Tel: (08) 7089 8388
Muscle strains and Soft tissue injuries
The most common soft tissues injured are muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These injuries often occur during sports and exercise activities, but sometimes simple everyday activities can cause an injury.
Sprains, strains, and contusions, as well as acute tendinitis and bursitis, are common soft-tissue injuries. Even with appropriate treatment, these injuries may require a prolonged amount of time to heal.
We can assist with the expert treatment you need to recover from injured soft tissue and regain control of your mobility and function.
Postural Pain
Postural syndrome is a condition of the lumbar and cervical spine that causes symptoms such as aches and pains in the neck, head, shoulders, lower back pain and even hips and legs, normally from sustained poor posture.
Poor posture is the positioning of your body that causes unnecessary strain. Posture does not necessarily refer to the upright standing position but can be the way in which you sit at a desk. In many cases, poor posture is very much avoidable and caused by a lack of awareness of how the body works.
The key to postural lower back pain management is to maintain as active as possible to prevent long-term stiffness and weakness. Therefore, physiotherapy will include an individualised programme of strengthening and range of movement exercises.
Common Sport injuries
Sports physiotherapy specialises in the treatment, rehabilitation and further prevention of injuries and complaints sustained during sporting activities. Sports injuries differ from every day injuries due to the greater stress put on muscles, joints and bones through participation in sports. The most common injuries associated with sports include ligament sprains, strains, tears, joint injuries and over-use injuries. Our sports physiotherapists will assess and treat the cause of your injury allowing you to build the strength, mobility, balance and co-ordination required to return to your sport pain free and to help prevent further injury.
Vertigo Physio
Vertigo is a type of dizziness which gives you a feeling of disorientation or that the room is spinning. It’s often the result of an inner ear problem and is actually the false sensation of movement. You may feel like you’re tilting, spinning, or swaying, but that’s actually not the case.
Normally, the brain can skillfully combine messages it receives from the balance control areas in each of your ears. But if one side is causing you problems, these messages can get distorted – which can result in vertigo or dizziness.
Advanced vestibular physiotherapists are trained in using multiple techniques to treat BPPV. The Epley is the most common technique to treat the most commonly affected canal- The Posterior Canal. There are 3 separate canals in each inner ear, each separate canal requires a different technique to treat successfully.
Rehabilitation after joint replacement
Following an orthopaedic surgery it is most likely that you will require physiotherapy to avoid certain complications, such as DVT, but also to re-introduce strength and range of motion movements. You will be prescribed a progressive exercise program in order to build up flexibility, strength and function. Our physiotherapists will tailor a programme specific to your surgery in order to aid you through the rehabilitation process to get you back to your everyday activities as soon as possible.
Low Back and Sciatica Pain
If you have ever suffered from acute or chronic back pain, you’ll know it can be debilitating. However, many people don’t see a Physiotherapist until back pain starts to limit their lifestyle in some way. It may stop you from participating in sport or leisure activities, affect your ability to work or keep you awake at night.
Whatever the cause of back pain, a qualified Physiotherapist can help. Physiotherapists are trained to assess how people move and why movement patterns are related to pain. We look at range of movement, quality/control and restrictions to movement.
Work and Motor vehicle accident injuries
Work place injuries are very common and can sometimes be debilitating. Our physiotherapists are all very experienced in treating work-related injuries and are all registered to treat under the workers compensation system meaning you are not out of pocket for treatment that you receive. You will be provided with a rehabilitation program in order to help you recover from your injury and return to your full work capabilities as soon as possible.
Tennis Elbow and Golf Elbow
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylalgia, is when pain develops around the bone on the outside of the elbow. Golfers elbow, medial epicondylalgia, is similar, but on the medial side of the elbow.
Physiotherapy treatment can involve shockwave therapy, release tight muscles or joints that maybe contributing to the injury. We can also strap your elbow or fit a brace which can give pain relief.
Physios can also prescribe an exercise program specific to your level of fitness and injury which is what will help you recover from tennis elbow and help prevent it from returning. This will be progressed and changed as your injury improves.
Shoulder bursitis and impingement syndrome
Shoulder bursitis is a condition that causes pain on the outer side or tip of the shoulder. It can affect people of any age. Most commonly, it results from overuse and develops gradually in people who often throw, pitch, or swim. Non-athletes can develop the condition through repetitive movements such as overhead lifting or reaching. An injury, infection, or other problems, such as an autoimmune disease, also can cause bursitis. Physical therapy can be a very effective treatment for shoulder bursitis.
