Can Physiotherapists treat shoulder injuries

Can Physiotherapists treat shoulder injuries?

Physiotherapists successfully treat all joints including knees, ankles, thumbs, ribs, spine and shoulders. Physiotherapists also treat their associated soft tissue structures such as – muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursa, fascia.

The most common muscle group in the shoulder to be injured is rotator cuff. The rotator cuff muscles are four muscles around the shoulder which anchor and stabilise the arm bone to the shoulder blade. Of these rotator cuff muscles the Infraspinatus, Supraspinatus and Teres minor are the most commonly injured shoulder muscles.

Biceps tendonitis is another common shoulder injury that responds well to Physiotherapy. The biceps is a muscle that is used everyday to lift and carry things.  It is commonly injured because it is very difficult to stretch and sometimes over used.  As you lengthen the biceps muscle the elbow locks when your arm straightens and this limits the length that you can get in this muscle.

Tendonitis occurs when the muscle is over used and becomes inflamed due to repetitive use. This ailment is quite easily corrected with the use of Physiotherapy techniques such as soft tissue release and muscle relaxation techniques. Treatment of most tendonitis injuries can lasts four to six weeks.

Frozen shoulder.  This is a very painful and debilitating condition.  It is characterised by several different shoulder injuries occurring simultaneously resulting in significant reduction of movement in the shoulder due to pain, weakness and stiffness.  Treatment of this painful condition involves intensive soft tissue release, stretching and spinal mobilisation techniques.

Other common causes of shoulder injuries include referral of pain from neck or thoracic nerve compression, impingement syndromes caused by subacromial bursitis, rotator cuff tears in the elderly or young (associated with severe trauma and often dislocation), and osteoarthritis.

All of the above conditions can be treated successfully with Physiotherapy treatment. It is important to get the advice of a Physiotherapist on shoulder injuries as early intervention may reduce your pain and save you un necessary trips to the doctor or the pharmacy.

Sciatica

Sciatica

Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression or irritation of one of five spinal nerves which form the sciatic nerve. Pain is felt in the lower back, buttock or various parts of the leg and foot. In addition to pain, which can be severe, there may also be numbness, muscular weakness, pins and needles or tingling and difficulty in moving or controlling the leg. Typically, the symptoms are only felt on one side of the body.

Although sciatica is a relatively common form of low back and leg pain, the true meaning of the term is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis for what is irritating the root of the nerve, causing the pain.

Symptoms include:

• A cramping sensation of the thigh
• Shooting pains from the buttock, down the leg
• Tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations in the legs and thighs
• A burning sensation in the thigh

Vertebral instability

Vertebral Instability is abnormal movement between a bone in the spine and the one next to it. As a disc degenerates it loses tension which allows the disc to bulge and permits increasing movements to take place between the vertebrae. The loss of disc height causes the joints in the back to displace and override beyond their correct normal alignment. This overriding and abnormal slipping of the joints causes increased wear and tear and the production of bone spurs around the joint.

Symptoms:

• Catching pain when standing from sitting position
• Sudden pain when bending forward or backwards
• Pain on lifting
• Spasm in back muscles

Spondylolysis

Spondylolysis is a defect of a vertebra. It is typically caused by stress fracture of the bone, and is especially common in adolescents who overtrain in activities such as rowing, tennis, diving, martial arts, cricket pace bowlers and gymnastics.

Symptoms:

• Lower back pain that is worsened with activity
• Lower back pain that is worsened with bending back of the spine

What is Physiotherapy?

What is physiotherapy?

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. GPs refer more patients to physiotherapists than any other healthcare profession.

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.

Physiotherapy extends from health promotion to injury prevention, acute care, rehabilitation, maintenance of functional mobility, chronic disease management, patient and carer education and occupational health.

Physiotherapists treat a wide array of conditions including:

• Spinal pain and injuries (e.g. disc prolapse)
• Headaches
• Sports injuries (e.g. ligament tears)
• Fractures (e.g. broken arm)
• Musculoskeletal problems (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome)
• Post-surgical rehabilitation (e.g. following a knee replacement)
• Biomechanical problems (e.g. “flat feet”)
• Arthritic conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis)
• Neurological disorders and diseases (e.g. stroke)
• Cardiothoracic conditions (e.g. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders – COPD)
• And many more

Physiotherapists use a variety of tools including massage, joint mobilisation, stretching and various exercises. Physiotherapists may also use electrical modalities to reduce pain and inflammation including hot packs, ice, TENS, E-stim, ultrasound and laser treatment. Acupuncture and trigger point therapy is also widely practiced by Physiotherapists.

If you have any of the injuries or conditions listed above, give Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta a call today!

Is Physiotherapy, massage?

Physiotherapy is not just massage

Physiotherapy is a evidence-based profession that focuses on correcting movement dysfunction. Physiotherapists may use massage techniques in treating their patients. Pain, stiffness, trigger points, muscle tension and other conditions respond well to massage, but it is one of the few tools used by Physiotherapists. Before applying any techniques, your Physiotherapist will fully assess and discuss your condition with you. They will then device a plan to treat your injury and massage may be used if appropriate for your injury. Physio therapist Parramatta.

