Alpha Physiotherapy: Treating the Whole Person

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At Alpha Physio we treat the whole person, not just the injury. We address all musculoskeletal injuries using a carefully planned combination of manual therapy and physical exercise, with a hands-on approach that aims to optimise recovery. Although we predominately use massage as our main form of treatment at Alpha Physio, we also employ many other forms of treatment to complement your successful rehabilitation:

• Massage
• Mobilisations and Manipulations
• Acupuncture
• Electrotherapy
• Exercise Programmes

Massage

Massage is a highly effective form of physiotherapy treatment. It is the manipulation of soft tissues with physical, functional, mechanical, and medical/therapeutic and in some cases psychological purposes and goals. It will generally enhance the function of the tissues manipulated and promote relaxation and wellbeing.

How does Massage work?

• Massage involves manually manipulating the body through pressure, tension, motion and vibration.
• Massage can be performed with the hands, fingers elbows, forearms or feet.
• Extensive research has shown that the benefits of massage include, pain relief, reduction in anxiety and depression, temporary reduction in blood pressure and heart rate.
• Physiotherapy massage also stimulates receptors in the skin in order to help block nociception (perception of pain), increase the flow of lymph and most importantly break down and prevent fibrosis or scar tissue formation.

What is it used to treat?

• Massage is most effective for all soft tissue injuries, particularly muscle pain. Soft tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, skin and other connective tissue.
• Massage is effective in treating people from all walks of life - from the physically inactive right up to recreational and elite sportsmen and women,
• Those suffering tension or stress unrelated to physical injuries may also benefit from the therapeutic effects of massage.

Mobilisations and Manipulations

Mobilisation and manipulation, as the names suggest, both involve movement of the joints to achieve the desired results.

How does Mobilisation work?

• Mobilisation involves small amplitude oscillatory movements on the joints of the human body to stretch tight structures, with the aim of increasing joint mobility and decreasing pain.

How does Manipulation work? 

• A mobilisation becomes a manipulation when there is a larger amplitude oscillatory movement applied to the joints of the human body (a high velocity thrust) usually resulting in clicks, cracks or a popping sound. 
• The clicks or cracks associated with manipulation were once thought to be the bones moving back into place.  However, current research suggests instead that the clicking and cracking is caused by the release of pressure internally.
• Pockets of air form within the fluid of the joint. When manipulation is performed a cavitation occurs, which is a process where the bubble in the liquid rapidly collapses producing a shock wave i.e. a popping or cracking noise. This releases pressure within the joint. 

What conditions are they used to treat?

• Mobilisations and manipulations are predominantly used in the treatment of spinal or joint pain and stiffness. 
• Effects of manipulation have been shown to include the relief of musculo-skeletal pain, increased range of joint motion, increased pain tolerance and increased muscular strength.
• Both techniques, if performed by an experienced practitioner are very safe, with complications being extremely rare. 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the technique of inserting fine needles into specific points in the body with the aim of relieving pain and for other therapeutic purposes.

How does Acupuncture work?

• Acupuncture has its origins in traditional Chinese medicine, and is based on the idea that acupuncture treatments help regulate the flow of energy, or ‘Qi’ (pronounced “Chee”), through the body.
• More recent research suggests that acupuncture may prompt biological responses in the human body which increases blood flow in the event of injury and aids the reparative functions of fibroblasts (the body’s building cells). This is thought to aid healing by assisting in the repair of soft tissue injuries and help relieve pain.

What conditions is it used to treat?

• We  normally offer acupuncture only as a secondary treatment along with more traditional physiotherapy techniques, such as massage, manipulation or mobilisation. 
• It is most often used to treat conditions requiring an analgesic effect – pain relief, especially in relation to spine and nerve-related pain.

Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy is the application of small electrical forces to the body to achieve therapeutic effects. 

How does Electrotherapy work?

