PhysioHealth Essendon

Whether your sport is running or swimming, aerial skiing to football or dance, our staff at Physiohealth combine an excellent knowledge of anatomy, with sporting bio-mechanics to accurately analyse and diagnose the cause of your sporting injury, as well as identifying any contributing factors. By understanding what is wrong, and how the injury occurred, our physiotherapists are excellently placed to treat your injury and get you back on the sporting field ASAP.

Dry needling is a modality that has been found to be successful in relieving trigger points. Not to be confused with the oriental practice of acupuncture, dry needling is being used successfully by physiotherapists who are suitably trained in this technique.

Hydrotherapy as a means of healing dates back to the early days when physiotherapy was not yet recognised as a part of medical science. At that time women used water, massage and exercise after the pattern of the baths of ancient Greece and Rome. Today hydrotherapy (called aqua therapy in some places) is a highly respected and welcome practice that uses water to relieve pain and bring about healing. Hydrotherapy may be in the form of cold or hot water, steam or ice. In a clinical setting the use of hot water as can be tolerated is used to relieve muscle spasm, increase blood flow and joint motion. Many clinics boast of pools, jacuzzis and hot tubs as part of their therapy offering.

Manipulative therapy or manual therapy has its roots in the early years of physiotherapy when it was used as a means of promoting healing and relieving pain. Today manipulative therapy is a highly specialised area of the profession, however it may exist in different forms among other professions. Manipulative therapy is the term used for special handling techniques to promote healing of soft tissue. These techniques may include myofascial release, craniosacral techniques, joint mobilisation and massage therapy to name a few. This article takes a brief look at the first three.

A myotherapist is more than just a masseur. Myotherapy is a form of manual therapy which focuses on the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal pain. Myotherapists can eliminate pain stiffness caused by myofascial dysfunction using manual techniques to such as massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, stretching and dry needling.

Our Pilates Instructors are qualified & have a wide variety of exercise backgrounds benefiting all clientele. Pilates is a form of exercise that strengthens stabilising muscles around the lumbopelvic region. Our pilates program helps to build the core strength of an individual, which is the essence of a strong, fit and healthy body.

Remedial massage is a form of massage therapy that helps to relieve pain and promote healing of damaged tendons and muscles. Remedial massage differs from the type you get in a masseur. It is a treatment that goes straight to the source of the problem and heals both the cause and the symptoms. Through special techniques, a physiotherapist stimulates the body’s own healing mechanism to bring about healing. A number of sprains and strains can be helped with remedial massage.

Soft tissue consists of the fascia, connective tissues, muscles, tendons, fat and organs that lie beneath the skin. When these become injured pain and decreased function are the result. Soft tissue therapy seeks to speed the body’s natural healing mechanisms through manipulation and other hands-on techniques. Conditions that respond well to soft tissue therapy are muscle strains and sprains, contusions, tendonitis and bursitis. A soft tissue therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the needs of the patient. This will take the form of an interview in which you will be asked questions regarding your medical history, lifestyle, goals for post recovery and mechanism of injury. A physical examination will include an assessment of posture, strength, range of motion and biomechanics.