Back & Neck Pain, Sports Injuries, Headaches,
Vertigo, Concussion, Chest Conditions, Women's & Men's Health, and Arthritis
Physio and Osteo for common conditions
The Active Therapies team treats a range of common conditions, including:
- Back and Neck pain
- Sports Injuries
- Headaches
- Vertigo
- Chest conditions
- Arthritis
Although every patient is different, it can be helpful for new patients to know what to expect when they seek Physio or Osteo help.
Back and neck pain
All of our practitioners are experienced at treating back and neck pain.
These are the most common presentations seen by both Physiotherapists and Osteopaths. 80% of people will have back and/or neck pain at some time during their working life.
Back pain is the most common cause for time off work and, can often be resolved using conservative treatment such as Physiotherapy or Osteopathy.
Treatment for back or neck pain often involves:
- Joint mobilisation
- Exercises
- Muscle energy techniques (also called hold/relax techniques)
- Dry Needling
- Positional Relaxation Techniques
- Soft Tissue Massage
Some practitioners are trained to perform manipulation: this a high velocity thrust and is only done with the patient’s informed consent.
Headaches
Many people suffer from headaches. They are one of the most common reasons for people to seek help from our clinicians.
Headaches can have many different causes, so it is important that a thorough case history is taken prior to any treatment being recommended.
Most Headaches are able to be conservatively managed and have relatively benign causes. However, not all headaches are like this.
If you think you have any of the following symptoms, you should seek advice from our practitioners or your doctor:
- your headache keeps coming back
- painkillers do not help and your headache gets worse
- you have a bad throbbing pain at the front or side of your head – it could be a migraine or, more rarely, a cluster headache
- you feel sick, vomit and find light or noise painful
Primary causes of headache are usually
- migraine
- tension type headaches (TTH)
- cluster headaches
Common secondary causes are:
- cervicogenic (or “neck caused”) headaches (CGH)
- medication overuse headaches (MOH)
Common causes of headache include –
- neck pain/injury (ie whiplash)
- migraine
- tension/cluster headaches
Our practitioners are able to assess and diagnose all of these causes and are then able to offer treatment, or referral, as appropriate.
Vertigo and dizzyness
Vertigo is a condition that is distressing and debilitating. Many people who experience vertigo do not know that the most common cause, BPPV, is easily treatable.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a condition of the inner ear and usually resolves very quickly with appropriate treatment. Andrew Forbes has undertaken extensive training, and he is able to comprehensively assess, explain, and treat, BPPV.
Active Therapies is a treatment centre for vertigo and dizzyness.
Chest and respiratory conditions
Lucy Forbes has a special interest in chest and respiratory physiotherapy.
Conditions that she treats regularly are:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Bronchiectastsis
- Cystic fibrosis
- post-Covid breathing issues
- Chronic respiratory infections
- Hyperventilation syndrome
Chest physiotherapy includes:
- in-depth assessment of lung function and air entry
- Education, advice, a specific treatment program and exercises.
- Use of inhalers, breathing inspiration tools, puffers, flutters and spacers
Lucy will always prioritise any patient who requires help with chest physiotherapy.
Teaching drainage and active breathing cycles, chest exercises, individualised programs and effective sputum clearance are some of the techniques employed.
If you are considering whether you could benefit from specific Chest Physiotherapy, please do not hesitate to contact Active Therapies to discuss your condition and seek individual advice.
Arthritis
Many of our patients are affected by pain, stiffness and loss of quality of life, which are symptoms often caused by a combination of degenerative, age-related changes and environmental factors (such as gardening, painting, or other strenuous activities). Our practitioners are dedicated to helping with appropriate assessment, advice, and treatment.
Current research shows excellent evidence that Manual Therapy treatment (such as Physiotheapy or Osteopathy) & Comprehensive Specific Exercises designed especially for you can help with the pain, stiffness, and loss of function.
Arthritis commonly affects the spine, hips, knees, feet and hands.