by talking with you about your history and goals, then checks how you move. If it makes sense, she starts treatment in the same visit. You leave with a few clear steps to try at home. Wear comfortable clothes you can move in.

A session with Kayla Larsen costs $185 for 50 minutes. The fee covers the methods that suit you that day, such as manual therapy, myofascial release, acupuncture, IMS, movement coaching and breathing techniques. There is no extra charge for any of them.

Many extended health plans in BC cover physiotherapy, but it depends on your plan. Kayla does not bill insurers directly. You pay at your visit and get a receipt to send to your insurer. Check your yearly limit and whether your plan asks for a referral.

Visits that include acupuncture or IMS are billed as physiotherapy, not as a separate acupuncture service. If your plan has an acupuncture benefit, these visits use your physiotherapy benefit instead. Ask your insurer to confirm. Kayla does not bill them directly.

When you book an appointment with us, that time is reserved exclusively for you. While we understand that unexpected events can happen, we kindly ask for adequate notice if you need to reschedule or cancel.

• With 48 hours or more notice: There is no charge for cancellations.
• Between 24 and 48 hours notice: Appointments cancelled in this window will be charged 50% of the session price.
• Inside 24 hours notice: Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged the full session price.

Emergencies and sudden illness are always considered on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to us as soon as possible if an unexpected situation arises. You can contact Kayla here.

Sessions at Kayla Larsen's Nanaimo clinic are 50 minutes, and the fee is the same whichever methods you get. That gives her time to listen to your story, check how you move, treat, and explain what she finds in plain words. You also leave with a short plan for home.

Kayla picks from several methods based on what she finds. They include manual therapy (hands-on treatment), myofascial release, Medical Acupuncture and IMS, movement and strength coaching, breathing and calming techniques, and a short plan for home. You won't get the same routine every visit.

Manual therapy means skilled, hands-on treatment for tight, sore, or stiff areas. Kayla Larsen works into tight muscle and soft tissue and helps stiff joints move more freely, then pairs it with movement so the change has something to build on. It is part of a regular physiotherapy session in Nanaimo, with no extra charge. Read more about manual therapy.

Yes. When they suit your needs, Kayla can mix manual therapy, myofascial release, IMS, and acupuncture in one 50-minute visit. All of them are included in the session fee.

Medical Acupuncture means placing very thin, solid needles at certain points on the body to help ease pain and calm the nervous system. It is based on anatomy and how nerves work, not on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Kayla Larsen adds it to a regular physiotherapy visit in Nanaimo when it may help. She does not offer it as a stand-alone treatment.

IMS, short for intramuscular stimulation, is a kind of dry needling. A thin, solid needle goes into a tight muscle or a sore knot in the muscle, called a trigger point, to help the muscle let go. Dr. Chan Gunn, a doctor in Vancouver, developed it in the 1970s. Kayla Larsen uses it in a regular physiotherapy visit when it fits what she finds.

IMS is one type of dry needling. Dry needling just means using a solid needle with no medicine in it. Medical Acupuncture is another type, and Kayla Larsen offers both. IMS aims at a tight muscle or sore knot. Medical Acupuncture uses points across the body.

Yes. In BC, only certain health professionals may put a needle below the skin. A physiotherapist must hold the right certification to do dry needling. You can look up any BC physiotherapist, including Kayla Larsen, on the CHCPBC public register.

Usually not much. The needles are as thin as a hair, so most people feel very little when one goes in. Some feel a dull ache, warmth, or heaviness at the spot, and many find it relaxing. Tell Kayla Larsen if anything feels uncomfortable and she will adjust or stop.

IMS can feel stronger than acupuncture. The needle going in is usually mild. When it reaches a tight spot, the muscle may twitch or cramp for a second. Soreness afterward is common, like after a hard workout. Kayla Larsen explains what to expect first, and you can stop at any time.

Yes, for many people. Acupuncture can lower pain and help you move more easily, including for long-lasting low back pain. Dry needling can ease muscle pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, at least for a while. Results vary from person to person, so Kayla Larsen will talk with you about whether needling is a good fit.

