The next evolution of healthcare is already upon us, and just as our name suggests, Proactive Physiotherapy is proud to offer online Physiotherapy consultations (also known as Telehealth) to help our valued clients.
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Telehealth technology allows any person to access our high quality assessment, treatment and results based care from the comfort of your own home or a location that is convenient to you.....as long as you have an internet connection and computer or connected device! 😉
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Online physiotherapy is a fantastic and very convenient option for people who are unable to physically attend the clinic. With online physiotherapy consultations, expert help is on hand to help assess and diagnose your injury, get clarity on what a meaningful recovery is to you, provide treatment and a clear plan that is directed toward achieving your goals as fast as possible.
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We understand that people may wonder if online consultations can be as effective as traditional in-rooms physiotherapy consults. However, current research demonstrates that online physiotherapy consults are just as effective as traditional physiotherapy consults for musculoskeletal pain and injuries. A large body of research now suggests that people are most likely to get better once they get clarity on their specific issue and start to manage their pain appropriately (by loading or offloading the affected structures) and then gradually build their tolerance to load, usually through an active approach like exercise. Luckily, all of this can be done via online physiotherapy consultations, without the need of a therapist to put their hands on you!
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Online physiotherapy will empower you to take control of your pain and get amazing results. You will likely be surprised at how effective they can be! The most important thing is that you reach your goal and are able to do everything you love in life without limitation. We are 100% confident our online physiotherapy consults will help you achieve this!
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Who is online Physiotherapy ideal for?
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Online Physiotherapy consultations are perfect for people who:
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Want to save time, avoid the hassle of driving and want to enjoy the convenience of expert healthcare in their own home or workplace
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Are unable to physically attend the clinic location due to extenuating circumstances
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Would like access to the best physiotherapists who may not be available where they live
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Don’t like the hands on contact or physical touch involved in an in clinic session
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Are restricted by an injury, disability or medical issue, which may make accessing the clinic location difficult
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Have been seen by another physio or medical professional, but would like an expert second opinion on their injury
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Live in a regional, remote or overseas area
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What to expect with an online Physiotherapy consultation?
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Prior to the consult we will be in contact to:
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Ask a few questions about the injury and your past medical history to make sure you are a suitable candidate for an online Physiotherapy consult
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Check that you have the appropriate systems on your device
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Each online Physiotherapy consultation generally follows the following format:​
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We will ask you several questions about the injury and your past medical history to gain a full picture
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We will ask you questions about what your specific goals are and/or what meaningful change you'd like to see
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We will ask you to perform several relevant movements to help us make the correct diagnosis
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We will talk you through how to perform a treatment technique(s)
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We will leave you with a clear plan of what you need to do to get continue to get better
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Following an online Physiotherapy consultation you can expect to have:
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Had an expert thoroughly and attentively listen to the issues affecting your life
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Been provided with a clear diagnosis
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A clear time frame on how long you can expect the recovery to take
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Clarity on exactly what you need to do to get better and achieve your goals
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Overall, an online physiotherapy consult is very similar to an in person consult, however the therapist will just guide you through parts of the assessment and treatment so that you can do it yourself!
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What technology do I need for an online Physiotherapy consult?
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Modern technology is amazing! All you need for your online physiotherapy consultation is a computer or smart device (desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet or smart phone) that is able to connect to the internet and has a camera and microphone.
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Once you have booked your appointment with us, we will send you an email which will have a link to join the appointment. When the time comes for your appointment, all you have to do is click on the link in the email and then you will be in your private and individual online physiotherapy consult and ready to progress toward your goals!
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An important thing to remember for your online consultation is to make sure you are positioned in a quiet place that has enough space for you to do some basic movements and exercises. We recommend that you have somewhere to position your phone, tablet or computer so that it can stand independently and enable the injured body part to be seen whilst you perform movements (ie on a bookcase), as this will make the assessment easier. We also recommend that you wear clothes that are easy for you to move in and just as you normally would in your physio session.
What type of injuries can be treated with online Physiotherapy?
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Many musculoskeletal injuries can be treated extremely effectively with online Physiotherapy consultations:
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Lower back pain
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Disc bulges, sciatic pain, muscle tightness and spasms
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Neck pain
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Disc bulges, cervical spondylosis (osteoarthritis), ​muscle tightness
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Shoulder pain
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Bursitis, rotator cuff muscle tears, shoulder impingement and tendon pain
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Knee pain
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Pain caused by osteoarthritis, tendons, bursa and post surgical rehabilitation
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Hip pain
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Osteoarthritis, hip bursa and tendon pain, hip and groin tightness​
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Ankle and heel pain
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Ankle sprains, achilles tendon pain, rehab following ankle fracture, plantar fascia​ pain
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Muscle weakness and strains
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Hamstring, quadricep, calf or gluteal strains​
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Post operative rehabilitation
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Including following Total Knee Replacements, Total Hip Replacements, Total shoulder replacements, Rotator cuff surgeries, Shoulder arthroscopes and/or reconstructions, Knee arthroscopes​ and meniscal surgeries, Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair surgery
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Chronic pain​
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Online Physio consults are particularly helpful for people with chronic pain issues as they enable ​people to learn techniques that enable them to manage their pain on their own
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Online rehabilitation and exercise prescription
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We are very pleased to give you access to a personalised, extremely easy to use App that will help streamline your exercises and rehabilitation. Following your online consult with your physiotherapist, you will be provided with access to all of the exercises that you have been prescribed to do just by downloading an app (or you can view on your computer if you like). We will even email you a copy if you would prefer to download and print off. The app will have videos and descriptions of how to perform each exercise that you need to do.
