Physiomatters offers a professional, caring and high quality service
to the people of the Wide Bay and its many visitors
YOUR PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
Stacey Carson
Clinical Physiotherapist and owner of Physiomatters
Stacey Graduated as a Physiotherapist from the University of Queensland in 1986. She spent 4 years working in Canada, but has been working in Private Practice in Hervey Bay since 1991. (Apart from a further 2 years working in Canada from 2003 til 2005). Stacey has done a diversity of courses since graduating and therefore has a large variety of techniques to utilise when treating your particular injury or complaint. Dry Needling, muscle energy and Group Exercise classes are just a few of the techniques she specialises in.
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Services
Musculoskeletal Pain Assessment and Management
Physiotherapists are highly trained in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.
Your pain could be from your joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves or a combination of some or all of these.
At Physiomatters we are able to:
- Relieve or reduce your pain or dysfunction
- Help you manage your injury
- Return you to your normal activities, sport or work at a quicker rate
- Give you a program to help improve your fitness, strength, flexibility, balance and co-ordination
- Help prevent recurrence of your injury or pain
- Improve your posture
Sports Injuries
Sports injuries require a specialised regime of treatment and rehabilitation that is aimed specifically at not only their injuries, but at their particular sport.
Athletes normally push their bodies to a higher level of performance which can place a greater stress on their joints, muscles and ligaments. Their injuries need to be assessed thoroughly. The injury may be acute or chronic; the athlete may have an overuse injury or a muscle imbalance contributing to their pain.
At Physiomatters we have a long history of assessing and treating athletes of all ages and all skill levels. We use the latest technology, combined with hands-on techniques, advice and exercise programs to assist in a fast and effective recovery for the athlete.
Women's Health
One in three women who have had a baby suffers from loss of bladder control. One out of twenty adults suffers from poor bladder and bowel control. Remember men can also suffer from incontinence.
The Pelvic Floor muscle supports the pelvic organ muscles (bowel, bladder and in women the uterus). The muscle also controls the passage of urine from the bladder and faeces from the bowel and in women it also controls the vagina. It should be taut like a trampoline.
Weakness can be caused from pregnancy, childbirth, being overweight, frequent heavy lifting, straining to empty your bowel, hormonal changes in women and post- prostectomy in men.
Most people do not seek help as they are embarrassed, however, in most cases we can either cure or help them manage their problems. After correct assessment and diagnosis we will give you advice, education and exercises. These exercises range from specific pelvic floor exercises to core stability, ball and Pilates exercises.
Gym and Hydrotherapy
Not only is your Physiotherapist trained to assess and treat your injury, they are also trained to set up your exercise and rehabilitation program. They are in a unique position to advice you on what exercises will aid your recovery and also what exercises will aggravate your injury and therefore should be avoided.
Your physiotherapists from Physiomatters will take you to the gym or pool of your choice and set up an exercise program that is specifically designed for you and your injury, pain or dysfunction.
Your program will be age appropriate and aimed at improving your pain levels and function, while correcting your muscle imbalances, posture and balance. For the athlete it will also be sport specific.
Your Physiotherapist will review and amend your program on a regular basis so that you continue to progress toward your ultimate goal and achieve maximum benefit from your exercise regime.
Pre and Post Operative Assessment and Treatment
At Physiomatters we like to see you before you have your surgery so we can inform you on what to expect post operatively and go through your post operative exercises.
Your surgery is just the beginning of your recovery. In hospital you will be seen by a physiotherapist who will get you mobile and give you gentle exercises to help prevent lung infections and DVTs. They will also start you on your recovery journey with gentle exercises.
Once you leave hospital you will need to attend physiotherapy to be re-assessed. We will look at your long term goals and set you a program of exercises and hands on therapy to help you achieve them.
Different surgeons have different post-operative protocols. We liase closely with the surgical team to achieve the best result for you.
Surgeries that commonly require Post-operatively physiotherapy include:
- Upper limb:
Dupuytrens contracture, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tendon repairs, post fracture
Tennis elbow or golfers elbow release, post fracture
Total shoulder replacement, Rotator cuff repair, Acromioplasty, Putti Platt (shoulder stabilisation), post fracture.
