PHYSIOTHERAPY
Physiotherapy @ Saltfleet Clinic
No matter where you're at, from elite athlete to weekend warrior, from young to elderly and everything in between, our highly skilled Physiotherapy team will conduct a thorough assessment and diagnosis of your complaint, followed by a treatment program designed to be just right for you.
Our Physiotherapists will work collaboratively with you and your goals to devise treatment strategies to manage your pain, improve your function and overall quality of life.
We utilise personalised, evidence-based treatment techniques to ensure you receive the best possible care and to optimise your recovery. As a team we have a particular focus on Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, however have extensive experience with a wide range of conditions.
Common Conditions We Treat
NECK PAIN AND HEADACHES
Our neck, otherwise known as the cervical spine, is the most flexible part of the spine and is such an important part of our body and knowing where we are in space. Neck pain can be experienced anywhere in the neck, but can also be felt in the shoulder, shoulder blade region and the upper limb, otherwise known as referred pain.
SHOULDER PAIN
Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint and is directly involved with other parts of the shoulder girdle including the shoulder blade (scapula) and the thorax (upper back). The shoulder is a very mobile joint and therefore depends on surrounding musculature and other supports for stability.
WOMEN'S HEALTH
Our physiotherapist Lucy has done further study in Women’s Pelvic Health, and can help you with a range of your women’s health needs. Some of the conditions that can be addressed include prenatal and postnatal physiotherapy, pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions, abdominal separation, urinary/faecal incontinence, overactive bladder and pelvic organ prolapse.
TENDON PAIN
Often termed ‘tendinitis’ or ‘tendinosis’, but has more recently been described as ‘tendinopathy’. Tendinopathy can be classified into acute or reactive tendinopathy and chronic or degenerative tendinopathy. The main job of a tendon is to store and release energy and act a bit like a spring.
SPORTING INJURIES
Acute sporting injuries are unexpected and can have a significant impact on one's life. It can be reassuring to understand what injury you have sustained, the predicted recovery time/prognosis and the specific rehabilitation required to get you back to sport and work as soon as possible without the risk of re-injury.
VERTIGO AND DIZZINESS
Vertigo is very common and accounts for approximately 54% of cases of dizziness (Cranfield et al., 2010). Patients with vertigo will describe a sensation of movement of the environment around them. A patient may say they feel like the room is spinning or that they feel like they are spinning within the room.
Evidence Based and Proven Treatment Methods
MANUAL THERAPY Manual therapy can include joint mobilisation, trigger point therapy, nerve mobilisation and more. These techniques are designed to provide symptom relief and to allow you to move with more freedom and less pain. Manual therapy is often highly beneficial in the acute stage of an injury, as it can provide immediate relief and start the rehabilitative process.
EXERCISE THERAPY This is often the most important part of your treatment both in the short and long term. Your exercise program will be tailored to suit your individual needs and goals. Exercise is the most proven strategy for not only reducing pain, but also returning to function and improving quality of life.
DRY NEEDLING Dry needling is a treatment technique which involves a very fine needle being inserted into the skin and muscle. It’s important to recognise that dry needling and acupuncture are not the same thing. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine practice, with a focus on restoring chi in the body via different meridian lines, whereas dry needling is a Western, evidence based practice focusing on muscles and other tissues. The aim of dry needling is to target ‘trigger points’, which are often referred to as taut bands of muscle, or sensitive muscle tissue. While the mechanism remains unclear, dry needling has been shown to have a positive impact on pain and function. Research suggests that when dry needling is used in combination with exercise, it may have a positive impact on LBP. However, dry needling is not a long term solution and should be used in combination with other management strategies such as education and exercise.
MCKENZIE METHOD The McKenzie Method is often referred to as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy or MDT and is a systematic and proven approach to assessing, diagnosing and treating spinal and joint pain. MDT was developed in the 1950s and has continually developed and evolved, being strongly influenced by research. MDT has a strong emphasis on autonomy and self-management and while this is a big focus, manual therapy is often required, especially in the early stages of treatment.
PILATES Pilates is a form of exercise that can be used as part of your rehabilitation. Pilates has a strong focus on core strength, breathing and awareness of your body in space. Pilates principles can be applied to movement in general and is a fantastic way to build confidence, strength and mobility. Check out our blog, which explains Pilates in more detail.
EXERCISE CLASSES These can be a great way to improve exercise adherence and staying motivated. Having a Physiotherapist guide you through your exercise program can also improve your confidence and ensure you are moving safely and effectively. Working in a group environment can also be highly motivating and encouraging as you will often work with others who may be going through something similar.
PAIN EDUCATION We are passionate about education and truly believe education is power. Understanding your pain or dysfunction and what it means to you is a really important part of your recovery and can help to build your confidence to move and feel more in control.
PRENATAL CLASSES Keeping active during your pregnancy is really important for the health of both mum and bub. Prenatal classes help strengthen the whole body with a focus on pelvic floor muscles, core muscles and hip muscles to keep your changing body feeling strong and supported through all trimesters. Prenatal classes prevent pelvic girdle pain, back pain and improve postnatal recovery.
PELVIC FLOOR ASSESSMENT Pelvic floor muscle assessments are used to diagnose pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions. Evidence demonstrates that ~84.5% of women can contract their pelvic floor muscles correctly when asked. However, 31.4% of women with both pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence contract their pelvic. Correct pelvic floor muscle contraction is key to managing urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and back pain. In the case of a pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, your physiotherapist will then commence pelvic floor muscle training. Evidence shows that women who undergo supervised pelvic floor muscle training, have much greater outcomes with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
PHOTOBIOMODULATION - MLS LASER THERAPY Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Laser Therapy is a form of Photobiomodulation Therapy, otherwise known as Low Level Laser Therapy. Our MLS laser uses an innovative and patented method that delivers therapeutic and analgesic wavelengths simultaneously. This has an efficient effect on pain, inflammation and oedema. MLS Laser therapy is a safe, quick and painless treatment to improve tissue repair, reduce pain and inflammation. It has no known side effects and can assist in recovery after surgery, traumas or fractures.
VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION An exercise-based treatment program designed to promote normal function of your vestibular system, which will improve balance and reduce related dizziness. The goals of vestibular rehabilitation are to enhance gaze stability, enhance postural stability, improve vertigo and to improve activities of daily living.