At Ponsonby Physiotherapy, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of care we provide our clients.

Over the past year we have enhanced our services by incorporating new technology into our assessment and treatment plans. We are excited to show you how our use of force plate and dynamometer testing is making treatments more targeted and producing fantastic results for our clients.

The Tech:

VALD ForceDecks:  Measure the pressure exerted during movement. Allows us to quantify left-versus-right asymmetries, measure the height and speed of a jump, and assess the quality of a landing. We can also evaluate balance and understand why a person may be losing control of their movement.

VALD DynaMo:  Measures the force muscles produce through either tension or compression. This allows for an accurate assessment of muscle strength, particularly in the knee, shoulder, and hip. The strength testing can identify imbalances and track rehabilitation progress over time.

We have had great success integrating the ForceDecks and DynaMo into the  treatment plans for clients with a variety of injuries. For more info, plus a list of common injuries we are currently treating with this tech, head to our VALD Performance Technology page on our website.

How this Technology can benefit you:

• Early Injury Assessment and Treatment

Many clients come to us with injuries that prevent them from jumping or performing maximum strength tests. For example, a person who has recently had an ACL reconstruction or a knee replacement cannot undergo rigorous testing right away. We apply the technology in these early stages of recovery and measure baseline data from the unaffected side to set a clear goal for what a full recovery looks like. We also use it to improve movement awareness, as people can lose track of what “normal” feels like. The force plates can help them learn how to stand and move evenly after an injury.

• Bridging the Gap between Pain and Performance

Physiotherapists have long used exercise to help clients achieve their goals. These exercises often focus on lower-level movements to help patients recover from injury and regain basic function. This is often where the treatment stops. However, we have recognised that we need to push clients with higher-level exercises if we want them to truly return to full function, sport, and peak performance. With a strong understanding of how to safely load injuries and apply strength and conditioning principles, we are uniquely skilled to not only get our clients pain-free but also to help them finish their rehabilitation with fitness and performance that is as good as, if not better than, before their injury. We have completed extensive training to safely incorporate these principles into programs for injured individuals.

The ForceDecks are an incredible tool for this higher-level training. When a person can jump and land again, they may still feel like they are not at 100%. They might notice a bit of instability, a reluctance to use the injured side, or that they simply cannot jump or run as well as they used to. The ForceDecks can break down these movements to help us determine what is going wrong and how to truly get running and jumping performance up to a peak level.

Why It Makes a Difference in Rehab

We are constantly amazed at how hard our clients work to recover from injury. Our job is to guide them back to doing what they love while giving them the best possible rehabilitation experience. By being able to test and quantify their progress, clients see the results of their hard work, which keeps their motivation high and helps them stay focused on their goals. This technology also allows us to quickly identify when progress is not meeting expectations so we can adjust accordingly. As clients move into jumping and landing training, we can optimise their performance in ways that were previously impossible. This will protect them from future injury and enable them to return to their activity with full confidence.

If you are as excited as we are about this technology have a chat to one of our physios about it and if it would be appropriate for your treatment plan!

Hip labral tears are a fairly common cause of hip pain during exercise. They can be caused by trauma, repetitive movements, or from changes in the bony anatomy in the hip.

Hip Labral Tear

We often see hip labral injuries in those who participate in sports and activities like hockey, football, dance, or martial arts. In dancers for example, many of the movements they are required to perform can place their joints in extreme range of movements and under load. This puts more pressure on the supporting structures of the hip joint. The resulting impact can cause damage to this structure suddenly, or over an extended period of time. A hip labral injury is specifically a tear in the cartilage that lines the rim of the hip joint (acetabulum).

Common Signs and Symptoms:

If a hip labral tear has occurred, then you might experience pain around the front of the hip or groin. The pain may occur on twisting, running, or hip flexion movements. There could also be clicking, catching, a locking sensation, and sometimes a sense of giving way.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

A physiotherapy assessment can help to diagnose labral injuries and the cause of hip pain. If physio conservative management fails to improve symptoms, an x-ray may be ordered to rule out other possible causes of hip pain including changes in the bony anatomy of the hip. An MRI may be ordered by a specialist to further evaluate the labrum and other bony and soft tissue structures.

Each person is different and based on your individual diagnosis your physio will create a unique treatment plan for you. This could begin with injury and activity modification (eg. avoiding deep squatting and twisting movements). Your physio can also help reduce pain through manual therapy techniques, and then progress to muscle strengthening to improve stability and control around the hip.

