• Posture assessment and diagnosis
• Home based Pilates exercises prescribed especially for you
• Posture re-training using the new Australian BACKTONE device (with a biofeedback correction mechanism - when you slouch it beeps - when you stand/sit with correct posture it stops beeping)

• 1 in 3 women and at least 1 in 12 men will develop osteoporosis 
• Every 3 minutes someone has a fracture as a result of osteoporosis
World-wide there were an estimated 1.66 million hip fractures in 1990 and it is estimated that this will rise to 6.26 million in 2050
• Each year the numbers of people with osteoporosis seen by doctors include over: 70,000 hip fractures, 50,000 wrist fractures and 40,000 spinal fractures
• Once a postmenopausal woman has had one spinal fracture, she is 5 times more likely to suffer another
• Only a third of people with spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis come to medical attention    

• Osteoporosis literally means ‘porous bones’. 
  
• The inside of bone looks like honeycomb, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the spaces between bone.
  
• Osteoporosis occurs when the holes between bone become bigger, making bone more fragile and easier to break.
• Osteoporosis affects all bones and commonly causes breaks (fractures) to bones in the wrist, spine and hip. 
  
• The first symptoms of osteoporosis often involve the back because vertebrae are under such an enormous amount of pressure. 
  

  Our bones are at their strongest in our mid thirties after which some thinning occurs as we age. 

•   people who exercise regularly are far less likely to suffer from it
• in women there is a link to hormones since women who have gone through the menopause are far more likely to suffer from it. 
  

  Calcium and other minerals, essential for healthy bones, leak out
  leaving bones weak and more likely to fracture.  The loss of bone material   
  is not painful in itself but the fractures of the bones that result from 
  osteoporosis often are - particularly if nerves are trapped.

  Most people with osteo:

• shrink and become shorter
• several vertebrae may fracture with the result that the spine eventually becomes noticeably rounded. 
  

• positively affect bone mass
• slow down bone loss
• reduce back pain 
• decrease the risk of falling  
• increase muscle strength
• increase flexibility and co-ordination

• Control pain levels
• Modalities for pain relief are wide in a physiotherapist repertoire
• Treatments are simple to enable patients to continue at home

Self management in the form of:                       

1. Tens
2. Heat  
3. Hydrotherapy
4. Postural correction

   Advice with requard to:

• Sleeping positions with particular attention to the cervical spine and hips,
  
• Use of McKenzie rolls for the lumbar spine when sitting and travelling
• Ergonomic advice re sitting positions

BREATHING EXERCISES

RELAXATION

• The use of imagery and the Lara Mitchell method can be very useful
• Contract relax methods have been subjectively reported by patients to increase pain levels due to the level of muscle tension prior to starting the relaxation technique.

• Osteo sufferers may feel that too much exercise will cause fractures.
  
• Patients need to load trabecular bone areas especially with gravity and weight to stimulate osteoblast activity.
• Physical activity, particularly weight bearing exercise, improves bone density, making the bones stronger and less likely to fracture.
• Physical activity increases muscle strength, so people are less likely to have falls that may result in bone fractures.
• Improved balance and mobility prevents further fall and fracture.
• Exercising in the hydrotherapy pool reduces the risk of falling and fracture is reduced .
  
• Balance can be enhanced by the use of turbulence and using a woggle
• Immersion results in pain relief
• Bouancy assists range of movement
• A land based exercise programme should be continued independently
  
• Pilates is a great exercise which is weight bearing on the skeleton to increase bone density and improve balance
• Weight bearing exercise can also include:
• Resistance exercise - to strengthen bones and muscles. This usually involves lifting weights or moving the body against a source of resistance such as a weight-training machine.
• Impact exercise - involves activities where the skeleton is forced to bear high impact upon landing.
• Some level of physical activity becomes part of your daily routine.
• It's important to consult an exercise expert (such as a physiotherapist) to get an individual assessment and help to develop a program to prevent injury.
  

    Hydrotherapy is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels and as        
    our pools are at safe depth you do not need to be able to swim to benefit
    from Hydrotherapy.  Your head does not go under the water and your feet
    can remain firmly on the ground if necessary. 

• Relaxation - release muscle spasm and decrease muscle tone
• Pain Relief
• Strengthen muscles
  
• Improved circulation and respiration
• Increased freedom of movement - increased joint range
• Support for painful limbs and joints
• Feeling of security and safety
• Balance and vesitbular retraining
• Safe environment for reintrouving co-ordinated movement patterns - reaching
• Confidence boosting and overcoming fear of falling
• Allows running and bouncing actvities with no jarring of joints
• Improves general fitness
• Promotes sounder more relaxed sleep patterns
• Improves psychological health and general well being
• Provides fun and social interaction

• Arthritis-osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
• Back and neck pain
• Post surgry - knee, hip, shoulder, spinal
• Parkinsons
• Stroke
• Sports injuries
• Specific sessions for patients with back pain, knee problems, shoulder problems plus a general exercise group are provided.

No...It is hands on physiotherapy treatment just like on land. The   
physiotherapist is in the water with you mobilising joints, massaging
muscles and monitoring movements.

Call us and ask for a consultation with a physiotherapist. Initially you will be reviewed on land (30 minutes) and we will discuss your individual requirements and hydrotherapy programme. Each session of hydrotherapy generally lasts up to an hour.

Health Funds

Hydrotherapy may be covered by your private health fund and is also available under Veteran Affairs, Workcover and CTP claims. 

Our physiotherapists run 5 session each week  Sessions are available at Kawana Aquatic Centre daily at 1pm and at Caloundra Aquatic Centre on Thursdays at 1pm.