The first six weeks decide the next six months
Rapid access to sports medicine assessment for acute knee injuries. Expert diagnosis, early triage, and a clear path forward — covered by Alberta Health.
No family doctor referral required · Calgary · Edmonton
A faster route to the right diagnosis
Acute knee injuries are among the most common — and most impactful — injuries in sport. They often involve soft tissue structures such as the ligaments, menisci, tendons, or cartilage. Not every knee injury is severe, but early identification and appropriate management can be the difference between a short-term issue and a long-term setback.
These injuries tend to happen in high-risk, high-performance sport — soccer, basketball, football, rugby, and anything that demands rapid changes of direction or twisting under load. Those mechanisms produce injuries that need timely, coordinated care.
The ØRKA Acute Knee Clinic exists to remove the wait. You get rapid access to expert assessment, early diagnosis, and fast-tracked triage — without the usual delays. Whether your injury ends up surgical or is managed conservatively, the earlier care starts, the better the outcome.
Is this the right clinic for you?
Three outcomes. Read the middle column first — if any of it applies to you, go there before you go anywhere else.
Book with us
Both of the following need to be true.
- You sustained the knee injury within the past 6 weeks
- You are 12 years of age or older
Go to Urgent Care or the ED
Do not wait for an appointment if you have any of these.
- A visibly deformed fracture
- A dislocated knee joint that has not been seen by the Emergency Department
- Ongoing or uncontrolled bleeding
We can't accept
Other ØRKA pathways may still be able to help.
- Workplace injuries covered under Workers' Compensation (WCB)
- Motor vehicle accident claims (MVA)
- Injuries that occurred more than 6 weeks ago
- Active medicolegal claims
- Anyone who has already seen a Physiatrist for this injury
Time is the variable you can still control
Recovery from an acute knee injury — even when managed without surgery — can run from 6 to 12 months depending on severity.
Reinjury rates are significant, with some studies showing recurrence as high as 15% — often from rushed rehab or missed deficits in strength, balance, or movement control.
Objective testing decides when you progress — walking, to cutting, to full return to play. Each phase is completed before the next one opens.
One team, one plan, start to finish
Assessment, imaging, referral and rehabilitation sit under one roof — so nothing gets lost between providers and no one has to start your story over.
What to expect from your first appointment
Apply online
The screening form confirms your fit for the clinic and gives the Sports Medicine Physician the key information for an accurate diagnosis.
Call from the Athlete Experience Team
Your referral is triaged by the ØRKA Athlete Experience Team, who will contact you with your appointment date and time.
Clinical assessment
A 60-minute visit covered by Alberta Health — bring your health card. Imaging is included, unless you choose to fast-track advanced scans such as MRI, where private options are available.
Appropriate triage
Your physician opens the right pathway for your injury — a surgical specialist, the rehabilitation team, or another route entirely.
ØRKA Sports Medicine pathways
Three ways into physician-led care. Two are self-referral, one needs a provider referral — the Acute Knee Clinic is the knee-specific route.
REACT Clinic
A rapid-access, self-referral program for acute sports medicine injuries sustained within the past six weeks. It prioritises fast-tracked access to expert diagnosis, advanced imaging and triage so injuries are managed well during the critical early stages of recovery — streamlining the pathway to care, improving outcomes and minimising downtime.
REACT Clinic →Sports Medicine & Physiatry
A referral-based triage service offering specialised assessment and management for complex neuromusculoskeletal conditions, chronic injuries and rehabilitation needs. Referrals must come from a licensed healthcare provider in the community using the designated referral form and a valid practitioner ID. This is where physician-led care sits for anyone needing advanced medical evaluation and treatment planning.
Sports Medicine →Acute Knee Clinic
Assessment and management of recent knee injuries — those occurring within the last six weeks. As a self-referral program it gives direct access to specialised care for ligamentous, musculotendinous and other structural knee injuries. The focus on early intervention supports accurate diagnosis and a personalised treatment strategy, and opens potential access to ØRKA's Cross Bracing Program.
Cross Bracing Program →The Acute Knee Clinic is one entry point into a wider medical and rehabilitation system.
No cost for the consult
Sports Medicine and Physiatry (PM&R) consultations are covered by Alberta Health Services, along with any imaging or labs your physician orders — X-ray, MSK ultrasound, MRI, CT, bone scan and bloodwork. There is no direct cost to you for this part of your ØRKA medical or rehabilitation pathway.
As part of your plan, your physician may prescribe medication, bracing or other health products to help with pain and recovery. Some of these are fee-for-service rather than covered by Alberta Health Care, though many are reimbursable through extended health benefit plans such as Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife or Green Shield.
Don't wait out a knee injury
The screening form takes a few minutes. Our Athlete Experience Team triages every submission and calls you back with a date and time.
Frequently asked questions
Please seek care elsewhere if any of the following apply:
- Pediatric cases — individuals under 12 years of age
- Injuries that occurred more than 6 weeks ago (see the Sports Medicine and Physiatry pages for alternative services)
- A visibly deformed fracture
- A dislocated knee joint that has not been seen by the Emergency Department
- Ongoing or uncontrolled bleeding
- Workers’ Compensation Board injuries (WCB)
- Motor vehicle collisions (MVC)
- Active medicolegal claims
- Individuals who have already seen a Physiatrist for this injury
No. This is a self-referral program — start with the online screening form.
Yes. ØRKA physicians always send a consultation report with the working diagnosis and recommendations back to your providers, so every part of your integrated plan of care stays connected.
No. Sports Medicine and Physiatry (PM&R) consultations are covered by Alberta Health Services, as is any imaging or lab work your physician orders — X-ray, MSK ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, bone scan and bloodwork. There is no direct cost to you for this part of your ØRKA medical or rehabilitation pathway.
As part of your rehabilitation plan, your physician may prescribe medication, bracing or other health products to help with pain modulation and recovery. Some of these are not covered by Alberta Health Care and are fee-for-service, but may be covered by extended health benefit plans such as Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife or Green Shield.
Acute Knee Clinic consultations run out of our Calgary location at Unit 160, 11358 Barlow Trail NE, across from the Mercedes-Benz dealership. Call (587) 416-5912 if you need directions or parking details.
Hours
- Office9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
- Rehabilitation6:30am – 7:30pm, Monday to Friday
7:30am – 2:00pm, Saturday
Locations
- CalgaryUnit 160, 11358 Barlow Trail NE — across from the Mercedes-Benz dealership
- Edmonton3663 99th Street NW
- Charlottetown250 University Avenue — inside Bodyworks Chiro & Massage
Get in touch
- Alberta(587) 416-5912
- Prince Edward Island(902) 200-6278
- Fax(587) 387-7244
OFFICE HOURS
9am - 5pm Monday - Friday
Rehabilitation Hours
6:30am-7:30pm Monday - Friday
7:30am - 2pm Saturday
FOLLOW US
CONTACT US
(587) 416-5912 (Alberta)
(902) 200-6278 (Prince Edward Island)
(587) 387-7244 (Fax)
CALGARY: Unit 160 11358 Barlow Trail NE - Located across the street from the Mercedes Benz Dealership
EDMONTON: 3663 99th Street NW
CHARLOTTETOWN: 250 University Avenue - Located inside Bodyworks Chiro & Massage
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