Physiotherapy at Revive

 Our team of Physiotherapists at Revive will ensure that you reach your personal health and fitness goals.

They are perfectly equipped with the knowledge and skill to assess your posture and musculo-skeletal system to detect imbalances, weaknesses, stiffness and pain.  Armed with the knowledge gleaned from your assessment they will recommend and commence a program of physiotherapy treatment usually combined with Pilates exercises to help you gain quick and lasting results.

                  

 We have a policy of "hands-on care".  You should expect your physiotherapy session to include hands-on techniques such as joint mobilisations, deep tissue massage, muscles energy techniques (balancing the pelvis and other joints with gentle movements), trigger point therapy, manipulation and stretches.

  All of our physiotherapists are members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association www.physiotherapy.asn.au  (APA) which sets high standards of practice and continuing education.  As well as having a minimum Bachelor Degree in Physiotherapy, all of our physiotherapists are also trained in the Pilates technique with either DMA (Dance Medicine Australia) www.clinicalpilates.com  and/or Stott Pilates www.stottpilates.com.au.

 All of our physiotherapists have extensive clinical experience and are passionate about assisting clients to achieve better levels of physical health and well-being.

Physiotherapy can assist with:

• Back and neck pain
• Poor posture
• Poor flexibility
• Arthritis and joint pain
• Overuse injuries
• Work related injury or pain
• Headaches and jaw pain
• Sports injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Muscle tension and tightness
• Foot and ankle pain
• Gait problems
• Balance problems
• Neurological disorders
• Workcover, Comcare and Veteran’s Affairs Claims

Our Physiotherapists have a unique approach to treatment. It is our intention to assist you to resolve physical symptoms that you may have, but then to look further for the cause of the problem and to work with you to prevent further injury or pain.

The time you spend with our Physiotherapists is an investment in your health and wellness as we educate you about ways you can pro-actively manage your injury and prevent any recurrence in the future.

Should we feel you require further investigation of a problem, we are able to refer you for x-rays and work with doctors and other health professionals to ensure you receive the best and most appropriate interventions for your situation.         

• Private Health Fund rebates apply to all physiotherapy services
• No referral needed
• Private fully equipped rooms
• Workstation Assessments (see below for more information)
• Comcare and DVA referrals accepted with no gap payment
• Workcover referrals require a $25 co-payment for Physiotherapy and a $15 co-payment for Pilates.

 

 Click on the links below for more information on general or sports physiotherapy 
 

General Physiotherapy	Sports Physiotherapy	Womens Health

Patients with a chronic musculoskeletal condition (six months or longer) may be eligible for 5 services from an allied health professional including Physiotherapists on a Medicare rebate. For more information contact your GP.

How can Physiotherapy help? below are some links to information brochures produced by the Australian Physiotherapy Association:

Back Care:
http://physiotherapy.asn.au/index.php/physiotherapy-a-you/backs/10-tips-for-back-care
Necks:
http://physiotherapy.asn.au/index.php/physiotherapy-a-you/necks/a-pain-in-the-neck
Sports Injuries:
http://physiotherapy.asn.au/index.php/physiotherapy-a-you/sports-injuries/ankle-sprain
Back pain from poor bike fit:
http://physiotherapy.asn.au/index.php/physiotherapy-a-you/sports-injuries/back-pain-bike

    Hicaps available for on the spot claims.

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Workstation assessments

Why have a workstation assessment conducted by a Physiotherapist?

• Frequent or repetitive movements or holding postures for prolonged periods will cause increasing discomfort or injury.
• Risk management assessment is needed for prevention of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD's).
• Risk assessment is particularly critial when: An injury has occured, a new staff member commences, a worker changes workstation, a new work process is introduced or modified
• An ergonomic workstation assessment will detirmine the specific needs for every worker.  Each individual is different so a set formula for a workstation set up will not suit the entire office.

Benefits of a workstation assessment

Physiotherapist workstation assessments properly screen for potential musculoskeletal problems and recommend necessary changes.
Effects fof ergonomic intervention work in clinical trials showed significant differences in levels of work related discomfort ar 2 and 10 months  after cooperative planning with workers and practitioners involved with control groups. (Scand J Work Environ Health. 2002.)

What does a consultation involve?
 

• A confidential discussion of any past relevant medical/musculoskeletal problems.
• Assessment of your workstation at your office typically taking around 30-40 minutes.
• Some changes may be made at the time of assessment, other changes will be outlined in a written report you will receive, such as recommeded equipment.  
• Once changes are in place a follow up review of your new workstation set up can be arraged if needed.
  

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Does this apply to You?

Read our articles about the different injuries that may be causing you grief.

 Piriformis Syndrome

The Piriformis muscle is responsible for rotating and stabilizing the hip joint. The sciatic nerve passes directly beneath or occasionally through the piriformis muscle. Due to this anatomic relationship, the sciatic nerve can be compressed due to tightness in the piriformis muscle. When this occurs the condition is known as piriformis syndrome.

Piriformis syndrome typically occurs due to tightness of the piriformis muscle. This may occur following piriformis injury, overuse of the piriformis, or due to repetitive strain or trauma. Piriformis syndrome is more common in sports or activities requiring repeated use of the piriformis muscle. These activities may include: running (especially changing direction), sprinting, jumping, squatting or lunging.