- Lower limb:
Achilles tendon repair, Ankle replacement or reconstruction, bunionectomy, removal of spur, post fracture
Total and partial knee replacements, Ligament reconstruction, arthroscope, menical repairs, patella tendon transfers, post fracture
Total hip replacements, labral tears repaired, arthroscopy, post fracture.
- Spine:
Fusion, Laminectomy, Discectomy
Conditions We Treat
Lower back pain is a common problem, affecting over 60% of the population. There are many causes of back pain, thankfully the majority are of a short term nature, resolving in a few days.
Symptoms are varied in nature and include:
- Dull ache
- Sharp and shooting pain
- Localised
- Referred
- Burning
- Stabbing
- Sciatica
- Piriformis syndrome
- Joint stiffness and pain (facet, disc or sacroiliac)
- Disc bulge
- Degenerative disc disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Muscle strain
- Fibromyalgia
- Poor core stability
- Anklylosing Spondylitis
- Scheuemanns Disease
Neck pain and stiffness is a common problem that in the majority of cases can be easily fixed.
Neck pain can be caused from:
- Stiff or locked joints
- Muscle spasm
- Muscle imbalance
- Poor posture
- Mobilisation/ manipulation of affected joints
- Traction
- Trigger point release of tight muscles
- Massage and muscle stretches
- Dry needling
- Postural education
- Ergonomic advice
- Core stability exercises
- Electrotherapy and ultrasound
Sciatica describes a pain that originates in your back and can refer down your leg to your foot. The name is derived from the Sciatic nerve that runs down the back of your leg. Irritation of this nerve can cause pain that is localised to the buttock or to in the calf, it can travel to the knee or all the way down to the foot. The pain can be described as burning, aching or sharp and shooting. You can have associated pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the affected leg. You can also experience bowel or bladder dysfunction.
A correct diagnosis is important and you physiotherapist may refer you to your Doctor for X-rays, CT scans or MRIs.
Your Physiotherapist will not only assess your back, but will check nerve length, reflexes, sensation and strength in your affected leg.
Causes of Sciatica can include:
- Disc protrusion
- Facet joint dysfunction
- Degeneration in the spine
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Spondylolisthesis
- Sacroiliac dysfunction
- Spinal stenosis
- Mobilisation/ manipulation of affected joints
- Traction
- Trigger point release of tight muscles
- Massage and muscle stretches
- Dry needling
- Postural education
- Ergonomic advice
- Core stability exercises
- Electrotherapy and ultrasound
- Muscle energy
- Mulligan and McKenzie techniques
- Group Exercise Classes
Piriformis syndrome causes pain in the buttock and can refer down the back of the leg to the foot. It can mimic sciatica, as in this syndrome, the Piriformis muscle impinges the sciatic nerve.
The Piriformis muscle is a deep muscle in the buttock that runs from your sacrum (base of your lumbar spine) to the outside of your femur (thigh). It is used sit to stand, climbing stairs, lifting and squatting. In 10% of people the sciatic nerve passes through the muscle fibres, in all others the nerve runs very close to the muscle.
A correct diagnosis is important.
Treatment can include:
- Stretches of the Piriformis Muscle
- Frictions
- Ultrasound
- Interferential
- Dry Needling
- Education
There are thought to be over 300 causes of headaches and migraines which can affect approximately 75% of the population. However the majority of headaches come from three main causes:
- Cervicogenic Headache (or neck headache)
- Tension headache
- Migraine
- Neck pain
- Unilateral head pain
- Pain or tension at the front of the head
- Pain or tension at the back of the head
- Jaw pain
- Pain in the temple
- Dizziness, light-headedness, nausea
- Treatment can include:
- Mobilisation/ manipulation of affected joints
- Traction
- Trigger point release of tight muscles
- Massage and muscle stretches
- Dry needling
- Postural education
- Ergonomic advice
- Core stability exercises
- Electrotherapy and ultrasound
Physiotherapists aim to not only treat, but fully rehabilitate an athlete following an injury. They aim to prevent further injury and to return the athlete to their chosen sport as soon as possible. At Physiomatters we treat all levels of athletes - whether you are 80 and playing lawn bowls, 18 and playing rugby league or 10 and swimming at school.
