Match the claim to the device.

Start with the exact device and the exact outcome being claimed. A study of one treatment for one problem cannot automatically answer every question about a product with a similar name.

Make the evidence concrete.

• Which model or equipment was studied?
• Who took part, and how many people were included?
• What was compared, and what outcome was measured?
• How was the treatment delivered and for how long?
• Are the proposed use and the studied use actually similar?

Ask for the paper behind the headline, then put its methods beside the proposed session. If a study tested repeated sessions for a particular skin concern, it cannot by itself answer whether one session helps your sore knee. Check the device, body area, schedule and outcome before treating the two offers as equivalent.

Look for a comparison group and the size of the difference, not just the word improved. Small studies, short follow-up or a different participant group limit how confidently you can apply a result. You can ask the provider to explain these differences without needing to become the researcher yourself.

Check what a regulatory statement refers to.

In Canada, start with the manufacturer, exact model and device identifier on the label. Ask which licence is being cited. A Medical Device Licence concerns a Class II, III or IV device; a Medical Device Establishment Licence concerns an establishment's permitted activities. Health Canada explicitly says an establishment licence does not approve specific devices.

For a device-licence claim, use Health Canada's Medical Devices Active Licence Listing, linked in the source notes below. Search by licence number or device identifier and match the result to the equipment you would use. Finding the same manufacturer is not enough if the listed model is different.

Class I devices do not require that device licence and do not appear in this listing. An empty search therefore needs an explanation of the device's classification, not an automatic conclusion. Ask the manufacturer or provider to resolve the discrepancy before relying on the claim.

Bring the answer back to your choice.

Ask how the evidence relates to the session you would receive, what the instructions require and what result is realistic to expect. If you are considering treatment for a health problem, discuss the options with an appropriate clinician.

Keep a short note: the model, the outcome you want, the relevant study and the instructions you were shown. A licence check answers a regulatory question. The study and the proposed use still need to support the particular result being advertised.