Tag: #PhysioParramatta

How can Physio Help Relieve Headaches at Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta

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Matthew West at Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta can offer effective treatment for certain types of headaches, especially tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and some migraines that are related to neck dysfunction or posture issues.

Headache Types That May Benefit from Physio at Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta:

  1. Tension-type headaches – caused by muscle tension, stress, or poor posture.
  2. Cervicogenic headaches – referred pain from the neck.
  3. Post-traumatic headaches – following concussion or whiplash.
  4. Migraine (with musculoskeletal component) – some people with migraines have neck stiffness or trigger points that can be helped with physio.

Common Treatments for Headaches at Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta:

1. Manual Therapy

  • Joint mobilisations or manipulations of the neck (especially upper cervical spine).
  • Soft tissue massage or myofascial release to reduce muscle tightness.
  • Heat and electrophysical treatments may be applied to help relieve pain and relax muscles

2. Postural Correction

  • Addressing forward head posture or slouching which can strain neck muscles.
  • Ergonomic advice for workstations or sleeping positions.

3. Stretching & Strengthening Exercises

  • Stretching tight muscles (upper traps, levator scapulae, suboccipitals).
  • Strengthening deep neck flexors, scapular stabilizers, and postural muscles.

4. Dry Needling / Acupuncture

  • Sometimes used for trigger points in the neck and shoulders.

5. Education & Relaxation

  • Stress management techniques.
  • Breathing exercises and relaxation to reduce tension.

Signs Cumberland Physio Parramatta May Help:

  • Your headache starts or worsens with neck movement.
  • You feel neck stiffness or pain with your headache.
  • Headache improves with massage or heat.
  • You sit at a desk/computer for long hours.
  • You’ve had whiplash or a neck injury in the past.

When Physio May NOT Be Enough:

If your headaches are caused by:

  • Cluster headaches
  • Hormonal or vascular issues
  • High blood pressure
  • Neurological conditions

Then physio alone may not be effective, and you should see a neurologist or GP.

What You Can Do Now:

Consider booking an appointment with our physiotherapist at Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta.

Matthew West, our physio at Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta, has post graduate qualifications and over 30 years experience and extra training in headache management and manual therapy.

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Wry Neck at Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta

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Wry neck (also called torticollis) is a condition where the neck becomes twisted, often suddenly, and painful to move. It’s commonly due to muscular spasm, joint dysfunction, or sometimes neurological or congenital causes.

Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta Treatment for Wry Neck

Treatment will vary depending on whether it’s:

  • Acute wry neck (sudden onset, muscular or facet joint)
  • Chronic or congenital torticollis (long-standing or present since birth)

Here’s a breakdown of a typical Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta management plan for acute wry neck (most common):

1. Assessment

Cumberland Physio Parramatta will:

  • Determine the cause (muscle spasm vs joint lock)
  • Assess range of motion (ROM), pain level, and any neurological signs
  • Rule out red flags (e.g., infection, tumor, trauma)

2. Pain Relief

Cumberland Physio Parramatta may use:

  • Heat therapy to relax spasmed muscles
  • Gentle manual therapy:
    • Soft tissue massage to sternocleidomastoid, upper traps, levator scapulae
    • Gentle joint mobilizations (if facet joint dysfunction is present)
  • Dry Needling

3. Mobility Exercises (as tolerated)

Cumberland Physio Parramatta may prescribe exercises to improve and maintain your neck movement

  • Gentle active ROM exercises:
    • Side-bending, rotation, flexion/extension
  • Neck stretches:
    • Sternocleidomastoid stretch (if muscular cause)
    • Levator scapulae and upper trapezius stretches

Note: Early on aggressive stretching is to be avoided.