Needling is generally safe when a trained, certified physiotherapist does it. Serious problems are rare. The most common effects are mild, like a little bleeding, bruising, or soreness where the needle went in. Rare risks include fainting, infection, and a punctured lung. Kayla Larsen uses new sterile needles for each person. She also asks about your health first.

Needling is not right for everyone, so Kayla Larsen asks about your health first. She may skip it or change her plan if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding problem, are pregnant, have a pacemaker or other implanted device, have an infection or skin problem in the area, have less feeling there, or are very afraid of needles. You can say no at any time, and there are other ways to treat.

It depends. IMS is often used as a short series, such as weekly for a few visits, but the number varies with how long you have had the tension and how you respond. Kayla Larsen adjusts the plan as you go instead of asking you to commit to a set number of visits up front.

Myofascial release is a gentle, hands-on technique. Kayla Larsen uses slow, steady pressure to ease tension in the fascia, the thin layer of tissue that wraps around your muscles. It is used to help tight areas feel looser and movement feel more comfortable. She uses it alongside other treatments, such as movement and strength work.

It should not be. Myofascial release uses slow, steady, gentle pressure, so it is usually one of the softer techniques Kayla Larsen uses. Many people feel a slow stretch, and some feel relaxed or sleepy afterward. It should not feel sharp, so tell her if it does.

Massage mostly works on the muscle itself, using strokes or kneading. Myofascial release works on the fascia, the thin tissue that wraps around muscles, using slow, steady holds. It is a different tissue and a different pace.

Yes, it can be a helpful part of managing chronic pain. Long-lasting pain often involves tight muscles, careful movement, and a nervous system that is on high alert, not just one sore spot. Kayla Larsen looks at the whole picture at her Nanaimo practice. She combines hands-on care, movement, and plain-language education about how pain works. Results vary, and Kayla will be honest about what is realistic.

Yes. Stress and pain are closely linked. When your body stays stressed, muscles can hold more tension, and pain may feel stronger or last longer. Kayla Larsen's sessions work with your nervous system as well as your body, using calming and breathing techniques alongside hands-on care.

Physiotherapy helps many people feel better and move more easily, but no one can promise a result or a timeline, because every person's pain has its own mix of causes. Kayla Larsen offers a thorough assessment, hands-on care, and a plan that changes as you improve, with honest advice about what is realistic.

For most muscle and back aches, staying gently active is better than staying in bed. The right amount depends on the cause. Complete rest and pushing through pain are both usually unhelpful. Kayla Larsen helps you find the right amount and type of movement for your situation. This is general information, not personal medical advice.

They can add to some headaches, such as tension headaches and headaches that start in the neck. A physiotherapist can check whether yours may be linked to your neck and shoulders. No treatment can promise to change your headaches. If headaches are your main concern, tell Kayla Larsen at your first visit so she can include them in the plan.

A physiotherapist can assess this, so mention leg pain at your visit. Pain that travels down the leg can involve a nerve. It is treated differently from pain that stays in the back. Kayla Larsen can tell you more after she checks you in person. She will refer you on if you need other care. Get urgent medical help for new leg weakness, numbness around the groin, or loss of bladder or bowel control.

Yes. Kayla sees runners, cyclists, triathletes, team-sport players, lifters, and weekend athletes in Nanaimo. Your assessment is built around your sport and what it asks of your body, not a one-size-fits-all plan. Treatment can include manual therapy, myofascial release, IMS, and movement coaching, depending on what she finds.

Kayla Larsen practises at Multidimensional Health, 755 Franklyn St in Nanaimo's Old City (V9R 2Y2). The clinic has private treatment rooms and free parking off the alley. You can call (236) 544-2226.

Yes. Kayla's clinic sees people from across Vancouver Island, mainly from Parksville, Nanoose Bay, and Lantzville through Nanaimo to Cedar and Ladysmith. It is in Nanaimo's Old City, just off the highway.

Kayla Larsen runs her own independent physiotherapy practice at Multidimensional Health in Nanaimo. Multidimensional Health is a clinic for osteopathy and registered massage therapy, run by Erin Chaba and James Boyce. You book Kayla's sessions through the clinic's online schedule, and she works alongside their team through referrals.