• Naturally-occurring physiological processes in the body produce their own electrical charges. The application of similar charges through the use of external electrical stimulation creates an interaction with the body’s own charges.
• At Alpha Physiotherapy, Ultrasound is the primary electrotherapy technique used. Ultrasonic treatment is the most researched electrotherapy treatment used in a physiotherapy context.
• Ultrasound works by creating mechanical vibrations which pass into the body and create small oscillations. These oscillations stimulate fluid movement around cells, and this in turn is thought to help chemicals important for healing move across cell membranes and stimulate repair processes. 
• Ultrasound also promotes collagen synthesis, an important process in healing injured areas, as well as improving the extensibility of scar tissue, allowing repaired tissue to be closer to the same level of flexibility as undamaged tissue.

What conditions is it used to treat?

• Any condition that requires the control of inflammatory processes, or for pain relief. As with acupuncture, we would usually offer electrotherapy as an adjunct to more traditional physiotherapy treatments, rather than as a treatment in itself.

Exercise Programmes

Exercise programs are used to help maintain physical fitness and overall health, to encourage the healing of injuries, and to prevent reoccurrence.  Although it is widely recognised that exercise in general promotes wellbeing, for physiotherapy purposes we focus on stretching and strengthening exercises. 

Stretching

Incorporating stretching exercises into one's routine is vital for fostering rehabilitation and preventing injuries. Stretching entails elongating muscle fibres, a process that has been demonstrated to notably enhance the range of motion and flexibility in muscles and joints. Consequently, this alleviates stiffness and muscle tension. Furthermore, it boosts blood circulation to the muscles, expediting recovery from injuries. 

Stretching also assists in realigning muscle fibres, rectifying muscular imbalances, and ultimately improving posture. Moreover, stretching yields psychological benefits by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and fostering a sense of well-being. It's imperative to execute stretching exercises safely and gradually to prevent overstretching or injury. Ideally, static stretches should be held for 30-60 seconds to optimize flexibility.

How does Stretching work?

• Muscles are made up of many strands called muscle fibres,  which are themselves composed of tens of thousands of thread-like myofibrils which can contract, relax or elongate.  The stretching of muscles begins at an even smaller level, with millions of bands within the myofibrils called sarcomeres.
• When dealing with injuries to muscles, often the fibres within a muscle have become disorganised and damaged – what we call scar tissue. If untreated, scar tissue can cause a muscle to remain tight, and put excessive forces on the skeleton causing pain or discomfort in the tissue itself or to joints in the proximity of the damage.
• By stretching a muscle we can help to realign any disorganised fibres, rehabilitating the muscle tissue.

What conditions is it used to treat?

•  Stretching exercises are advantageous for addressing a broad spectrum of musculoskeletal issues, bolstering flexibility, mobility, and overall physical function. They play a pivotal role in rehabilitation programs for injuries such as strains, sprains, or tendonitis. Additionally, stretching can be incorporated into treatment plans for chronic pain conditions like lower back pain, neck pain, or osteoarthritis. Athletes commonly utilize stretching to enhance performance and mitigate the risk of sports-related injuries.

Strengthening

Strength training is the use of resistance to muscular contraction to build strength, aerobic endurance or size of skeletal muscles. Within physiotherapy, strength training can be based on one or several methods, including resistance bands, free weights, medicine balls and gym balls.

How does Strengthening work?

• The strength of a muscle is essentially the ability of a muscle to contract. When a muscle is subjected to an overload – for example by lifting a weight or by resistance training - trauma is caused to the muscle fibres. 
• The body repairs damaged fibres by creating new cells (hyperplasia) resulting in an increase in a muscle fibre size. The muscles are also re-enforced with additional myofibrils to increase the strength of the individual fibres. 
• This response is intended to decrease the damage done to the muscle the next time the muscle is subjected to the same load.

What conditions is it used to treat?

• Strength training is used when muscles have become damaged or weak, and are putting undue stresses on the body. Strength training encourages damaged scar tissue to heal properly and prevent future recurrence. If one muscle in the human body is disproportionately stronger than its opposing muscle, this can cause undue pressures on the skeleton and must be addressed.

BOOK YOUR PHYSIO APPOINTMENT NOW

Our normal opening hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am - 9:20pm. For emergency / out of hours appointments, please email us at info@alphaphysio.com or call us on 028 9079 1200