Welcome to Grange Physiotherapy

Suffering Sciatica?

Sciatica pain comes from the large sciatic nerve which passes down through the buttocks, down the back of the thigh and then divides into other nerves in the low leg.  There are many reasons as to why this nerve becomes inflamed but it may originate from the lower back.  The sciatic nerve is formed in the mid to lower part of the back and comes out at various levels in the lower back.  If the back has been injured or has undue stress on it then swelling and inflammation may occur and then may then place stress on the sciatic nerve leading to what many people called a pinched nerve.  This can cause severe pain in the back and down the leg/s and pain can be quite debilitating.

It is certainly worth talking to your G.P about your concerns.   Physiotherapists are trained to treat these type of conditions. Ensure that a full history of your back pain is taken as well as an intense assessment of posture, bio-mechanics and movements.  A proper diagnosis cannot be given unless a full history and assessment has been done.   Scans may or may not be needed.  They are usually only needed if treatment has occurred without improvement.   Manipulation should not occur without a full assessment of the spine.

Advice on home management is vital to ensure minimization of pain and enhance recovery.   A regular home exercise regime with advice will encourage normal spinal movement and nerve function.   Grange Physiotherapy therapists treat and given  comprehensive home management.  This is progressed and adjusted with improvement of symptoms.  A written analysis of your diagnosis and treatment plan will be provided with recommendations.  This may include further tests or referral to other specialists.  You will be reassessed at each appointment so your progress is optimal.  Full assessments occur at regular intervals.  Should you need to start a supervised exercise program this will be suggested and implemented with your approval.  Our focus is your recovery to full function in combination with your goals.   While Sciatica may take some time to improve due to the sensitivity and healing ability of nerves, conservative treatment generally provides good results and surgery can usually be avoided.

Chronic Low Back Pain

Chronic low back pain can be both painful and frustrating.  It is also very common.  Research indicates persistent low back pain is due to a range of factors including: poor disc hydration/health, stiff spinal segments, poor muscle control, degeneration of the spine, nerve compression and is influenced by psychosocial issues.  This may lead to not enough or too much movement between the vertebrae segments thus causing pain.  If this is the case then specific exercises aimed at improving normal spinal range and function will improve the back’s function and decrease pain.  These exercises involve both back muscles and abdominal muscles but play an entirely different role to the abdominal muscles we use with exercises such as sit-ups. In fact there is a theory that these type of exercises such as sit ups can actually cause an increase in chronic pain because the wrong type of muscles are being used and they are unable to stabilise and give the support necessary.  The muscles that stabilise the spine are the lower abdominal muscles, which include the transverse abdominus, and the internal oblique muscles.  These muscles can be felt in the lower tummy area just below the front hipbones felt through the lower tummy. The simplest way to exercise them is to try to gently pull in these muscles without tightening the upper abdominal muscles.  This type of exercise then becomes incorporated with activities of daily living so that it becomes an unconscious action involved in posture.

Before you start on an exercise program ensure you get a full assessment of your problem, as instability or weak muscles may not necessarily be the cause of your problem.  Your posture and spinal range needs to be assessed.  The lower abdominal muscles need to be tested  in specific positions to see how strong they are.  Finally you will probably need an individually planned exercise program incorporating both strength exercises and stretches.  On top of all that you need to stick with your exercise program as initially progress can be slow. The longer the problem has been, the slower the rehabilitation can be.  But persist.  With a good physiotherapist your pain can be managed in most cases without surgery.

Tailbone Pain?

Back Pain can range from just a niggle to major injury and can affect the sacrum  and coccyx (tailbone).  The physiotherapists at Grange Physiotherapy treat a lot of clients with spinal pain.  It is very common in our society and the majority of the population will suffer from back pain at some point during their lives.

