Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. But there are conditions, – read on.
Physiotherapists in Australia undergo rigorous university-level education and training and registration that allow us to operate as first contact practitioners.
What does this mean? Just that you don’t need a referral from a doctor to see a Physio. A Physio will be able to assess your problem or injury, and know if further treatment or investigation is required, aside from the management a Physio can provide, such as to see a doctor, specialist, or if diagnostic imaging is required.
When you consult a Physio with an injury, they will provide a full subjective (questioning you) and objective (looking at the injury and feeling your movements etc..) assessment.
Most of the time, your Physiotherapist will be able to fully assess and diagnose physical injuries this way, without requiring x-ray imaging. Most physical injuries can resolve just fine, with x-ray and other imaging being reserved for specific situations, including when considering surgery, or to exclude a fracture, or to exclude other underlying pathologies. Your Physiotherapist can refer you directly to a radiology centre for any x-ray if recommended as a result of the assessment. The full Medicare rebate will only be applicable for x-rays referred by a Physiotherapist of the hips, pelvis, sacrum and coccyx, cervical thoracic and lumbar spine.
X-rays of other areas are NON-Medicare eligible. Physiotherapists are also able to refer for NON-Medicare eligible scans including Ultrasound scans of the area, and MRI scans, of the areas of clinical interest.
You will need to contact the Radiology provider to find out the out of pocket costs of these scans.

No. In Australia Physiotherapists are licensed as first contact health practitioners. So if you have a physical problem you would like help with you can book straight in without any referral.

Your Physio can refer you for an xray if required and also provide a sick certificate as necessary if the condition warrants it, and will refer you to liaise with your GP with your consent as necessary.

In the instance you are eligible and need to claim your treatment on Medicare through the enhanced primary care programme you will need to organise this with your GP prior to your first appointment.

Your Physio can also refer you for an xray if they think it’s required.

Yes we do. You will need to call your closest Core Physio practice to organise a time for a Physiotherapist to attend.Your first home consultation will be a longer session to allow time for both assessment and treatment.
Subsequent home consultations will be scheduled for 30 minutes. Your treating Physio can bring any equipment required including a portable treatment bed.

At all sites we usually have both male and female Physiotherapists available. If you’re calling to make an appointment please indicate if you have a preference, and we will ensure that you get the Physio of your choice.

At Core Physio & Pilates Studio we treat all patients including uninsured, private health members, workers’ compensation, DVA, and Motor Vehicle Accidents. Different fees and charges apply, so to find out more about this go to our What Can I Expect To Pay Page of the website.

Your initial consultation which will include assessment questions about your current problem, as
well as looking at the movements, muscle function and feeling the joints muscles and tissues
related to your problem as well as treatment exercise and advice and plan of action will
generally take around 40 minutes.

Subsequent treatment times when your Physio already knows your problem and does not
require a full assessment last form 20-30 minutes.

A long consultation of 40 minutes may be required for a new problem, complex problems or multiple areas to be treated in one session.
Please let reception know when booking if you think you will need a long appointment.

You cannot book a long appointment online.

PhysioX classes last 45 minutes

You should arrive 10 minutes prior to your first treatment at Core Physio to complete some vital information that assists us to provide the best care to you. This includes our patient information form and health screening.
The information that you supply in these forms is vital to your Physiotherapist providing you with the best possible treatment taking into account your personal medical history, overall health, and consent to receive treatment. We may ask you to update this information from time to time to keep your general health records current.

Our opening hours vary from practice to practice, generally we’re open from 8.30am to
8.00 pm on weekdays and 8.30am-1.00 pm on Saturdays.
Please check your locations page at your closest Core Physio and Pilates Studio practice.
You can visit this link to find your local practice https://corephysio.com.au/our-locations

Physiotherapists and Chiropractors have very different training.
Physiotherapy as a profession originated out of nursing, during the polio epidemics of the 1950’s. Nurses specialised in providing massage and exercise therapies to polio sufferers. Physiotherapy has evolved as a profession from these roots.
Physiotherapist training is university based and within the hospital system through the departments of Orthopaedic.
Physiotherapists learn about the body’s movement system through Kinesiology – the study of movement and Chiropractors treat patients based mainly on manipulation with the idea that there are dysfunctions within the spine.