The sooner an athlete is assessed and treated post injury, the better the outcome. Their injury recovers quicker with less chance of recurring or causing secondary problems and the sooner they can return to their chosen sport. Ideally we like to see an injured athlete within 24 hours of their injury.
Initial treatment is aimed at decreasing and controlling inflammation and swelling. Often this is done with electrotherapy, U/S and laser. Early rehabilitation looks at range of movement, strength, balance, and proprioception and muscle imbalance. Specific exercise programs and both dynamic and static taping and splinting are useful aids here. Sports specific and plyometric exercises are added in to ensure the athlete returns to their chosen sport safely, strongly and pain free. (Plyometrics uses both force and speed in a short, explosive work out).
Incontinence
A topic most people are too shy or embarrassed to talk about. You would be surprised how many people suffer from not only urinary, but also faecal incontinence. You would also be surprised at how many men suffer from incontinence, a problem normally associated with women. One in twenty adults suffers from poor bladder and bowel control.
The good news is that there is help. With a correct assessment and diagnosis your physiotherapist can prescribe you a list of exercises designed for you. This will include specific Pelvic Floor exercises, Pilates based exercises, core and ball exercises.
Your Physiotherapist will also give you advice and educate you not only on the anatomy involved, but different postures and techniques that will help you through this embarrassing and difficult time.
Post-surgical treatment is as varied as the surgeries that are performed. The Physiotherapists at Physiomatters liaise closely with the surgeon that is performing your surgery to ensure the possible outcome for you.
Some of the surgical patients we treat include:
- Total Hip and Knee replacements
- Reconstructions and Arthroscopys of the knee
- Shoulder reconstructions and replacements
- Spinal surgeries, including fusions, laminectomies and discectomies
- Carpal Tunnel release
- Ankle fusion or replacement
Osteoarthritis
There are over 100 types of arthritis, however osteoarthritis is the most common. Osteoarthritis (or degenerative joint disease) will affect over 90% of the population over the age of 40.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the joints wear down and it affects joints that are commonly overused or have had a previous injury. Knee, hips, hands, neck and back are mostly affected.
Symptoms can include:
- Pain
- Stiffness (normally worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity)
- Swelling
- Clicking, grinding grating
- Modified home exercise program
- Hydrotherapy or gym
- Modified activity and life style choices
- Ergonomic advice
- Ice/ heat
- Ultrasound
- Interferential/ TENS
- Gentle mobilisation
- Supports, braces and other aids
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 3-6 months. It is often difficult to treat and often miss-managed and miss-understood. Your pain could be muscular, joint, and neuropathic or, which is more likely, a combination of all three.
Your Physiotherapist will perform a thorough assessment to determine the cause/ causes of your pain and will set up a program to suit you.
This may include:
Hands-on treatment like
- Massage
- Mobilisations
- Frictions
- Stretches
- Dry Needling
Muscle sprains occur when the muscle fibres are stretched beyond their normal capacity, causing bleeding and swelling. Muscle and tendon strains can be acute (normally from a specific event), or chronic (normally due to overuse, or repetitive action over time).
A joint sprain occurs when the ligaments supporting a joint or the capsule surrounding a joint become torn, normally through an acute injury or event. It is often associated with a bleed around the joint causing swelling.
Symptoms of sprains and strains are very similar: pain, swelling, stiffness or instability, bruising may also be present.
These injuries can be graded by the degree of pain and dysfunction.
Grade 1 - Small tears in some fibres, resulting in moderate pain and swelling. Function is not normally affected. Recovery and Rehabilitation is normally within 2-3 weeks
Grade 2 - Small tears affecting a greater number of fibres. Marked swelling and pain. Function and strength will be affected to some degree. Recovery and rehabilitation is normally 6-8 weeks.
Grade 3 - Complete tear. Gross swelling and pain. Function and strength will be markedly affected. These injuries often require surgery and intensive Physiotherapy post surgery.
Regardless of severity, all soft tissue injuries should be R.I.C.E.D and referred to physiotherapy as soon as possible.
