Physiotherapy

Our Physiotherapists help children and adults get the most out of life. We help you or your child to improve then maintain functional levels, recover from injury, reduce pain and stiffness, increase mobility and prevent injury. We listen to your needs and concerns to tailor a treatment specific to you or your child's condition. Many of our clients have lifelong conditions that require regular physio to keep them mobile, strong and flexible, to prevent their condition deteriorating, and to support them to live their life as they choose whilst managing pain and disability. We work with our clients to minimise the negative effects of disability, pain, and reduced confidence in their physical abilities. 

As first contact practitioners, you don’t need a doctor's referral to see a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists, doctors, and other health professionals such as occupational therapists will often work as part of a team to plan and manage treatment for a specific condition. Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy can sometimes be closely related & work on similar goals such as improving coordination & fine / gross motor skills. For children with coordination difficulties, issues playing with other children and clumsiness, physiotherapy can really help. 

Physiotherapists are highly trained to assess you or your child's condition, diagnose the problem, and help you understand what can be done to improve things. The treatment plan will be designed with you, to take into account your lifestyle, activities, choices, your goals and health. Our physiotherapists have undertaken additional professional development in the areas of paediatrics and disabilities, which are both complex fields of practice. Paediatric physiotherapy is often play-based and disguised as fun! We make sure clients are engaged, doing activities they enjoy, and we accommodate any needs they may have.

The following are common treatment methods used by our physiotherapists:

• Exercise & rehabilitation programs to improve mobility and strengthen muscles
• Joint & soft tissue manipulation and mobilisation to reduce pain and stiffness
• Muscle re-education to improve control and stability, managing conditions such as hypermobility & EDS
• Assist in the management of autism, ADHD, developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia) and global developmental delay 
• Neurological rehabilitation to improve coordination, movement and function such as walking, ball skills, play activities & activities of daily living
• Airway clearance techniques and breathing techniques
• Soft tissue mobilisation, myofascial release and massage
• Prescription of and assistance with use of home aids & equipment, splints, crutches, transfer aids, walking frames and wheelchairs to help you move around safely
• Pain relief using electrotherapy such as TENS and class 4 Laser
• Kinesiotape (Sports taping)
• Custom splints, braces & casting
• Compression garments for trunk support
• SMO's and AFO's 
• We use an app to send you a tailored program of activities for home, including video and step by step instructions of exactly what to do and how.

Physiotherapists must hold a Bachelors, Masters or professional Doctorate program that is approved by the Physiotherapy Board of Australia for the purposes of registration with AHPRA. To register, and then maintain their annual registration, physiotherapists must meet professional standards such as recent practice, continuing professional education, criminal history checks and work in accordance with the Physiotherapy Board's Code of Conduct. Physiotherapists must also be covered by professional indemnity insurance while practicing.

One of our human physios also treats animals - click here for more information.

#paedsphysio #physioforkids #kidsphysioNDIS #kidsphysiostmarys