Chevron Island Physio

Your One Stop Shop for Health and Wellness

What does a Physio do?

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Often people are unsure exactly why they might need to see a Physiotherapist or what they can do to help them. Physiotherapists are highly qualified health professionals who work in partnership with their patients to help people get better and stay well. Physiotherapists also work closely with GPs and other health clinicians to plan and manage treatment.

Using advanced techniques and evidence-based care, physiotherapists assess, diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of health conditions and movement disorders. Physiotherapy helps repair damage, reduce stiffness and pain, increase mobility and improve quality of life. They do this using a variety of techniques including soft tissue massage, muscle re-education, joint mobilisation, exercise, taping, ultrasound and tens machine application.

 

Common reasons people seek help

All Australians can benefit from physiotherapy at some point in their lives. While it is well-known that physiotherapists treat injuries, increasing numbers of Australians are coming to physiotherapists when they want to take control of their health and stay well.

 

Some of the needs our physiotherapists address include:

Pain – manages or prevents pain and its impact on function in patients using a psychologically informed and interdisciplinary approach.

Sports – prevents, diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal and sporting injuries among all types of people, from professional athletes to everyday Australians.

Continence and women’s health – manages and prevents incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction in men, women and children. Physiotherapists work in areas including pregnancy, birth, post-partum care, breastfeeding, menopause, bed wetting, prolapse and loss of bladder or bowel control. Chevron Island Physio has two Physiotherapists with a special interest in Women’s Health.

Supporting older Australians – uses evidence-based care to promote healthy and active ageing among older Australians. Chevron Island Physio has its own Balance and Falls Prevention class twice per week as well as a senior’s Yoga class that helps to benefit mind and body.

Musculoskeletal – prevents and treats clients with musculoskeletal conditions such as neck and back pain. Techniques include addressing underlying problems, preventing strain and injury, and prescribing exercises and other interventions to promote mobility. We are lucky enough to have a Physiotherapist who specializes in treating headaches!

Orthopedic – helps patients prevent or manage acute or chronic orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and amputations. Physiotherapists also help patients prepare for or rehabilitate from orthopedic surgery, or another orthopedic hospital admissions.

Acupuncture and dry needling – which helps to manage both chronic and acute conditions such as sprains and strains, spinal dysfunction, arthritis and neurological conditions.

 

A typical session with a physiotherapist –

A typical session with a physiotherapist is unique to a patient’s needs and their health condition. Treatment also depends on the scope of practice of the physiotherapist.

However, a ‘typical’ session may involve:

  • Assessing and diagnosing the patient’s condition and needs.
  • Working with the patient to set and attain goals—whether that’s maintaining mobility and independence in aged care to running a marathon
  • Developing a treatment or prevention plan that will take into account lifestyle, activities and general health
  • Hands on treatment utilising mobilization, massage, dry needling, exercise and stretching, ultrasound and tens machine among other techniques
  • Prescribing exercise and physical aides if required.

Our physios also run Pilates classes specific to each patient’s needs and concerns. This is a great way to rehabilitate injury, stay injury free and get fit! This is also claimable under private health insurance (extras).

Do you need a referral?

No you do not need a referral however if you have one please bring it along.

If you intend to claim under Medicare you do require an Enhanced Primary Care Program prescribed by your GP. This form is given to those who meet specific criteria.
To find out more contact us on 5504 7000 or visit our website here

 

Chevron Island Physio

21 Adori St, Chevron Island

Phone: 5504 7000

 

 

 

 

Do you suffer from headaches or migraines?

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For 25 years Dean Watson has treated headache and migraine exclusively. He has come to recognise that disorders of the upper neck are significantly underestimated as the cause of many different forms of headache and migraine. I was lucky enough to attend the first two levels of Dr Watson’s course on assessment of the upper neck and treatment of headaches.

It became clear that despite research showing that structures of the upper neck can be responsible for causing headache & migraine, the Medical Model of Headache (a GP’s go-to or “handbook”) continues to ignore and/or accept it.

A brief look at the neuroanatomy of the upper neck shows us that disorders of this region are ideally positioned to be responsible for the cause of headache and migraine.

Assessment is key, to confirm neck involvement in headache and migraine, whilst reproduction of headache symptoms is important Dean has identified ‘Reproduction and Resolution = Relevancy’ of usual headache is unique to and an essential element of the Watson Headache. This is not only to reproduce the usual head pain but for that head pain to ease as the technique is sustained.

Unsure if this approach could help you? I would ask, does your headache occur only on one side, or swap from side to side, or spread from one side to include the other? Then your upper neck is likely to be the cause.

The Watson Headache technique is recognized internationally now practiced and taught in over 25 countries, for its unparalleled diagnostic accuracy and is unequaled in manual therapy approaches for headache and migraine conditions. If you can commit to a comprehensive assessment of your headache symptoms and upper neck then I can establish whether this treatment technique will be of benefit to you.

Su Bauman (Physiotherapist)

Call 5504 7000 to book in with Su Bauman and start on your path to headache free living! Wouldn’t that be nice.

Do you suffer from headache or migrane?