The Physio will need to be able to see your problem area without clothing covering it.

Often, the areas surrounding the problem area are also relevant.

For example if you have a shoulder injury your Physio will want to see and feel your shoulder, shoulder blade and upper back/neck area. So a singlet of some kind would be ideal if you don’t want to take off everything!

At Core Physio & Pilates Studio, modesty gowns/or shorts (much like hospital attire) are always available if you need to come in your work clothes.

As a general rule loose flexible clothing that you can easily remove is the best.

Visit the locations page of our website to find your closest Core Physio and Pilates Studio clinic.
Press this link find your nearest location

The pricing of these services varies according to your health fund.

This link shows you the highest and lowest amounts that you can expect to pay for our services.
You can select the pop up box that relates to your health fund https://corephysio.com.au/what-can-i-expect-to-pay

No, at this point in time we do not charge a gap for regular appointments.
If advised by your doctor, you can be eligible for up to 5 appointments a year covered by Medicare’s EPC program.

You will need a referral from your doctor before booking your appointment.

For more information go to our what can i expect to pay

https://corephysio.com.au/what-can-i-expect-to-pay ‘medicare section’ of the website.

If you have used up all of your Health Cover Physio Extras throughout the year, and are a regular client at a Core Physio & Pilates Studio practice, you’re eligible to join our VIP program.
This allows you to receive a 10% discount off of subsequent consults, One on One PhysioEx sessions, and Group Exercise Classes. To find out more, you can give your local Core Physio & Pilates Studio practice a call or visit this link.

As per our VIP program, once you have run out of cover at your local Core Physio and Pilates Studio, you will pay 10% off of the price of the Physio services that have been set by your health fund. This includes standard consults, One on One PhysioEx Appointments, and Group Exercise Classes

This will depend upon your private health insurance fund. You should contact your private health fund for details on the rebates your level of cover provides. You can also refer to the ‘What Can I Expect To Pay’ page of our website https://corephysio.com.au/what-can-i-expect-to-pay

Yes. As long as you are not in acute pain, PhysioEx is great as a rehabilitative tool. We work with you at a pace that is suitable to help release or strengthen muscles around the problem area and focus on your goals. Returning you to your previous function and beyond is always a goal of any PhysioEx program. What differs are the exact steps required and that is the benefit of undertaking such a program under such detailed supervision.

Yes. This is when 2 people share a 30-40 minute session.

Physio Group Exercise varies from other types of exercise because it provides the client with a specific program that has been tailored to their individual health and fitness goals. PhysioEx programs are customised by your Physio who has a sound understanding of your past health status, injuries, ongoing pain-related conditions, or changes in health such as post-birth, post-chemotherapy, or balance issues.

Yes, it is possible to do PhysioEx when you have an injury, as long as you’re not in intense pain.
Your Physio will work with you at a speed that will help to improve the muscles around the problem area, concentrating on your goals. Rehabilitating your injury returning you to your original ability, with the goal of building upon this. Your initial PhysioEx program may be adjusted to accommodate this.

There are many benefits of PhysioEx:
• Better awareness and use of core musculature
• Increased strength and flexibility
• Improved joint alignment and posture
• Recovery from injury and trauma
• Prevention of injury or re-injury
• Greater understanding and use of core musculature
• The development of strength and flexibility
• The correction of joint alignment and posture
• Recuperate from injury and trauma
• Limit injuries and prevent re-injury

Physio Group Exercise otherwise known as PhysioEx, is a unique form of exercise that combines a range of different exercise disciplines into an individualised program tailored to a client’s particular issues and body needs. PhysioEx combines traditional strength and conditioning training with Pilates-inspired exercise, stretching, and joint mobilisation. A PhysioEx program utilises much of the regular equipment and weights you would see in a gym with specialised Pilates Studio Equipment.

PhysioEx incorporates classic strength and conditioning training with Pilates-inspired exercises, stretching, and joint mobilisation. A PhysioEx program uses resistance equipment and weights that are available in a gym, with the addition of specific Pilates Studio Equipment.

PhysioEx is the name we give the individualised exercise classes we provide.

We used to call these Pilates classes, because amongst other things we used Pilates equipment for rehabilitation exercise classes.
Before commencing you will have a full assessment and goal setting session with your Physio, who will then set you up with your own individualised program of exercises.

