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Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's Disease is a neurological condition that affects a person's ability to move safely, balance, and coordinate their movements. Parkinson’s disease causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking. They may also have mental and behavioural changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue. Parkinson’s Disease occurs when nerve cells in an area of the brain that controls movement called the Basal Ganglia die or become nonfunctional. Normally, cells in this region produce dopamine, and their loss results in decreased amounts of dopamine within the brain, causing the movement problems associated with the disease. It is still unknown why neurons in this region die, but one risk factor is age. Although most people with Parkinson’s Disease first develop the disease after age 60, as many as one in ten experience onset before the age of 50. Early-onset forms of Parkinson’s are often, but not always, inherited, and some forms have been linked to specific gene mutations. Parkinson’s Disease also causes the loss of nerve endings that produce norepinephrine, the main chemical messenger of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls many functions of the body such as heart rate and blood pressure. Many brain cells of people with Parkinson’s Disease contain clumps of toxic protein, referred to as Lewy Bodies. Accumulation of Lewy Bodies in the brain can impair neural and cognitive function, and scientists are trying to better understand the normal and abnormal functions of neurotoxic proteins and their relationship to genetic mutations that impact Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions like Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Parkinson's Disease is a condition that affects many regions of the human body and which has impacts on many domains of human function. The most visible and stereotypical signs of Parkinson's Disease are tremors in the hands, legs, jaw and neck, muscular stiffness, slowed and imprecise movement, and impaired balance and coordination with an increased risk of falls. While management of Parkinson's Disease is an ongoing process that requires input from medical, specialist, and different Allied Health professions like Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, and Home Support, Physiotherapy is critical in the management of Parkinson's Disease as well. Physiotherapy management of Parkinson's Disease addresses a person's present difficulties within the context of their diagnosis, while bearing in mind its potential future progression. That means that physiotherapy treatment for Parkinson’s Disease is rehabilitative as well as preventative - it addresses current concerns and risks while preparing the patient for what may come as the disease progresses. In the initial phases of management, physiotherapy focuses on addressing risks imposed by mobility difficulties. Manual therapy is useful for relieving muscle tension and pain, tremors are treated with strengthening, core work, hydrotherapy and purposeful movement. Balance and coordination are improved through exercise that strengthens the lower limbs and the core as well as their coordination through simple and complex movements. Falls risk is addressed and controlled by looking at a person's home environment and recommending modifications and assistive devices. Parkinson's Disease progresses with time, and the nature of that progression is different for every person. Some will experience mild symptoms from the time of their diagnosis and experience no deterioration from that point. Others will experience worsening symptoms that require additional support. Still others will experience patterns of fluctuation. Given the highly individualised nature of a person's neurochemistry and the highly individualised nature of their environment, it is difficult to track or predict by trend the progression of the disease with any amount of information. Regardless of the progression or present nature of the situation, physiotherapy is able to help. Management of your discomfort depends on its causative factors, how it feels and changes during the day, what makes it better and worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing that pain. All of these factors will be addressed in your initial assessment, which is the first step toward managing and minimising any pain or discomfort. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your discomfort, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain-free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in-clinic and out. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today.

Home Care Atlas Physio is happy to provide you with services on behalf of Home Care Package providers. Home Care Packages are amounts paid by the federal government to an older person to provide services which will enable them to continue to live independently. The amount of money provided depends on the person's needs, as assessed by an independent assessment agency. The funding that the patient receives through their Home Care Package can be spent on a wide range of nursing services, care services, social, support and well-being services, as well as on some types of equipment and home modification, to enable them to live safely and well at home. When your physiotherapist delivers services as part of a Home Care Package, they liaise with the Home Care Package Provider to do so. Atlas Physio has provided in-home care to clients in their own houses, in retirement homes, and in residential aged care facilities. Since its founding, Atlas Physio has served the communities of the North and Northeast suburbs including Thornbury, Northcote, Westgarth, Ivanhoe, Heidelberg, Abbotsford, Darebin, Brunswick, Preston, Coburg, Fairfield, Reservoir and Alphington. Visits conducted on behalf of Home Care Providers are conducted differently to normal clinical visits - be sure to familiarise yourself with these important factors. Reporting Visits undertaken on behalf of home care packages require reporting to the Home Care Package Provider. This reporting entails the details of your sessions as well as the progress you make, the problems you are overcoming, and your engagement with therapy. During this reporting, Atlas Physio will comply with our Consent and Privacy policy. Payment Home Care visits are charged differently to in-clinic visits. This is to address costs associated with travel, time, and the unique needs of our patients' in-home environments. Be sure to familiarise yourself with the differences in pricing as noted in our fee schedule. Specials Sessions conducted under Home Care Package funding basis are not eligible for discounts. Attendance Policy Once a home visit has been scheduled and confirmed, it is your responsibility to be present at the nominated address at the nominated time. In the event that the client resides in a gated community, critical care unit or other such location that requires security access, you are responsible to inform the administrators of that location that the appointment is taking place. Cancellation Policy Home Care visits may be cancelled with at least 24-hours notice. Confidentiality Home Care visits conducted in assisted retirement homes, residential aged care facilities, domiciles, critical care units and other supervised residences may require our clinicians to liaise with other medical staff. In this event, we will abide by the consent and privacy information stated on our website, and we will always endeavour to respect our patients' confidentiality.