Occasionally falls or injury will produce instability and injury to the sacroiliac/coccyx joints.  These joints are where the tail bone attaches to the pelvic and connect to the spine.  Often if these structures are involved, bladder problems may emerge and may settle with treatment to the tailbone and a good exercise regime.  There is a lot of research in this area and there is still a lot more to do however this may be the problem and help from an experienced physiotherapist is required.  If the tailbone joints have become unstable due to injury to the ligaments or muscles then this needs to be addressed.  The exercises that mainly need to be concentrated on are the lower abdominals, pelvic floor and gluteal muscles which are in the buttock. You may also need to concentrate on certain stretches to take the pressure off the joint. Find a physiotherapist who has some knowledge of the recent research in this area and make sure you have a full assessment to ensure the proper diagnosis is made.  It would also be of benefit to talk to your G.P concerning these problems and get some advice.  You may need to be referred to an orthopaedic specialist for further assessment and treatment, if conservative treatment is not successful.

Sitting on a comfortable coccyx specific pillow with good posture may assist in unloading the area to allow healing.  Get some advice and see your  physiotherapist for a full postural and biomechanical assessment of the problem.

Scoliosis Pain?

Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine.  Instead on of the spine being straight when viewed from the back, there is a curve to one side or the other or a combination of curves.  Scoliosis is generally classed as those curves that are severe or cause symptoms.  They can be idiopathic although there are other causes.   They may occur due to an irregularity such as a short leg, or due to bad posture or increased muscle use on the dominant side of the body.  Sometimes it can be due to abnormalities or disease of the bones, soft tissue or nerves associated with the spine.  Minor curves are normal in the local population and do not necessarily need treatment.  They can however cause discomfort in the back or neck and treatment will relieve symptoms.

Abnormal spinal curves require a spinal and posture assessment.  If the curve is severe, a specialists opinion may be sought.  All  children should be assessed for scoliosis before they finish growing.  If this is diagnosed early, treatment is much more effective.  Treatment often consists of an appropriate exercise program, treatment and advice in order to minimize the curve and keep it mobile to avoid complications. Severe scoliosis may cause wedging of the bony vertebral segments as well as stiffness, and treatment may be needed during flare-ups. Maintenance treatment for spinal curvatures is encouraged to ensure full range and function in the back and neck.

Lifting injuries are a common cause of back pain. You can protect yourself against damage with good lifting habits, both at home and in the workplace.

How Lifting Can Injure Your Spine

When you lift, your spine is put under stress. Twisting or jerking while lifting and carrying can injure the small joints of the spine. The discs which separate the vertebrae (spinal bones) and the ligaments which hold the vertebrae together are also at risk. The discs are composed of a jelly-like core, surrounded by a strong fibrous ring. With repeated unsafe lifting, the fibrous ring or its supporting ligaments may tear or rupture. This is commonly known as a disc bulge or herniation.

Heavy lifting while bent forward will increase the stress on your spine. Contributing to this stress are factors like the weight of the load, how far it is held from your body, how often and how fast you lift and how long you hold the load.

To protect your spine from injury, always attempt to take the following steps:Get a firm footing with your feet apart for a stable base.

Bend your hips and knees instead of bending at the waist. This allows the leg muscles to take some of the load and not the spine.

Tighten your abdominal muscles. Abdominal muscles support the spine when lifting.

Ensure that you have a strong grip and that the load is as close to you as possible.

The closer it is to your spine the less force it exerts on your back.

Brace yourself for the lift but continue to breathe normally through the lift.

Lift steadily and do not jerk the load. Look straight ahead, not down.

Keep your back straight and avoid twisting or bending to the side.

The reason that driving or sitting for that matter causes your back to ache is fairly simple. The entire back in standing is very cleverly designed to form an “S” curve when viewed sideways in order to cope with the everyday stresses placed on it. This creates a spring or bounces effect with stresses to the back. The lower back, in particular, has the inward curve of the “S” so that when viewed from the side the curve curves towards the tummy. When sitting, your legs are high in front of you, and this pulls the pelvic bones around so that this inward curve becomes either straight or curves the other way. So often your back takes on the “C” shape instead of the “S”. This places a significant amount of stress on the back which can be enhanced and aggravated by vibration e.g. when travelling. At first, you may only experience stiffness getting out of your seat, then this will progress to stiffness and eventual pain while sitting and sitting to stand. The back can only take so much stress until small degenerative changes start to occur ever so slowly to try to accommodate this stress. We are not designed to sit for long periods in this poor postural positioning. In most cases, the stress builds up slowly until it becomes too much and pain begins.

