We use a world-renowned approach to treatment called The McKenzie Method and we are the only practice in Albury Wodonga with physio’s who have completed the credentialled training in this approach.  The McKenzie Method teaches you how to reduce your pain using very targeted exercises which we ask you to do regularly at home.  This allows you to treat yourself rather than relying on your practitioner to manipulate you or massage you. Over the years we have found that teaching you how to treat yourself gives you more lasting pain relief and puts you in charge of your recovery. Do we still use hands-on techniques in our practice? Of course, but these are in addition to your very specific exercises.

The goal of exercises in the McKenzie Method are to reduce your pain directly.  We use key findings from your assessment together with a meticulous testing process to work out which exercises reduce your pain.  Once we find the exact exercise or movement that has a positive effect on your pain, we ask you to do this one exercise, several times a day, at home.  Often the frequency of your exercise is much higher that what a regular physio would ask you to do eg. 4-5 times a day. We usually ask you to return in 3 days (sometimes a week) to evaluate if this has helped you.

Our goal is to be as effective as possible in the fewest number of visits.  The exact number of appointments you will need is hard to say and depends on many factors, but mostly it depends on you. The more diligent you are with your exercises, the less appointments you need.  The sooner you come in to see us, the less appointments you will need.  If you don’t smoke, drink alcohol in moderation and maintain a healthy weight, the fewer appointments you will need. 

Once you have reduced your pain (or gotten rid of it altogether) you need to restore function by safely getting back to your normal activities.  We guide you in the process and if you have any hiccups along the way we help you navigate those.  Once you are back your normal activities you don’t need to keep seeing us for “maintenance” pain relief.  Some of our patients go on to do one of our small group classes, designed to maintain and improve your strength, balance and function.

You don’t need a doctor’s referral to start physiotherapy, but many of our patients are referred to us by their doctor. We have a close working relationship with many GP’s in our area and accept referrals from all GP’s.

If you have extras cover with your private health insurance you can claim a rebate on the day, using our HICAPS facility.  You then simply pay the gap.

Just like all businesses we review our fees annually, so they change from year to year.  Our goal, overall, is to be as effective as possible in the fewest number of visits and teach you how to treat yourself.  This saves you money because you learn the tools to stop your pain from coming back, removing the need for excessive follow up appointments.

Medicare Australia will subsidise physiotherapy for 5 visits each calendar year if you have a valid referral from your doctor – known as a chronic condition management plan.  This does not mean your physiotherapy is free, but the out of pocket cost to you is reduced.

We have a strong connection with the defence force and happily accept DVA patients with a current referral from their GP.

If you have injured yourself at work and would like to see us, you will need a referral from your doctor AND you will need to call Mary to ensure your claim has been accepted. Please call the clinic on 6056 6616.