What happens in an appointment?

History taking

A detailed medical history is taken to determine what is sore and to ascertain what lifestyle, occupational or exercise factors are involved.

Orthopaedic testing

A variety of tests can be used in combination with the history (and any scans) to determine what is sore and why.

Advice

Long-term recovery relies on people understanding what their injury is, why it has occurred and how it will get better.

Management

Specific exercises, hands-on techniques like stretching, massage, dry needling and manipulation can often help settle pain down.

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is a treatment that uses fine filament (acupuncture) needles, but that is where the similarity to acupuncture ends. Acupuncture focuses on restoring energy or "Qi" to the body by properly placing needles along energy channels called meridians. 

Dry needling directly treats the neuromuscular system affecting muscle tightness, joint mobility, and symptoms of pain and irritation. Utilising trigger point dry needling in manual therapy practice allows the patient a faster return to normal everyday activities with increased function and reduced pain.

How many treatments will I need?

The amount of treatments needed for your symptoms depends on the nature of your presenting complaint, as well as your age, lifestyle, fitness, compliance and motivation. Commonly, acute conditions - those that are less than 3 months old - may take 2-3 sessions. Whereas, chronic conditions - those greater than 3 months old - generally take more sessions over a longer time frame.

Alex will be able to give you an idea on what you should expect once he has taken a full medical history and assessment.