Spring 2015

SYDNEY ROAD

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Welcome to Sydney Road Physiotherapy

At Sydney Road

Physiotherapy our aims are

simple...

Treatment

To relieve your pain or

discomfort. To get you

moving efficiently and

effectively.

Prevention

To identify and assess risk

factors to minimise future

injuries.

Education

To educate and reduce

injury recurrence.

Hours:

Monday-Friday 7am-8pm

Saturday 8am –2pm

531 Sydney Road, Seaforth

Phone: 9907 0321

Parking:

Sydney Rd: up to 1hr

Balgowlah RSL (off Ethel St): 2hrs

Kempbridge Ave: 2hrs Hope St: unlimited

In this issue:

Neck Pain

Patient Spotlight

Have you met...

HCF - Update

Staff News

www.sydneyroadphysio.com.au

Neck Pain

Neck pain is one of the most common reasons people see a physiotherapist at SRP. While sometimes this is due to an injury, more often than not, our diagnosis is “postural related neck pain”.

The spine has three natural curves and the head sits at the top of it. In ideal posture, there is a gentle curve at the neck so that the muscles do not have to strain to keep the head up and the eyes looking forward. The curve at the neck is influenced by the curve at the base of the spine.

Try this – sit up tall with a small curve in the lower back and put your hand on the neck and feel the curve. Now sit in a slouched position, keep your eyes looking ahead and now feel the curve in the neck. As shown in the picture above, with an increased curve or the chin “poking forward” the muscles from the shoulders to the neck need to work much harder to keep the head in a good position. Overworked muscles will then feel tight, knotty and may be painful. Sound familiar?

The more time you spend in a poor posture, the more the muscles and joints adapt to this position – the muscles at the front of your shoulders will become tight and the mid back will feel stiff when you try to straighten up.

Continued on Page 2...

Page 2 Continued from Page 1...

www.sydneyroadphysio.com.au

Think about all the times in the day where your neck might not be in a great position – looking down at your phone, working on your computer, talking on your phone while doing something else at the same time, driving.

What can you do to help?

Be aware of your posture and try to correct it. Some support for the lower back from your chair or a cushion will help to ideally position the whole spine. When you sit in your car at the beginning of the day, sit up tall and position the rear view mirror. As the day or week goes on, don’t’ adjust the mirror – adjust your posture.

Add some “credits” to your bank balance. If you spend a lot of time in a round-shouldered, head forward “debit” position, try to spend some time in an opposing position. Foam roller stretches are great for this!

Strengthen the muscles that will help hold you in a good posture – your physiotherapist can help with this.

Regular massage – often the tension in the neck muscles can creep up on you. A regular massage can alert you to this tension as well as releases it. Follow the massage with some “credit” stretches to maintain your new flexibility.

Stay calm and keep breathing. People often report that their neck pain is worse when they are stressed. Employ strategies that you know help with your stress management. A few deep breaths can work wonders in reducing stress and reminding muscles to let go!

By Louise Henderson

Louise has worked at Sydney Road Physiotherapy for 12 years and seen the practice grow incredibly – hard to believe there was a time when the receptionist was also the massage therapist!

Louise continues to treat the wide range of musculoskeletal and sports injuries that people incur, as well as developing a strong interest in women’s health physiotherapy. She has found it an extremely rewarding area of work – making a significant difference to the lives of many women experiencing problems with bladder or bowel control, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain. Her experience in this area has been complemented by the completion this year of a Graduate Certificate in Continence and Women’s Health Physiotherapy through Curtin University.

LOUISE HENDERSON Have you met?

Patient Spotlight: Jess Cullen

(student, receptionist, traveler and foodie)

When have you noticed you develop neck pain?

I definitely notice it more when I am stressed, studying, long car trips or when I am not aware of my posture especially whilst at work or on my laptop.

What can you do yourself to help?

I normally use a heat pack, rub some voltaren on my neck and go on the foam roller to do stretches.

What types of treatment has your physiotherapist used to help?

They have used massage, heat, acupuncture, stretches and strapping.

Have you found anything that can prevent the frequency or severity of neck pain episodes?

Everything is about posture for me and making sure I take breaks to stand up every 20-minutes at least for a rest. I find that going on the roller daily definitely helps as well as trying

to stand rather then sit as much as possible. Also stretching my neck when I can, chin tucks and heat are my go to for trying to prevent my neck pain!

www.sydneyroadphysio.com.au

Page 3

Staff have been busy updating their knowledge and skills. Helen has completed a course on treatment of neck-related headaches, Donna an advanced hip course and Andy a course on prevention and treatment of golf-related injuries. We think Andy was also hoping to pick up some tips to reduce

his handicap (8) and go one or two better than this year’s performance (semi-finals) in the Balgowlah Golf Club Championships.

Laura is about to undertake a women’s health course so she can join Louise and Rebecca in working in this area. Sarah Brown will complete the comprehensive Level 2 Sports Physiotherapy course in Canberra.

We are excitedly awaiting the birth of Fiona Elliott’s baby due in mid November. Past staff member Lucy Tighe is expecting a baby early 2016, joining SRP alumni Fiona Millar and Mairi Maclaren who are both pregnant with baby number two.

Best wishes to Andy when he travels to Argentina in November with the Australian Olympic sailors (49er and FX classes) as they compete in the World Championships.

The electronic age (finally) reaches SRP. You will notice we are moving to taking notes on tablets rather than handwriting paper notes. Thank you for your patience as we adjust to this system – we are certain it will lead to more efficient management of notes, exercises, radiology results and doctor’s reports.

