SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY & REHAB
Sports physiotherapy and rehab in Metro Vancouver.
Assessment-led care for sprains, strains and tendon pain, with a staged plan for getting back to your sport.
OVERVIEW
What sports physiotherapy and rehab involve
Sports physiotherapy treats the injuries that come from training and play: sprains, muscle strains, tendon pain, joint injuries and the overuse pain that builds over weeks. It is delivered by a physiotherapist, a regulated health professional licensed in British Columbia by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC). Sports rehab is the same care seen from your side: the plan that takes you from the injury back to your sport.
The first job is to find what is loading the injured tissue. For a runner that can be training volume or a change of shoes. For a court athlete it can be landing control or hip strength. Your physiotherapist tests the injured area and the joints above and below it, screens for injuries that need a doctor or imaging, and agrees a plan with you. We do not diagnose from a website and we do not promise a return date.
Care at Launch Rehab combines hands-on treatment where it helps with progressive loading, the exercise that rebuilds the strength and control the injury took away. Each of our five studios has a gym floor, so the loading work can happen in the same visit. Registered massage therapists, kinesiologists and chiropractors work from the same studios and can join your plan when it helps.
This page is general information, not personal medical advice or a diagnosis. A regulated practitioner can confirm what applies to your specific situation.
BENEFITS
What this work is for.
- Settle pain and swelling after a sprain, strain or overuse flare
- Find what is loading the injured tissue, such as training volume, technique or strength
- Rebuild strength and control with a progressive loading plan
- Return to sport in stages that are tested on strength, control and how the injury responds to load
- Leave with a written plan for your training between visits
CONDITIONS WE TREAT
What we help with.
- ACL injuries and return to sport
- ACL reconstruction rehab
- Hamstring strains
- Ankle sprains that keep coming back
- Achilles tendon pain
- Shin splints
- Runner's knee
- Hip flexor strains
- Knee ligament and meniscus injuries
- Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
- Concussion in sport
- Muscle strains, tendon pain and overuse pain
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your session, step by step.
Assessment
We take your history, including your sport, your training load and how the injury happened. We test the injured area and the joints above and below it, check strength and movement, and screen for injuries that need a doctor or imaging. You leave with a working picture of the problem and a written plan.
Settle the injury
Early care calms pain and swelling and keeps you moving within a comfortable range. Hands-on treatment and simple load management help the injured area settle so the strengthening work can start.
Progressive loading
Rebuilding strength and control is the part that changes how your body holds up under your sport. We start where the injury is now and build through a graded program, progressed each visit. The gym floor at each studio lets that work happen during the session.
Return to sport
Getting back to running, cutting, jumping or throwing is staged on strength, control and how the injury responds to load, with return-to-sport testing before higher-risk activity. A surgeon makes any surgical decision, and we build the rehab around it.
Assessment
We take your history, including your sport, your training load and how the injury happened. We test the injured area and the joints above and below it, check strength and movement, and screen for injuries that need a doctor or imaging. You leave with a working picture of the problem and a written plan.
Settle the injury
Early care calms pain and swelling and keeps you moving within a comfortable range. Hands-on treatment and simple load management help the injured area settle so the strengthening work can start.
Progressive loading
Rebuilding strength and control is the part that changes how your body holds up under your sport. We start where the injury is now and build through a graded program, progressed each visit. The gym floor at each studio lets that work happen during the session.
Return to sport
Getting back to running, cutting, jumping or throwing is staged on strength, control and how the injury responds to load, with return-to-sport testing before higher-risk activity. A surgeon makes any surgical decision, and we build the rehab around it.
UNDERSTANDING SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY AND REHAB
A plain-language guide to sports rehab.
THE STAGES
How a return to sport is staged
The stages are the same for most injuries, and the time spent in each one depends on the injury, how severe it is and what your sport asks of the body. Your physiotherapist moves you to the next stage when the current one is handled, and tells you what a flare means and what to do about it.
Calm the injury
Settle pain and swelling and restore comfortable movement.
Rebuild strength
Load the injured area and the muscles around it in a graded program until it handles everyday demands.
Add sport movements
Bring in running, cutting, jumping or throwing in small steps, checked against how the injury responds.
Test before clearing
Strength and control testing comes before higher-risk activity, so the decision rests on how the body performs.
Return to practice, then play
Training volume and match demands come back in steps, with a plan for the first weeks.
This guide is general information and not personal medical advice. Your physiotherapist sets the plan for your injury.
WHO DOES WHAT
Physiotherapist, massage therapist, kinesiologist or chiropractor?
A physiotherapist assesses the injury, treats it and leads the plan. Physiotherapists are regulated by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC. Registered massage therapists and chiropractors are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. A registered massage therapist treats the soft tissue around an injury, and a chiropractor treats joints and the muscles around them.
A kinesiologist builds and supervises the exercise program once your physiotherapist has set the diagnosis. Kinesiology in BC is not regulated by a college. All four roles work from our studios and can share one plan, and each is billed as its own visit.
WHY LAUNCH REHAB
What you get with us.