R = Rest I = Ice C= Compression E = Elevation D = Diagnosis (correct diagnosis from a professional is essential for complete recovery and to help prevent recurrence of injury)
Your Physiotherapist will assess and diagnose your injury. They will be able to ascertain what grade your injury is. They will use electrotherapy, laser and ultrasound to decrease swelling, increase blood flow, decrease pain and aid healing. They will give you a graduated exercise program that will help improve range of movement, strength and proprioception. They will tailor your exercise program to your specific sport or work.
Poor posture can be the underlying cause of many of our aches and pains. Poor posture can lead to incorrect loading or incorrect movement, putting pressure on our joints and soft tissue structures. This can lead to muscle imbalances, joint strain and soft tissue tension. All of which can cause chronic pain.
Your Physiotherapist is an expert in postural education and retraining. They will give you advice, education and exercises appropriate for you.
Overuse injuries occur from sustained or repeated movements or activities over a long period of time. Overuse injuries can affect all soft tissue structures including tendons, bursas, nerves and muscle-tendon junctions.
Signs include: pain, swelling, redness, warmth and a loss of function.
Causes of overuse or repetitive injuries include: Muscle imbalance or poor muscle strength, stiffness or decreased mobility, poor core stability, poor body mechanics (eg flat feet), incorrectly set up work station, incorrect training or poorly designed equipment.
Your Physiotherapist will correctly diagnose your overuse injury, help determine the cause and give you the correct treatment, education, advice and exercises for your particular injury.
At Physiomatters we have a multi faceted approach to the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured worker. With both Physiotherapists and an Occupational Therapist on staff we can provide a comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the injured worker, as well as facilitate a timely and safe return to work.
Our return to work services include Initial Needs Assessments, Functional Capacity Assessments, Work Site Visits and the establishment of return to work programmes. We also offer Vocational services to assist with identifying alternative vocational options for workers as well as job preparation and job seeking services.
Treatment
Joint Mobilisations and Manipulations
Soft Tissue Release and Trigger Points
Muscle Energy & Mulligan Techniques
McKenzie Method
Dry Needling
Traction
Electrotherapy
Core Stability
Group Exercise Classes
Gym and Hydrotherapy Programs
Postural Education
Joint Mobilisations and Manipulations
Joint mobilisations have been used by Physiotherapists for many years to both assess and treat your joint dysfunction. It is a safe, controlled passive movement of your joints. Joint mobilisations can be performed on both your spinal and peripheral joints (e.g. shoulder, knee, and elbow).
Mobilisations of the joint help with:
- Improving range of movement
- Lubrication of the joint surfaces
- Improvement in pain levels
- Decreasing associated muscle spasm
Soft tissue release and trigger points
The term soft Tissues refers to your muscles, tendons and the fascia (connective tissue) that surround the muscles. The complex is often called your Myofascia and soft tissue release can also be called myofascial release.
Trigger Points was a term first used by Janet Travell in the 1940s to refer to highly sensitive and irritable nodules in associated tight muscle fibres.
Myofascial Release and Trigger Point therapy utilises specific massage techniques to stretch and release the tight structures and decrease the underlying spasm.
Muscle Energy & Mulligan Techniques
Muscle Energy was originally an osteopathic technique that has now been adopted by Physiotherapists and Chiropractors worldwide. The trained practitioner through thorough examination determines if a joint is not in its correct anatomical position. If a joint is determined to be rotated, flexed, extended or laterally tipped they will then use positioning and your active muscle contraction to reposition the joint to its correct alignment. This will relieve your pain, decrease associated muscle spasm and improve your active range of movement
Mulligan is a New Zealand Physiotherapist who has designed the concepts of MWMs (mobilisations with movement) for the extremities and SNAGS (sustained natural apophyseal glides) for the spine. The Physiotherapist first identifies a comparable sign - this may be loss of joint movement, pain associated with movement, or pain associated with a particular function. The physiotherapist then applies a pain free accessory glide to the affected joint while the patient performs their painful movement. The movement should now be pain free. This movement is then repeated a number of times while the Physiotherapist maintains the accessory glide. After treatment the patient normally feels a marked improvement in their pain levels and range of movement.