Despite technology, most seats do not have enough lower back support. There are a variety of supports that can assist to reduce a load of spines in sitting. These are worth trialling. The reality is our bodies are not designed to sit for a long period of time. Stretching and standing activities should be done regularly if sitting for long periods.

Travelling by car? Newer cars are much better than the older cars where there is often little choice between a bucket seat and a straight-backed seat. The newer cars do have adjustable lower back support which while being an improvement on the older cars still need some technology years to refine the perfect sitting position. Let’s face it they are still trying to find the perfect chair for office work and more technology is needed for this. While we are not suggesting you buy a new car, the seat may need replacing if it is considered vintage. However, there are various supports that you can buy which fit into a car seat and will support your back.

Basically, you need to produce an inward curve of your lower back and if you do that you will be able to drive long distances much more comfortably. A quick solution is to invest in a lumbar roll which retails cheaply from most physiotherapy clinics and adds some support. A cushion/pillow may also assist as long as your lower back is in an inward curve position. There are also more fancy expensive options which support both the back and the pelvic area. Mind you in saying all this there are some seats that despite back cushions and modifications etc. need to be put on the trash heap. No matter what you do to them, they stress your back. When travelling if possible, make sure your knees are below your hips as this will help reduce the load on your back by maintaining the normal curves.

4 tips to Squat correctly Squats are one of the best exercises for people with knee pain or arthritis.  They maintain the strength in major leg muscle groups such as glutes (buttocks) and quads (front of the thigh). They are a great weight-bearing exercise for optimizing bone health, Many clients avoid squats due to knee arthritis, but interestingly, people with knee arthritis are often the ones who need squats the most.

Strength around the knee joint is the best way to reduce pain and protect the joint surfaces. Your muscles are like the ‘springs’ in your car suspension – they are the ‘shock absorbers’ around your joint. If they are not working optimally, your knee joint will not be happy. In order to get the muscles working optimally, you have to squat correctly.

Here are our tips:

Keep your knees pointing the same direction as your middle toes!

If your feet are pointing straight ahead, your knee-caps should face straight ahead. If your feet are ‘open’ slightly in a V-shape, your knee-caps should point that way too. Avoid ‘knock knees’ at all costs when squatting! Even letting the knees slightly dip together will put undue stress on the inner part of your knees and will turn off your glute muscles, defeating the purpose of the squat.

Keep your knees behind your toes!

Your knees doing over your toes increases the pressure in your ankle and behind your knee-cap, which can be very uncomfortable for people with issues in either of these areas. Keeping your knees behind your toes will decrease this undue pressure.

Lead with your tailbone (stick your bottom out!)

Sticking your bottom out will help you keep your knees behind your toes, but it will also help you turn your glutes on more effectively. Ever wondered why you don’t feel squats working your buttocks? Might be that you’re not sticking that tailbone out enough!

Keep your lumbar curve (that natural hollow in your lower back) but don’t over-arch it!

Lean forward when you stick your bottom out, keep your ribs ‘in’ and your lower belly muscle engaged (about 20%) so you don’t end up over-arching your back (see the picture below for a perfect squat).

The carpel tunnel is a narrow bony and soft tissue passageway at the wrist which allows certain nerves and other soft tissue vessels to pass through into the hand. Sometimes pressure can build up in this tunnel causing pressure on the soft tissue structures and often in particular on the nerves passing through. This can cause numbness, pins and needles and often pain.  It is commonly seen during pregnancy or those with excessive fluid.  It is commonly a problem at night due to resting positions of the wrist. Physiotherapy can be of benefit and treatment can be successful with conservative treatments.  We always use our hands!  So living with pain and stiffness in this area can be difficult. 

