Today, physiotherapy is an evidence-based discipline that involves comprehensive assessment, often pain relieving treatment, advice on self-management, and progression of return to normal life. This approach can manage a diverse array of health issues, thanks to the expert understanding of human anatomy and movement gained by physiotherapists during their training and job experience. These professionals cater to individuals of all ages, dealing with conditions ranging from musculoskeletal problems and sports injuries to chronic health issues.
If you’re considering a session for physiotherapy in Knoxfield or where you reside but aren’t sure about the conditions it can treat, here’s some you must know.
Back and Neck Pain
As the biggest health problem on the planet (as rated by the Global Burden of Disease statistics release each year), persistent pain in the back or neck can disrupt daily activities and cause extended periods of disabling pain and suffering.
Physiotherapy offers crucial interventions that alleviate both back and neck pain and enhance mobility, providing relief and improving quality of life. This can range from manual therapy to taping, or might require a deeper look at the life situation of the patient – improving understanding and management of this serious issue.
Sports Injuries
Sports injuries come in a range of different shapes and sizes (as can sports, really!). However, specific sports injuries like stress fractures, tendinopathies, sprains and strains can be effectively treated through targeted physiotherapy programs.
These programs not only aid in recovery but also include preventive exercises to ensure quick and safe rehabilitation, and successful return to sport without reinjury.
Headache
Headaches can stem from musculoskeletal issues such as muscle tightness, poor neck mobility, or TMJ disorders from clenching or grinding – but they can also be from extremely serious primary medical issues. The first and most important part is accurate diagnosis, because just having head pain, nausea and light sensitivity doesn’t necessarily mean migraine!
Physiotherapy can address some of the underlying issues with treatments that may range from heat application to massage and manual therapy, mindfulness meditation to reduce stress and clenching, to specific exercises designed to improve motor control and reduce tension.
Jaw Pain
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorders involves acute inflammation of the joint where the jaw joins on to the head, and can cause significant discomfort in the face, teeth or head. Often accompanied by clicking of the jaw during chewing or yawning, and sometimes hearing disturbance like tinnitus or feelings of the ear being blocked (due to swelling of the joint which is adjacent the auditory canal and some nerves).
Physiotherapy treatments for TMJ may include modalities to reduce inflammation, manual therapy, exercises, postural advice, and lifestyle adjustments. Stress is one of the major contributors to this condition, both from the behavioural perspective (clenching, biting lip) and because it sensitises the nervous system (as the immune system detects the chemicals of stress and secretes inflammation into the nerve connections).
Concussion
The incidence of concussion is on the rise, especially with the rising popularity of girls AFL in Australia, yet many are unaware of the benefits of physiotherapy in managing symptoms such as headaches, balance issues, and dizziness. Also, our understanding of the potential long term cognitive impairment from poor management or repeated incidents has developed in the last 5-10 years, meaning more evidence-based assessment and management procedures have been developed.
Participating in pre-season concussion assessment program can be beneficial because it establishes baseline data for athletes, and allows more effective decisions to be made around returning to normal cognitive function, other than just subjective reports of how “someone feels.”
Vertigo
Vertigo causes sensations of dizziness and loss of balance, with nausea and vomiting and can increase the risk of falls.
Through physiotherapy in Knoxfield, and our Knox clinic, we can assess the type of vertigo that a patient may be experiencing, and then implement potential treatment and self-treatment options, along with attenuation exercises to gradually return the nerves involved in the symptoms to normal levels of sensitivity (and therefore ease the symptoms).
Arthritis
Another common condition that’s widespread is arthritis, being more coming than high blood pressure and diabetes. This is the most common lifestyle disease in people aged 65 or older, and it is estimated that over 2 million Australians have hip or knee arthritis. Arthritis involves joint changes and inflammation, leading to chronic pain. It is responsible for more than 1.5 million consultations at the GP each year.
Best practice management has changed significantly as a result of research over the last 10 years, and now the clinical guidelines of education, exercise and weight control have been formulated into package called GLA: D (Good Living with Arthritis: Denmark). This involves 2 x education sessions, 12 exercise sessions over 6 weeks, progression to self-management and testing of function and pain improvements over this time.
Sciatica
Characterised by pain radiating down the leg and some testable loss of nerve function (numbness, reflexes, pin prick, temperature sensation and weakness), sciatica can often be effectively treated by physiotherapists. Starting with a neurological assessment, often reading and interpreting your MRI scans, and discussing the likelihood of resolution with movement, treatment and time. It used to be thought that disc prolapses are for life, but now turns out that very high percentages of them self-resolve over 3-6 months.
Treatments may include manual therapy, neurodynamic exercise, strengthening exercises, and occupational rehabilitation.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the condition you’re facing, Physiotherapists can offer a path to pain relief and accelerated recovery. We play a vital role in managing persistent pain, whether from obvious trauma or more insidious onset, or from daily activities.
Considering clinics for physiotherapy in Knoxfield or Knox? Hills Physiotherapy is here to assist. Our team of highly trained practitioners deliver physiotherapy services for various conditions. We are professional, friendly, and can flexibly arrange your sessions to meet your wellness goals. Contact us for a consultation and start your journey to better health, or book online at https://hillsphysiotherapy.bookings.pracsuite.com/guest