McKenzie Method
The McKenzie method was developed by Robin McKenzie, a New Zealand Physiotherapist. It is a comprehensive assessment of repetitive movements or static postures on the patient's pain and dysfunction. Accurate diagnosis allows the physiotherapist to develop a treatment plan, which includes an extensive self management program for the patient. The self management program includes both dynamic and static postures and exercises, postural education and avoidance of aggravating positions.
Dry Needling
Dry Needling is a term used to describe the technique of using a solid filament needle (the same needles as those used by acupuncturists) to treat myofascial trigger points (see soft tissue release and trigger points). The needle is used to deactivate and resolve the spasm associated with the trigger point, helping reduce muscle pain and dysfunction.
Traction
Traction is used to treat discogenic pain in the low back and the neck. The axial decompression caused by the traction aids rehydration of the disc, this allows increased nutrients to reach the disc and assists with healing. Traction also relieves pressure on inflamed nerves and on the outer fibres of the disc.
Electrotherapy
Physiotherapists can use a number of different electrical modalities during a treatment session.
Interferential - Interferential uses a low to mid-level electrical frequency to treat muscular spasm and strains, ligamentous injuries and joint pain including arthritic pain. It helps relieve pain, stimulate muscle, increases blood flow to the treated area and decreases oedema and inflammation.
Ultrasound - Therapeutic ultrasound uses a frequency between 0.7 and 3.3MHz, with a maximum energy absorption in soft tissue between 2 and 5 cm. Ultrasound increases the blood flow, decreases inflammation and oedema and gently massages the affected soft tissue. Ultrasound is used to treat acute conditions like acute sprains and strains of ligaments and muscles, tendonitis, fasciitis, bursitis, as well as more chronic conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as scar tissue adhesions.
Laser - Low level laser therapy is used to decrease pain, increase blood flow and decrease inflammation. It is particularly useful in the treatment of both acute and chronic joint pain. Acute whiplash injuries respond extremely well to laser as does chronic rheumatoid affected joints.
Core Stability
Core stability normally relates to using muscles in the low back and abdomen to help protect the lumbar spine during different activities. The major muscles used in core stabilising exercises are: Transverse Abdominis, Multifidus, The diaphragm and the pelvic floor muscle. Physiotherapists are highly trained in assessing their function and giving you the most appropriate exercises to strengthen your core. These exercises can range from Pilates based exercises, to ball exercises, yoga to specific floor exercises designed just for you and for your particular injury or dysfunction.
Group Exercise Classes
Group Exercise Classes incorporate modified Pilates techniques.
Classes incorporate gentle balance, strengthening and core exercises.
It is a requirement to attend a 1 on 1 session with the Physiotherapist prior to starting classes. His enables the Physiotherapist to personalise the class depending on your injuries, disabilities, dysfunctions and fitness levels. It also enables the physiotherapist to teach you how to turn your core on correctly. You will also be shown some of the exercises incorporated in the class and taught how to perform they correctly and safely.
Gym and Hydrotherapy Programs
Not only is your Physiotherapist trained to assess and treat your injury, they are also trained to set up your exercise and rehabilitation program. They are in a unique position to advice you on what exercises will aid your recovery and also what exercises will aggravate your injury and therefore should be avoided. They can progress your program at an appropriate rate for you, giving you maximum benefit from your exercise regime.
Postural Education
Good posture is important for all ages, and is a vital tool in decreasing back and neck pain and dysfunction. Your physiotherapist will assess and diagnose the underlying reasons for your bad posture, whether it is weak muscles, a muscle imbalance or stiff joints. Is it due to a poor work set up or playing too much x-box? Studying on your bed or not having enough breaks while knitting. A program will be set up specifically for you that will address your particular problem and issues.
Work Solutions
The Initial Rehabilitation Needs Assessment aims to engage a person early in their vocational rehabilitation program. It examines the physical and / or psychological needs of the person, and the workplace requirements in order to develop an individualised rehabilitation and return to work plan. An in-depth interview is conducted with the person to obtain information relating to the injury, current symptoms and return to work barriers in order to develop an individualised rehabilitation plan.
