North City Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy:

Physiotherapy is a profession within the health sector which aims to restore movement and function and promote overall well-being using the latest techniques and medical research. Physiotherapy helps a huge range of conditions and treats any joint, muscle and spinal pain to enhance the quality of life and help you get back your vitality.

Many of us have experienced aches and pains and niggles from either sitting at the desk or for no real reason at all! These are what we describe as “common complaints” – aches or pains or niggles that we all experience every now and again.

There are many different injuries that fall under the common complaints – these are injuries such as non specific lower back pain – this may be caused by sitting in a bad posture at your computer for a prolonged period of time. This may cause joint stiffness and subsequently muscle tightness and therefore pain. This type of injury is seen and successfully treated every day at our clinics. Common injury complaints can often start out as just a “niggle” and then develop into a real problem.

After a full analysis of body posture, flexibility and strength, a personalised plan will be devised and throughout a course of treatments, we encourage self-help techniques so that you can take control of your recovery.

North City Physiotherapy offers a wide range of treatment and lifestyle options which have been demonstrated with research to be effective in the management of both acute and chronic conditions. Your therapist will assess your needs and make an appropriate recommendation in order for you to achieve your goals.

‘Our priority is to relieve pain and restore your quality of life’.

Manipulative Therapy

This is a branch of physiotherapy specialising in the treatment of musculoskeletal problems that invoice structures such as nerves, muscles, and joints.

At North City Physiotherapy, all our physiotherapists have been through the New Zealand Manipulative Therapy postgraduate courses, and therefore are skilled in the area of mobilisation and manipulation. They use a combination of specific manual procedures, together with general physiotherapy techniques, equipment, exercises, advice and return to work conditioning.

Joint Mobilisation is a localised specific stretching of tight joints whereas Joint Manipulation involves a high velocity thrust technique which may produce a "click." Our physiotherapists especially prior to joint manipulation will always educate you and gain consent prior to performing the technique. They will perform specific tests (especially for the neck) to optimise your safety.

Exercise Based Rehabilitation

Our primary focus is to restore function, improve your quality of life and reduce pain by providing skillful and personalized exercise therapy programmes for clients with varying ages and varying levels of dysfunction. Included in our extensive experience is a passion for sports specific and general strength and conditioning.

Exercise therapy involves eliciting motion of the body or its parts in order to relieve symptoms and improve function. Specific stretching, strengthening, and stabilization exercises are a critical part of the rehabilitation process for most musculoskeletal injuries. Continued exercise is an important component of injury prevention. With guidance from our physiotherapist, you will have a personalized programme created, with follow-up appointments booked to progress and ensure all needs are being met.

Our exercise therapy covers the following:

• Rehabilitation
• Pre and Post Operative Exercises
• Core Stabilization
• Postpartum Health
• Osteoporosis

Often patients nearing the end of their treatment plan will opt for a comprehensive exercise programme to ensure a complete return to pre-injury levels. Other times, an exercise programme is requested by the Doctor or specialist for strengthening of a specific condition. Either way, a personalized exercise programme can be created for you which you can do it at home, or your own gym, or with supervised with us at our gym facilities.

Muscle strengthening and stretching

Strength training improves your ability to lift objects. Having muscle strength allows women to lift heavier objects. Muscle endurance allows you to lift light objects more frequently. Many women and men find that strength training makes daily tasks a little easier.

Strength training has been effective in increasing bone density and strengthening tendons and ligaments. Developing strong bones reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis and decreases the risk of bone fracture.

Strength training isn't just about lifting weights and "bulking up". Strength training builds muscle endurance along with muscle strength. There are many benefits of doing strengthening exercises and they can be done by adults and children of both genders. Benefits of strengthening your muscles include:

• Decreasing body fat and increasing lean muscle mass. Increasing lean muscle mass can help your body burn calories more efficiently
• Toning your muscles to help you look thinner
• Increasing or maintaining balance and coordination
• Increasing or maintaining bone mineral density
• Reducing risk of injury
• Preventing muscle deterioration
• Increasing athletic performance
• Increasing ability to perform everyday activities easily

Massage and Electrotherapy Treatment

Massage - Soft tissue mobilisation/Deep tissue massage/Frictional Treatment

Massage is a core skill that has been traditionally used by physiotherapists for over 100 years. It is a treatment using the hands to manipulate the soft tissues of the body to obtain relaxation, healing and well being.

Massage therapy includes the assessment of the soft tissue along with joints of the body, treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction. A combination of superficial and deep massage, along with trigger point release and acupressure are used by our physiotherapists.

Massage therapy has a therapeutic effect on the body and improves health and your well being by acting on the muscular, joints, nervous and circulatory systems. Physical function can be developed, maintained, as well as improved. Also physical dysfunction and pain can be relieved or prevented through the use of massage therapy.

Electrotherapy Treatment

Ultrasound

What is Ultrasound?

Sound waves which penetrate body tissues causing micro vibrations that:

• Enhance the inflammatory response
• Promote tissue healing
• Aids strong and aligned collagen and scar remodeling
• Can reduce pain

What will I feel?

You should not feel anything but please do let your therapist know if you feel heat.

The gel used by this clinic has no special properties – it is only used as a contact medium.

TENS

What is TENS?

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a device to help to control pain. It involves the use of a small battery-powered stimulator that delivers pulses of electrical activity from surface electrodes attached to the skin.