Patients with this condition typically experience a pain or ache that is felt deep within the buttock. Pain may also radiate into the back of the thigh, calf, ankle or foot. Patients with piriformis syndrome typically experience an increase in pain when placing the piriformis muscle on stretch (i.e. taking your knee towards your opposite shoulder) or during forceful piriformis muscle contraction (e.g. when running and changing directions). Other activities that may aggravate symptoms include: sitting, climbing stairs, squatting and lunging. In addition, patients may also have reduced hip range of movement and experience tenderness in the piriformis muscle on firm palpation.

	Management involves pain relieving modalities such as soft tissue therapy, dry needling, stretching and strengthening of the external rotators of the hip.

 

Common Shoulder Injuries

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Anterior (at the front) knee pain 

Anterior knee pain is the most common presenting symptom in many physiotherapy and sports physician practices. It contributes substantially to the 20-40% of family practice consultations that relate to the musculoskeletal system. Two common causes of this pain are patellofemoral (knee cap) knee pain and patella tendinopathy (the tendon that runs below the knee cap to the tibia or shin bone). Distinguishing between these two causes can be difficult and often they can be found existing together. A detailed history often gives major clues as to the diagnosis which can be further clarified with specific clinical tests.

The area of pain often gives an important clue as to the structure causing the pain. For example pain just behind the knee cap suggests the patellofemoral joint is the culprit, whereas pain just below the knee cap implicates the patella tendon or the infrapatella fat pad. Pain to the outside of the knee may indicate iliotibial band syndrome.

The type of activity also aids diagnosis. Repetitive jumping, impact activities suggests patella tendon injury. Patellofemoral pain may have been caused by a direct blow for example falling onto the knee cap or brought on by walking downstairs or down slopes. Often prolonged sitting is a problem. Fat pad irritation is indicated more by pain on knee extension, for example, kicking when swimming.

‘Crepitus’ or crunching in the knee often is indicative of knee cap pathology.

There are many other causes of anterior knee pain and your physiotherapist will question you to allow further differentiation to be made. An examination will then test and clarify the diagnosis to ensure that the most effective rehabilitation program can be started.

Taping can be used to ‘deload’ the area in pain. This means that the tape can be applied in such a way that the biomechanics are altered allowing you to exercise without pain. Strengthening exercise can then be started without pain being worsened. This is essential as pain inhibits the muscles that stabilize the knee and these cannot be retrained unless the pain is controlled. Corrections may need to be made to the foot and orthotics considered as this will facilitate better alignment of the knee. Hip strengthening also has to be started for the same reasons. Flexibility will be assessed. Your physiotherapist will test muscle length to decide which muscles have tightened and shortened contributing to your pain. External factors must also be considered for example running or jumping technique, shoes worn, recent changes in training, sitting position…..the list is endless and takes expertise to analyse if the injury is to fully resolve and not return. Ask your Physio or podiatrist for more information – stop the pain!

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Jaw pain, Clenching and Headaches     

Your Temporomandibular joints (TMJ’s) - the joints just below your ears- are the key to jaw movements. You use these joints (one on  either side of your face) for eating, talking, yawning, coughing and sneezing.

The TMJ is the joint between your jaw (mandible) and temporal bone (skull) and it contains a disk of cartilage for shock absorption and stability – much like your knee joint.

The main problems with these joints can be muscular or discogenic pain from muscle   overuse, clenching, grinding or from trauma to the area.

Symptoms can include pain around the jaw or ear,    inability to open the mouth comfortably, difficulty biting, clicking, popping or grating sounds when moving the jaw and headaches. Treating these symptoms early is vital as problems in the joint are more likely to progress rather than go away by themselves. Treatment usually involves    assessing and treating the cause of the  problem and using mobilisation or muscle   release techniques. Our Physiotherapists and Massage therapists are skilled in treating the discomfort of jaw related problems. Don’t put up with that pain any longer - book a    physiotherapy assessment for your aching face today!!

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The Pelvic Floor and why it's important to stay connected to it!

These are very small muscles which have an extremely important job. They collectively sit like a hammock stretched between your pubic bone and your tailbone and envelope the front and back passages to prevent leakage of their contents. They do have a low level of activation that will be working all the time for you, but occasionally they can weaken and switch off for reasons such as childbirth, prostate surgery, or excess weight or back pain.  You may then find that you lose a small amount of urine when you sneeze or jump or have strong urges to go to the toilet.  Sometimes you only experience low back or hip pain without any incontience issues.

 Even if you have had none of the above, then getting in touch with your pelvic floor can aid your core stability and pilates training. A simple way to find these muscles is to stop the flow of urine. If you can do this with minimal fuss, you have found a part of the pelvic floor. Then try to contract the same muscle group when you are at rest and hold it for 5 seconds. Try not to clench your buttocks as you do this. You should feel a gentle lifting and drawing in sensation, not an outward or downward pressure. Gradually build this up to 10 lots of 10 second holds.  Add in some fast "flicks" of the muscle as well to improve its speed of contraction and endurance.

 

Our women's health physiotherapist Anne Wilby can assist you with pelvic floor issues - make sure you don't ignore early symptoms as the sooner you address them, the easier it is to fix the problem.  Incontinence is not a normal part of aging.  There are a number of good books written by physiotherapists about the pelvic floor and how to strenghten it - "Waterworks" by Pauline Chiarelli and "My Pelvic Flaw"  - both books are available in the studio.