Sometimes surgery is necessary.   Surgery release of this tunnel involves a small operation where they release some of the soft tissue structures in order to take the pressure off these vessels. Following surgery, it will take some time for swelling and pain to settle.  The hand is a complex structure which tends to stiffen up very easily with minimal effort.  Some advice following surgery:

Gently massage in a little emu oil or moisturizer into the scar and the swollen aspects of the hand and wrist.  Do this two to three times a day if possible.  Use your thumb in a circular motion to break down any adhesion’s that may be forming from the scar tissue.

Perform gentle stretches to the wrist and fingers.   Don’t push past pain, rather stretch to a stiffness sensation.  Curl your fingers into a fist and open regularly throughout the day. Practice playing a pretend piano and practice taking each finger to the thumb to create the pincer grip.

Don’t try to perform heavy lifting or difficult tasks for the initial 6-8 weeks until you are confident of strength and function

Don’t try to do repetitive tasks for long periods of time.  Vary activity regularly.

Our Physiotherapists in Rockingham and Mandurah believe exercise is important.  Previously it was thought that once you retired inactivity was acceptable.  It’s now recognised that activity is beneficial throughout our journey. Our bodies are designed to exercise every day.  In fact, if we don’t exercise, just as if we don’t eat, our body literally starts to break down and all sorts of problems emerge e.g. heart, bone/osteoporosis, depression, balance. Mobility and lots more.

It is a well-known fact that the way to fitness and good health is a well-balanced diet and regular physical activity. This is especially true and important for the elderly. Recent studies have shown that physical exercise in the twilight years adds quality and vitality to life. One major concern among a lot of people who don’t exercise is the fear of overdoing it and risking injury, especially as we get older.  This concern is valid but should not hinder from reaping the benefits of what a carefully planned and professionally assessed program has to offer. It is important to remember that young or old – we are supposed to exercise within the boundaries of the body’s current level of tolerance.

What should we be doing?  Most research shows that we should be exercising 2-3 times weekly for a minimum of 20 – 30 minutes.  This will vary depending on what type of exercise and what intensity it is.  For example with moderate walking then a reasonable goal could be 40-50 minutes per session.  If high-intensity cycling is the activity then 20 minutes may be sufficient.  There are 2 types of systems that the body uses to create energy:

AEROBIC EXERCISE:

Exercise with the use of Oxygen

This type of exercise makes you puff

It trains the cardio/vascular system

Examples: brisk walking, cycling

Exercise must be for a minimum of 15 minutes to be aerobic

ANAEROBIC EXERCISE:

Exercising without Oxygen

Gives you short bursts of energy before the aerobic system comes in

E.g. squash (stop-start), gym work, weightlifting etc.

Whenever we start to walk we use our anaerobic system until the aerobic system starts to kick in.  Anaerobic training is often used for specific functions e.g. muscle strength, osteoporosis bone-building etc. Both types of exercise are beneficial, although aerobic exercise is very important for full health, i.e. cardiovascular health.

How to get motivated?  Join a class or train with others.  Make sure the class is appropriate for what is needed and caters for specific needs.  If there are medical issues, assessment by a qualified professional such as a physiotherapist is recommended.   There are various classes available e.g. aqua-aerobics, prime movers, hash house harriers (runners).  Classes need to be specific to the needs of each individual. A client who has degeneration of the knees and a total hip replacement needs a specific program to incorporate all the areas of concern.  Physiotherapists often have clients who haven’t exercised for a while and just want a general fitness program.  They can be given guidelines on what to avoid and what to focus on.  It can be a lot easier to exercise with others when there is the social aspect of meeting other people while doing the task.

