Blogs

Posted on

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Join our physiotherapy team

JOIN OUR DYNAMIC TEAM IN BEAUTIFUL BATHURST!

Bathurst Family Physiotherapy has been servicing the Bathurst region for almost 5 years. Our physiotherapists have over 40 yrs combined experience across a wide range of patient caseloads, including clinic and community settings. Our Practice demands continue to increase, and we want to expand our team of physiotherapists. New graduates are encouraged to apply as our staff have many years experience in mentoring of students and new graduates.

We are looking for an enthusiastic physiotherapists who are able to:

  • Complete a range of assessments and appropriate treatments on musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, neurological cardiopulmonary patients
  • Provide instruction, education, supervision and support to patients, carers or others as required 
  • Formulate individual treatment plans catering to the needs of the patients 
  • Be part of a passionate team with ample opportunity to learn, grow and develop. This includes participation in clinical supervision and mentoring and well as ongoing professional development
  • Additional options include paediatric and vestibular physiotherapy mentoring with the potential for your own caseload

JOB BENEFITS:

Professional development support

Inhouse training and inservices

Administration support

Wide variety of caseloads in various settings

Above award wages

Flexible working hours for the right candidate

Requirements:

  • Unrestricted AHPRA Physiotherapy registration
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance
  • Current Australian Police Check
  • Current Working with Children Check
  • Own car
  • Demonstrated high level quality care
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills 
  • Passion for empowering patients to reach their individual treatment goals

Desirable:

Current CPR accreditation

SIRA accredited

APA membership

Client caseload may include: Musculoskeletal, Sports injuries, Orthopaedic pre and post surgery, Paediatric, Aged Care, Community rehabilitation, Work Cover, NDIS

Please send through your resume to: admin@bfp.physio

If you would like to discuss the position further contact our clinic on 02 6331 4742.

Application Closing Date: Ongoing Recruitment

Posted on

Torticollis / neck posture in newborns

Torticollis is common in newborns. It is a postural positioning of the neck evident at birth or shortly thereafter. Baby’s will often have their head tilted to one side and rotation of the neck to the opposite side.  This is due to the tightening or shortening, of a muscle in the neck called the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM). The incidence of torticollis is estimated from 3.9% to 16% of newborns. Research shows that if stretching and strengthening exercises are started early, well over 90 per cent can expect a full resolution within three to four months.

https://cranialtherapycenters.com/torticollis/

In the picture above, you can see that this baby’s head is tilted towards their right shoulder, and their head is rotated to the left.

Some babies with torticollis have a lump in the SCM called a Fibromatosis colli, also referred to as ‘pseudotumor of the sternocleidomastoid muscle of infancy’. The lump in the muscle is usually closer to the chest than the skull. The lump is a bunch of muscle cells growing into an abnormal lump rather than the smooth straight muscle. It’s not painful, so touching it should not cause any harm or distress to your baby. The lump is not dangerous and usually resolves on it’s own, but the muscle tightness can remain.

It is unknown what causes these lumps to occur, but they are associated more commonly with breech pregnancies, difficult labour, and the need to use forceps or vacuum extraction devices to assist the baby coming out safely. It’s believed that these issues all lead to some bruising in the SCM which grows into the lump and tightens the muscle. Your doctor may consider getting an ultrasound of the baby’s neck if there is a more unusual feel to any lump or torticollis detected.

Torticollis treatment

As per current Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) guidelines your baby should always be put to sleep on their back.

Treatment of torticollis includes a stretching, strengthening and positioning program depending on the age of your baby. For term baby’s born at term, awake and supervised tummy time can start from birth. Start with only a few minutes at a time, and increase the time or frequency over the day as your baby’s tolerance improves. When your baby is awake you can try side lying and different carrying positions and over time increase the time they are in these different positions.

For babies with torticollis, it is recommended parents should do some sets of stretching and /or positioning of the neck several times a day. It can take days and weeks to improve this range.

Infant head shaping pillows are NOT recommended due to the risk of SIDS / SUDI (Sudden unexpected death in infancy). The use of head shaping pillows can create an unsafe sleep environment for infants and may contribute to the risk of suffocation and death.

