Physiotherapy                    

Let our experienced Physiotherapists assess you and work with you to achieve a new level of fitness, flexibility and physical health. As experts in the field of musculo-skeletal medicine, we have the expertise and knowledge to assess and treat many problems such as back and neck pain and stiffness, other joint problems, including arthritis, sports injuries and injury prevention, poor flexiblity and poor balance, headaches, jaw pain and muscular and neural tightness or tension.

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

Click on the links below for more info on general and/or sports physiotherapy

General Physiotherapy	Sports Physiotherapy

 Does this apply to You?

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

 COMMON SHOULDER INJURIES

Does your shoulder ache after overhead or repetitive activity? Is it getting worse and now restricting that activity? Has a period of rest apparently resolved the problem only for the pain to recur when you returned to sport or increased your normal activity?

Shoulder pain is normally a result of repetitive 'overhead activity', such as serving and smashing in tennis, freestyle or butterfly swimming, and bowling in cricket or baseball. Repeated movement of the arms building up over the years may also cause irritation of the tendons of the shoulder.

Tendonitis, bursitis and impingement often occur together. Tendonitis is inflammation of the rotator-cuff tendons (a group of four, small, deeply situated, strap-like muscles) and/or the biceps tendon. Impingement occurs as result of weakness of the rotator cuff which causes instability in the shoulder joint and a cycle of cuff damage, impaired function, further impingement and worsening cuff damage is initiated.

The above condition is extremely common in all walks of life. Unfortunately we tend to “put up with” our symptoms for some time before seeking help. Physiotherapy combined with a strengthening and stabilising rehabilitation programme can resolve these symptoms and facilitate a quick return to sport and normal duties. If you can identify with the above call Revive now and make an appointment with one of our experienced physiotherapists.

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!

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!!

THE PELVIC FLOOR AND WHY IT’S
 IMPORTANT TO STAY CONNECTED TO IT!

These are very small muscles which 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.  You may then find that you lose a small amount of urine when you sneeze or jump.

 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 when you are passing water. 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.

Your physiotherapist can assist 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.  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.