4. Posture Correction

Cumberland Physio Parramatta may discuss ways to improve and monitor your posture:

  • Education on ergonomic posture (e.g., sitting alignment, pillow height)
  • Scapular retraction exercises
  • Cervical spine neutral alignment

5. Strengthening (Later Phase)

Cumberland Physio Parramatta may prescribe strengthening exercises such as:

  • Deep neck flexor strengthening (e.g., chin tucks)
  • Shoulder girdle and scapular stabilisation exercises

6. Education & Advice

Cumberland Physio Parramatta will:

  • Reassure: most acute cases resolve within 1–2 weeks
  • Avoid sudden movements or sleeping awkwardly
  • Stay mobile—don’t immobilise the neck unnecessarily

Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta: Focus On Shoulder Dislocations

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The shoulder is a fascinating joint with incredible flexibility. It is connected to the body via a complex
system of muscles and ligaments. Most of the other joints in the body are very stable, thanks to the
structure of the bones and ligaments surrounding them. However, the shoulder has so much
movement and flexibility that stability is reduced to allow for this. Unfortunately, this increased flexibility
means that the shoulder is more vulnerable to joint dislocations.


What is a dislocation and how does it happen?


As the name suggests, a dislocated shoulder is where the head of the upper arm moves out of its
normal anatomical position to sit outside of the shoulder socket joint.Some people have more flexible
Joints than others and will, unfortunately, have joints that move out of position without much force.
Other people might never dislocate their shoulders unless they experience a traumatic injury that forces
it out of place. The shoulder can dislocate in many different directions, the most common being anterior
or forwards. This usually occurs when the arm is raised and forced backward in a ‘stop sign’ position.


What to do if this happens


The first time a shoulder dislocates is usually the most serious. If the shoulder doesn’t just go back in by
itself (spontaneous relocation), then someone will need to help to put it back in. This needs to be done
by a professional as they must be able to assess what type of dislocation has occurred, and often an X-
ray needs to be taken before the relocation happens.


A small fracture can actually occur as the shoulder is being put into place, which is why it is so important
to have a professional perform the procedure with X-Ray guidance if necessary.


How can Cumberland Physiotherapy Parramatta help?


Following a dislocation, your physiotherapist can advise on how to allow the best healing for the
shoulder. It is essential to keep the shoulder protected for a period to allow any damaged structures to
heal as well as they can.


After this, a muscle-strengthening and stabilisation program can begin. This is aimed at helping the
muscles around the shoulder to provide further stability and prevent future dislocations.


The information in this article is not a replacement for proper medical advice. Always see a
medical professional for an assessment of your condition.

How Does Diabetes Affect Healing Times?

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CUMBERLAND PHYSIOTHERAPY PARRAMATTA:

It can be surprising to many people that one of the questions their physiotherapist will ask them
when assessing an injury is ‘Do you have diabetes?’ This may seem more like an issue for your
doctor than your physiotherapist!


The reason why your therapist is asking is that diabetes can actually have quite a large effect on healing
times of body tissues. At times, injuries can take up to twice as long to heal properly in patients with
diabetes and your physiotherapist will need to update their training and rehabilitation programs to
factor this in.


How does this happen?


From what most people know about diabetes, it seems strange that it would affect healing times.
However, the more you understand about the processes that cause diabetes the more sense it makes.
It all comes down to blood flow. Our veins and arteries are made of flexible and elastic tissues that
expand and contract when necessary to allow the optimum amount of blood flow to an area.
Sometimes it is better for tissues to have less blood flow and other times they require more. This
flexibility of the blood vessels is essential for controlling and modulating the amount of blood to an area
at any given time.


When someone has diabetes, they have an excess of glucose in their blood. This occurs because the
body is unable to regulate insulin, which is used to break down glucose and provide the body with
energy. This can be due to an autoimmune disorder that affects the cells that make insulin (Type I) or
insulin resistance due to dietary choices (Type II). Over time, this excess glucose sticks to the blood vessel
walls and they can become harder, losing their elasticity and ability to change size rapidly. Primarily this
will affect the ability of the blood vessel to expand reducing the amount of blood flow available to the
tissues. Diabetes can also affect the health of the nerves in the body, particularly in the hands and feet.
This can result in poor sensation, which means that the person may not realise when the injury is being
further injured.


What does this mean for recovery times?


While not everyone with diabetes will have this issue, it is something that needs to be made known to
your physiotherapist so they can be aware of the possibility. These changes are more likely to occur
after having diabetes for a long period of time and if it is poorly managed.


Ask your physiotherapist for more information on how diabetes may be affecting your recovery
and for tips to ensure the best outcomes possible.