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West Auckland Physiotherapy Helping Older Patients

Friday 30 January 2015, 4:12PM

By Beckie Wright

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As many older people have discovered, physiotherapy can help prevent falls by strengthening those parts of their bodies which may have been weakened by arthritis or old injuries. Physiotherapy can also help them to avoid surgery, reduce their medication, manage their pain and reduce the risk of injury. The physios at West Auckland Physiotherapy are highly qualified and can assist with a wide range of conditions and symptoms, including chronic conditions such as arthritis. Compared with many other treatments physiotherapy is also very cost effective and people are able to self-refer.

At West Auckland Physiotherapy they treat all ages, however their physiotherapist, Paul’s speciality is frail, elderly patients, and while their treatment is not covered by ACC if the problem is degenerative, like arthritis, there are many injuries suffered by elderly patients that ACC does cover. For people of all ages, physiotherapy gets them moving faster after orthopaedic surgery or any kind of injury.

Physiotherapy uses proven techniques to help restore movement and function to anyone affected by an injury, disability or health condition and is a therapy that can help anyone achieve movement for life! A physiotherapist will use their in-depth knowledge of how the body works, combined with hands-on clinical skills, to assess, diagnose and treat patients’ symptoms. They can also help prevent many injuries and health conditions.

While well known for treating injuries, physios have the skills to treat and prevent a range of health problems involving joints, bones and soft tissue, so when people visit their physio for the first time they will talk to the patient about their medical history and assess their health issue. The physio will also discuss what the patient would like to achieve from the treatment. From there, they'll develop a treatment plan tailored to suit the patient’s expectations.  They will also explain what it involves, what results can be expected, how long it'll take and how much it'll cost.

Physiotherapists use a variety of treatments including exercise programmes, manipulation and mobilisation, lifestyle advice, education to prevent future injury, acupuncture, massage and hydrotherapy. If a patient doesn’t understand a procedure or exercise, they can ask their physiotherapist to explain it again or to demonstrate it.  The physiotherapist may provide their patient with written instructions and diagrams of exercises to continue with at home.

The team at West Auckland Physiotherapy would like to wish all their present and impending patients a very happy and prosperous New Year. For further information, please go to http://www.westaucklandphysio.co.nz .