With gym training, there are many gyms and clubs around currently offering competitive fitness deals.  Find someone who understands specific medical history so damage is not done.  It may be worth getting knowledgeable advice from your physiotherapist on this.  Our clinics run small strength training groups for the older person or those suffering specific medical conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis etc.  Exercise programs are written by a qualified physiotherapist so that they are specific to the client’s needs, and training occurs for a one-hour period.  The classes are small so that the instructor can give individual attention to everybody whilst still being able to keep the price low. The advantage in a small class is that you are guided throughout the entire training session and supervised.  There are also social aspects as well, which include encouragement, friendship and stamina.  It is always easiest to train with someone than to try to train independently especially when you’re in pain.  This type of class is very appropriate for the older person even if there is no gym experience at all.  Other options involve just getting specific advice on an appropriate program and train independently.  Regularity with a training regime is important to obtain the best results.  At least 2-3 times a week is a general guideline.

Too much exercise can decrease hormones needed for good bone health. Moderate controlled exercise is the key.

While it might sound intimidating, shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment used in a variety of health fields, such as physiotherapy, sports medicine, urology, and orthopaedics. Shockwave therapy is an ideal treatment for muscle injuries, relieving acute and chronic pain as well as assisting to speed up your recovery.

Shockwave therapy was originally developed to treat kidney stones and gallstones, it’s also effective for plantar fasciitis, calcific tendonitis, knee pain and a range of other treatments.

What Issues Can Shockwave Therapy Help You With?

Tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, golfers elbow, jumpers knee (patella tendinitis), shoulder bursitis, plantar fasciitis (heel pain), Hip or trochanteric bursitis, hamstrings tendinitis, and muscle knots.

What Can I Expect During A Shockwave Therapy Appointment?

Before we begin any shockwave therapy treatment with you, our physiotherapists will undertake a thorough assessment of your areas of concern to diagnose your injury. If it is decided that shockwave treatment is suitable for you, we will prepare you for shockwave treatment. This will take approximately 5 minutes. The treatment itself is mildly uncomfortable, which resolves as soon as treatment is completed. We will also include in your treatment massage, joint mobilisation, exercise prescription, taping, and education as needed.

How Many Treatments Do I Need?

We recommend four to eight treatments of shockwave therapy at 5 to 7 days apart.

Currently, shockwave therapy is included at no extra cost and can be administered by your physiotherapist. Simply make an appointment and start today!

Do I need orthotics?

Orthotics are used to correct poor biomechanics of the feet, such as flat feet.  Flat feet are commonly seen in the population.  High foot arches are fairly rare but would be picked up by a physio or podiatrist.

Both high arches and flat feet can cause problems. Flat feet occur when there is not enough arch support in the foot and it starts to collapse providing insufficient support. High arches occur when there is too much of an arch and the foot becomes rigid and unable to give.  In both situations, the foot is not being held in neutral and this causes abnormal load through the foot and lower limb and can lead to pain and inflammation.  There is also the hidden complication of rotation of the foot caused by these conditions that can again lead to problems with pain.

Dropped Arches? Lack of arches in the feet means it has too little support and therefore supportive orthotics or shoes with arch support can provide a solution. Shoes here need to be very supportive and firm to give the feet support.

High arches???  The basic problem with high arched feet is that they are very rigid and do not produce enough shock absorption on landing because of their inability of the arch to flatten which is the normal function of the foot.  High arches have too much support and are too rigid.  Due to the fact that these type of feet are not commonly seen not a lot of research has been done into this specific area.  Shoes needed here are those that offer little stability but lots of shock absorption. This may be in the form of gel, air or DMX.  It should have a midsole flare, which helps with cushioning and was very common about 10-15 years ago but is not seen so often now. The shoe should also have a lack of torsion control.  If you take a shoe by the toe and heel and twist in the majority of shoes this movement is minimal and that is what most people need, stability in a shoe.  But those with high arches need a shoe with minimal support but lots of shock absorption.  Shop for a shoe to suit your needs, e.g. Athletes foot where they are able to cater for people with high arches and flat feet.