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Your exercise program will be a key part of your rehab program. To ensure that you achieve your goals and obtain a full recovery your physiotherapist will need to gradually progress your exercises so that your body continually gets stronger and adapts to being able to handle more activity, specifically the things that you love doing! This controlled grading of movement and exercise can be done very effectively with online programming, with our large range of online exercises.
Chronic pain and Online Physiotherapy
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Online physiotherapy is actually one of the best treatment strategies for dealing with chronic pain. This is because online physiotherapy puts you in the drivers seat for your recovery (empowers you!), making you take an active part in the rehab process and decreases the reliance on your therapist! Being actively involved in your rehab has been shown to be one of the most important factors in recovering from chronic pain conditions. Whilst manual therapy techniques like massage, mobilisations and manipulations may feel great, most of the time they aren't essential and won't make a significant difference to your long term outcome. However committing to your rehab plan will make a massive difference to your long term recovery and this can be done very effectively and efficiently through online physiotherapy consultations and your online exercise programming.
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We know this is true because scientific research has clearly shown us now that structure does not cause pain, especially in pain that has been around for several months or more. In people with chronic pain, the issue is the nervous system has become sensitised and irritable. The good news is that with online consultations we can perfectly pick up all of the information we need by accessing your scans (MRIs, XRs, CTs etc), obtaining a detailed history from you about the specifics of the injury and then closely observing how you move. Having access to all this information means that we are able to see where the original injury may have initially stemmed from, but now provide a solution for you (via graded exposure as described in the section above) so that you can get back to what you love and enjoying life to the full!
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I claim using my private health?
Several private health funds have recently agreed to fund online physiotherapy appointments. Their initial advice is that some private health funds will cover online physiotherapy from the14th April 2020. However there are conditions around eligibility for coverage and you are encouraged to ask your insurer directly or for more information about conditions click here.
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What does a session cost?
An online physiotherapy consult at Proactive Physio is $90 for an initial appointment and $75 for a review appointment.
How do we communicate online?
Online physiotherapy sessions are performed using any device which is internet enabled and has a camera and microphone ie Desktop or Laptop computer, tablet or smartphone.
How can a physio treat me online?/How can a physio help me without putting their hands on me?
A common misunderstanding about how physiotherapy works is that it always involves or requires 'hands on' or manual therapy (ie massage or manuipulations) to be effective. However, there is now a large body of scientific evidence that clearly shows that active rehabilitation (movement and exercise therapy) combined with education about your injury and how to appropriately load your injured body part is the most effective way to get you better as quickly as possible. Importantly, by going about your recovery in this way, you will become empowered to be take control of your health and gain the skills to be pain free long term - exercise is medicine!
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What if I need a scan (X-Ray, Ultrasound, MRI etc)?
If at any stage during a consult or during your rehabilitation it appears that you would benefit from having more investigations on the area then, your physiotherapist will discuss this with you and be able to write you a referral and email it to you so that you can get the scan that is required.
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Can I do a combination of Online Physiotherapy consults as well as face to face?
It depends upon the issue you are presenting with, but many patients find that this works very well. They may initially do a few sessions in the clinic and once they have built some momentum they prefer to do some (or all!) of their rehabilitation online. Some of our clients have found online consults to be very useful, as it has allowed them to continue to progress when they have had to travel out of town during the middle of their rehabilitation.
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How do I pay for my online physiotherapy consultation?
We require payment prior to your consultation which can be taken over the phone by credit card or by direct transfer with the receipt emailed to us to confirm payment.
Can I claim medicare for online physio consults?
Yes. Medicare are now offering rebates for Telehealth Physiotherapy consults.
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Can I use NDIS for online physiotherapy consults?
Yes, you can use your NDIS funding. Due to regulations, we are only able to work with NDIS clients that are self managed or plan managed.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic requiring a global coordinated effort. We anticipate an increase in the demand for online physiotherapy services as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. Online physiotherapy will be an essential link in enabling you to maintain your health, mobility and well being whilst reducing your risk of infection through community transmission. We are increasing our online physiotherapy services in this time to ensure we can meet this increased demand and continue to provide exceptional care to our community.
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The health and well being of you, our valued clients, and our team are our highest priority. If you would like more information during this period of uncertainty and confusion, please feel free to contact us on (03) 5972 2221.