8331 0606
EASTERN SPORT & SPINAL CARE
COVID-19 UPDATE 16th April 2020
To our valued and loyal clients:
Hello again!
We hope you all had a pleasant Easter even though it may have been very different from what you are used to.
We are so fortunate at the moment with the weather which has been beautiful, so I hope you have been able to get outdoors. We are still walking in Hazelwood Park on Tuesday mornings at 9am while socially distancing appropriately and would love you to join us if you would like to. It is a great opportunity for some gentle exercise in lovely surroundings and won’t cost you a cent. Unfortunately, the coffee shop is closed for now, but the company is good.
Currently we are running a range of exercise classes (see time-table following) as well as conducting individualised exercise sessions online and video consultations for management of injuries.
You may question whether a physio consultation by video is worthwhile!
Our physiotherapists are very experienced and will conduct a thorough assessment including your history and circumstances relating to any current episode, assess the way it is affecting your movement and then give you specific advice with regard to self-management strategies.
Last week I taught someone to give themselves traction to their low back at home and yesterday I coached someone in relocating their dislocated finger and how to tape it to protect it.
At Eastern Sports and Spinal Care we routinely advise our clients on the correct exercises for their specific problem either to correct their mechanics or to strengthen muscles to support the injured area. You may not be aware that this is one of the most important aspects of our treatment. What you can learn and apply for yourself at home can often have much more impact than hands-on treatment in the clinic. We are continuing to provide this service during this time of self isolation.
We are using a very secure telehealth program to consult with you by video and later send you specific exercises (video and written explanation) that are appropriate for you. We can watch you perform these exercises and adjust your technique as needed.
Currently many people are looking for exercise programs on you-tube and some are hurting themselves or exacerbating old problems. If this is you and parts of you are hurting, please phone us for some advice before you continue and risk aggravating your joints further.
Please don’t think you need to put up with aches and pains until this period of self-isolation passes. We can help you with specific exercises that are tailored to your needs!
If joints are painful it is really important to get on the right path quickly and settle things down as soon as possible to avoid compensation strategies which can transform little problems into much bigger problems.
So, please give us a call and we will do our best to help you settle your symptoms as quickly as possible.
If you or someone you know is waiting for elective surgery e.g. a hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery you/ they will be frustrated to hear that all elective surgeries have been cancelled for the time being. It might be Ok if the shutdown is only for six weeks but if it lasts 6 months that might be a very different story. However, now is not the time to lie on the couch and wait until this is all over!
Did you know that even elective procedures that we know to be effective e.g. knee replacements have alternative options. Studies have compared patients who had knee replacement surgery to those that didn’t where both groups had a 12 -week physiotherapy program. They showed while the surgery group demonstrated better results those treated without surgery also improved and two thirds had avoided surgery for up to two years later.
At Eastern Sports and Spinal Care we run a specific education and exercise program for clients with hip and knee arthritis that is tailored to each individual’s capacity. Currently we are running this program as a live online program. You can make a huge difference to your level of discomfort and function by strengthening the muscles supporting your hip and knee in a way that doesn’t exacerbate your symptoms. Andrew runs the GLA:D (Good life with Arthritis program originating in Denmark) and will be happy to set you on the right path and work with you to maximize your function and manage discomfort.
If you feel apprehensive about online exercise or video consultations, don’t worry! We will help you set this up on your phone, Ipad or computer. This is a new way of working for us too but we are committed to keeping you as happy and healthy as possible so that you can or will be able to do the things you enjoy when it is safe for us to venture out into the community again.
We do not want you to become deconditioned and at risk of other problems that are much harder and take much longer to settle down the track.
We are here to look after you and your family and we are just at the end of the phone.
Please don’t hesitate to call 83310606.