In one line: the longer an acute sprain or strain is left, the harder it is to work with later. Dr. Kong’s approach is to attend to the joint and surrounding soft tissue early, then apply external herbal preparations to settle swelling. But if a fracture or a torn ligament is possible — or the joint is clearly deformed or cannot bear weight — go to emergency first.
Vancouver’s black ice sends people in every year
From November through February, Vancouver pavements often carry a thin, invisible film of ice. Dr. Kong has practised on Victoria Drive for thirty-three years, and every winter brings the same arrivals: a slip taking the bins out, a fall two steps into a parking lot, a foot turning on a missed stair.
Beyond black ice, the acute injuries seen most often in the clinic are:
- Ankle sprains — the most common; a bad landing and the foot rolls inward
- Sports injuries — the sudden stops and turns of badminton and basketball
- Acute low back strain — the back that “catches” while lifting and won’t straighten
- Ligament injuries and small fractures — these two need medical assessment first
Dr. Kong: why it shouldn’t wait
“These are the ones where you mustn’t delay. They’re acute injuries — you have to know how to handle them.”
That is Dr. Kong’s own wording from a September 2026 interview. He puts it more concretely:
“If an acute injury is left, the stagnation settles in, and the treatment afterwards takes more time and is harder to work with.”
He graduated from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in 1987 and went straight into five years in the emergency department of the Guangzhou Orthopaedic Hospital. Emergency work deals with the injuries that cannot wait — those five years are the foundation of how he handles acute cases.
What can be done early
Depending on the assessment, Dr. Kong’s usual order is:
- Examine first — range of motion, swelling, whether it bears weight, any obvious deformity
- Attend to the joint — manual techniques to restore alignment
- External herbal application — he commonly uses preparations such as San Huang San and Xiao Zhong San to settle swelling and ease discomfort
- Explain what follows — movements to avoid, when to come back, what should stop treatment
Which of these apply, and over how many visits, depends on the individual. Whether the approach is suitable is decided after assessment, not before.
Go to emergency first if any of these apply
Seek medical assessment first — don’t treat it as an ordinary sprain — if there is:
- Obvious deformity of the joint, or no ability to bear weight at all
- An open wound or heavy bleeding
- A distinct “pop”, after which the joint feels loose or unstable
- Numbness, pallor or coldness in the limb
- Head impact followed by drowsiness, vomiting or altered awareness
Not sure which category you’re in? Call the clinic and describe what happened. The practitioner will say whether a visit makes sense, or suggest you get imaging first. Working out whether you should come in is part of the job.
What to bring
- A list of medicines you take, or photos of the packaging
- Any X-ray or imaging reports you already have
- Clothing that makes the injured area easy to examine
- Your ICBC claim number, if the injury came from a motor vehicle accident
No physician referral is required.
Costs and coverage
- Injuries from a car accident: the clinic is a registered ICBC supplier. Acupuncture is pre-approved for a number of visits, regardless of fault and with no doctor referral, as long as you start within the window
- Extended health: most plans include acupuncture or TCM, but the terms differ — check with your insurer first
- Fees: bone-setting $95 a visit, acupuncture $110. GST is added; credit card or cash. To change or cancel, please call at least 24 hours ahead
Common questions
Ice or heat after a sprain? The acute phase (the first day or two) is handled differently from what follows, and it depends on the injury. Rather than guessing, let a practitioner look at it first.
Can I rub it myself? Better not to. Massaging an acute injury before the picture is clear can make swelling worse.
How soon should I come in? The sooner the better. In Dr. Kong’s words, the longer the stagnation sits, the more work it takes afterwards.
Do I need to see a family doctor first? No referral is needed to come here. But if a fracture or torn ligament is possible, get a medical assessment first.
In their own words
YouTube · VideosFall or Ankle Sprain? Don't Delay AssessmentXie Yuan (Ivan) Kong · 0:22 · Transcript In an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
This site is general information only and is not diagnosis or treatment advice. Whether any service is appropriate depends on an individual assessment by a registered practitioner, and outcomes vary from person to person.