Baby’s with torticollis also require a review of their hips, as developmental dysplasia of the hips is more common for children with torticollis. A health professional should also monitor your baby’s head shape and to the growth of their skull. The skull is made of a number of soft plates joined together. If bub spends too much time in one position, it will squash that part of the skull leaving a flat bit – this is known as plagiocephaly. Correcting the torticollis and allowing more neck movement with distribute pressure more evenly and should help improve plagiocephaly.

Review by a health professional is recommended if:

  • After about six weeks of home management there’s no improvement, or if the issue was severe to start with, it is recommended to have a review by a physiotherapist.
  • Physiotherapy should also be considered if the condition wasn’t picked up until they were three or four months old, as their little muscles can be more stubborn.

If you would like to book a physiotherapy appointment to review your child’s head shape at Bathurst Family Physiotherapy, please call our physiotherapy clinic on 02 6331 4742.

REFERENCES:

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/torticollis.html

https://www.kidspot.com.au/health/disorders/bones-muscles-and-joints/infant-torticollis-everything-you-need-to-know-about-your-babys-stiff-neck/news-story/ff7745ecdbdf98abdb46c7eb4f5f414e?psafe_param=1&utm_source=SEM&utm_medium=PPC_SEM&utm_campaign={campaign}&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpbSYvY2k_gIVk62WCh0_uAtzEAAYAiAAEgJQvPD_BwE

Infant Torticollis Stretching Techniques

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sids.html

Posted on

Winter and Your Lung Health

Carlee Dreves, Physiotherapist, Bathurst Family Physiotherapy

Winter is upon us and as the temperature starts to drop here in the Central West it’s a great time for people living with a lung condition to review their management plan and to understand how the weather forecast particularly sudden changes and extreme weather conditions may affect their symptoms.

As the temperature drops the air tends to become cold and dry which can irritate the airways triggering a flare-up in symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath and make those living with a lung condition more vulnerable to illness in a time where there are more viruses and bugs in the community.

Whilst we can’t control the weather, below are some general tips to help reduce the impact the cold has on lung disease symptoms.

Know the signs of a flare-up:

Being aware of the sings of a flare-up can help you get on top of your symptoms early and prevent any further damage to your lungs.

The signs of a flare up include

  • Finding it more difficult than normal to breathe
  • Coughing more than normal for you
  • Coughing up blood, or more mucus than usual for you, including any colour or thickness changes
  • Feeling more fatigued than normal
  • Increased temperature

Minimise the risk of catching colds, the flu and COVID:

Colds and flu along with COVID spread very easily and according to health experts this winter could be particularly bad with the flu.

It is best to avoid visiting friends and family if they have a cold of flu and let them know to stay away if they are sick.

Get your annual influenza vaccination and talk to your doctor about whether you should get a pneumonia vaccination.

Stay Warm:

Whilst it may sound obvious, keep your home warm, ensuring that your heater is safe especially if you are using home oxygen.

Avoid wood fire burners as the smoke can trigger a flare-up.

Check the weather before going out, try to avoid going outside on very cold and breezy days, stay indoors and keep warm.

If your symptoms are triggered in cold weather some people find it beneficial to use a reliever inhaler in the hour before going out.

Keep active:

Try to keep as active as possible, as exercise has been shown to help prevent and manage exacerbations. It might be too cold outside to get out for a walk, and there are plenty of exercises that can be done indoors at home. 

If you need help during a flare-up or are in need of some personal advice and management don’t hesitate to contact our physiotherapy clinic on 02 6331 4742

Posted on

How can a Physio Help with My Dizziness?

Physiotherapists can assist in vestibular rehabilitation, that is the treatment of the feeling of dizziness which can be experienced for a number of different reasons. Our physiotherapists have undertaken further post graduate training in the assessment and treatment of vestibular disorders.

Dizziness may arise from a number of conditions ranging from Benign Positional Paroxymal Vertigo (BPPV), vestibular migraine, Persistant Postural and Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), Meniere’s Disease to Acute Unilateral Vestibulopathy among many others.

Our physiotherapists are trained to complete a thorough history of your condition which will give them some clues as to the cause of your dizziness as well as to complete a full physical assessment to ascertain from which component of the vestibular system that your issue is arising from.

Once your therapist has been able to determine this, you will undergo treatment directed at that part of your vestibular system. As well as hands on treatment by your therapist you will be given a targeted exercise program to complete independently. These exercises will focus on any deficits your physiotherapist has found during your assessment. It is very important that you do these exercises as often as prescribed by your therapist as they play a very important role in improving your symptoms.