Physiotherapists help reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness caused by the condition. They also address related weakness in the shoulder, arm, neck, and upper back.
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Shoulder impingement and tendinitis can occur along with shoulder bursitis. These three conditions (which researchers often label "subacromial shoulder pain") share many similar symptoms. A physical therapist can effectively treat all of these conditions.
Headaches and Migraines
Patients thought to benefit most from physical therapy are those who experience headaches with musculoskeletal problems.
Physical therapy techniques used during a headache have been shown to temporarily reduce the pain of the attack.
Patients are sometimes taught how to apply ice or practice relaxation techniques, and/or therapists may administer massage or perform manual cervical traction.
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Physical therapy will try to restore mobility in these joints and correct muscle imbalances, poor postures, and physical activities that may be contributing to the headaches.
Planter Fasciitis and Heel pain
Plantar fasciitis is a significant cause of plantar heel pain among runners and non-runners alike and is also a major cause of general foot pain. Plantar fasciitis affects both passive and active individuals.
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The most common type of plantar fasciitis has a gradual onset, caused by poor foot or lower limb biomechanics. Although plantar fasciitis can occur at any age, the inflammation worsens as we age, and our tissues lose elasticity and strength.
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Plantar fasciitis can be diagnosed and treated with physiotherapy. A definitive diagnosis is required to ensure a positive outcome.
Treatment is primarily determined by what is discovered during your assessment; however, a combined approach is generally utilized. Shockwave therapy on the insertion of the plantar fascia, soft tissue massage, trigger point therapy or mobilizations of foot and ankle joints, and supportive taping of the foot may be used in treatment to relieve pressure on the foot arch (plantar fascia).
Whiplash injuries and Neck pain
A whiplash neck sprain occurs when your head is suddenly jolted backwards and forwards in a whip-like movement usually caused in motor car accidents known as a “rear-ender”. These movements generate considerable force, typically causing the neck to move far beyond the normal range of movement and causes damage to the delicate supporting structures of the neck. Whiplash is effectively a sprain of the joints in the neck – Physiotherapists refer to this as a vertebral dysfunction.
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Whiplash can also result from forceful sporting injuries that cause similar stress to the neck joints, ligaments, muscles and discs.
Physiotherapy management of whiplash is extremely effective. All Physiotherapy care initially consists of a through history, orthopaedic, neurological and spinal examination to determine the exact location of your neck pain. Diagnostic imaging such as Xray, CT,MRI and posture pro scans may also be required to fully assess any damage.
Tendinitis and common Tendons conditions
Tendonitis is the name given to inflammation and irritation around a tendon. It can occur in any tendon in the body, though it’s most common in the Achilles tendon (Achilles tendonitis), the lateral knee (ITB Syndrome), the elbow (tennis elbow) and the lower knee (jumper’s knee)
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Tendonitis is generally categorised in one of two classes: you can have “grotty” tendon pain that goes on over a long period of time and is manageable, or “acute” tendon pain that flares up when you perform particular tasks or activities
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Tendonitis can be treated and managed with help from your physiotherapist. They will conduct a thorough assessment to determine the severity of your condition, identify the contributing factors and work with you to develop a treatment plan.
Our physiotherapists use Shockwave therapy which has been shown to be an effective treatment modality for a range of common tendon complaints
Knee and hip arthritis management
Typically hip and knee osteoarthritis develops slowly over many years and affects articular structures like the knee or hip joint capsule, menisci, cartilage and ligaments. The final stage of OA is consistent with articular cartilage loss and changes in the underlying bone. Hip and Knee joints are most often affected and represent the largest population affected by OA.
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Physiotherapy for knee OA involves a combined approach of education and individualized exercises. These exercises focus on the control and strength of muscles around the hip and the knee. These have been shown to help the most whilst also being safe and without the added risk that other, more invasive treatments can have. It’s true what they say, motion is lotion, and it is not different for knee OA.
Hand injuries
The wrists, hands and fingers are areas commonly injured during sport. Acute injuries may involve tendons, ligaments, joints or muscles and should be treated promptly. The wrists, hands and fingers are also commonly affected by osteoarthritis, particularly in older adults.
Most common treated condition includes Carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, fractures and dislocations, Ligament sprains and Osteoarthritis
Physiotherapy treatment will include adjusting biomechanics of activities involving the hand, advice on managing inflammation and exercises to strengthen the involved tendons to help prevent future recurrences.
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