Back Disc Bulge Treatment Parramatta

We use a cognitive functional approach to back pain and disc bulge treatment here at Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta.
Low back pain is a very common condition in the population and most likely we will all experience some back pain in our their lives.

What are lower back discs?

The inter vertebral discs separate the vertebrae of the spine.
Discs in theory have a role in absorption and stabilisation as well as allowing movement in the back joints.
Discs are comprised of two parts; annulus fibrosis (outer fibrous layer) and the nucleus pulposis (inner layer)

Terms used to describe disc injury include

Disc bulge
Ruptured disc
Herniated disc
Prolapsed disc

Normal pain free people can have all disc changes on their spinal scans including MRI and CT’s.

Symptoms of disc injury

Some people with disc bulges can complain of:

• Back pain
• Radiated pain into the leg
• Numbness or pins and needles into the leg
• Weakness in the leg and foot
• Pain worse with coughing and sneezing
• Pain worse with bending or sitting for extended periods.

What physical things affect disc injuries

• Incorrect lifting techniques – Our spines naturally moves with a little bend and in fact with conditioning can become very strong.
• Poor posture has been widely publicised as a caused of disc injury but there isn’t real research to back up this theory. However, Curitn University are currently researching this at the moment and hopefully the results will clarify this for us.
• Obesity- This is still a risk factor in having back pain generally and not necessarily a risk for developing disc budges
• Lack of regular exercise and strength

Self-Care for Disc Bulges

Some things that have been used include:

• Relative rest in the correct alignment, resting in provocative positions such as sitting can worsen the condition
• Over-the-counter pain-relieving medication
• Ice packs or warm packs
• Upright posture
• Resting the back by not bending, twisting or lifting heavy weights
• Warm baths
• Sleeping on a mattress that is not too soft or too hard
• Ergonomic furniture, such as chairs with lumbar support
• Gentle exercises to strengthen and support the lower back
• Gentle walking program as pain permits

However, there aren’t any real direct link that these interventions have a direct affect on the disc budge in the current research but some do have an effect on reducing pain perception.

Treatment for Disc Bulges

• Physiotherapy
• Medication including pain relief and anti-inflammatories
• Epidural steroid injections into the disc region
• Manipulative therapies
• Surgery
• Alternate therapies such as Trigger point therapy or dry needling

Surgery for Disc Bulges

• Unless you have a severe nerve compression causing leg numbness, muscle strength loss, loss of reflexes then surgery is usually not recommended
• There has been recent increase in spinal fusions an all in the private sector
• Back surgery for back and leg pain only is no more effective than good, high value physiotherapy care.

Physiotherapy

• Soft Tissue Release: Muscle tension is usually a symptom of the underlying problem and can assist to unwind a tense area
• Spinal mobilisations or joint mobilisations can have good outcomes to ease symptoms
• Dry needling or acupuncture can also ease muscle tightness and have positive effects for disc budge related pain
• Ultrasound, interferential, shockwave, any most machines haven’t been shown to speed up recovery

What do we do

Our clinic uses a cognitive functional approach to back care management of spinal related pain.
We do a full assessment to get a clear understanding of your situation, covering all aspects of what we know causes pain and injury
We will work with you to develop a management program addressing all aspects that are limiting your recovery.

Contact Us:

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on admin [email protected] for further details. Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back on track.

Disc Bulges / Disc Herniation Physiotherapy

Disc Bulges / Disc Herniation Physiotherapy

What is a disc bulge?

Disc budges refer to a spinal injury, that can occur in the cervical (neck), thoracic (midback) or lumbar (lowerback). The disc is a fluid filled sac in between two spinal bones (vertebrae), that has an outer part (annulus fibrosis) and an inner part (nucleus propolsus).

How do disc bulges happen?

When an individual does a lot of repetitive bending (bending at the lower back spine instead of knees and hips), this causes a more pressure being put on the disc. Examples of activities that can cause disc bulges include but not limited to:

• Bending your back when lifting heavy boxes
• Doing heavy deadlifts at the gym without properly engaging your lower back
• Injury at work
• Motor vehicle accident
• Being in a prolonged siting position when in the car

Does a ‘disc bulge’ mean there is a problem with my back?

Not always. If a patient comes in and they have ‘mild or small disc bulge’, it doesn’t always mean that there is an issue. This is because any given individual can have no pain but also still have finding on an MRI scan. The issue with having a disc bulge is when they bulge, and protrude backwards, and pinch the spinal nerves on the left or ride sides of the back, running out of the intervertebral foraminae. When the nerves are pinched by the produding disc, they cause inflammation and irritation, and therefore the patient will report symptoms such as:

• Weakness in leg muscles, especially during walking
• Sharp shooting radiating pain down the leg
• Pins and needles
• Burning sensations
• Numbness
• More serious symptoms: Inability to control bowl or bladder ** This is considered a medical emergency

What to do if you have a disc bulge?

