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Ligament Injuries Ligament injuries refer to sprains and partial or complete tears of ligaments. Ligaments are bands of connective tissues that join two bones, often over a joint. People who are active participants in sports are more likely to experience ligament injuries in their lives, but otherwise normally active people have the potential to experience these injuries as well. Ligament injuries are commonly felt as sharp pain which may be accompanied by swelling and tenderness that takes time to subside. The pattern of pain and its resolution depends on the nature of the injury to the ligament, as well as the joint over which the ligament is passing. Most of the joints in the human body are supported by ligaments, which act as scaffolding and rigging to maintain stability and optimal movement. Ligament Injuries are organised by grade of severity. Grade one Ligament Injuries are the least severe, and refer to strains or minor tears of the ligament. Such injuries will be accompanied by a sharp pain which may resolve into a dull, persistent ache that may resolve quickly or slowly, depending on the nature of the injury. Grade one Ligament Injuries generally resolve themselves, though monitoring is needed to ensure they do not worsen. Grade two Ligament Injuries refer to partial tears of the ligament. In this case, the bundles of connective tissue that compose the ligament become separated, and this is accompanied by pain, swelling, tenderness, and aggravation of pain when the joint becomes unstable. Typically, these Ligament Injuries are managed conservatively through pain and symptom relief followed by a strengthening and balance program, combined with monitoring to minimise the likelihood of complications. Grade three Ligament Injuries refer to almost total or total separation of the ligament fibers. This is the most severe injury that a ligament may experience, and as a consequence they need to be managed appropriately. Depending on the demands of your life and your desired return to activity, surgical repair of the ligament may be necessary, followed by active rehabilitation that takes place in and out of the clinic. Management of Ligament Injuries depends on the cause of the pain, how it feels and changes over the day, what makes it better or worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing the pain. All of these factors will be addressed in your initial assessment, which is the first step towards minimising and managing any pain or discomfort. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your Ligament Injury, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future.

Frozen Shoulder Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in your shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms typically begin gradually, worsen over time and then resolve, usually within one to three years. The shoulder is made up of the shoulderblade (also called the scapula), the collar bone, and the top part of the upper bone of the arm which is called the humerus. The rounded head of the humerus meets the scapula at a shallow cup in the shoulderblade called the glenoid. Because the glenoid is not a deep structure, the rounded head of the humerus does not fit snugly within it and so glides around. This ease of gliding and movement is what contributes to the flexibility and large working range of the shoulder joint as a whole. The shoulder joint is flexible, but unstable because of its flexibility and is therefore easily dislocated. It is stabilised by the action of muscles that lie over and under the joint, as well as the ligaments that tie the bones together. The shoulder is also stabilised by the joint capsule of the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint. The joint capsule is a sheath that arises from tissue overlying the bones of the shoulderblade and the upper arm. The joint capsule is responsible for maintaining the health of the cartilage that composes the shoulder joint as well as ensuring separation of the joint space from the outside environment. Typically, the joint capsule of the shoulder or any other joint contains synovial fluid in the joint space- a lubricating liquid that minimises the effect of pressure and loading, which improves the movement of cartilaginous surfaces, and which promotes the health of the joint. Frozen shoulder is the common-language name for adhesive capsulitis, a condition in which inflammation of the shoulder joint capsule results in the formation of adhesions. These adhesions are infiltrations of tissue called fibroblasts, which form inappropriate linkages between the different surfaces of the shoulder joint which make movements stiff and painful. The formation of these adhesions can also result in the swelling of the joint, making it painful to touch, move, and use. Because the shoulder is an inherently unstable joint, it is prone to damage and distress as the result of movement, loading, reaching, and external trauma. The immediate and accumulative effects of these physical obligations can result in an inflammatory response that becomes persistent and painful. Management of your discomfort depends on its causative factors, how it feels and changes during the day, what makes it better and worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing that pain. All of these factors will be addressed in your initial assessment, which is the first step toward managing and minimising any pain or discomfort. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your discomfort, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain-free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in-clinic and out. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today.

