Additional Services we provide at Hagley Road Chiropractic Clinic
Physiotherapy
Mr Fraser Pressdee BSc (Hons) MCSP BSY(spm) Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and Health Professions Council Registered
Fraser works alongside the Chiropractors to provide Rehabilitation services to our patients to give a long term solution to their health needs.
Physiotherapists use physical treatments to promote, maintain and restore wellbeing, focusing on maximising the capability of patients to move freely and easily so they can enjoy and improve their health.
Treatments available include:
- Ultrasound
- Joint Mobilisation
- Soft Tissue Manipulation
- Massage
- Exercise Therapy
- Acupuncture
Please note:
These are a selection of the treatment modalities offered at Hagley Road Physiotherapy. Other treatments are available but these do depend on your condition and the findings from your initial consultation.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound machines are a treatment modality used by physical therapists that utilize high or low frequency sound waves. These sound waves are transmitted to the surrounding tissue and vasculature. The waves penetrate the muscles to cause deep tissue warming which promoting relaxation which is useful in the treatment of muscle tightness and spasm. The warming effect from the sound waves also causes vessel vasodilatation increasing circulation to the area thus assisting healing. The physical therapist can also adjust the frequency on the machine to use waves that will decrease inflammation.
Joint Mobilisation
Joint mobilisation is thought to be a safe and effective means of restoring or maintaining joint integrity and can be also be used for treating pain. It is considered a less traumatic way of restoring normal joint mechanics than passive stretching. Joint mobilisation is thought to help maintain or improve extensibility and tensile strength of the articular tissues, reduce the effects of mechanical limitations, elongate hypomobile capsular, ligamentous and connective tissue and stimulate mechano-receptors and therefore may be responsible for inhibiting the transmission of nociceptive stimuli and in doing so, reduce pain perception.
Joint mobilisation is thought to be useful when treating painful joints, reflex muscle guarding, muscle spasm, joint hypomobility and diseases that progressively limit joint movement.
Massage
Massage is manipulation of the soft body tissues with physical, functional, i.e. mechanical, medical and therapeutical. There are many beneficial effects of massage, including pain relief, stress reduction but also relief of many diseases.
Theories behind what massage might do include blocking pain signals to the brain (pain gate control theory), activating the parasympathetic nervous system, stimulating the release of endorphins and serotonin, preventing fibrosis or scar tissue and increasing the flow of lymph.
Soft Tissue Manipulation
Soft tissue manipulation incorporates the manipulation of muscles, tendons and ligaments. It is a completely natural form of healing, encouraging the body to heal itself by correcting muscle alignment. Incorporating deep tissue massage, soft tissue release, neuro-muscular techniques and muscle energy techniques.
Exercise Therapy
Motion of the body or its parts to relieve symptoms or to improve function, leading to physical fitness, but not physical education and training. This is an important part of the majority of physiotherapy treatments which allows the patient to self manage their condition. Compliance in a physiotherapy exercise programme is an integral part to your rehabilitation.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a treatment, which can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and may encourage the patient's body to heal and repair itself, if it is able to do so.
Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle, and can produce a variety of effects. We know that it increases the body's release of natural painkillers - endorphin and serotonin - in the pain pathways of both the spinal cord and the brain. This modifies the way pain signals are received.
But acupuncture does much more than reduce pain, and has a beneficial effect on health. Patients often notice an improved sense of wellbeing after treatment.
Modern research shows that acupuncture can affect most of the body's systems - the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation, antibody production and allergic responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.
The practitioner will assess each patient's case and treatment will be tailored to the individual; so it is impossible to give more than a general idea of what treatment might involve. Typically, fine needles are inserted through the skin and left in position briefly, sometimes with manual or electrical stimulation. The number of needles varies but may be only two or three.
Treatment might be once a week to begin with, then at longer intervals as the condition responds. A typical course of treatment lasts 5 to 8 sessions.