Before you come to your appointment, take notice of the positions or chores that you find exacerbate your symptoms eg. washing your hair, moving quickly into standing, rolling over in bed, bending over. You will also be asked about your history of falls, medications and medical history so it is useful to have thought about these things before hand as they are valuable clues for your therapist.

Physiotherapists are very careful in their assessment of vestibular complaints and if they have any concerns, they will refer you back to your GP for further investigations.

Posted on

PHYSIOTHERAPY: COVID-19 UPDATE

We wish to confirm that as per the Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, Physiotherapy is an essential service and as such Bathurst Family Physiotherapy will remain open.

Bathurst Family Physiotherapy use standard precautions to protect staff and clients and follow guidelines for the control of infection in all health care settings and all situations, as infectious clients may not show any signs or symptoms of infection.

We wish to inform you that we are following and implementing strategies which are in line with current hand hygiene recommendations and that we are following the covid-19 updates from NSW Health and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Our standard hygiene policy is to clean out hands thoroughly before and after each patient, after touching any equipment and before and after any manual therapy. All beds and equipment are wiped down between each patient.

We have increased the cleaning of all contact points, we have increased the accessibility of hand sanitiser throughout our rooms and increased the spaces between chairs in our waiting room.

To protect others and ourselves we must:
practise good hygiene
practise social distancing
follow the limits for public gatherings
understand how to self-isolate if needed

Please support each other and be kind to each other in this challenging time. If you would like to book a physiotherapy appointment with one of our team, please call us on 02 6331 8354.
Thanks,
Edel and Tanya

Western NSW Local Health District has set up a call centre to provide residents of the LHD with streamlined access to gain clinical COVID19 information. The call centre can be reached on 1300 066 055, Monday to Friday 8am-5pm.

References:
https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert

5 moments of hand hygiene:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=ofB2p%2frX&id=C6CBDD23C894E53BA6709EE9253758BD4E753D51&thid=OIP.ofB2p_rXVhJF3Y2DDD3g8wHaKR&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fpbs.twimg.com%2fmedia%2fC9CymhFXsAAgqS6.jpg&exph=1040&expw=750&q=5+Moments+for+Hand+Hygiene+Poster&simid=608031634840357631&selectedIndex=0&ajaxhist=0

World Health Organisation – how to handwash
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=LDge7bNZ&id=9DD4E9657E232F08595583A6DE3FACAD024FDBF2&thid=OIP.LDge7bNZa3yS3yzn9ldY0AHaKe&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fladylubyanka.files.wordpress.com%2f2008%2f04%2fgpsc-handrub-wash_900.gif&exph=1273&expw=900&q=who+hand+wash&simid=608041294232882257&selectedIndex=7&ajaxhist=0

Should I wear a face mask?

You do not need to wear a mask if you are healthy. While the use of masks can help to prevent transmission of disease from infected patients to others, masks are not currently recommended for use by healthy members of the public for the prevention of infections like coronavirus.

Posted on

Exercise to combat knee pain

Do your knees ache, creak, groan and moan?
The latest research in British Medical Journal highlights the benefits of conservative management for knee pain.

What is conservative management?
It may include one or all of the below:
* Full functional assessment of lower limb
* Exercise – stretching and strengthening
* Soft tissue therapy
* Joint mobilisation
* Education on pain management
*Education on activity modification (if necessary)
* Weight loss education and support (if necessary)

The Australian Physiotherapy Association advocates for evidence based practice. As per the article below, “Osteoarthritis is not an inevitable part of ageing and is not necessarily progressive… Current guidelines for osteoarthritis, including of the knee, recommend conservative management using a combination of non- pharmacological and pharmacological treatments.”   

https://australian.physio/inmotion/five-facts-about-orthopaedic-physiotherapy

At Bathurst Family Physiotherapy we will provide an individualised assessment and treatment plan to address your specific problems and meet your goals.
We also focus on preventative strategies and exercise to influence and minimise future recurrence or potential new issues.

Here is a link to an article from the Sydney Morning Herald last weekend:                       How exercise saved my clicky knees (but I should have started sooner) 

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/how-exercise-saved-my-clicky-knees-but-i-should-have-started-sooner-20200204-p53xqf.html

To book an appointment with us please call our rooms on: 02 6331 8354 or contact us via our website

Our rooms are located at: Bathurst Specialist Centre, Building 1470, Panorama Avenue, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW 2795

Posted on

Paediatric Physiotherapy: newborn head shapes

NEWBORN HEAD SHAPE: WHAT IS NORMAL?

