Massage therapy, Kelowna
Sports massage in Kelowna
Sports massage is defined by timing more than by technique. What your therapist does the week before a race is not what they do the day after one, and both are different again from the middle of a rehab block.
What sports massage actually involves
In a training block the work is maintenance: keeping the tissue that takes the most load moving well, catching the areas that tighten first, and keeping small niggles from becoming time off. Close to an event it gets lighter and shorter, because nobody wants to line up sore. After an event it starts gentle and builds over a few days as the tissue settles.
Coming back from injury, massage is one part of a bigger plan. That is where having kinesiology and physiotherapy in the same clinic matters: soft-tissue work makes a joint feel better, but capacity is what keeps it that way, and your therapist can walk you across the hall rather than sending you elsewhere.
Tell your therapist what you are training for and when. The date changes the treatment more than anything else you could tell them.
Booking this
Sixty minutes for general maintenance, 75 or 90 when several areas need attention. Book further out around race weekends in Kelowna, since those fill early.
Book any massage appointment and tell your therapist you want sports work, or call the front desk and they will match you with someone who does a lot of it.
People book sports work for
- Regular training in running, cycling, hockey, golf, ski season or the gym
- The week before an event, and the days after one
- Recurring tightness in the same area under load
- Returning to sport after an injury or time off
- Weekend athletes whose bodies work desks Monday to Friday
Not sure this is the right fit? Call either clinic and describe what is going on. The front desk will point you at the style, or the discipline, that suits.
Sports massage pricing in Kelowna
Sports work is booked as a registered massage therapy appointment, so the rates are the standard massage rates. They include tax, and the time covers assessment, changing, education and home care.
Massage therapy
$90
30 minutes
Massage therapy
$110
45 minutes
Massage therapy
$135
60 minutes
Best for a first visit
Massage therapy
$155
75 minutes
Massage therapy
$190
90 minutes
Kirschner
#120 - 1815 Kirschner Rd
Mon-Thu 7:30am-7pm, Fri 8:30am-4pm, Sat 8am-3pm
Often booked for
Sciatica & low back pain
Sciatic pain travels. Down the buttock, the back of the thigh, sometimes past the knee. Low back pain that stays local is a different problem. Which one you have changes what treatment should do.
Read moreNeck & shoulder pain
Neck and shoulder pain is the most common thing we treat, and it is usually a load problem before it is a tissue problem. The same position, held too long, too often.
Read more
Who provides it
Every one of our 13 Registered Massage Therapists can take this appointment. Book by name, or ask the front desk who has the most experience with sports work.
Derya Welder
R.M.T., Owner
- Lymphatic drainage
- TMJ and jaw pain
- Hot stone massage
Glenmore + Kirschner
Profile and booking
Kristina Addison
R.M.T.
Not accepting new patients
- Functional movement
- Mobility and flexibility
Kirschner
Profile and booking
Christy Vat
R.M.T., Clinic Manager
- Headaches and migraines
- Nerve pain
- Digestive concerns
Glenmore
Profile and booking
Cassie Poch
R.M.T.
- Postural imbalance
- Exercise soreness
- ICBC claims
Glenmore
Profile and booking
Chantal Whitaker
R.M.T.
- Recovery and injury prevention
- Chronic pain
- Body awareness
Glenmore
Profile and booking
Alyssa Watkins
R.M.T.
- Pregnancy massage
- Chronic pain
- Postural imbalance
Glenmore
Profile and booking
Kirby Hogg
R.M.T.
- Return to activity
- Deep tissue work
Kirschner
Profile and booking
Olivia Szombathy
R.M.T., IASTM Certified
- IASTM
- Deep tissue
- Prenatal massage
Glenmore + Kirschner
Profile and bookingMassage therapy questions
Do I need a doctor referral to book?
No. In British Columbia you can book massage therapy, physiotherapy, osteopathy, kinesiology and acupuncture directly, with no referral. Some extended health plans ask for a referral before they reimburse, so check your own plan if you intend to claim.
How much does a massage cost in Kelowna at Back in Health?
Registered massage therapy is $90 for 30 minutes, $110 for 45, $135 for 60, $155 for 75 and $190 for 90 minutes. All massage rates include tax. We recommend 75 minutes for a first visit so there is time to assess properly.
How long should my first massage appointment be?
We recommend 75 minutes. A first visit includes a health history and assessment, and a 75-minute booking means that happens without eating into hands-on treatment time. Shorter appointments work well once your therapist knows your history.
What is the difference between massage therapy, physiotherapy and osteopathy?
Massage therapy treats soft tissue directly to reduce pain and tension. Physiotherapy assesses how a joint moves and loads, then combines manual treatment with a progressive exercise plan. Manual osteopathy is gentler and whole-body, easing restriction across joints, fascia and connective tissue.
What should I expect at my first visit?
Arrive a few minutes early to complete a short health history. Your practitioner will ask about your symptoms and goals, assess the area, and then treat. You leave with a plan: what was found, what to do at home and whether a follow-up is worth booking.
Will I be sore after a massage?
Some mild soreness for a day or so is common after deeper work, much like after a workout. Drink water, keep moving gently and use heat if it helps. Sharp or lasting pain is not expected, so let your therapist know at your next visit or call the clinic.
What should I wear?
For massage you undress to your comfort level in private and stay covered by a sheet, with only the area being treated uncovered. For physiotherapy, osteopathy and kinesiology, wear or bring loose clothing you can move in.
Are your massage therapists registered?
Yes. Every massage therapist at Back in Health is a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), which is a regulated health profession in British Columbia. That registration is what makes your treatment eligible for extended health coverage.
Do you offer hot stone or infant massage?
Yes, both with Derya. She has completed training in therapeutic hot stone massage; book a massage with her and ask for stones, or call to confirm. Infant massage appointments are 30 or 45 minutes and are booked as a new infant patient the first time.
We bill your insurer directly.
Less paperwork at the desk, with clear answers before treatment starts.
Full billing details- Most major insurers
- You pay only the portion your plan does not cover, at the desk. Coverage still depends on your individual policy.
- ICBC accepted
- Massage, physiotherapy and kinesiology. Bring your claim number. WCB and WorkSafeBC are not accepted.
- No referral needed
- In BC you can book any of it directly. Some plans still ask for one before they reimburse, so check yours.
- Canada Life
- Sun Life
- Manulife
- Johnson
- Pacific Blue Cross
- GreenShield
- Empire Life
- RWAM