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a series of standardised tests used to assess a workers functional capacity to work. They can be used as a source of information for developing return to work programs, assessing the workers capacity to return to specific duties or employment, assessing the workers current physical abilities and limitations, and the worker's ability to return to work or to develop an alternant employment path. It is particularly useful for assessing an individual's physical capabilities in relation to a specific task / job analysis, and therefore their suitability for high risk and physically demanding jobs.
A Vocational Assessment is useful in identifying an individual's current level of abilities, set vocational goals and recommend suitable employment options, particularly if the person is unable to return to their previous occupation. This assessment acknowledges the individual's functional work capacity, previous work history including transferable skills, vocational interests, and labour market considerations in order to outline the individual's vocational options and retraining needs.
The Workplace Assessment forms the basis for a safe and successful return to work by assessing the suitability of work duties and to gain a better understanding of the nature of the employee's work. It assesses the physical, psychosocial, cognitive and communication demands of the job. In the case of an injured employee, a workplace assessment is an onsite analysis of a specific job including pre-injury duties or possible alternative duties.
A Suitable Duties Plan is a written plan with agreed goals and actions aimed at assisting an injured employee remain at or return to work. It details any treatment, actions and assistance required to support the injured employee recover and return to suitable duties.
Pre-Employment Functional Screening is an assessment designed to make a professional determination as to a candidate's physical ability to perform the inherent physical requirements of a job.
Physiomatters provides a number of different types of Pre-Employment Assessments including: Physical Objective Assessment, Functional Capacity Evaluations, Specific Task Analysis and testing and individual company assessment tools and reports.
Host Employment, or work training provides an opportunity for an injury worker to participate in a graduated suitable duties plan in a safe environment, until they are fit to return to their normal role. It usually considered when the pre-injury employer does not have suitable duties available. Host employment aims to assist the injured worker to gain practical skills, increase physical fitness, and / or allow the opportunity to demonstrate to a potential employer their abilities to do the job.
An Ergonomic Workstation Assessment will evaluate the individual's workstation and identify any changes that may need to be made in order to minimise the risk of injury and discomfort. This may include advice on workstation set up, equipment options, and educating the worker about the optimal work postures and practices to maximise comfort, productivity and safety.
Adjustment to Injury Counselling teaches self-management strategies to the individual in order to assist them to cope with the physical, psychological, work, family and social changes which may occur after an injury, and provides support during the rehabilitation process.
Vocational counselling is a specialised service which can help a person identify their individual career interests, strengths, and develop insights into the types of roles and work environments where they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged.
Job Search Skills includes providing assistance with resume preparation, development of covering letters, disability disclosure counselling, personal presentation, job search techniques, interview skills and canvassing for employment.
Manual handling accidents are the most common cause of workplace injury. Our training aims to increase staff knowledge and skills in selecting appropriate manual handling strategies. Physiomatters provides on the job, on site or off site manual handling training to all employers and employees. A specific program can be designed to target the requirements of the specific industry or company.
Physiomatters provides expert, objective advice to assist the timely, safe and durable return to work of the injured worker. This includes communicating with relevant parties throughout service provision to ensure progress towards the return to work goal. Each rehabilitation plan and case management strategies are tailored to the needs of the injured worker and employer.
Opening Times
We are open:
8am-7pm Monday and Thursday - 8am-5pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - 9am-1pm Saturday
Get in Touch
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have.
Call us on 07 41971960 or email: info@physiomatters.com.au
FAQ
ABOUT
We offer a hands on approach that utilises the latest in evidence based injury treatment and rehabilitation practices that will help you achieve your maximum potential. We aim to return you to your work, sport or recreational activity not only quickly but stronger, safer and with a better knowledge on how to prevent further injury. Call Physiomatters today.
Send us a message
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have.
Please use the form below to contact us and we will get back to you promptly
Contact Info
Opening Times
We are open:
8am-7pm Monday and Thursday
8am-5pm Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday - 9am-1pm Saturday
Get in Touch
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have.
Call us on 07 41971960 or email: info@physiomatters.com.au