WorkSafe / WorkCover and TAC Atlas Physio is happy to provide services to clients on behalf of the TAC and WorkSafe. Receiving treatment as a TAC or WorkSafe client is different to receiving treatment as a private client, so take note of the following: 1. You will need a claim number. As part of subsidised services, you will have received a TAC or WorkSafe claim number. It is important to have this ready when you meet your therapist - it's how we bill for our services. If you do not have your claim number, you will need to provide us with your name and date of birth. - TAC clients must also have the date on which the accident occurred. - WorkSafe clients must also have the date on which the injury occurred, the date of surgery if available, and details of your claim. If you cannot provide a claim number, and do not have the details of your accident available, you will not be eligible for subsidised rates at the time of your appointment. You will still be able to access physiotherapy services at standard rates, and you will still be provided with receipts. 2. You do not need a medical referral to start TAC or WorkSafe treatment with us. As part of TAC and WorkSafe services, you do not need a medical referral to start physiotherapy treatment. All you will need is a claim number, and you will be eligible to begin treatment. 3. TAC and WorkSafe treatment will require reassessment and reporting. As part of receiving subsidised physiotherapy treatment, Atlas Physio is obliged to conduct ongoing reassessment of your progress, and provide reports of your progress to the relevant authorities and individuals when requested as well as at regular intervals. This means that details of your treatment and your response to it will need to be submitted. Atlas Physio will take every measure to respect your privacy and minimise exposure of your information. For more information, you can refer to our consent form, and ask any questions you may have regarding TAC or WorkSafe procedures. 4. Subsidised treatment rates are different to standard rates. The schedule of fees published by WorkSafe and the TAC specify the maximum amount that these organisations will pay for in an appointment. Atlas Physio WILL NOT charge you more than this rate for a standard consultation. You will still be liable for gym memberships, equipment purchases, and any out-of-clinic expenses.

Tendinopathy / Tendinosis / Tendinitis Tendinopathy, Tendinosis, and Tendinitis all refer to the pain, swelling, and disruption of functions in tendons throughout the body. Typically, the pain is worse with movement, and common sites that may be affected are the rotator cuff, the elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle. ​ Tendons are bands of connective tissue that attach muscles to other things, such as bones, ligaments, soft tissue or other connective tissue. Some tendons are wrapped in fluid-filled coverings, while others glide around each other. When tendons move and act in repetitive motions throughout the day, they can become worn down and inflamed. It is from this that the term Tendinitis is derived; Tendin = tendon, itis = inflammation. The term Tendinopathy is broad, and refers to any pathology that might affect the normal function of a tendon. ​ Everyone in the population has the potential to experience Tendinopathy throughout their lifetimes regardless of the nature and vigour of their physical activity. Tendinopathy typically presents with inflammation, as well as pain on specific movement which eases with rest. There are many risk factors that can make someone more likely to experience Tendinopathy; including personal, occupational, sporting, and structural elements. ​ Management of Tendinopathy depends on the cause of the pain, how it feels and changes over the day, what makes it better or worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing the pain. All of these factors will be addressed in your initial assessment, which is the first step towards minimising and managing any pain or discomfort. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your Tendinopathy Pain, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today.

Nerve Pain & Neuropathy Nerve Pain, or Neuropathy, is an umbrella term that refers to damage or irritation of the nerves. Nerves can become damaged due to the effects of diseases like diabetes, Guillaine-Barre Syndrome, or Myasthenia Gravis, due to poor circulation to extremities like the hands and feet, due to traumatic damage of the nerves, or due to lifestyle decisions such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. ​ Neuropathy and Nerve Pain present with a combination of weakness, pain, sensation changes, numbness, tingling, electrical sensation or hot or cold flushes. Some or all of these symptoms may be present depending on the type of Neuropathy as well as the region of the body being affected. ​ The variation in symptoms is due to the nature of nerves. Nerves control muscles, convey sensation, communicate between the brain and elements of the body, and coordinate reflexes. Nerves are made up of a combination of controlling and sensing fibers, and everyone's nerves are subtly different according to their unique anatomy. Because everyone's neurological anatomy is different, and damage to nerves affects different nerves in varied ways, treatment of Neuropathy always begins with comprehensive assessment, and a thorough discussion of findings as well as any relevant radiology, clinical test results and treatment reports. Management and assessment of Nerve Pain depends on the pathological cause of your neuropathy. All of these factors will be addressed in your initial assessment, which is the first step towards minimising and managing any pain or discomfort. The treatment you receive will be tailored to address the specific cause of your Neuropathy, and will focus on minimising pain, maximising your ability to move pain free, and developing a plan to minimise the risk of a flare-up in the future. At Atlas Physio, we will provide you with education, structured management, and ongoing monitoring of your pain both in and out of the clinic. Contact us to arrange an assessment, and to take the first step on a course of corrective care today