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Suffering from pain or limited movement? Our Macquarie Physiotherapy experts use manual therapy techniques, like joint mobilisations, to target the source of your discomfort and promote healing, helping you get back to your life.
What is Manual Physiotherapy?
Manual therapy is a hands-on approach used by our physiotherapists to improve your recovery and complement other treatment techniques. It’s a safe and effective method for managing a variety of conditions, including lower back pain, tendonitis, arthritis, and sports injuries.
During manual therapy sessions, our highly trained physiotherapists use various techniques to address limitations in your joints and soft tissues. This may involve mobilising stiff joints, reducing swelling or restrictions, and ultimately increasing your range of motion.
By working directly with your muscles and joints, manual therapy can effectively achieve several goals including:
- Pain Relief
- Improved Movement and Function
- Enhanced Range of Motion
- Restored Muscle Function
Our qualified physiotherapists will perform a thorough assessment to identify the root cause of your discomfort. Following this, they will design a personalised treatment plan incorporating manual therapy techniques alongside other physiotherapy approaches to optimise your recovery journey.
Team and Expertise
At Macquarie Physiotherapy, our team is led by Rod Millington, Warren Lovell and Shaun Frazer, expert practitioners with over 60 years of combined experience in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. With their mentorship and knowledge passed on to our staff, we ensure the highest standard of care and the best outcomes for our client’s rehabilitation processes.
Common Techniques in Manual Physiotherapy
Our physiotherapists utilise a variety of manual therapy techniques to target your specific needs. Here are some of the most common approaches:
- Soft and Deep Tissue Massage: Through deep pressure and rhythmic stretching, our therapists target restricted areas, improving blood flow and circulation in the affected tissues.
- Mobilisation: Our physiotherapists use low-velocity pressure techniques to safely and effectively mobilise these joints, increasing your range of motion and improving overall mobility.
- Manual Traction: By applying gentle force to a specific area, manual traction helps stretch soft tissues and restore normal movement. While the neck is a common target for traction, it can also be used on other areas like the arms, legs, and back.
These examples are just a few of many common techniques. During your initial assessment, your physiotherapist will determine the most appropriate techniques to address your unique condition and create a personalised treatment plan to optimise your recovery.
Benefits of Manual Physiotherapy
Manual therapy offers a range of benefits to address your condition. Commonly, it helps:
- Manage pain
- Improve joint mobility
- Improve range of motion
- Promote tissue repair and relaxation
- Reduce inflammation and muscle tension.
This ultimately facilitates movement and your exercise prescription, helping to aid and reduce your recovery time.
Conditions Treated by Manual Physiotherapy
Manual therapy is a versatile approach that can benefit a wide range of conditions. Here are some common areas where it can help:
- Pain Management: Manual therapy techniques are effective in alleviating pain associated with neck and back problems like herniated discs, sciatica, and muscle strains. You might even be surprised by the rapid improvement in your range of motion after treatment.
- Joint Disorders: Manual therapy can be beneficial for individuals with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and frozen shoulder. It helps reduce pain and improve pain-free joint movement, ultimately enhancing your quality of life.
- Sports Injury: Whether you’ve experienced sprains, strains, or ligament tears, manual therapy can play a key role in your recovery. It aids healing and restores normal function.
- Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: Following surgery, manual therapy can promote tissue healing, minimise scar tissue formation, and restore your natural movement patterns, facilitating a smoother recovery process.
If you’re experiencing any of these conditions or something else entirely, our physiotherapists can assess your situation and determine if manual therapy is right for you.
Choosing the Right Physiotherapist in Newcastle
Finding the right physiotherapist is an important step in your recovery journey. Here at Macquarie Physiotherapy, we offer a comprehensive team of qualified professionals to address your specific needs.
Our physiotherapists are highly skilled in manual therapy and other techniques for managing pain, improving mobility, and restoring function. They can address a wide range of issues, from acute and chronic conditions.
We understand that every person is unique. That’s why we take a personalised approach, developing physiotherapy treatments that are tailored to your individual goals and circumstances.
If you’re unsure whether manual therapy is right for you, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our friendly team can answer your questions and guide you towards the best course of action for your recovery.
FAQ
What distinguishes manual physiotherapy from other forms of physical therapy?
How can manual physiotherapy techniques specifically help in managing chronic pain and improving joint mobility?
What should I expect during my first manual physiotherapy session in Newcastle?
Do you have pain right now?
Whether you have an injury, you’ve just had surgery or you’re suffering from niggling or chronic pain, our physios can help.
Other Services:
Massage Therapy
If you suffer from neck, shoulder, back or leg pain, massage can help. We offer therapeutic massage techniques to relieve tight muscles and stiff joints. Our experienced massage therapists also give practical advice and tips on maintaining good musculo-skeletal health.
Exercise Physiologist
An initial assessment records your medical history, gauges activity level & capacity. We design an exercise program based on your goals. Your Exercise Physiologist will run through the program with you, to make sure your technique is correct. You can continue your program at home or in the gym, and we’ll review your progress.
Core Physiotherapy
These physiotherapist-run exercise classes focus on strength and flexibility for good posture and life-long wellness. Including mat work and Pilates-style exercises, we have classes throughout the week at various locations. See times here.
Manual Therapy
Our physiotherapists know when to get hands-on and manually manipulate joints and muscles. Mobilisation helps promote the healing process of the affected soft tissues.
Hydrotherapy
Exercising in water provides buoyancy, support and a feeling of being weightless. You can move more freely as you build strength and flexibility. Hydrotherapy sessions are held at Valentine Pool.
Casting & Splints
Depending on the injury, we may need to stabilise or mobilise tissues or joints for them to heal effectively. We also have vast experience with waterproof casts, custom-made orthotics, taping & bracing.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is used to reduce pain and restore function through the release of myofascial trigger points in muscle.
Rehabilitation Programs
If you’ve suffered an injury or had a surgical procedure, we can design a rehabilitation program to get you back to full strength.
Living Longer Living Stronger Classes
Macquarie Exercise Centre
Tues 11am – Balance & Fall Prevention
Fri 1pm – Strength & Conditioning
$10/class and $85 for Initial Assessment
These 60 minute classes are open to everyone! Give us a call today so that we can book you in for an appointment.
Core Strength Classes
Gateshead Clinic
Mon 5.30pm, 6.30pm (Men Only)
Wed 10am
Thurs 10am, 4.45pm, 6pm, 7.15pm
Fri 10am
$18/class or 10 for $150
These 60 minute classes focus on core strength and flexibility, including Pilates-style exercises with standing and floor work.
Stretch and Flexibility Classes
Macquarie Exercise Centre
Tuesday 8.30am
$12/class
These 60 minute classes involve a gentle whole-body stretch in a variety of positions. For anyone wanting to maintain or increase flexibility. Ideal for post-op patients.
Macquarie Exercise Centre
The Exercise Centre has the equipment and the qualified, experienced staff you need to help you to get the best out of every workout.
Belmont Practice
Gateshead Practice
Glendale Practice
Exercise Centre
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