Following the birthing process, it is very common for a newborn’s head to be elongated or have an odd shape. Although babies may have an uneven head shape at birth however this should remould to a normal more symmetrical shape within 6 weeks after birth. Flattening of your baby’s head can occur when constant pressure is applied to one part of a baby’s head.

When babies are born, the bones of their skull are thin and flexible, meaning the head is soft and may change shape easily. All babies should have two soft areas at the top of their head (fontanelles). These fontanelles allow for your baby’s rapidly growing brain during infancy and usually close around the age of 12 months.

https://generalhappenings.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/mchnewbornexam2.jpg

Plagiocephaly describes a condition where your baby’s head is not symmetrical. If your baby has plagiocephaly, it is important to determine if the fontanelles have closed too early. This is a condition called craniosynostosis. It is estimated to occur in 1 / 2500 live births and should be reviewed by a doctor.

Positional plagiocephaly describes a condition where your baby’s head is not symmetrical but the fontanelle remain open. Positional plagiocephaly does not affect the development of your baby’s brain however, it may alter your baby’s physical appearance as it can cause uneven growth of their head or face. Positional plagiocephaly is a relatively common condition occurring in an estimated 10-50% of newborns. In infants 7-12 weeks of age, it occurs in about 46% of babies.

Normal head shape  (left image)                                         

Back of head is round on both sides                        Ear position is level

Ear position is level    Both sides of the forehead look symmetrical

Positional plagiocephaly (right image)

Flattened area on the back of the skull or either side of the head

One ear may be more forward than the other

One side of the forehead may protrude more than the other side

Studies have found babies to be more likely to have positional plagiocephaly if they have the following characteristics:
• First born
• Premature
• Male
• Difficult or assisted birth
• Breech positioning during the last trimester
• Other neck problems e.g. congenital muscular torticollis
• Lack of supervised tummy time when awake i.e. less than 3 times per day
• Always positioned to the same side when feeding or sleeping

Positional plagiocephaly: What can you do?

For the majority of children, positional plagiocephaly is a correctable condition.

For most babies, regular repositioning of your baby’s head before they are 4 months old will result in optimal outcomes. If your baby has a flat spot, alternating their head position can improve this.

Positional plagiocephaly can also be associated with asymmetrical neck muscles also know as torticollis. Some babies have neither of these condition, some may have one of these conditions and other babies may have both positional plagiocephaly and torticollis. Treatment of torticollis and positional plagiocephaly will have similar aspects. Both of these conditions can be improved with physiotherapy assessment, treatment and a home program of positioning and play.

Key points to remember
• Babies may have an uneven head shape at birth however this should remould to a normal more symmetrical shape within 6 weeks after birth.

• Positional plagiocephaly will not affect the development of your baby’s brain.

• If you are concerned about your baby’s head shape, talk to your Child Health Nurse, GP, paediatrician or paediatric physiotherapist.

• A paediatric physiotherapist can assess your child and assist with planning a home program which may include specific exercises, stretches and promotion of a variety of positions during awake, sleep and play time.

If you would like to book an appointment for your child with Tanya at Bathurst Family Physiotherapy please call one of our friendly reception staff on (02) 6331 8354

REFERENCES:
https://www.physiotherapy.asn.au/APAWCM/Physio_and_You/Infants.aspx

https://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/plastic/Deformational_Plagiocephaly.pdf
http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Plagiocephaly_misshapen_head/
https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/our-services/craniofacial/chw
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/craniosynostosis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20256926

Posted on

Why should I have Physiotherapy Before My Joint Replacement Surgery?

You can expect to have physiotherapy after your joint replacement (hip or knee replacement) but did you know that by having physiotherapy before you have surgery you are giving yourself the best chance of a quick and full recovery.

Research has shown that participating in a prehabilitation program results in a shorter stay in hospital, decreased pain and better objective outcomes than patients who have not done any targeted exercise before surgery.

Among patients who received preoperative physiotherapy (in the year prior to surgery) a significant improvement was found for pain, daily functioning, vitality, psychological health and social life (Czyzewska et al, 2014). You can start your physiotherapy treatment at any time prior to surgery.

