Services

Detailed assessment

You will receive a detailed assessment at your first appointment. This will involve the therapist taking a full history of your condition, completing a physical examination and discussing the diagnosis with you. If you have any hospital or GP letters regarding your condition please bring them with you to help with this assessment. Your privacy will be respected at all times and you are welcome to bring a support person with you. We encourage patients to wear appropriate clothing for the full assessment of affected joints. e.g shorts for a knee injury, a vest top for a shoulder injury.

If the physiotherapist does not feel that Physiotherapy treatment is the best form of care for your injury they will discuss this with you and assist with your referral to the most appropriate health care provider. X-rays can be arranged by the physiotherapist if they feel it is relevant to your ongoing care.

Physical Treatment

There is a huge variety of physical treatments that can be of benefit to your recovery and help control your pain. The Physiotherapist will decide what is best for your condition in consultation with you. Examples include:

• Joint mobilizations
• Soft tissue stretches
• Soft tissue massage
• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
• Taping
• Cold or heat therapy
• Acupuncture for pain relief
• Exercise therapy
• Strengthening programmes
• Balance retraining
• Walking retraining
• Functional / Sports retraining
• Hydrotherapy

Advice and education around your condition

Get wise, recover faster and prevent complications. An important part of recovering from surgery or an injury is understanding your condition and finding out the ‘best way’ to care for your body whilst it is healing and for the longer term. At Enhanced Recovery we feel it is important to give you time to understand and ask questions. We can use internet sources, images, provide written material and advise on further resources as required.

Creation of your own unique Rehabilitation plan

Everyone is different! So we create an individualised rehabilitation plan taking into account the assessment findings, your personal goals and the lifestyle you lead. It includes relevant treatment techniques, staged goals to aim for, advice to aid recovery and a home exercise regime. This Rehabilitation Plan will be updated on a regular basis as you progress and move along the pathway to recovery.

Pain Relief

Pain relief can be gained using Western Acupuncture and Trigger point acupuncture. Acupuncture therapy is the stimulation of specific acupuncture points on the skin using a variety of methods such as the application of heat, pressure, laser or fine needles. In traditional Chinese Medicine it is thought that this corrects imbalances in the flow of Qi (or energy) around the body and so relieves symptoms. Western acupuncture uses these same points but applies western scientific reasoning to its effect on the body. It is thought to stimulate the bodies nervous system to produce its own chemicals such as endorphins, melatonin and serotonin, which help reduce pain and promote sleep and well being. Trigger point acupuncture, uses a more superficial and shorter needle insertion time and combines the use of traditional acupuncture points with myofascial trigger points. Enhanced recovery uses western acupuncture primarily for pain relief and muscle release. We have found it particularly effective in the relief of muscle spasm with neck injuries and painful arthritic joints. For your peace of mind we only use single use, sterilised, disposable acupuncture needles.

Enhanced Recovery will also advise you on the use of cold or heat therapy for your pain, which is often dependant on your condition.

Progressive Goal setting

Throughout the treatment and recovery process you will be asked what you would like to achieve from your therapy input. Your goals will influence the type and frequency of treatment required and the location it is best completed in. Goals help to motivate during your rehabilitation and keep you and your therapist on the same track heading in the right direction!

Examples of this may include;

• To return to work as a mechanic following my back surgery
• To be able to bend my knee fully again so I can kneel to play with my      grandchildren
• To walk for at least 30 minutes with no pain in my hip
• To return to cheerleading after my ankle fracture

Equipment Advice

Injuries can affect the way you are able to look after yourself and the activities you can do safely. Equipment can be a short or long term solution and a great help with your rehabilitation. There are many choices to make and it is important you find the aid that suits your needs best. Mistakes can be a waste of your money or at worst put you at risk of falls and further injury. Enhanced recovery can visit your home, discuss your goals and recommend suitable equipment to help you achieve these.

 If you are planning to have Hip replacement surgery, your surgeons will ask you to follow certain hip precautions post operatively to avoid dislocation of your new hip. Bed raises, over toilet frames, bath boards, easy reachers are just some of the items you will be recommended to use 6 weeks to 3 months post op. Contact enhanced recovery to discuss these needs in more detail and how equipment can be supplied.

Provision of a home care plan

Between Physiotherapy sessions it is important that you know how to care for your injury and know which exercises or activities are correct for your stage of recovery. EnhancedRecovery gives you written advice on this to take home with you. 

EnhancedRecovery is committed to supporting the recovery process so is happy to take calls during work hours to discuss any concerns or questions that may arise when you're at home.   

Call today  

 or email info@enhancedrecovery.co.nz

 to find out how we can help you achieve your goals.