Headaches

Headaches

Almost everyone suffers from headaches at some point in their lives, and most of us just take painkillers and wait for them to go away….until next time. Quite often, headaches are related to stress, posture and injuries (cervicogenic) – which means physiotherapy can help. Prolonged poor posture (such as extensive time spent sitting at a computer) combined with stress, puts extra pressure on the muscles and joints of the head, neck and shoulders, causing them to tighten and stiffen. This often brings on pain and what we experience as headaches. Headaches that are cervicogenic in nature can be prevented with appropriate postural correction, workspace (ergonomic) assessment and correction, hands on therapy to the affected muscles and joints, stretches and strengthening exercises. At Enhance Physiotherapy, we can help you to reduce and prevent headaches. We can also come out to your workplace and provide a comprehensive Ergonomic Workplace Assessment and provide recommendations to your employer about how your work station can be optimised for your health. Call us today to find out more.
Lower Limb Biomechanical Assessment Special

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave Therapy

 

Enhance Physiotherapy is pleased to offer our patients access to Shockwave Therapy as part of our comprehensive services.

 

Shockwave Therapy, or Radial Shockwave Therapy, provides treatment to patients suffering from a range of chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinopathy that are notoriously difficult to resolve. Shockwave Therapy is the effective and evidence based treatment for stubborn pain associated with tendon or soft tissue injury.

Lower Limb Biomechanical Assessment Special

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave treatment was originally developed to treat kidney stones and is known as Lithotripsy treatment in this area of medicine. It was developed to provide an alternative to surgery in these patients. Some patients who had their kidney stones successfully treated also reported improvement in chronic musculoskeletal conditions in regions which were in the pathway of the shockwave treatment.

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment using radial pressure waves that travel through the skin to stimulate pain relief and tissue repair. This treatment helps reset and enhance healing patterns, while reducing pain and improving function and muscle recovery. Shockwave helps increase metabolism by influencing tissues at a cellular level, improving blood circulation and promoting tissue healing and regeneration.

What conditions does it treat?

Shockwave Therapy has attracted several clinical research trials which have supported its use in the treatment of patients with the following conditions:

  • Plantar Fasciitis/heel spur (calcaneal spur)
  • Achilles tendinopathy
  • Gluteal tendinopathy
  • Proximal hamstring tendinopathy
  • Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder
  • Patella Tendinopathy
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
  • Bursitis
  • Runners Knee
  • Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome
  • Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
  • Greater Trochanteric Syndrome
  • Tennis elbow / Golfers Elbow (medial or lateral epicondylitis)
  • Other forms of insertional tendinopathy
  • Other musculoskeletal problems:
    • Muscle strains
    • Calcified Haematomas (“corkies”)
    • Shin splints
    • Osteitis pubis
    • Recalcitrant trigger points
    • Osgood Schlatter Disease
Training Outside

Impressive results have been reported in cases that have been recalcitrant and failed to respond to conventional treatment regimes. What sets this treatment apart from traditional treatments is that it treats the musculoskeletal pathology instead of just offering symptomatic relief.

 

Shockwave Therapy has been at the forefront in treating these conditions and pain in the United States, Canada, and the Eastern States of Australia and is proven to work.  Shockwave is a safe, non-invasive treatment that reduces pain and promotes tendon regeneration and re-modeling.

 

A shockwave session will involve your Enhance Physiotherapist doing a full assessment to ensure that Shockwave Therapy will work well for you.  Your physiotherapist will pass the shockwave applicator over the injured area twice then also over the associated muscle.  While the shockwave is being applied some discomfort will be felt, however patient often feel an immediate reduction of pain in the first 24 hours after treatment.

 

A Shockwave Therapy treatment plan usually requires once weekly sessions for 6 weeks. Obviously factors will affect the treatment length such as how long you have had the condition, other health issues and musculoskeletal contributions.  A Shockwave Therapy session at Enhance Physiotherapy also includes strengthening and stretches to ensure a 100% recovery and reducing the risk of reoccurrence.

 

Shockwave Therapy, as part of a comprehensive Physiotherapy Treatment Program, may be the solution for your condition. A session is an extra $55.00. Please discuss this with our reception staff to get a full understanding.

 

For the interested reader

There are a number of trials, including randomized controlled trials, which support the use of Shockwave Therapy:

  • Rompe et al 2008, Eccentric Loading Compared with Shockwave treatment for Chronic Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (America) 2008; 90: 52-61
  • Han et al 2009, Effect of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Cultured Tenocytes, Foot and Ankle International, 30: 93-98
  • Furia et al 2007, Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy, Current Opinion in Orthopaedics 2007; 18: 101- 111
  • Rompe, JD; Radial Shockwave Therapy- Where do we stand today?; Translation from Medical Special, Apr 2006

 

 

Book your Enhance Experience online, or call us today to find out if Shockwave Therapy can help you.

 

Massage Therapy

Remedial Massage Therapy

Remedial massage is the assessment and treatment of muscles and connective tissue to assist in pain relief, injury management and rehabilitation. The biggest difference between remedial massage and relaxation massage, such as you would receive from a beauty salon or day spa, is the training required to become qualified as a remedial massage therapist. Remedial massage Therapists study the pathophysiology and illness process. Sound knowledge of anatomy is the basis for safe and effective treatment.

Remedial massage benefits can include:

  • Decreasing pain, both acute and chronic e.g.: headaches, lower back pain, muscle tenderness with sports training
  • Prevention and management of soft tissue injuries
  • Release of muscular tightness and tension
  • Improved recovery time for athletes
  • Removing toxins that can contribute to muscle tightness
  • Alleviate muscle tightness resulting from sustained and/or repetitive positioning such as sitting at a computer for extended periods of time
  • Stress relief
massage therapy perth
massage therapy perth

Due to the treatment nature of remedial massage, they aren’t always relaxing and each person will experience a recovery period post appointment. Depending on the type of work done and the treatment of deep tissue, there may be discomfort up to 24 – 48 hours afterwards. You may experience pain/tenderness, stiffness, fatigue and light headedness. To optimize your recovery and the benefits of your massage, as well as elimination of toxin build up, we suggest the following:

  • Drink at least 2L of water daily
  • Avoid alcohol for at least 6-8 hours post treatment
  • Refrain from vigorous activity for at least 24 hours post treatment
  • Have a warm bath or shower
  • Use heat packs/wheat bags on painful areas
  • DO NOT RE-MASSAGE the area as it may cause further inflammation

Regular massage can assist you to live the life you want by helping you achieve good muscle health, while decreasing muscle tension and tightness that is an increasing by-product of our busy lives today. Regular massage along with physiotherapy treatment, can help compliment your Enhance Physiotherapists treatment plan outlined for you to better manage your condition.

Book your Enhance experience today online or call us on 9583 5165.

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