FAQS

In most cases, you don’t need a doctor’s prescription in order to get started with a physiotherapy program. Private insurance companies don’t require you to obtain a doctor’s referral at all. Medicare plans, workers compensation and motor vehicle injuries will require you to see your doctor first.

You can expect to be heard. Glen will listen to you about your condition, such as where it hurts, what makes it hurt and what makes it feel better. Next, he will perform some physical tests to assess how your condition reacts to movement and different activities. Finally, there will be a discussion about the diagnosis of your condition (i.e. what is wrong and why), followed by treatment to help you feel better and the creation of a plan of care.

Your Initial Evaluation will last about one hour. Each appointment after that could last up to 30 minutes, depending on your particular diagnosis.

It is rare for any treatment provided during a physio session to ‘cure’ your problem. It is of utmost importance that you perform the exercises and overall care plan that your Physiotherapist has designed for you. Equally important, if something doesn’t make sense, or if you have a problem staying with the treatment plan, you have to let your physiotherapist know, so together, you can develop a plan that truly works for you.

A care plan is part of Medicare’s Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Program. Through a consultation with your doctor, they will organise a care plan for you and it comprises of 5 health professional sessions over a calendar year (resets on January 1). You and your doctor can decide if those 5 sessions go to physiotherapy, or are spread across multiple health professionals.

People suffering from frequent or constant headaches or migraines may experience tension in the neck, or across the back of the head, prior to the onset of their worst symptoms. This is a reliable sign that your headache / migraine is coming from your neck. However, it is always best to consult your GP first if your headaches or migraines change in frequency or intensity.

An assessment of the upper cervical spine (just below the skull) is made to understand if there are movement restrictions at these segments. If these restrictions are present, gentle manual techniques (no cracking!) are used to restore movement. This relieves the pain caused by a lack of movement at C0/1 and C1/2 (the upper cervical spine).

Once restrictions in the neck are identified and corrected, some people feel relief within hours. Others will require up to four treatment sessions to gain relief, so usually within two weeks.

If your neck is found to be the source of your headache / migraine, then you will learn stretches, strengthening exercises and postural strategies to manage your symptoms without the need for medication.

Vertigo coming from the inner ear (part of the vestibular system), will usually be accompanied by nystagmus (rapid eye movements). Neck-related vertigo or dizziness will not have these eye movements, but can have symptoms related to head and neck movements. Sometimes, this can lead to cervicogenic dizziness being diagnosed as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), as testing for BPPV can irritate the neck joints causing cervicogenic dizziness. If suffering from dizziness or vertigo without rapid eye movements, it is best to have your neck assessed prior to seeking treatment for BPPV.

Free parking can be found behind the building off Regents Park Rd. Look for the “GB Physio” signs, or any unmarked bay.

Overflow parking available further north on Regents Park Rd, and also across the road on Pimlico Place. Paid parking can be found on the hospital grounds off Regents Park Rd.