Other Allied Health Services

Orthotics

Who is the Orthotist?
Orthotics is a new service to SSPC by popular demand and will help expand the standard of care that we have available at SSPC. Our Orthotist is Mr. David Dzienciol.

Who will benefit from the Orthotist?
Any person with persisting feet or biomechanical problems may benefit from a consultation with the Orthotist. David personally casts and manufactures all orthotics himself - a job that he believes should NEVER be outsourced to laboratories. This ensures that they are very specific to your foot shape, and meet the highest possible standards.

David is also an expert in the making and fitting of all types of braces, as well as a wide range of medical grade compression garments for travelling and vascular conditions.

Are non-patients able to come off the street and see the Orthotist without a referral or without having seen one of the physios?
Yes. A referral is not necessary unless you want to see the Orthotist under a compensable body such as WorkCover, TAC, Veterans Affairs or the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program.

Can I claim on my extras for Private Health insurance?
If you have Orthotics cover under your extras, then you may use your health fund to claim a percentage of the orthotics costs. Some funds have very good rebates (60-80% cover) so check with your health fund. You will most likely require a referral from your GP or Physiotherapist to claim.

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Dietitian

What is an Accredited Practising Dietitian? Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are university qualified professionals who have the qualifications and skills to translate scientific research into practical dietary and lifestyle advice. APDs need to meet detailed criteria developed by the Dietitians’ Association of Australia.
These include:
- holding a qualification from an accredited university course
- being a member of the Dietitians Association of Australia
- taking part in ongoing professional training and education to keep up to date with advances in health and food science
- and a commitment to the association’s code of professional conduct and code of ethics

Who is the dietitian? Nicole Moroney is an experienced accredited practising dietitian, accredited nutritionist and founder of Best Food Forward. She consults from Southern Suburbs Physiotherapy Centre in East Bentleigh and can be contacted directly on 9576 7336.

Who can benefit from the dietitian? Dietitians can assist individuals achieve better health and give advice regarding the management of many medical conditions including:
- diabetes
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure

Nicole can also provide professional, practical and personal advice for:
- healthy eating during pregnancy
- toddler and child nutrition
- weight management

If you, like many others, have tried several diets in an effort to lose weight you may wish to learn more about a non-diet approach to weight management, We discuss how to achieve and maintain a healthier weight without following a strict diet and while still enjoying food.

Do I need a referral? You don’t need a referral to see the dietitian unless you are eligible for a medicare rebate.

Can I claim through medicare? In certain circumstances medicare rebates may be available for clients who have complex needs and are referred by their doctor. Ask your doctor if this applies to you.

Can I claim on my extras for Private Health Insurance? You may be able to claim a rebate from your private health insurer, depending on your level of cover. Some funds have very good dietetic rebates, so please check with your health fund to determine your eligibility.

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Real Time Ultrasound

The process of Real Time Ultrasound Imaging (RTUI) is very similar to the ultrasound process women undergo during pregnancy, and that many people go through for medical diagnoses. RTUI involves transmitting of sound waves through the body. These sound waves are reflected off the internal body structures and organs resulting in an image of different muscles within the body that can be displayed on a screen for your instant viewing. The process is simple and painless and will simply feel like the normal ultrasound you may already have experienced with your physiotherapist for treatment (minus the warmth).

Physiotherapists use real time ultrasound to view important muscles that support and stabilize your spinal column. These muscles work together to form a muscular cylinder of stability around your pelvis and lower back in particular. This muscular cylinder provides the support you need to function from day to day, and to cope with the enormous forces and movements that are placed through the spine during our daily lives. Unfortunately pain and injury damages this internal muscle support system and these critical muscles do naturally return to their previous functional and supportive levels, even after the pain has completely disappeared. This is why people with a history of back injury will either suffer chronic pain, or frequent recurrences of their pain. Very specific retraining of these muscles is the only way to ensure that your internal muscle support system has returned to its optimal functional levels.

These “core” stabilizing muscles are very deep muscles that attach beneath other larger and more superficial muscles. It is therefore very difficult to train these muscles accurately by verbal instruction and “touch”, as there are so many other muscles in the immediate area. RTUI will give you a moving image of the affected muscles as you attempt to contract them. Through the ultrasound, the patient can receive important feedback for correct activation of these muscles to ensure that you are actually training the muscles that need to be trained and not compensating through nearby muscles. During your ultrasound session, you will actually be able to watch the inner muscles contracting, and leave the session sure in the knowledge that you are exercising effectively and efficiently.

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Hand therapy

Hand injuries and splinting

Hand Therapy is an area of Physiotherapy dealing specifically with the fingers, thumb, hand and wrist.

Injuries may be acute such as fractures, dislocations and sprains. Thumb ligament sprains are one of the more common sporting injuries, often caused by awkward contact with the ball or landing.

There are also chronic conditions including arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and many tendonitis type problems that occur as a result of overuse.

Treatment of these areas can also include splinting. Rather than "off-the-shelf" splints, custom made splints are made on site at SSPC specific to the individual and injury. This will often result in a more rapid return to function as the area is well protected.

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Massage

When should I seek Massage?
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and is packed with nerve endings. Massage works by soothing soft tissue and encouraging relaxation.
You are going to obtain the most benefit from massage when you have ongoing soft tissue tightness, which may make you tense up even more creating more tightness. This is often seen around the neck and shoulders. A thorough neck and shoulder massage can release muscle tension and break the pain cycle. Massage is also very useful for injury prevention amongst sporting athletes.
Modern studies have shown that massage can be used to successfully treat a variety of disorders, including:

• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Chronic pain
• Constipation
• Depression
• Headache
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia.

What type of massage do you do here?

• Therapeutic - also known as 'Western' or 'Swedish' massage. One of the most popular forms of massage in Australia, this technique is designed to promote relaxation and improve blood circulation.
• Sports - a blend of techniques that aims to enhance performance and help overworked muscles to recover quickly.
• Remedial - to encourage healing of injured soft tissue - such as muscles, tendons and ligaments.
• Relaxation - a more gentle approach aimed at producing the release of endorphins, the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that produce feelings of wellbeing and reduce levels of stress hormones - such as adrenalin, cortisol and norepinephrine

How long will the massage last?
There are 3 time periods that you can book a massage for :
30 minutes, 45 minutes or 1 hour. If you are unsure how long you will need get our reception staff to ask the massage therapist to speak to you prior to booking and they should be able to help you decide. You may also buy massage vouchers as a gift for someone else. Enquire at reception to purchase one of these.

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Myotherapy

Myotherapy is derived from Greek "Myo" meaning muscle, thus a muscle therapist. A Myotherapist is a multi skilled physical therapist who's treatments focus on the preventative, corrective and rehabilitation phases of therapy to maintain and achieve a normal integrity of the soft tissue structure - Muscles, ligaments and tendons of the body.

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