Repetitive Strain Injury Repetitive Strain Injuries (also called RSI's) are overuse injuries. Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) is another name used to describe RSI. Overuse injuries occur after doing the same movements over and over again, without giving the body time to recover from the stress of having executed those movements. Most Repetitive Strain Injuries are felt in the upper limb and forearm, as we need to use our arms in order to engage with the world and complete tasks. However, overuse injuries can also be felt in the back and hips, especially when our jobs require repetitive lifting or handling of items in awkward postures, as well as in the knees and feet for those of us who need to work standing up and moving. Repetitive Strain Injuries feel different depending on where they occur in the body. Some RSI pain can be dull, deep below the skin and can persist throughout the day. Other RSI pain can be sharp, almost electric pain, and reproducible only in specific circumstances. This variation in symptoms and presentation is due to the unique nature of everyone's anatomy, as well as the ways in which we interact with the world around us. Because of this, it is always worth having the pain investigated, regardless of how long it has been persisting. Repetitive Strain Injuries are tricky to manage because the discomfort often occurs as a consequence of everyday activity like working, walking, or even attending to personal care during shower and dress. Additionally, weakness that comes with RSI pain can only be addressed by strengthening the muscles in the affected area. This isn't easy unless the inflammation and pain have already been managed, which means that some patients need to refrain from using their affected limbs and joints until the discomfort has eased, strength has returned, and the limb is ready to work again. Management of RSI pain is a process that involves addressing physical, occupational, personal, and lifestyle risk factors to minimise pain and maximise function. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your Repetitive Strain Injury, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today.

Reporting for the NDIS As a participant in physiotherapy funded by the NDIS, sometimes the NDIA will ask for progress reporting and reassessment. This is to make sure the therapy being provided and the funds being used are producing tangible and measurable progress towards your goals. Being asked for a progress report isn't a bad thing - it's an opportunity to review the progress that has been made, consider what is working and what isn't working, and use that to keep improving the plan in place to help you achieve your goals. The basis of a good report is thorough assessment and discussion, which is why your therapist will ask you questions and even potentially do assessments again a second time to chart your progress. Progress reporting for NDIS clients provides the NDIA with a summary of the supports provided to a partcipant, and how those supports are used. Specifically, reporting shows how the support, be that therapy, transport, modification or equipment, has helped you work toward your goal. This doesn't mean that you have to have achieved your goal entirely, just that you are making forward progress towards it in a consistent and sustainable way. Progress reporting is also an opportunity to discuss barriers encountered during the course of the plan, and discuss strategies implemented to resolve these. If you're having any specific difficulty with the plan as it is, this is a good time to discuss that too. Beyond these basic facts, progress reporting also gives participants the opportunity to request and justify any additional supports or resources, by discussing how proposed outcomes and plans may have changed since the time they started therapy. This is an opportunity to advocate to the NDIA for continued input based on sustainable and demonstrated progress. Remember, progress reporting isn't a bad thing - it's an opportunity to talk about how things are going, and what can be changed to make things better or more supportive in the future. Your physiotherapist will work with you through any reporting or review that is requested by the NDIA. It's important to remember that any report on your progress also needs to capture an accurate picture of you, including your situation, your desires, your goals, what you want to achieve and how you're finding the process. Reporting may also require discussion with other professionals or services providing you support, so as to present the NDIA with an accurate representation of your life and how you're engaging with NDIS funded services. Reporting may involve one person, or it may involve your plan manager or an advocate as well. Regardless of who is involved and how, you should remember that the most important person in the process is you, the participant. This is your opportunity to show how you've been doing, discuss your difficulties and advocate for change, and to put that in a formal document. Your clinicians and other professionals will be there to help you, and are happy to answer any questions you may have as part of this process or any other.

