Manual Therapy: Manual physiotherapy is the term used to describe the hands on field of physiotherapy practice which relates to disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Physiotherapists who practise in this area are skilled in the assessment, diagnosis and physiotherapy management of musculoskeletal conditions. They typically use hands on techniques such as massage, mobilisation and manipulation to help restore function.
Sports Physiotherapy: Sports Physiotherapy looks at the athlete’s injury in the big picture. It incorporates hands on treatment, modified exercise, biomechanical analysis, and technique into a specific treatment approach to get the best result for the athlete. Often it is not just resolving the athlete’s injury, but getting them better than where they were before their injury
Western Acupuncture: Western acupuncture utilises meridian points but applies it to Western scientific reasoning with particular consideration to neurophysiology and anatomy. It does not typically utilise traditional Chinese assessment methods or paradigms. Western Acupuncture is used by physiotherapists to achieve pain relief and healing via the stimulation of the nervous system, such as the brain and spinal cord to produce the body’s own pain relieving neuro-chemicals, such as endorphins for pain relief; melatonin to promote sleep and serotonin to promote well being. These neuro-chemicals assist the body’s healing process and offer pain relief as a precursor for other manual or manipulative therapy or home exercise programme. The practitioner uses their anatomical knowledge of the body to select acupuncture points that stimulate nerve endings which will help to relieve pain and promote healing.
Dry Needling or Trigger Point Needling: Rapid short term needling to altered or dysfunctional tissues in order to improve or restore function. This may include (but is not limited to) needling of myofascial trigger points, periosteum and connective tissues. Physiotherapy Acupuncturists typically perform this with an acupuncture needle.