One-on-one, always
The clinician who assesses you is the clinician who treats you and progresses your plan. No assistant hand-off.
Five Metro Vancouver studios
Lougheed, Coquitlam, Richmond, New Westminster and North Burnaby. Book at the studio nearest you.
Evenings and weekends
Appointments outside business hours so treatment fits around work, not the other way around.
Direct billing
ICBC, MSP, WorkSafeBC and most extended health plans billed directly by our client care coordinators.
Convenient parking
Free parking at our Lougheed, North Burnaby and Richmond studios; paid street and transit-station parking at Coquitlam and New Westminster.
Regulated practitioners
Every clinician is licensed by their BC college and held to its scope-of-practice and ethics standards.
CLINICIANS WITH A SPORTS INTEREST
Meet the team behind the care.
Keane Leung
BSCPT, CAFCI, Vestibular and Concussion Therapy (HE/HIM/HIS)
North Burnaby
Katherine Fong
BSCKIN (SHE/HER/HERS)
North Burnaby
Alex Carrod
BSC, MSCPT (HE/HIM/HIS)
New Westminster
George Gao
BKIN, MPT (HE/HIM/HIS)
New Westminster
Gurpreet Panesar
BKIN, MPT (SHE/HER/HERS)
New Westminster
Pat Wu
MKIN, MPT (HE/HIM/HIS)
Richmond
Curran Tse
DPT (HE/HIM/HIS)
Richmond
Ashwin Singh
BSC.KIN (HE/HIM/HIS)
Coquitlam
Kris McCrea
BKIN
Lougheed
Celina Song
BKin, MPT (She/Her)
Lougheed
KIND WORDS
What our clients say.
"After seeing different physiotherapists and chiropractors for over 10 years, I can confidently say Byron is one of the best physiotherapists I’ve worked with. From my very first appointment, he established that the goal wasn’t just to treat my pain temporarily, but to build a strong foundation so my back could heal properly for the long term. He took the time to thoroughly assess my condition and explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. For the first time, I truly understood why I was experiencing my symptoms and what the recovery process would look like. What really sets Byron apart is how thoughtful and patient he is. He always explains the purpose behind every exercise and how each one fits into my recovery plan. If an exercise feels too difficult or aggravates my symptoms, he genuinely listens to my feedback and quickly modifies the exercises so I can continue progressing safely. I never feel like my concerns are dismissed, and I always leave each session feeling informed, heard, and supported. After just one month of following his treatment plan, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my back pain, strength, and confidence with movement. Although recovery will still take time, it’s been incredibly encouraging to regain a sense of control and independence in my daily life. It’s reassuring to see real progress after struggling with recurring back issues for so many years. Another thing I really appreciate is the teamwork at the clinic. If I’m unable to see Byron for one of my appointments, he collaborates closely with the another physiotherapist (Harleen) and thoroughly communicates my condition, treatment progress, and goals. Because of this, I never feel like I’m starting over with someone new. It’s reassuring to know I’ll receive the same high quality of care regardless of who I see. Overall, I’ve had a positive experience at Launch Rehab. If you’re looking for a physiotherapist who takes the time to educate you, creates a personalized recovery plan, and genuinely invests in your recovery, I highly recommend Byron. The quality of care I’ve received has been exceptional, and I’m incredibly grateful for his help."
JOEY CHU · LOUGHEED
FIVE STUDIOS · METRO VANCOUVER
OUR LOCATIONS
EST. 2025
LAUNCH REHAB LOUGHEED
Located next to LifeLabs in the City of Lougheed.
EST. 2024
LAUNCH REHAB COQUITLAM
On the second floor of the Evergreen building at Pinetree Way and Glen Dr.
EST. 2023
LAUNCH REHAB RICHMOND
Northeast corner of Williams Rd and No. 3 Rd in Broadmoor.
EST. 2021
LAUNCH REHAB NEW WESTMINSTER
Second floor of the Shops at New West, inside the Skytrain Station.
EST. 2015
LAUNCH REHAB NORTH BURNABY
Kensington Square Shopping Centre at Kensington Ave and Hastings St.
SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY BY STUDIO
Sports Physiotherapy near you.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Sports physiotherapy is the assessment and treatment of injuries that come from training and play, delivered by a physiotherapist licensed by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC. It covers sprains, strains, tendon pain, joint injuries and overuse pain. The physiotherapist finds what is loading the injured tissue, treats it, and builds a plan to return you to your sport.
FROM THE JOURNAL
Read more about sports physiotherapy and rehab.
- ACL return to sport: what physiotherapy tests tell you before you go back
- ACL reconstruction recovery: what the rehab timeline looks like
- Hamstring strain: returning to sport without re-tearing
- Rolled your ankle? Why it keeps happening and how to rebuild it
- Achilles tendinopathy: why a sore tendon needs load
- Shin splints: why they keep coming back for runners
- Runner's knee: why patellofemoral pain keeps coming back
- Hip flexor strain: how to rehab it without going back too soon
- Concussion recovery timeline: what the first 6 weeks look like
- How to choose a physiotherapy clinic in Metro Vancouver