Edel and Tanya at Bathurst Family Physiotherapy have extensive experience in treating clients after joint replacements, so are well placed to discuss how exercise will improve your recovery from surgery. Call us on 02 6331 8354 to discuss how we can help you.

Your physiotherapy program prior to surgery will focus on strength, flexibility, education about the surgery itself as well ‘prehab”. We will also educate you on what you can expect post surgery eg. any movement restrictions as well as trialling any equipment you may use after your surgery eg, walking frames, crutches.

Every person is different, therefore specific assessments and tailor made programs are constructed to suit your functional ability and to help achieve specific goals in a safe, efficient manner.

Hydrotherapy may also be recommended as it is a great way to experience the benefits of movement, reduce pain and achieve weight loss if needed before surgery. If this will be beneficial to you we will design a program to help achieve your goals

We will also give you tips for dressing, sleeping and negotiating stairs with crutches, as well as create a home exercise program for you to complete independently.

If you are on the waiting list for an joint replacement in the near future or already have a date for your surgery, please come see either Tanya or Edel for a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan to put you in the best physical position before surgery and give yourself the best chance of a speedy recovery post surgery.

Posted on

Parkinson’s Disease and Physiotherapy

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that can affect people from all walks of life.  It is a condition where a neurotransmitter called dopamine is not produced at adequate levels in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that relay messages between cells in your brain.  When this transmission in lessened by decreased dopamine it results in altered movement, but as anyone with Parkinson’s will tell you it impacts many non-movement functions also.

You may well ask how can a physiotherapist help me if I have Parkinson’s? However, the good news is that we can!!!!

Parkinson’s is quite common and latest research conservatively estimates indicates that more than 80,000 Australians are living with Parkinson’s.  The average age of diagnosis is 65 years.  Younger people can be diagnosed with Parkinson’s too and this is referred to as Young Onset Parkinson’s.  Around 20% of people living with Parkinson’s are of working age (Parkinson’s Australia).

Patients face increased difficulties with activities of daily living (Kwakkel 2007) and mobility such as gait, transfers, balance and posture (Keus 2007). Ultimately this leads to decreased independence, inactivity and social isolation (Keus 2007), resulting in reduced quality of life (Schrag 2000).

​Tanya and Edel have worked with patients with Parkinson’s Disease to improve their mobility, decrease their risk of falling and therefore minimising the risk of injury. They can help with strategies to assist with freezing of gait and help you improve your overall function to be able to do things like turn in bed, stand up more easily, walk more smoothly.

Physiotherapy for PD focuses on transfers, posture, upper limb function, balance (and falls), gait, physical capacity and (in)activity utilising cueing strategies, cognitive movement strategies and exercise to optimise the patient’s independence, safety and wellbeing, thereby enhancing quality of life (Keus 2004; Keus 2007).

What Will Happen When I see a Physiotherapist?

Your physiotherapist will do a full assessment using objective measures which can be used throughout your treatment to monitor your improvement. These will include walking tests looking at your speed and quality of movement and balance tests. You will also be asked to fill out some questionnaires related to your quality of life, freezing of gait and fear of falling.

Based on these assessments your physiotherapist will design a treatment and exercise program for you.

At Bathurst Family Physiotherapy we are passionate in our belief of treating the individual in front of us, not the disease so you will have an individual program designed for you and focused on your goals.

For more information about Parkinson’s disease, you can click on the link below

https://www.parkinsons.org.au/

References:

Keus SHJ, Bloem BR, Hendriks EJM, Bredero‐Cohen AB, Munneke M. Evidence‐based analysis of physical therapy in Parkinson’s disease with recommendations for practice and research. Movement Disorders 2007;22(4):451‐60.

Keus S, Hendriks HJ, Bloem BR, Bredero‐Cohen AB, Goede CJ, Haaren M, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for physical therapy in patients with Parkinsons disease. Dutch Journal of Physiotherapy 2004;114 Suppl 3:1‐94.

Kwakkel G, Goede CJT, Wegen EEH. Impact of physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease: A critical review of the literature. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders 2007;13:S478‐87.

Schrag A, Jahanshahi M, Quinn N. How does Parkinson’s disease affect quality of life? A comparison with quality of life in the general population. Movement Disorders 2000;15(6):1112‐8.