As soon as you get any signs of lower back pain or radiating symptoms, you should consult a Physiotherapist to get a professional opinion about your symptoms. If there is a disc buldge that causes pinching on the nerve you can expect treatment which may include:

• Therapy to reduce your pain and inflammation in the area
• Release tight muscles around your lower back, hips, gluteals that tend to become tight and cause more pain
• Manual therapy aimed at reducing nerve compression
• Once your initial symptoms have settled, further treatment will also be needed, which involves core strengthening exercises through exercises, to strengthen all the stabilizing back muscles around the spine. By having the deep muscles contract and stabilise the spine, this reduces the pressure applied to the disc, and therefore will prevent recurrences of this issue.

Knee Fracture Rehab Physio Parramatta

Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta 12 Ada Street Harris Park NSW 2150

Conservative PostFracture Rehabilitation

Patient Presentation:

Here we have a 35 year old male who sustained a non displaced distal Femoral condyle fracture. He was managed conservatively with non weight bearing for 6-8 weeks and a splint to limit knee range of motion. Physiotherapy normally starts once the patient has been cleared by the Orthopaedic specialist and the fracture has stabilised.

Initial phase of treatment: Can take 4-6 weeks. Increase knee range of movement
Mid phase of treatment: Can take 6-12 weeks. Start taking full body weight
Later phase of treatment: 12 weeks+ Increased resistance with weights, balance training, return to sports

Marked swelling and muscle atrophy noted on left knee.
Initial treatment focused on soft tissue release to reduce muscle tightness, swelling and increasing knee range of movement

Later phase of treatment: Full weight bearing exercises

Increased loading:

Results:

We are only in the early stages of rehab, but after 4-6 weeks of treatment, home exercises, clinic based exercises with weights, muscle bulk in the calf and quadriceps is starting to come back.

Contact Us:

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on admin [email protected] for further details. Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back on track.

NDIS Physiotherapy Exercise Program

Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta 12 Ada Street Harris Park NSW 2150: NDIS Physiotherapy Exercise Program

NDIS Physiotherapy Exercise Program: Patient Profile

Here we have one of our regular NDIS patients who visits us at our clinic in Parramatta.

Age: 55 year old male
Diagnosis: Stroke, affecting right upper limb, weakness in upper limb >> lower limb

NDIS Goal:  To increase his lower body strength to allow him to walk 30 minutes / day at the local park with his support workers.

NDIS Exercise Program:

Exercise 1: Sit to Stands from a chair

Aim for 10 repetitions
And if you are up to it, aim for 2 or 3 sets
** Please Note: Speak with your NDIS health professional before commencing these exercises at home
** Always have supervision when exercising

Exercise 2: Heel raisers

Stand with support from a wall
Raise your heels
Aim for 10 repetitions
And if you are up to it, aim for 2 or 3 sets
** Please Note: Speak with your NDIS health professional before commencing these exercises at home
** Always have supervision when exercising

Exercise 3: Step up and down

Stand with support from a wall
Step up and down at a comfortable pace
Aim for 10 repetitions
And if you are up to it, aim for 2 or 3 sets
** Please Note: Speak with your NDIS health professional before commencing these exercises at home
** Always have supervision when exercising

Contact Us:

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on admin [email protected] for further details. Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back on track.

Other links you may find useful:

NDIS Physio Parramatta 

NDIS Physiotherapy Treatment

NDIS Physiotherapy Exercise Program

Rydalmere NDIS Physiotherapy

NDIS Registered Physiotherapy

NDIS Physiotherapy Treatment

NDIS Physio Treatment

NDIS Physio Provider Parramatta

NDIS Physio Provider Parramatta

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australian Government initiative to help participants living with a disability access healthcare and other services they require. The NDIS is a funding tool designed for people living with a significant and permanent disability. To determine if you’re eligible for funding please visit the NDIS website www.NDIS.gov.au and view the access requirements. Eligible participants can receive funding from NDIS to pay for the Physiotherapy and other approved services.

How can we help?

Physiotherapists are health professionals skilled in the assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitation and treatment of people living with a disability. Physiotherapy can help with:

• Mobility / Gait training
• Walking aid selection
  • Walking sticks
  • Crutches
  • Four wheeled walkers
  • Wheelchairs
  • Hoists
• Rehabilitation

NDIS Physio Provider Parramatta: Treatment options

• We can provide treatment at our Parramatta clinic
• Home visits
• Treatment is dependant on your goals and what you would like to achieve
• Treatment may include:
  • Exercises to strengthen muscles
  • Stretching to relieve tight muscles and joints
  • Hands on Physiotherapy techniques
    • Soft tissue techniques
    • Manual therapy
    • Spinal pain
    • Joint pain 

What services do we offer?