Rotator Cuff Pain Rotator Cuff Pain and Rotator Cuff Injuries are the result of discomfort or trauma felt within the muscles that make up the rotator cuff of the shoulder. Rotator Cuff Pain can be felt as pain in the front or back of the affected shoulder, as well as down the arm and in the neck, in some cases. This is because the muscles that control the movement of the shoulder and the position of the shoulderblade all occupy a small area within the shoulder joint, and work very closely together. The muscles of the Rotator Cuff are found on the side and back of the shoulder, but many muscles support the stability and function of the shoulder joint, and all can be implicated or affected in rotator cuff pain. Rotator Cuff Pain is most commonly caused by over-use of the shoulder, by injury, or by age-related changes to the joints of the shoulder, neck and collarbone. The shoulder joint consists of numerous muscles all working together to articulate the shoulderblade and stabilise the arm so that we can complete tasks requiring dexterity, finesse, and power. We write, work, exercise and play with our arms and our hands because they are designed to produce a nearly infinite combination of movements to help us interact with the world. During the course of this interaction, we may over-exert ourselves and cause ourselves injury, or we may cause irritation of the muscles, joints, and ligaments within the rotator cuff as a result of our doing the same movements over and over again without taking time to relax and soothe those working parts. Rotator Cuff Pain can be localised to different parts of the shoulder, the upper arm, the chest, and can also be distinguished by how long the pain has been present as well as if the neck is affected. An episode of Rotator Cuff Pain that lasts for less than six weeks is called Acute Pain. Pain that lasts longer than six weeks but less than twelve is called Sub-Acute Pain, and pain that lasts longer than twelve weeks is called Chronic Pain. Management of Rotator Cuff Injuries is a process that involves addressing physical, occupational, personal, and lifestyle risk factors to minimise pain and maximise function. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your discomfort, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. Management of Rotator Cuff Injuries is sometimes tricky because we need to use our hands and arms to live our lives comfortably. This is especially important when our dominant arm becomes injured. Managing the Rotator Cuff is done by balancing rehabilitation and repair while still continuing to use our hands to work and life. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today.

Massage Massage is the manipulation of soft tissues in the body, and is commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, or a device. Massage is used for the treatment and reduction of muscular tension, pain, and for stress. ​ There are many schools of massage therapy, and many means by which massage can be used in clinic. At Atlas Physio, massage is used for treatment and assessment. In treatment, massage can be used to increase the capacity of a joint or muscle to move without pain. In assessment, massage and the repeated application of low-intensity force can be used to investigate areas of tendonous or muscular tenderness and sensitivity, and to alleviate that sensitivity through the application of physical pressure. ​ Typically, massage performed in clinic will be performed alongside other treatments, to best address the problem and to increase the likelihood of longterm functional improvement. While massage alone can be useful for the treatment of individual problems, the application of massage with other treatments boosts the effectiveness of those treatments and can amplify their clinical effect. Not every patient will be appropriate for massage. The use of massage as a treatment in clinic will depend on the discretion of your treating clinician as well as the nature, history, and context of your presenting discomfort. Feel free to discuss this treatment with your clinician, either in appointment or during your initial consultation.

Knee Pain Knee Pain refers to any kind of pain or discomfort felt in either one or both of the knees. The assessment and management of Knee Pain is sometimes complicated because of the number of structures that comprise the knee, the manner in which they all interact, and the fact that people cannot stop using their knees to rest them. There are many different potential sources of Knee Pain, and they all affect people differently. ​ Knee Pain may be felt in the front, back or sides of the knees. Knee Pain may also be felt below or above the kneecap, within the knee joint itself, and may only occur when the knee is moved past or at a specific point. Sometimes, Knee Pain occurs with a painful locking, clunking or feeling of instability in the knee joint, which may indicate a problem with the joint structures. Knee Pain can arise due to muscular, bony, joint, ligamentous or neurological causes. ​ Knee pain can be further complicated by physical factors like weakness or stiffness, practical factors like work environments and task requirements, fear surrounding treatment, and the effect of ageing and past management on the mechanics of the knee joint. ​ Management of Knee Pain depends on the cause of the pain, how it feels and changes over the day, what makes it better or worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing the pain. All of these factors will be addressed in your initial assessment, which is the first step towards minimising and managing any pain or discomfort. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your Knee Pain, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today

