03 5367 5969
Do I need a referral letter?
If you are a private patient, you DO NOT need a doctor’s referral letter to be treated.
If you are a Work Cover, TAC, DVA, Medicare EPC or InjuryNET patient, you will require a Doctor’s referral and any associated paperwork before you can be seen by our Physiotherapists. If you have relevant X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI or other investigation scans please bring these and the reports with you to your Initial Consultation.
How long do the consultations take?
For your Initial Consultation we ask that you come in 10 minutes early to familiarize yourself with the location, as well as fill out some paperwork. Your Initial Consultation may take 30 - 40 minutes and each Subsequent Consultation will take approximately 20 minutes.
We take pride in the fact that we run on schedule. Provided you come on time for your appointment, you will not have to wait more than 5 - 10 minutes before you are seen. Your Physiotherapists do their best to keep on time to get you back to work and keep your life on track.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that at times, you may be running late because you finished work late, you're stuck in traffic, etc. We understand that life can get the better of us sometimes, but we'd like to ask that you give us a call as soon as possible to let us know. If you're unable to make it, we also ask that you give us at least 24 hours' notice. This allows us to call up other patients, otherwise they might miss out on getting treatment too. In some circumstances, where someone repeatedly fails to give us enough notice, we may apply a $40 late cancellation fee.
What can I expect from a consultation with the Physiotherapist?
In the Initial Consultation you will be comprehensively assessed. Your assessment includes a current history of the injury and detailed assessment of the injury and the surrounding structures. From this assessment, you will be given hands-on treatment to the area involved. Based on the assessment, an explanation of the condition and a plan of treatment will be devised – in a way that you understand what is going on and what you need to do to prevent this from happening again You will most likely be given tailored exercises and stretches to complete at home, to facilitate your in-rooms treatments. These exercises will assist in maintaining your range of motion, core stability and flexibility in and around your body. Throughout the treatment sessions your exercises will be reviewed and updated to ensure that you get the best possible value and outcome from the Physiotherapy treatment.
What else do I need to bring?
Depending on the area being treated, the Physiotherapist may require you to change or take off some of your clothes to fully assess the problem area. For example if we are assessing your shoulder a loose singlet is ideal, and if we are assessing a knee then a pair of shorts is ideal.
Can I use my Health Insurance Card?
Provided you have Extras Insurance Cover, yes. We are currently organising a HICAPS terminal on-site which allows us to directly communicate with your health fund and claim for you, so you only have to pay a small gap payment on the day. This saves you valuable time because you do not have to manually make a claim later on.
WorkSafe (work-related claims) or TAC (motor vehicle accident claims)
Please click on the following links below for more info:
Please keep in mind, that unless you have an accepted claim, treatment costs will need to be covered by you. Once your claim is approved, you can then contact your claims officer to organise reimbursement. An accepted claim needs to be in writing (a medical certificate, whether it's a WorkSafe one or not, does not mean your claim has been approved). Please contact your claims officer or employer for this.
We do not charge a gap for treatment under WorkSafe or TAC.
Will I need to come back after my treatment is finished?
Usually if you have a chronic injury then the body does tend to return to old patterns of restriction and dysfunction. Having a thorough musculoskeletal assessment each time you have an ‘episode’ of pain will give you a good indicator as to whether more frequent treatment is required, or whether your exercises need to be reviewed or modified.
In some cases there may be a need for occasional ongoing assessment and treatment. This is often the case with people who work long hours in poor postures, active sports people who require their body to be functioning at a top level and people who wish to maintain or enhance their musculoskeletal health. How often you need this ongoing assessment and treatment depends on your body’s retention of treatment and your compliance with your tailored exercise program.
How often do I need to come?
If you have a fairly mild injury then you can expect significant improvement and resolution of your pain within two to four treatments.
If you have a chronic pain, or acute on chronic pain, that has never fully resolved then this may take additional treatments with the emphasis on self-management and a home exercise program
If there is not significant improvement within five or so treatments a review with another health care practitioner may be recommended. To ensure that you get the best possible results we will liaise with your GP and Specialists to review your progress as required.
What is the difference between a Physiotherapist and a Chiropractor?
Both Physiotherapists and Chiropractors treat a number of different but similar Musculoskeletal conditions including headaches, back and neck pain, sports injuries, sciatica, and frozen shoulders.
Traditionally Chiropractors believe all health problems stem from the spine, and they only use passive care. On the other hand, Physiotherapists encourage patients to take a more active role in their care and therefore prevent dependence on hands-on treatment. Physiotherapists can give the patient the confidence and knowledge to manage their own pain effectively, which is far better for them than becoming dependant on passive treatment (i.e. attending a Chiroprator three to four times a week for a year).
That being said, there are good Chiropractors and there are bad Chiropractors. Just as there are good Physiotherapists and there are bad Physiotherapists. You just have to make sure the person you are going to has your best long-term interest at heart. Ask around to make sure the person you are going to has a good reputation for client driven treatment and management.