Benefits of Physiotherapy

• Improve stiffness
• Correct muscle imbalance
• Improve posture
• Increase range-of-motion and flexibility through stretches
• Ergonomic work station setups
• Reduce pain and stiffness caused by arthritis or any other musculoskeletal conditions
• Improve muscle function
• Pain relief
• Rehabilitate patients after surgery or car accidents.
• Educate patients to prevent injury

Physiotherapists play an important role in the Australian healthcare system. Physiotherapists are involved pre and post surgery, pain management, rehabilitation, sports, work injuries, motor vehicle accidents and many more areas. Come see us at Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta and see for yourself!

Is Physiotherapy Painful?

Is Physiotherapy Painful?

Physiotherapy in Parramatta: Is Physiotherapy painful? Quick answer to your question – rarely. Some people associate Physiotherapy with pain. And may choose not to use Physiotherapy as a natural way of alleviating pain. Physiotherapy aims to reduce pain by using various tools and techniques. Sometimes patients come in with a lot of pain – in such cases reduction in symptoms can take a while. In other cases, when areas of the body which have stiff for a while are mobilised, can cause short term soreness.

There may be minimal discomfort when the treatment starts and your Physiotherapist will work closely with you to make it a comfortable experience. Once treatment begins, you will find that pain will reduce and your body will become more flexible. Physiotherapists may also use modalities such as heat or cold packs, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and massage in order to make your exercise more tolerable and pain-free. In the case of arthritis, therapists may employ hydrotherapy which makes the exercises more comfortable.

Contact Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta today!

Calf Pain And Running

Could your driving posture be causing pain?

Could your driving posture be causing pain?

With the number of hours we spend in our cars commuting to and from Parramatta it could be possible that your driving posture is causing your symptoms. Common symptoms experienced by drivers include neck, shoulder, lower back and foot pain.

• Before you get into the car, empty your pockets – especially your back pockets, remove your jacket. Remove your wallets, phone and keys and ensure your clothing is not restrictive.
• Adjust the seat so that you’re not having to reach too far forward on the steering wheel
• Ensure you can visually see the road. If not, move the seat forward you should have a slight bend in your knee and be able to easily control the foot pedals
• Fix the tilt on your seat – you want to keep your spine upright by correcting the backrest position. Using small car pillows is a great way of correcting your spine position.
• Steering wheel position: Your arm and wrist should be comfortably on the top of the wheel without reaching forward. Keep both hands on the wheel to stop any twisting or side bending in sitting.
• Mirrors: Adjust your mirrors last to prevent any twist of the spine, neck protraction or leaning forward with the body.
• Foot placement: common areas of pain can be your heel or the ball of the foot. If you rest your foot on the floor this could lead to heel pain. Ensure that your foot is straight and use shoes that have cushioning around the heel. If pain is persisting once you stop driving this could indicate there is another underlying issue that may need to be treated. Pain in the ball of your foot is generally due to the contact point of the pedal, and is can be influenced by shoe choice. Ensure to wear comfortable shoes or implement gel padding if necessary to the pressure through the foot.

Even once you have established a good sitting position it is important to ensure you take regular breaks. For long distance drives take a minimum of 10-15 min breaks every 2 hours. When you stop ensure to walk and perform stretches. When you return to driving, recheck and adjust your sitting posture to alleviate your current symptoms.

If pain still persists, seek treatment from your Physiotherapist.

Conditions seen by a Physiotherapist

How can Physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy Injury Treatment: Physiotherapy can be beneficial for a wide range of injuries. Some of them are listed below. If you have been struggling with an ache or pain which just wont’ go away, get in touch with us today and see how we can help you.

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Whiplash – Motor vehicle accident (MVA)
• Shoulder pain
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Rib Pain
• General low back pain
• Lumbar disc injuries
• Sciatic referred pain
• Shin splints
• Tendon injuries
• Running related injuries
• Patellofemoral pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Complex ankle injuries
• And many more!

Get in touch with Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta today. Your local Physiotherapy clinic. Appointments available 6 days a week. Walking distance from Parramatta and Harris Park stations.

Do I need a referral to see a Physiotherapist?

Referrals are not necessary

Physiotherapists are primary health practitioners, patients do not need to visit a GP or a doctor before visiting a Physiotherapist.

However there are certain circumstances where a doctor’s referral is required. If you have had a motor vehicle accident and your Physiotherapy treatment is being covered by CTP insurance (compulsory third party insurance), a doctor’s referral is required along side an approval letter from the insurance company.

Similarly if you have had an injury at work and your Physiotherapy treatment is being covered by WorkCover (Now known as SIRA – State Insurance Regulatory Authority), you will require a referral from your GP and an approval letter from the insurance company.

If you are being treated under Medicare, you will also need a referral. Medicare provides limited Physiotherapy coverage under the Australian healthcare system. If you are eligible for treatment, your GP will have to provide you with an EPC (Enhanced Primary Care) referral before treatment can begin.

If you are have private health insurance or a private paying patient, no referrals are required. We can communicate directly with your GP and keep them updated with your progress.

Patient Centered Care

Even if your doctor has given you a referral to see another Physiotherapist, you are still entitled to choose any Physiotherapist you wish. Simply bring the referral in with you to your first session and we will let the referring doctor know that you have commenced treatment with us.

Physiotherapists can also issue attendance certificates which can only be issued after you have been seen by a Physiotherapist.

For more information call us on 0479 080 800 or 0479 080 800 for more information. Our clinic is located at 12 Ada Street, Harris Park. Five minutes walk from Parramatta and Harris Park stations. On site parking available.