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Headache or migrane can be annoying or downright debilitating. You can take some Panadol or Nurofen or maybe go and see your GP. You tell your GP when you get your headaches, how they feel, how they affect you (your symptoms). He or she will then, most likely give a diagnosis based on the presentation of these symptoms. A diagnosis does not establish the cause of your pain. The symptoms are then primarily treated with medication which at best temporarily masks the pain but does not treat the cause.

Peter Rothbart MD and Director of Rothbart Pain Management Clinic in Canada stated…

“Approximately 800 new headache patients per year are examined at our clinic. An estimated 80% of these patients are diagnosed with cervicogenic headache. Of these patients, almost none are referred with this diagnosis. Physicians are not taught to consider or explore neck structures when investigating headaches. This results in a rarely diagnosed but common condition.” “One of the confusing phenomena about the cervicogenic headache is that its symptoms can present as migraine headaches, tension-type headaches or even cluster headaches.” Rothbart P. The cervicogenic headache: A pain in the neck. Can J Diagnos 1996; 13: 64–71.

(Dr. Peter Rothbart, Anaesthetist, Director, Rothbart Pain Management Clinic, 16 York Mills Road Toronto, Ontario – internationally recognized clinician and researcher)

More and more research is establishing the link between dysfunctional structures (joints, ligaments &/or disk material) and pain felt in our face, head and neck. Skilled examination and clinical reasoning can remove the need for guess work.

So if you have a friend or colleague who has headache or migraine please let them know that our senior physiotherapist, Susan Bauman can help by providing a skilled assessment of the upper cervical (neck) spine and work out if the neck is the cause of or contributing to their headache or migraine. (No cracking or twisting is involved)

It could be the first step to a headache or migrane free life. Wouldn’t that be nice?

 

 

Dry Needling to Release Muscle Pain

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dry needling

Dry needling is becoming a popular modality for musculoskeletal physiotherapists and other musculoskeletal practitioners.

Dry Needling, also known as Trigger Point Dry Needling, is a treatment which involves inserting an extremely fine, single use sterile needle, (acupuncture needle) into a Trigger Point. This has been found in many research studies to be extremely effective in releasing pain and tightness.

What is the difference between Dry Needling and Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory where needles are inserted along “energy channels” to affect “Chi” flow, (energy flow). Dry Needling, on the other hand, is based on Western medicine and scientific research and utilizes knowledge of anatomy & physiology and neurochemistry. The primary focus is to needle muscles which harbor trigger points.

What does it feel like?
Not every area needled will elicit the same sensation. In some areas you might feel a slight pricking sensation when the needle first touches the skin. As the needle is inserted deeper into the muscle it is expected that relaxed tissue in a normal functioning state will be painless. This is because the needle construction is very fine and the tip is designed to do very little damage. When the needle contacts a trigger point some people feel the muscle “twitch” this is the “local twitch response”. Others may feel a deep aching or burning sensation or it may feel like the muscle has tightened or “cramped”. Referred pain is common as every trigger point has a common referral zone, often quite distant to the actual Trigger Point. If a strong referral sensation occurs don’t panic, this is a good sign that the needle is doing its job. If the sensation you get reproduces part or all of your symptoms, this can mean that an active Trigger Pont is very likely the cause of your symptoms.

The evidence base for dry needling in various areas of physiotherapy has increased substantially over the past decade. In particular, research has grown to provide evidence-based support in the treatment of acute and chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, tension type and migraine headaches, pelvic pain, knee osteoarthritis, lateral elbow pain and shoulder conditions.

Chevron Island Physio is lucky to have 3 Physiotherapists who practice the art of dry needling. Call 5504 7000 to see if Dry Needling can ease your pain!

Massage Technique – Myofascial Therapy

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massage woman young beautiful isolated on white

Myofascial Release is a very effective hands-on therapy that has been used successfully for many years to treat difficult, recurring injuries and pain.
Myofascia is pronounced MY-O-FAASHA….. or kinda like the way Austin Powers says “father”….”faaaashhhaaaa” 🙂
It is dense connective tissue that encases your muscles and bones, think of it like cellophane wrap surrounding your muscles. It is very strong, in fact it has the tensile strength of over 900kgs!
In the normal, healthy state the Myofascia is relaxed and soft. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction.
When you experience physical trauma or inflammation the Myofascia loses its pliability. It can become tight, restricted and a source of tension throughout the rest of the body. Trauma, such as a fall whiplash, surgery or habitual poor posture has a cumulative effect over time.
When Myofascia is damaged or traumatized it can cause a number of problems such as:
• Headaches
• Muscle pain and spasms
• Chronic back and neck pain
• Recurring injuries
• Sciatica
• Breathing difficulties
• Sensations such as numbness and pins and needles
• Poor posture
Reduced flexibility
Myofascial Release is an effective hands-on therapy which can directly change and improve the health of the fascia. The purpose of Myofascial Release is to break down scar tissue, relax the muscle and fascia and ultimately restore correct posture.
The techniques of Myofascial Release Therapy help to re-organize and lengthen the tight tissue, allowing for better movement and health of the tissue. The pressure can range from very gentle touch to deeper pressure. Some patients may experience a slight burning sensation in the skin, which is perfectly normal and safe. Others may feel a gentle to deep stretch on the area being treated.
If you have any questions or to see if Myofascial Therapy is right for you, contact Kelsey Armstrong at Chevron Island Physio today on 5504 7000

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21 Adori St, Chevron Island, QLD 4217

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