Services
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a health care profession primarily concerned with the remediation of impairments and disabilities and the promotion of mobility, functional ability, quality of life and movement potential through examination, evaluation, diagnosis and physical intervention.
Physiotherapy consists of manual therapy or manipulative therapy, which is a physical treatment. It is a hands-on treatment style approach which includes soft tissue release of muscles, joint mobilisations and joint manipulation. Here at Kirton Physiotherapy, you can also expect electrotherapy (namely therapeutic ultrasound), acupuncture, myofascial release, Chinese cupping, advice and exercise programming for rehabilitation for your injury recovery.
Sports Massage
Sports Massage is a manual therapy primarily used on the neuromusculoskeletal system to treat pain, aid tissue recovery and assist in easing off tight connective tissue structures. It most commonly includes Effleurage and Petrissage techniques to increase blood and lymph flow, heat and friction to the muscles and fascia (connecting tissue surrounding the muscles). Deep pressure and superficial techniques are adapted to suit the patient’s needs.
It is preferable as a new patient, for a Sports Massage to follow on from an initial physiotherapy assessment/treatment session. It is important to discuss any past medical history issues, contraindications to massage and previous injuries prior to receiving a Sports Massage. The clinician also assesses joint range of motion and deciphers which specific areas to target. This is more of an objective approach and an improved quality of care.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin, solid needles that have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin. According to Traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating these points can correct imbalances in the flow of ‘qi’ through channels known as meridians.
Acupuncture can be used as a sole treatment or in conjunction with other modalities to alleviate pain, reduce muscle tone and spasm, aid in trigger point release and assist in muscle relaxation. It can also be used to relax the mind and body to alleviate stress, since medical research studies show an increase in Serotonin production.
Rehabilitation
is made up of many different elements of rehab of tasks, core stability, flexibility and functional strength and conditioning.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of sensory and cognitive function typically involves methods of retraining neural pathways or training new neural pathways to regain or improve neurocognitive functioning that has been diminished by disease or trauma. Functional training has its origins in rehabilitation. Physiotherapists often use this approach to retrain patients with movement disorders. Interventions are designed to incorporate task and context specific practice in areas meaningful to each patient, with an overall goal of functional independence. For example, exercises that mimic what patients did at home or work may be included in treatment in order to help them return to their lives or jobs after an injury or surgery. Rehabilitation is imperative following orthopaedic surgery, namely anterior cruciate ligament repair in the knee and rotator cuff repair in the shoulder girdle.
It is also of vital importance post-operatively for total knee and total hip replacements to enable return to normal function and independence. Gentle mobility exercises are given to gain range of movement. These are followed by strengthening exercises for muscle recruitment and to increase strength and power. This will assist return to everyday tasks and to what you love doing best in life; be it gardening, walking or playing tennis.
Core Stability
Core stability relates to the body region bounded by the abdominal wall, pelvis, lower back and the diaphragm and its ability to stabilise the body during movement. The main muscles involved include the pelvic floor muscles, transversus abdominus, internal and external obliques, quadratus lumborum, the gluteals and the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the main muscle of breathing in the human and so breathing is important in providing the necessary core stability for moving and lifting.
It is the action of these muscles contracting together upon the incompressible contents of the abdominal cavity (i.e., the internal organs or viscera) that provides support to the spine and pelvis during movement. Core stability is a misunderstood term. Typically, the core is associated with the abdominal muscles groups and stability is associated with isometric or static strength. However, the core consists of the abdominal muscle groups (transverse abdominus, internal obliques, external obliques, rectus abdominus), hip abductors/ adductors, hip flexors, gluteals and lumbar spine. The lumbar spine is primarily responsible for posture and stability providing the strength needed for stability especially utilised in dynamic sports.
Flexibility
Stretching is a form of physical exercise in which a specific muscle and tendon (or muscle group) is deliberately flexed or stretched in order to improve the muscle’s felt elasticity and achieve comfortable muscle tone. The result is a feeling of increased muscle control, flexibility and range of motion. Stretching is also used therapeutically to alleviate cramps. Increasing flexibility through stretching is one of the basic tenets of physical fitness. It is common for athletes to stretch/mobilise before and after exercise in order to reduce injury and increase performance.
Dynamic and Static stretching is important to prepare the muscles and body for what they are about to do. Flexibility can also be improved with Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) – namely repeated hold/relax techniques. There is maintenance and developmental stretching. If solely maintenance stretching is adhered to – muscle length will never change, and this can result in injury, trauma and time out of your chosen task, job or sport. Stretching can be uncomfortable but should never be painful.
Functional Training
Functional Training may lead to better muscular balance and joint stability, possibly decreasing the number of injuries sustained in an individual’s performance in a sport. The benefits may arise from the use of training that emphasises the body’s natural ability to move in six degrees of freedom. In comparison, though machines appear to be safer to use, they restrict movements to a single plane of motion, which is an unnatural form of movement for the body and may potentially lead to faulty movement patterns or injury. Functional S&C is using Body Weight and additional weight to utilise proprioceptive mechanisms.
Proprioception is the body’s own awareness in space. Mechano-receptors in the joints (especially knees, ankles and shoulders) help to tell the brain where you are in space, spatial awareness. They fire up your righting and balance reactions. If you don’t use them, like everything else, you will lose the use of them! All exercises are tailored to the individual’s fitness levels and are scalable. Elements of gymnastics are amalgamated with strength training. Gymnastics is lifting and lowering your own Body Weight, for example, a Squat or a Handstand. But don’t be scared off, movements are taught in a progressive manner, so they are achievable.
