| 1.
Fitness Rehabilitation following operations
or injury
This
Program is required when a person does
not require formalised Physiotherapy on
an individual basis but requires a fitness
program designed specifically for their
injury.
Following
a Physiotherapy assessment a comprehensive
6 week gym program is developed for each
person tailoring it to their individual
requirements. This program contains progressions
and time expectations.
The
person is able to attend at times of
the day for their convenience. This assists
the person who has returned to work resulting
in time commitments.
There
are Physiotherapists available at all
times to guide & consult when required.
At the end of the Program a further assessment
is made and a progress report forwarded
to the appropriate insurance company and
treating Doctor.
This
Program is not suitable for back injuries
or for work
hardening requirements. There are
specific Programs for back injured persons
and for those requiring a work hardening
regimen.
2.
Weight loss
For
a weight loss program to be effective
diet alone is not enough and the program
should include a sensible exercise program.
Once a person starts to lose weight toning
up muscles is essential to prevent the
muscles becoming flabby and loose -particularly
the thighs & under the arms ie the
triceps.
This program is over 6 weeks & includes
1 assessment where the program is given;
a weekly weigh in; a concession exercise
card that allows 10 attendances for the
program; review at 6 weeks.
In many cases, due to other medical conditions,
a person is unable to carry out a land
based exercise program. Hydrotherapy is
a very effective method of allowing an
intensive exercise program without the
problem associated with weight bearing.
This program is orgainsed as for the land
based program.
3.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
is a condition where the bones are fragile
& brittle & therefore will fracture
much more easily than normal, healthy
bones. Falls, even minor ones, can result
in serious broken bones. Many people are
hospitalised due to broken hip bones.
Alarmingly, according to the Royal Australian
College of Physicians, 20% of hospital
hip fractured patients will die from complications
such as pneumonia, blood clots or heart
failure. 1 in 2 women & 1 in 3 men
over 60 will suffer a fracture due to
osteoporosis.
The cause of osteoporosis is a loss of
bone calcium resulting in a loss of bone
density making the bones fragile and brittle.
Any person suffering osteoporosis requires
a long term commitment to good nutrition
with a balanced diet containing low fat
dairy foods, exercise & a healthy
lifestyle. Weight bearing exercise does
not necessarily mean that you need to
lift bar bells at a gym. Just take the
opportunity to walk at least 3 times a
week, garden, use the stairs, dance, play
tennis, golf or bowls - many enjoyable
activities. What you need to avoid is
becoming a couch potato - with the advent
of computers this has become even easier.
It is recommended that you consult us
as your Physiotherapist before commencing
an exercise program. Not all exercise
programs are suitable. If you have established
osteoporosis there are certain limitations
& precautions necessary to be observed
for this exercise program. A " Falls
Prevention Program" may also be necessary
to include in your program.
The centre now has a vibration motion platform for bone strengthening.
This program is for 6 weeks and includes
an assessment where the program is given;
a concession card which allows 10 attendances;
a review at 6 weeks. If pain prevents
a land based program our hydrotherapy
program for osteoporosis is excellent
allowing a safe medium to exercise against
the resistance of the water.
4.
Falls Prevention & balance re education.
(a)
1 in 4 people over the age of 65 fall
every year. As 1 in 3 women & 1 in
4 men have osteoporosis the result of
these falls can be very disabling often
requiring surgical repair, with death
due to complications not uncommon.
Balance skills con be improved with a
very simple home regimen done on a daily
basis. Book in to see our Physiotherapist
to teach these necessary skills. Join
our hydrotherapy general exercise class
to improve muscle flexibility, strength
& endurance or use our new vibration motion platform using a concession card.
(b)
If there is a condition resulting in an
imbalance of the ears there is a special
program " The Cawthorne Balance exercise
Program" aimed at building up a tolerance
mechanism in the brain to allow compensation
for this imbalance in the ears & thus
prevent disabling falls.
Both of these programs can be done very
successfully at home.
5.
Diabetes
It
is estimated that approximately 1.5 -
2 million people living in Australia who
suffer either impaired glucose tolerance
(IGT) or impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG)..
People with IGT or IFG are significantly
at an increased risk of developing Type
2 diabetes (T2DM) & cardiovascular
disease.
There is now powerful evidence to suggest
that T2DM can be substantially delayed
& possibly even prevented by a long
term commitment to good nutrition of low
total & saturated fats & high
in dietary fibre, with an increase in
the physical exercise portion of their
lifestyle.
Physical activities such as walking, cycling,
swimming, dancing, golf, tennis &
ball games are all beneficial. However
sometimes it also requires a simple &
sensible home regimen & a commitment
to an appropriate gym / & or hydrotherapy
program. To ensure continuing good circulation
persists in hands & feet these home
programs, gym & hydrotherapy programs
are all available at this Centre by our
Physiotherapy team.
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