The surface you are experiencing pain on As well as adjusting your shoe, look at the surface that causes the pain.  The harder the surface the more shock your foot has to take and the more pain and inflamed it may become.  Grass and adjusted wooden floors are fairly good playing surfaces because of their ability to absorb stress.  Another factor is the weight.  If you weight more than recommended, this can greatly increase the stress placed through your feet.  Aim to stay at optimum weight or just below to ensure your feet endure your life journey.  Physiotherapists assess feet and the biomechanics of the weight-bearing style. Orthotics can be useful to address biomechanic factors although this may only be a temporary measure.

Finally, if all this doesn’t help you may need to see a podiatrist or orthopedist. They are the best people to be able to assess high arch issues. They may try to cushion your arch not for support but for the absorption of shock and in order to maintain the foot in the neutral normal position for optimum performance.  Flat feet, seen much more commonly are treated regularly through physiotherapy.

Persistent or recurring headaches may be neck related, and you may not even have pain!   This cause of a headache has been commonly overlooked which has often resulted in patients suffering for many years.

Physiotherapists assess and treat neck pain and neck-related headache.

Headaches caused by the structures of the neck are often one-sided, with pain usually arising at the base of the skull and referring to the temple, forehead or eye region. However, pain can be present in the eye/head region alone. Pain may be aggravated by neck movement or sustained postures and is often eased by manual pressure to the base of the skull. You might wake with pain, or it might come on as the day progresses.

How your neck can cause pain in your head:

It has been well demonstrated that structures in the neck can refer pain to the head. The nerves in the top of the neck (C1-C3) also provide sensation to the face and head. If these nerves are aggravated by stiff joints and muscles in the neck, they can cause pain in the head. This is called referred pain.

The Role of Physiotherapy:

Your therapist will thoroughly assess your neck and headaches. They will ask specific questions to rule out other causes of headaches. They will then feel and assess the structures of your neck to decide if they may be causing your headache. If the neck structures are involved, we will find

Tight and painful structures in your neck (joint and muscle)

Pressure on specific structures of your neck will reproduce your head pain.

Postural changes such as a forward head posture and stiff mid-back.

Reduced motion in the upper joints of the neck.

Reduced endurance in the deep muscles of the neck.

Grange Physiotherapy in Rockingham offers a fully equipped on site gym to cater for a range of training abilities, as well as a separate pilates equipment room and a pilates mat group room. Our highly trained Exercise Personnel and Physiotherapists have experience in Clinical pilates, Sports physiotherapy, personal training and rehabilitation  work. We offer various services in the gym including clinical pilates, individual instruction, independent usage, Physio rehab gym sessions and physical training sessions. We make sure that you get the most out of your workout in a safe environment which caters to all your specific needs.

We believe in keeping our group sessions small and safe, to provide an alternative to the classic gym scene that can be intimidating. Our on-site gym has a range of equipment including pilates machines, strength and endurance training equipment, rehabilitation facilities and a vibration machine.

Physio Gym Sessions

This gym group is supervised by a physiotherapist and may be able to be rebated from your private health funds. It focuses on rehabilitation with a variety of conditions including: injury rehabilitation, osteoporosis, arthritis, Back and Neck Pain, medical conditions and general poor fitness.

The session is tailored to individual needs, wishes and medical history. After a check-up with the physiotherapist to best target your needs, your therapist will guide you through your individual program. All our gym sessions are fun and enjoyable, but you do work hard. On your road to recovery from perhaps a car accident or a work related injury, the physiotherapist uses the gym as an active step in your treatment plan. Your therapist will monitor your progress and make alterations to your program as needed.

Personal Training

These sessions are taken by a physical trainer with extensive experience in injury, rehabilitation as well as powerlifting, bodybuilding, and general fitness. These are not able to be rebated from private health funds. These are economical in value as you train in small groups with intense supervision. It’s like your own personal trainer without the one-on-one cost.