How does it work?

TENS works by altering the method of pain transmission within the body. TENS is also stimulating the body’s own pain control system by causing the body to produce Endorphin-like substances, which act as pain relievers.

The TENS machine has a variety of waves and frequencies for different types of pain. Your physiotherapist may try out different combinations to find out which combination is most suitable or effective for your pain.

What will I feel?

You should feel a strong but comfortable sensation. Please advise your therapist if any irritation or burning feeling occurs.

We able to loan you our TENS machine for a trial, in some cases ACC may well fund the trial. Of course you are able to purchase a TENS machine from us.

Acupuncture/Dry Needling

At North City Physiotherapy, we offer acupuncture/dry needling as part of an integrated approach to relieve pain and aid recovery and it can be used alongside physiotherapy to enhance well-being.

Acupuncture is the stimulation of special points on the body by inserting fine needles and it originated in the Far East around 2000 years ago.

There are two different types of acupuncture practiced in New Zealand today:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM – derives from the principles of Chinese medicine that looks at the whole body as a series of energy channels and looks to restore the balance of the whole body
• Western Acupuncture/Dry Needling – this approach combines some of the ideas of TCM and uses traditional acupuncture points in conjunction with the latest research. It uses acupuncture to treat trigger points in the musculoskeletal system and relieve muscular tension and pain

All methods have been shown to be highly effective for many patients and are widely used by physiotherapists today to treat a large variety of conditions. For more information on acupuncture, please contact us at one of our clinics.

Strapping, Kinesio Taping and Supports

Based on assessment, treatment and individual needs this incorporates the use of external devices which are applied to stabilise a moving joint. Most commonly used is strapping tape which your physiotherapist will apply in order to limit movement or provide a sense of stability to a joint. Please tell us whether you have a specific tape allergy.

North City Physiotherapy uses common sports strapping tape of high quality. We are able to use underwrap and skin preparation if you have a specific allergy to tape. We recommend tape is not left on for more than 2 days. In addition to being supportive taping can be used to be therapeutic, which can offload sensitive structures such as joints, muscles, and tendons to aid the healing process. We are also available at all times to strap you for your sports games, or practices, just give us a call at one of our clinics and pop in.

Kinesio-Taping

Our physios all use the popular Kinesio-taping method, Kinesio Tape is a breathable, waterproof tape with a medical-grade, heat sensitive acrylic adhesive. It is easily tolerated and can last for 3-5 days without re-application, even in the water. It allows range of motion and does not restrict like conventional athletic tape. It has elasticity of up to 30-40% from its resting length. Kinesio Taping of an area RELIEVES PAIN, REMOVES INFLAMMATION, & HELPS MOVEMENT AND BIOMECHANICS

Should you require it, your physiotherapist can organise a brace for your damaged joint, utilising one of the many suppliers that we have available.

Investigations/Doctors/Specialists/Second Opinion

At North City Physiotherapy we take pride in our performance and communication. Throughout your injury if appropriate we will be keeping in close contact with your GP especially if you are off work. This will include regular progress and update reports so you can received the best treatment possible medically and from us, and we can return you to work safely.

Our Physiotherapists are also able to refer you for XRAYS and Ultrasound scans to aid in the overall management of your injury. These facilities are all available in the Porirua region.

At North City we have a strong relationship with a number of specialists, including orthopedic surgeons, spinal surgeons, neurosurgeons, sports physicians, and pain physicians. In consultation with your GP if appropriate we are able to refer you directly to specialists for opinions, further investigations, and in some cases surgery.

Costs

ACC APPROVED INJURIES:

• Initial Assessment & Treatment (20-40  minutes) $20.00
• Follow up Treatment (20 minutes)*  $10.00

30 ($15) and 40 ($20) minute treatment sessions are available on a pro rata basis depending on the scope of your injury, additional charges apply. Please note some workplace insurers cover fully including the copayment for workplace accidents, we will inform you if this is the case. Materials used or provided during consultation will be charged separately, please check with your physio.

PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS

• Initial Assessment & Treatment $53.00
• Follow up Treatment*  $43.00

^*A treatment session may include a number of different treatment techniques for example acupuncture, electrotherapy, joint manipulations, massage therapy, exercise rehabilitation, postural training and rehabilitation.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION:

Physical Fitness For Work and Independence Programs

• 6-12 week exercise rehabilitation carried out in our gym facilities for those clients who are off work for an extended period of time
• Fully funded
• Note ACC or Insurance Company case manager approval required

Sports Physiotherapy

• Our staff look after a variety of sports teams. Should you have a sports team that needs our services we are available for discussion on how we can help your team or club

Payment

Please click here to go to the Download Section of our website where you can download our Registration Guide which outlines our Payment Policies and Terms and Conditions in full.

Insured Patients

NCP physiotherapists are Preferred Providers of all the Health Insurance Companies which means you can use your policy to cover the cost of your physiotherapy treatment with us.   We recommend that you contact your insurance company before commencing treatment, to clarify whether a medical referral is required and whether there are any restrictions on your policy.

In keeping with the top-class service we provide, unlike many of our competitors, we bill the cost of your treatment directly to your health insurance company.  This means that you do not have the bother of paying for the service up-front and then reclaiming the cost from your insurer.

Self-pay Patients

For direct payment payments we offer a comprehensive choice.  We accept cash, cheque, EFTPOS.