Frequently Asked Questions

Will my insurance cover physiotherapy treatment?

Most health insurance policies do include coverage for physiotherapy, but it's best to check and confirm this with your health insurance provider.

Do I need a referral from my GP to see a Physiotherapist?

No, you can book a physiotherapy appointment with no referrals. Certain health insurance providers may require a referral letter from a GP before commencing physiotherapy treatment. To know the specifics of your policy, it's best to contact your health insurance provider.

How many treatments will I need?

The sooner you get back to 100% the better, because your success, is the physiotherapist’s success. It’s important to understand that the approach to treatment and the expected rehabilitation timeline will significantly differ depending on the individual's age, how they sustained the injury, how long the injury is present and many other factors. For instance, a 25-year-old rugby player with a Shoulder Impingement and a 60-year-old who developed the same issue and has the exact same symptoms while doing overhead house cleaning - will require very distinct approaches; different rehab timelines, different rehab plans, different goals, etc...

I got an injury yesterday, is it too early to attend a physiotherapist?

If you sustained an injury that does not require emergency care such as a fracture or a similar injury that requires immediate attention, you can seek the services of a physiotherapist right away. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any concerns or questions.

What is the difference between a Physiotherapist and a Chiropractor/Osteopath?

The nature of the treatment can differ between physiotherapy, chiropractic, and osteopathy, depending on the techniques used by each practitioner. While all three professions use mobilisation and manipulation methods to alleviate physical dysfunction and encourage natural healing, physiotherapists also incorporate other manual therapy techniques, massage therapy, pilates, dry needling, strength and conditioning exercises, and Exercise Rehabilitation into their treatment plans. The objective of a physiotherapist is to assist in achieving a permanent and lasting recovery from your injuries with the help of strength & conditioning principles and manual therapy as an aide to recovery. This is because it is widely recognised that relying solely on manual therapy can only result in temporary relief, without addressing the underlying problem. A good physiotherapist does not want you to have a long-term dependence on regular manual therapy sessions, but rather to get you to the point of not needing them in the first place.

Do you treat children?

Yes, we offer physiotherapy treatments to children and adolescents who experience various sports injuries, growth disorders, and postural problems, such as balance and coordination problems, back pain, foot pain, Knee Pain, Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, Sever’s disease and other related issues.

What is the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?

At Monageer Physiotherapy Clinic, dry needling is offered as a treatment option, which is distinct from acupuncture. Acupuncture is a modernised eastern medicine technique that involves inserting needles onto the skin layer. On the other hand, dry needling is a western medicine technique that involves the insertion of needles into the muscle tissue. The physiotherapist, with the help of the patient’s feedback, can pinpoint which muscles are affected and target trigger points in those muscles with the needle. This helps alleviate muscle tension and enable easier movement. This is beneficial for the patient's recovery by enabling them to perform prescribed exercises more effectively. Initially this may also help the patient by giving some relief from the pain and disability caused by the injury.

Dry needling is particularly useful in cases of very sensitive pain, such as Low Back Pain, or if the nerves are irritated, in the case of a Herniated Disc / Disc Bulge.

Should I be in pain when doing exercises? Should I continue and push through the pain? How do I know how much pain is acceptable?

It is ideal to perform exercises without experiencing pain, whether they involve strengthening, which should feel like muscles are contracting and working without any associated pain, or stretching, which should provide a satisfying stretch sensation without causing an ache. Pain can be rated on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 representing the worst possible pain. There is some evidence, that it is acceptable, and even beneficial, to feel a 2 or 3 on this scale. However, it is not advisable to continue with an exercise if the pain exceeds 2-3 out of 10, as this may indicate that the body is signalling you to stop. In such cases, modifications to the exercise can be made, such as reducing the number of repetitions, decreasing the weight, or altering the exercise position. If the pain persists despite these modifications, it is best to simply skip that exercise and ask the physiotherapist to review it with you on your follow-up appointment.

An example of the significance of this can be seen in the instance of tendonitis (tendon inflammation). If an individual has Achilles Tendonitis, they may experience some pain when commencing a run, but the pain might subside for a while before coming back again during the run, or it feels good during that day but gets painful the following day. This behaviour is characteristic of an inflamed tendon, and persisting with running while experiencing pain could worsen the irritation of the tendon.