• Home visits
• Clinic appointments
• Mobility and transfer aid selection
• Home exercise and stretching programs
• Manual handling training
• Pain relief

How do I pay for the service?

We see participants who are NDIS managed, Plan managed and Self managed.

How can I book an appointment?

If you’re eligible for NDIS, we encourage you to give us a call on 0479 080 800 or leave a message and we will call you to discuss how we can assist you better. Our clinic is located walking distance from Parramatta and Harris Park stations. We also cater for surrounding suburbs such as Lidcombe, Auburn, Granville, Merrylands, Greystanes, Westmead, Rydalmere and many more.

Contact Us:

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on admin [email protected] for further details. Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back on track.

Other Links:

Car Accident Physiotherapy

Whiplash Treatment Parramatta

CTP Insurance Physiotherapy Claims

What to do after a car accident

Physiotherapy After A Car Accident

I Was Injured in a Car Accident. Do I Need to see a Physio?

Car Accident Injury And Treatment

Car Accident Injuries & Treatment: What to Expect Physically After an Accident

Whiplash: What You Should Know About This Common Car Accident Injury

Motor Vehicle Accident Claims

Physiotherapy Treatment For Car Accident Injuries

Pre-Employment Assessment Parramatta

Pre-Employment Assessment Parramatta

What does a pre-employment assessment include?

The main components include the potential employee’s medical history, customised physical examination, job-specific functional capacity assessments and other tests based on the job applied for.

Medical Questionnaire Review

Medical questionnaires help determine whether a candidate is healthy enough to perform the inherent requirements of a given job. This questionnaire is filled out by the potential employee and reviewed by the assessor. The questionnaire is tailored to enquire only about physical and medical information that is specifically and directly related to the job applied for.

Potential employees are asked questions relating to their work history, previous injuries, medical history, including exposure to chemicals, hazardous substances and work-related injuries. The questionnaires may vary depending on the job.

General Physiological Tests

General medical examinations involve a range of checks and tests that help give employers a general overview of a candidate’s health status and help detect disease or risk factors early. Tests include blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, height and BMI.

Functional assessment

Functional assessments are designed to assess the potential employee’s ability to carry out the physical requirements of a job role. Assessors will test the following:

1. Musculoskeletal Joint Range of Motion

The range of motion is a measurement of how far an individual can move and bend their joints. During a pre-employment, candidates are asked to perform a series of movements, including bending and straightening the knee, shoulder and hip joints, with the assessor monitoring the range of motion and any associated symptoms.

2. Anatomical Joint Integrity

The condition of our body joints affects our ability to perform physical activities. Many different issues can diminish joint integrity. Increased stiffness or muscle tightness can also have an affect on the individual’s joints which can cause restricted mobility and reduced functional capacity.

3. Strength and Balance

Strength and balance are an important part of a pre-employment assessment.  During a typical strength test, candidates may be asked to push against resistance or lift/push their arms against downward pressure.

4. Back flexibility and abdominal endurance

Back flexibility and abdominal endurance contribute greatly to the stability of the spinal column and, as a result – injury prevention. Examiners assess the ability of potential employees to assume the correct position when performing tasks.

5. Postural Tolerances

Postural tolerance assessments determine the ability to maintain certain postures intrinsic to a task. These can include standing, sitting and neck postures. If a potential employee cannot hold all or some of the postures, they may be unable to perform the job safely.

6. Lifting

Depending on the job description, part of the pre employment test will focus on lifting different weights in different positions. This can include lifting 5 – 20 Kg from floor to waist level, waist to shoulder height and above shoulder height. This can be varied and entirely depends on the job at hand.

7. Grip Strength

Hand-grip strength is a limiting factor when manually lifting and carrying loads. Lifting assessments consider the grip strength of potential employees and involves the measurement of how much weight one can safely lift and carry at varying heights (floor, waist, and shoulder).

7. Push/Pull tolerances

The assessment considers the load weight, the distance and frequency of the pull/push tasks. Employees should be able to initiate and keep the load in motion without exposing themselves to the risk of injury.

A pre-employment assessment can help you reduce your organisation’s onboarding time and expenses. Most importantly, it ensures employee safety by helping you select individuals able to perform their tasks without undue risk of injury to themselves or others.

At Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta, our team is dedicated to providing accurate pre-employment assessments for a range of industries. Our assessors are suitably qualified and can administer all components of pre-employment assessments. Our services are available in Parramatta and we can also do site visits. For more information about our services contact us.