Newcastle physiotherapy services Warners Bay

A different and more serious complain: Occupational Low Back Pain

February 2013

From a management perspective, occupational low back pain differs from other types of back pain. Disability is much more frequent, and the predictors of  poor outcomes are different. An early, assertive approach including physiotherapy is recommended.

Improving Life for Patients after Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures

January 2013

A recently trieal out of Melbourne demostrates that physiotherapy approaches, including spinal mobilisation, prove safe and effective for patients with chronic problems subsequent to osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Improving Life for Patients after Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures

December 2012

A recent trial out of Melbourne demostrates that physiotherapy approaches, including spinal mobilisation, prove safe an effective for patients with chronic problems subsequent to ostroporotic vertebral fractures.

Even Light Resistance Training is Beneficial for the Oldest Old >90

November 2012

A recently published study verifies that even light resistance training can improve leg strenght and prevetn fall injuries in the very elderly after only 18 sessions. Advanced age and the common array of co-morbidities that goes with it should not discourage practitioners from making referals to physiotherapy as needed.

The Most effective treatment for Ankle Strains

October 2012

Ankle sprains serve as strong predictors of future and worse injury such as ACL rupture. Physiotherapy approaches have been shown to lessen the risk of ankle sprain re-injury up to 87%. Advanced Physiotherapy offers a combination of proven approaches including custom orthotics.

Protecting Patients from Recurrent Ankle  Sprains

September 2012

With a general recurrence rate of 80%, ankle sprains stand out as a potential area for improvement in health care results. For grade I & II sprans, early mobilization, functional stress and rehabilitation on day one of injury are the current recommendation.

Work Conditioning Prevents Work Injuries and Speeds Return to Work

August 2012

Work injuries are common, costly and on the rise. Work conditioning programs with the right components are proven to reduce time off work and prevent re-injury. Recommend a work conditioning program any time a muskoloskeletal injury or condition causes time off work.

June 2012

Each year, nine percents of seniors present to an emergency department subsequent to an accidental fall. research demonstrate that many of this falls injuries are preventable. Read more.

Not all Physiotheraphy is equal in Subacromial Impingement

April 2012
Multiple studies now demonstrate that physiotherapy is highly effective for patients with subacromial impingement, but there is no consensus on the best physiotherapy approach. Consequently, doctors may experience varying levels of success from different physiotherapy practices. Read more

Important Considerations for All Shoulder Complaints

March 2012

Lack of bony stability and superlative capacity for motion make the shoulder one of the body’s most vulnerable regions for injury, pain, and dysfunction. In fact, shoulder pain is commonly referred to as the as the second most common orthopedic complaint in primary care (behind low back pain). Read more

Efficacy of Corticosteroid Injections for Tendinopathy

February 2012

Generally speaking, a recent systematic review found that corticosteroids provide short-term relief for some sites of tendinopathy but not all. The researchers conclude that, for long-term benefit, other conserva-tive treatment options such as physiotherapy show more promise. Read more

Subacromial Impingment Surgery

January  2012

A randomized trial found that physiotherapy alone is equal to arthroscopic subacromial decompression plus physiotherapy teaching. This adds to an earlier study with similar findings. Where conservative treatment and cost-efficiency are prioritized, six months of physiotherapy is recommended before electing surgery. Read more

The Role of Personality in Chronic Back Pain

October 2011

Personalities that perceive pain as a threat of injury to be avoided, as opposed to a nuisance to be overcome, may be more likely to have back pain become a chronic problem. There are mechanical, neurologic, and psychological aspects to the personality - chronicity connection. Advanced Physiotherapy’s new Bounce Back program is designed to address and overcome these psycho-logical components of chronicity. Read More

Paradigm Shifting Rehab Classes for Back Pain

September 2011

Bounce Back® rehab is a back pain program evolving from the latest understanding of chronic back pain science. Designed by Trish Wisbey-Roth, Titled Olympic Physiotherapist, and colleagues, Bounce Back is a class setting rehab system that fully addresses the modern concept of dynamic stability. The program has been able to consistently achieve results with chronic back pain where other physiotherapy approaches have failed. Advanced Physiotherapy & Injury Prevention has become a credentialed provider of Bounce Back®, and will be accepting class enrollment soon. Read More

Back Pain: Optimal Timing for Physiotherapy

July 2011

Practice guidelines are in conflict regarding the optimal timing of physiotherapy in cases of low back pain (LBP). Research suggests that earlier referral results in earlier recovery, but the disadvantages of late referral may be hard to detect in short term assessment. Physiotherapy for LBP begun during the subacute phase has been connected with superior long-term results. Read More

Non-Specific Low Back Pain - Individual Assessment Improves Results

June  2011

Studies that treat all low-back pain (LBP) as if it were one problem confound attempts to create effective clinical guidelines. Research shows that physiotherapy assessment designed to further refine the LBP diagnosis is an important component of effectiveness, especially where long-term results are concerned. Fritz and colleagues were able to use assessment-based physiotherapy to reduce healthcare spending compared to patients treated according to strictly interpreted clinical guidelines. Read More

Is Back Pain an Injury? What is the more cost effective model?

May 2011

Treatment plans that think of all back pain as an injury, in the absence of realistic insult, have resulted in unnecessary re-use of the healthcare system. Treatment plans that think of back pain cases as a result of “deconditioning syndrome” hold greater promise. 1980’s styles of physiotherapy do not work for back pain, but science has demonstrated some physiotherapy plans will work. Read More

Do Auto Accidents Increase the Risk of Widespread Pain?

April 2011

Auto accidents, especially auto accidents with whiplash injuries, may increase the risk of chronic widespread (WP) pain by 40% or more. Taking measures to reduce the risk of future WP would seem reasonable. Physiotherapy can help control pain after auto accidents and improve longterm outcomes, especially in cases of whiplash associated disorder. Read More

Is Physiotherapy Cost-Effective in Whiplash Treatment

March 2011

A large, controlled, Canadian study found that adding early physiotherapy to usual care for whiplash associated disorders reduced societal costs by 220% per case. Research suggests that to maximize the effectiveness of physiotherapy, patients should be referred within 96 hours of the injury and should receive manual therapy as part of the treatment plan. Read More

British Medical Journal: Physiotherapy Adds to Medical Care for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

January 2011

A study recently published by the British Medical Journal demonstrates that, for cases of patellofemoral pain syndrome, physiotherapy plus medical care produces better results than medical care alone. At 12 months, the physiotherapy plus medical care group reported at-rest pain scores that were 45% lower on average compared to the medical care only group. Read More

Proprioceptive Training Reduces ACL Injury Seven Fold

December 2010

In addition to structural stability, muscular control and responsiveness protect the knee joint. This dynamic stability relies first on accurate and efficient proprioception. A study involving 600 Italian football players found that proprioceptive training programs reduced ACL injuries seven fold. The Santa Monica Program, a similar program introduced to female soccer, reduced ACL injuries by 88%.1 Rehabilitation and injury prevention programming should include programs that retrain proprioception in a sports specific manner. Advanced Physiotherapy is providing free education to interested parties. Read More

Knee Osteoarthritis: Adhereance to Clinical Guidelines

November 2010

In a study published this year in the AMJ, up to 59% of patients had not received management according to current clinical guidelines. Daniel Bopf and colleagues point out patient perceptions and top opportunities for improved care. Here we highlight the role of physiotherapy in current guidelines. Super-vised physiotherapy has been found superior to home exercise programs. Read More