Parking

We are aware finding a park can be difficult at the moment with the renovations to the RSL and the old Seaforth TAFE. You may need to allow a little extra time to find a park and walk a little further.

Staff News

HCF and Pilates/Over 60s Class Rebates - UPDATE

These are the current conditions for claiming group and class consultations from HCF based on information we have received from the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA).

Class consultations at SRP this includes Over 60s classes and mat pilates.

- the rebate comes from the Health Management Program which has an annual pool of $150. - as classes at SRP are paid in advance at the beginning of the term, claims need to be made at the end of the term at HCF. You will need your paid invoice, class attendance sheet and an Exercise and gym benefits authorization and claim form completed by your physiotherapist (this can be found on the HCF website). - claims for class consultations require an initial assessment and a review at least annually. These can be claimed as an individual physiotherapy consultation at the practice and the rebate comes from the ancillary benefits pool. There is no need to take information from these assessments to HCF – we need to make it available to HCF should they audit the practice. We also need to keep individual notes on HCF clients attending classes. Auditing has been done at many practices across Sydney with significant consequences if the practice does not comply.

Group consultations - at SRP this covers equipment pilates

- if you were an HCF member prior to April 1 2015, you can claim group consultations from your ancillary cover or the Health Management Program – you may need to request which option when claiming. If you choose the ancillary pool it will reduce the amount that you can use for individual physiotherapy treatment through the year. - if you joined after April 1 2015, your rebate will come from the Health Management Program and the conditions above for class consultations will apply.

The APA is continuing to advocate that group consultations (which include individually prescribed exercises for a specific condition) should come from a clinical fund pool rather than wellness cover.

If you require further clarification please contact HCF.

Physiotherapy

Hands on approach, we aim to diagnose your injury, treat and

advise so it never returns!

Acupuncture & Dry Needling

Acupuncture or dry needling may be used by our therapists

to assist with pain reduction and the relaxation of muscle

spasm.

Real-time Ultrasound

This allows the therapist to show you how your muscles are

contracting . It is a great way to learn how to activate the

deep muscles of the abdomen, the back and the hip, or to see

the impact of the pelvic floor muscles on the bladder.

Orthotics

If indicated, soft orthotics can be molded to help correct foot

alignment and reduce the pain which may be caused in the

foot, knee, hip or lower back.

Continence and Women’s Health

Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles can be a contributing

factor in stress or urge incontinence and prolapse. We offer a

specialised service in the assessment of these muscles and

advise appropriate treatment.

Massage

Our massage therapists can offer relaxation, remedial or

sports massage according to your needs.

Pilates

Pilates reduces the risk of recurrent back pain by 50%

strengthening your core. We offer both Mat and Equipment

classes. Our small group sizes ensure tailored exercise

progressions to improve your core strength, flexibility and

posture.

Exercise Classes For The Over 60s

These very popular classes are led by our physiotherapists to

provide appropriate exercise to improve and maintain

strength, flexibility and balance.

Home Visits

We are able to offer full assessment and treatment in your

home if you find it difficult to come to us.

Athlete Screenings

Global assessment designed to compare flexibility and

strength to normative values, identify your ‘at risk/weak spot’

and formulate an injury prevention program.

Paediatric Physiotherapy

Infants to high school age treatment for issues with

movement and their musculoskeletal systems. Treating

children with coordination problems and babies with

developmental delay.

Physiotherapists

All our Physiotherapists are senior Physiotherapists,

experienced in treating a wide variety of musculoskeletal and

sporting injuries. They all attend ongoing continuing education

in specific areas which leads to a special interest in treating

certain conditions or particular sports.

Donna White: Masters in Sports Physiotherapy. Elite sailors and gymnasts.

Louise Henderson: Pelvic floor, sacroiliac joint and pelvis particularly in post natal women.

Christine Reed: Masters in Hand Physiotherapy. Upper limb including splinting for the hand and wrist.

Rebecca Rutherford: Physiotherapist, Pelvic Floor, Pilates instructor and rehabilitation for the elderly.

Sarah Ross: Paralympics Physiotherapist and Pilates instructor.

Jess Cunningham: Sports Physiotherapist, winter sports and Pilates instructor.

Laura Wickens: Pilates Instructor.

Jane Leathwood: Hand physiotherapist and pilates instructor.

Andrew Sherborne: Manipulative Physiotherapist, Pilates instructor. Swimming and golf injuries.

Helen Durrant: Physiotherapist, pilates instructor. Gymnasts and rugby sporting injuries.

Fiona Elliott: Physiotherapist and a special interest in treating children (paediatrics).

Mike Harvey: Physiotherapist with an interest in sports and general physiotherapy.

Sarah Brown: Physiotherapist with an interest in running

injuries, back and neck pain.

Massage Therapists

Virginie Guilloux: Remedial and sports massage therapist.

Jo Lindsay: Remedial and sports massage therapist; Exercise Physiologist.

Clara Thompson: Remedial and sports massage therapist.

Administration Team:

Sarah Ritchie, Carolyn Punshon, Nicole Hodgins, Angela

Barolsky and Harriet Sim.

Bookkeeper: Sue Belramoul.

Our Team

Our Services

www.sydneyroadphysio.com.au

Like us on Facebook at “Sydney Road Physiotherapy and Sports Injury

Centre.” Keep up-to-date with what’s happening at Sydney Road Physio - staff news, new research, helpful information and tips.