What We Treat
Head Pain
These conditions are treated with a combination of joint mobilisations of the upper spine / neck, soft tissue massage & trigger point release, and specific exercises designed to help settle headaches and improve your posture. In addition, sinusitis is treated with ultrasound therapy.
Sinus Treatment
Usually works for sinusitis and sometimes will help the relief of symptoms for allergic rhinitis. Treatment involves release of the first three vertebrae and soft tissues of the neck (due to the neural link between the upper neck and sinuses), ultrasound of the sinuses at specific dosage (completely pain free!) to help free persistent mucus, followed at home by a saline sinus rinse to mobilise and remove thick mucus.Generally you get results with the first treatment. If there is minimal or no change of symptoms after the second treatment then this treatment will not be effective in treating you for this condition.
Neck Pain
A combination of treatment techniques is used for these conditions, including neck joint mobilisations, soft tissue massage & trigger point release therapy, ultrasound therapy, stretches, neck strengthening exercises, and correction of faulty movement patterns or poor posture that may contribute to ongoing pain. Traction is sometimes used to relieve pain in the neck, shoulder, or down the arm that is caused by a pinched nerve in the neck.
Shoulder Pain
Standard techniques of joint mobilisations, soft tissue massage, and trigger point release therapy (sometimes including dry needling), stretches, progressive strengthening exercises, and retraining of posture and shoulder blade position / stability, as well as movement patterns is used to rehabilitate these conditions. In addition, ultrasound therapy, strapping / kinesiotaping, and acupuncture can help speed up recovery.
Arm, Wrist, Hand Pain
Along with standard physiotherapy treatment techniques (joint mobilisations, soft tissue massage, trigger point release, ultrasound therapy, stretches, and strengthening exercises), we may use kinesiotaping and / or strapping, elbow and wrist braces, and sometimes dry needling or acupuncture to restore full function to your upper limb injury.
Sometimes, arm or even hand pain, could be referred pain from a problem in your neck, and in these cases – after thorough assessment – we would treat your neck as well to help resolve your injury.
Chest, Rib Pain
Standard physiotherapy techniques work very well to resolve problems in the midback or ribs. We will also sometimes us a mobilising device (PIM – Physiotherapy Instrument Mobiliser), or manipulations, as well as muscle release techniques.
Back Pain
Along with standard physiotherapy techniques, McKenzie back exercises are often used to help resolve back pain. Neural stretches are very beneficial in the case of sciatica, and traction has given many clients with spondylosis excellent relief from their symptoms. Core stabilising exercises are key to any back injury, and we are qualified to provide you with a range of specialised exercises. We also work alongside an excellent and highly qualified pilates instructor who will be able to take your back rehab to the next level.
Buttock, Hip, Groin and Thigh Pain
Mulligan techniques are excellent rehab tools to regain mobility in painful, restricted, or arthritic hips, while in the case of hip bursitis, kinesiotaping, dry needling / acupuncture, and correcting muscle balance around the hip can make a big difference.
Hip pain may sometimes be a secondary symptom of problems with your feet, such as feet that roll in too much (overpronate). For this reason we will often do a brief assessment of your feet, and advise you if we feel you may benefit from getting custom-made shoe inserts / orthotics.
Sometimes your buttock, hip, groin, or thigh pain may be referred pain from either the lower back, the sacroiliac joints, or even just from muscle trigger points (knots) in the buttock. A thorough assessment will help us determine the cause of your pain, and you will be treated accordingly.
Knee Pain
Knee pain can be treated with various techniques, from fractioning the ligaments and releasing trigger points, using ultrasound to reduce swelling and inflammation, and strapping or kinesiotaping to support the knee, as well as acupuncture. Exercises for the knee are always important as your kneecap position and how it moves relies very strongly on the inner thigh muscles being equally as strong as the outer thigh muscles.
Most knee injuries also respond very well to a structured exercycle regime – cycling helps to keep the knee gently moving, strengthens the muscles, and helps to lubricate the joint and create a healing environment in the joint by increasing the production of synovial (joint) fluid.
Knee pain can also sometimes be linked to faulty foot biomechanics. An assessment of your feet using our advanced GaitScan pressure plate system will help us determine whether you may benefit from orthotics (shoe insoles).
Lower Leg and Foot Pain
Many times ongoing Achilles, heel, or foot pain may be the result of poor foot biomechanics. Feet that roll in too much cause certain muscles and tendons in the lower leg and foot to overstretch and become inflamed, leading to issues such as shin splints, heel spurs, and plantar fasciitis. When this is the case, a thorough assessment of your feet and alignment, along with a GaitScan analysis will enable us to prescribe a custom TOG orthotic (shoe insole) that could make a world of difference to getting you back on your feet and doing the things you love. Plantar warts (flat warts on the soles of your feet) can be very effectively treated using ultrasound therapy.
Other
A thorough physical assessment will let us determine where you may have weak muscles that may lead to postural problems and muscle imbalances. We will be able to prescribe you with a specific exercise program to help improve your muscle strength, as well as give you advice about correct sitting, standing, and sleeping positioning, and ergonomic