General Fitness

A common concern among would-be gym patrons can be: “ I just want to tone up – I do not want big muscles”. The reality is muscle building is very hard work but we recognise your concern and are happy to provide classes on general shaping –up, which is a combination of flexibility, strength, coordination and improved cardiovascular fitness. Your personal needs will still be addressed and met, as everybody is different and needs personal guidance and an individualised program.

Independent Gym Usage

We open our gym to independent sessions during the time our gym is not utilised for group work. This is designed for clients who know their exercise program and need no supervision. We ensure all clients who will be training independently have a safe structured program designed for their needs.

Further Details

Are you needing state of the art physiotherapy and rehabilitation in the heart of Rockingham?  Needing your therapist to focus on your goals?  Needing us to make it our priority to find an accurate diagnosis within our first consultation, so rehabilitation can begin immediately?  Needing to find the right therapist who can fix your issues?  We have a range of highly qualified therapists with a variety of experience, to cater to your needs. 

Initial Physiotherapy assessments take approximately 40-60 minutes and this includes treatment. Standard treatments take about 20 minutes. A little extra time may be needed as sometimes treatments take longer than expected. Initial assessments consist of history, assessment, tests, diagnosis, education, treatment, and exercise regime/home program. We will provide you with a recommended treatment Plan which will include your diagnosis and recommendations. Following your plan will give you optimal outcomes.  

Your physiotherapy treatment may include the following:

Deep tissue releases

Joint Mobilization or manipulation

Shockwave therapy

Acupuncture (dry needling)

Electrical Modalities

Exercise Prescription

Taping/bracing

Education/Advice

Biomechanical/Posture Assessments-Manual and/or Digital (Gaitscan)

Soft Orthotic Prescription-Custom and off the shelf adjustable

Hydrotherapy

GAITSCAN: is a state of the art computer hardware and software system that helps your physiotherapist assess your biomechanics and analyse your feet. This assists in detecting abnormal foot function which may affect your feet or other parts of your body.

We provide Physiotherapy for a range of conditions which include: Spinal Pain, Muscle and Joint Pain, Sports Injuries, Scoliosis, Headaches, Orthopaedic Conditions, Arthritis, Sciatica, Osteoporosis, Vertigo, Women’s Health, Pelvic Floor and Pregnancy Care.

Hydrotherapy at Grange Physiotherapy in Rockingham is run at the Aqua Jetty in Warnbro.

These sessions are supervised by physiotherapists and are rebatable from private health funds. Please contact Grange Physiotherapy clinic for current private fees. There are casual rates and discounted 10 sessions rates.

Hydrotherapy is a wonderful way to exercise gently and with support. If you have pain this can be the ideal environment to start your rehabilitation. Hydrotherapy pools are heated at between 32-34 degrees and use the buoyancy of the water to enable assisted movement. Water can also be used to provide resistance work. At Grange Physiotherapy you will be assessed on land at the clinic by one of our qualified physiotherapists. A specific individualised program will then be organised and in the pool, you will be guided through this program under supervision. We use specific equipment in the pool to adjust each exercise for your needs.

You will need to book at the clinic if you want to attend hydrotherapy. Once your assessment has occurred, you will be booked into a hydrotherapy session. When you arrive at the pool, the reception staff will direct you to the pool. Do not enter the pool until the physiotherapist has arrived. Should you be unable to attend, we require 8 hours notice for cancellations or changes in appointment to avoid being charged for the session. There are showers available on site. You do not need to be able to swim to attend hydrotherapy, as most exercises are done with your head above water, and you have the ability to stay in the shallow end. Please let us know if you have any concerns. If you have reading glasses, please bring them along in order to read your written laminated exercise program.

You will need to bring with you:

Towel

Swimming costume (or equivalent)

Sandals/thongs

Reading glasses (if necessary)

Change of clothes (if necessary)

Water bottle

You may feel tired and drained after your first hydrotherapy session. This is normal. You may also have increased pain due to your body not being used to the new exercises. Make sure you drink plenty of water and rest after your first session. This should improve after the first few sessions.