If symptoms do not improve as expected with conservative physio management, we provide an onward referral for further imaging, or referral to a hip specialist.

If you’re experiencing hip pain, book an appointment at Ponsonby Physiotherapy. We’re here to help.

Tai Chi is a low impact approach to exercise, originating from Chinese martial arts and characterised by slow, expansive movements. We now offer Tai Chi as part of our weekly class schedule at Ponsonby Physio, so you can try it for yourself.

The Benefits of Tai Chi

Tai Chi helps to relieve pain, decrease stress and blood pressure, improve muscle strength, flexibility, stability and balance. Tai Chi has also been found to be incredibly beneficial in improving ease with daily activities such as sit to stand, stairs, walking, speed, confidence and a reduction of falls and fear of falls, in older adults.

Poor strength and balance increases the risk of falls, which can have a dramatic impact on older adults and especially on their ease with daily activities and independence. The regular practice of Tai Chi can have real benefits here, which is so good because the current statistics on falls are disheartening. Unfortunately, at the moment some 30-40% of the population over the age of 65 fall every year. By the age of 80, this statistic reaches 50%, and continues to increase yearly. Adults aged over 65 also have an increased risk of hospitalisation following a fall compared to their younger counterparts.

Falls in older adults are highly associated with a dramatic reduction in independence, mobility, and function. The fear of falling is also a very real concern. It can ultimately increase the risk of falling as these individuals are less likely to maintain activity levels, will often experience a decrease in muscle strength and stability, and demonstrate a decreased level of overall independence.

Our lower limb strength is vital to our function, mobility, and stability. Research shows lower limb strength resistance training and balance enhancing exercise, reduces falls in individuals over 65 years and enhances confidence and quality of life.

Tai Chi is a low impact approach to exercise that research has consistently found to increase lower limb strength, improve balance, flexibility, postural control, proprioception (knowing where your body, ie your foot, is in space), and also to reduce the fear and risk of falls. It is a great option for anyone with reduced balance or stability, arthritis, stiffness, or those who just want to remain active and enjoy a calming and stress reducing activity.

Tai Chi Class

If you would like to try Tai Chi we invite you to get in contact and sign up for our new weekly class. You can view the full  Classes Schedule  here, or call us at the clinic to learn more.

Pelvic Health Physiotherapy can play a huge role in balancing a person’s physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing.

If you’re experiencing pelvic pain, leakage or other issues, it really can have a disproportionate impact on your ability to enjoy the things you love and maintain an active lifestyle. This is why we’re passionate about being able to provide a Pelvic Health Physiotherapy service.

So let’s start by giving you some more information…

What is Pelvic Health Physiotherapy?

A Pelvic Health Physiotherapist treats pelvic pain and issues to help you regain the best possible functioning and management of your bladder, bowel and reproductive organs.

You would look to see a Pelvic Health physiotherapist if you have any problems with bladder or bowel incontinence, your hormonal health, post-surgery, pain around your pelvis or lower back during your normal every day activities, including intercourse or using tampons, work-related activities, or exercise. Remember that back pain, leakage and pelvic pain are all very common and treatable. It’s not something you just have to live with!

In addition to the above, seeing a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist during pregnancy, or after giving birth, can have enduring benefits. Your physiotherapist can assess your pelvic floor function during pregnancy and work with you to re-train your pelvic health and reduce risk of pelvic complications throughout pregnancy. Since October 2022, ACC cover a wide range of injuries women might receive after giving birth too.

Qualified Pelvic Health Physiotherapists

Pelvic Health Physiotherapists have undertaken dedicated post-graduate training in the assessment and treatment of pelvic issues and pain people may experience. Depending on your symptoms and concerns we review your medical history, assess full body function and can complete an internal examination if that’s needed. We then deliver individualised and accurate management strategies, as well as tailor a Pelvic Floor exercise program that is specific to you and your Pelvic Health.

We want you to receive the best support possible, regain confidence in your body, and get you back to doing the things you enjoy!

It’s time to give us a call

If you are experiencing pelvic health issues and would like to talk to us about treatment, please do get in contact. We’re here to help and we can discuss whether a pelvic health physiotherapy session would be beneficial to you.

You can also take a look at our website for some more info about pelvic health issues we treat and what is involved in a session. Click here to visit our Pelvic Health Physiotherapy page.