Jaw Pain Jaw Pain is a general term that refers to any kind of pain or discomfort felt in the Jaw. Jaw Pain is a common problem that people experience, and may affect three in five people over the course of their lives. Jaw Pain is felt in one or both sides of the jaw, though you may feel the pain in areas of your face, the head, and in your neck if there is inflammation which irritates the nerves. Because of the number of nerves that pass over and around the jaw, pain may be felt in the head, eyes, neck, lips, and within the teeth. Jaw Pain may last from weeks to months depending on the nature of the pain, the cause, the progression, and the speed with which treatment is sought. Jaw Pain is caused by irritation of the Jaw Joint, also called the Temporomandibular Joint. The specific cause of the pain depends on many factors like the age of the person experiencing the pain, their occupation, whether the pain was caused by an accident or started rapidly, as well as other variables. Jaw Pain can come about due to grinding of the teeth (also called Bruxism,) following dental surgery, following infection or illness, and following trauma. Jaw Pain can also be caused by stress. Psychological stress can result in physical behaviours like grinding the teeth during waking or sleeping hours, and clicking or locking of the Jaw Joint. Stress can also have an adverse effect on pain, as well as affecting the effectiveness of treatment performed in clinic. With this in mind, if stress is suspected to be a contributing factor to your Jaw Pain, appropriate referral will be discussed. Jaw Pain may be experienced as a constant pain on one or both sides of the Jaw. Additionally, Jaw Pain may be accompanied by clicking, grinding, and locking of the jaw joint if there is weardown of or damage to the internal strutures or capsule of the jaw joint. Jaw Pain commonly presents with a headache as well as neck pain. During your assessment, you will be asked whether or not you experience headaches, and if so, the frequency and nature of your discomfort. You will also be assessed for evidence of grinding of your teeth, and if so, if you have sought input from a dentist. Management of Jaw Pain depends on the cause of the pain, how it feels and changes over the day, what makes it better or worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing the pain. All of these factors will be addressed in your initial assessment, which is the first step towards minimising and managing any pain or discomfort. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your Jaw Pain, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today.

Sports Injuries Sports Injuries are common occurrences, regardless of whether you are a professional athlete or a recreational sportsperson. Sports training places dynamic and increasing physical demands on the athlete's body, and the management of Sports Injuries is an essential part of training, competition, and conditioning. ​ Everyone who engages in physical activity has the potential to experience a Sports Injury. From simple activities like walking and jogging, to team sports such as AFL Football, Rugby, and Soccer, every player can be injured due to external or internal causes, regardless of how fit or healthy they may feel. Common Sports Injuries include injuries to the Shoulder, Back, and Knee, as well as the Wrists and Ankles depending on the sport in question. ​ Sports Injuries are managed in a three-step process: identifying the nature and cause of the injury, determining where the athlete wants to get to in the course of their rehab, and creating a plan to achieve that end. ​ The management of Sports Injuries is a dynamic and ongoing process, designed to progress the injured athlete from their initial injury, back to their desired level of performance in a supportive and timely manner. With this in mind, physio rehab for Sports Injuries will focus on rebuilding your capacity to perform to your desired standard, and may include supervised training and team liaison. The treatment you receive will be tailored to minimise your pain, maximising your function, and progress you to your desired level of performance. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today

Hand Pain Hand Pain refers to pain experienced due to inflammation, injury to or irritation of the structures in the Hand and the Wrist. Hand Pain can be felt as pain in the wrist, the palm of the hand, the fingers, and even sometimes in the elbow of the affected arm. This is because the muscles that control the movement of the fingers and the position of the wrist have their origin at the elbow of the arm, and project to the wrist and fingers by means of their tendonous attachments. Hand Pain is most commonly caused by over-use of the hand or fingers, by injury, or by age-related changes to the joints of the hand and fingers. The wrist, hand, and fingers consist of more than thirty bones of various sizes, and more than forty muscles. All of these bones and muscles need to articulate in concert to make the hands move, and produce both powerful and fine movements depending on what we are doing. We write, work, exercise and play with our hands because they are designed to produce a nearly infinite combination of movements to help us interact with the world. During the course of this interaction, we may over-exert ourselves and cause ourselves injury, or we may cause irritation of the fine structures within the hand as a result of our doing the same movements over and over again without taking time to relax and soothe those working parts. Hand Pain can be localised to different parts of the hand, the wrist, the connecting muscles, and can also be distinguished by how long the pain has been present. An episode of Hand Pain that lasts for less than six weeks is called Acute Hand Pain. Pain that lasts longer than six weeks but less than twelve is called Sub-Acute Hand Pain, and pain that lasts longer than twelve weeks is called Chronic Hand Pain. Management of Hand Pain is a process that involves addressing physical, occupational, personal, and lifestyle risk factors to minimise pain and maximise function. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your Hand Pain, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. Management of Hand Pain is sometimes tricky because we need to use our hands and arms to live our lives comfortably. This is especially important when our dominant hand becomes injured. Managing hand pain is done by balancing rehabilitation and repair while still continuing to use our hands to work and life. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today.