Each PhysioEx class of up to 6 people will be fully supervised by a Physio who will monitor all participants who are each working on their own exercise programs during that time.

As Physio’s we always prescribe some form of exercise as treatment to maximise your recovery and to get you back to the things you want to do, as well as to prevent debility and recurrence of injuries.

PhysioEx classes utilise many different types of equipment from treadmill/bike, weights, Pilates equipment (reformer, mat, trapeze table etc), mat/floor exercises, foam rollers and stretching.

Pilates is the name for a particular form of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates – in the early to mid 1900’s that uses a specific style of movements and Pilates equipment.
In Australia you cannot receive any health insurance rebates for Pilates classes.

For PhysioEx classes loose flexible clothing, a T-shirt or loose track pants, shorts, or leggings suitable for exercising are required so that you’re able to move well. Socks are required for hygiene reasons, we have a range of grip socks available for purchase.

We ask clients to bring a water bottle and to wear comfortable, workout wear. Nothing that is too baggy or bulky is good (no jeans). We also ask clients to wear socks with a grippy undersurface in class for hygiene and safety reasons. We sell ToeSox in the studio. These socks have grips on the bottom to keep you from feeling unstable during your workout.

Yes, most of our Physio’s are trained in dry needling but not acupuncture.

Dry needling involves treating affected and localised muscle pain issues with needling techniques with the intention of getting the muscle to release and relax, and increasing blood flow to the area for healing.

However the philosophy behind this is very different from acupuncture, which is a holistic approach derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine addressing blockages in the energy systems of the body.

Dry needling is a ‘Western style’ of Acupuncture that is used to manage injuries and their symptoms via its effect on the nervous system at localised myofascial trigger points. Expertly applied, dry needling provides substantially more release than a heavy massage does and with far less surrounding tissue damage. As a result, this technique is now used widely in sports medicine and day-to-day Physiotherapy and is a large part of Core Physiotherapy and Pilates Studio’s service offered to clients.

Dry needling is not Acupuncture, a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by Acupuncturists. Dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine and based around principles that follow the anatomical function of the muscular and nervous system.
Dry needling involves a very thin needle that penetrates the skin and stimulates underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular and connective tissues. Needles are single-use, sterile, and are disposed of in appropriate sharps receptacles. The Needles are of different lengths, which are used for getting to trigger points in different sized muscles.

The sensation caused by dry needling is variable but it can be painful; particularly if the trigger point being needled is related to the pain that brings the client to the Physio. The pain can be experienced in two ways:

1. When the needle is inserted through the skin into the muscle, there may be a slight contraction or twitch within the muscle that creates pain. Although twitches in the muscles can create an initial (but brief!) painful response, twitches in the muscles are considered a good sign that the desired trigger point has been impacted by the needle. In such cases, the pain will subside in a short time.

2. After the Physio treatment, the area may be a little sore for approximately 48 hours, however, this is not considered a cause for concern and should be expected for most patients. Our rule of thumb is that if you’re ever concerned about lingering pain after treatment you should contact your Physio immediately.

A trigger point is a localised taut band of skeletal muscle located within a larger muscle group. Trigger points can be tender to the touch, and touching a trigger point may cause pain to other parts of the body (referred pain). This tightness in the musculature related to trigger points is thought to be related to changes in the nerve bundles within the muscle. Effecting these trigger points may provide a direct link to affect the nervous system to assist in changing muscle tone and therefore how muscles act on our joints.

Some of our practices are able to put service agreements together for you.

At Core Physio and Pilates Studio we are a registered NDIS service provider through My Place.

This size of the waiting room varies according to each practice, some of the practices offer noise cancelling earphones.

Your Physio can write an NDIS report for you, an NDIS report is requested before the client is about to get assessed for a new plan. NDIS reports take between half an hour to an hour to complete.

We charge the gazetted rates as set by NDIS

An initial assessment is one hour long, after your initial appointment your Physio will determine how many treatments that you need and how long that your appts need to be for you to get the maximum benefit of Physiotherapy care. We will discuss the program in collaboration with the client and their careers and their NDIS plan managers.

Yes. All Physiotherapists are trained in Women’s Health, if your condition is related to pain or strain associated with pregnancy or postpartum care any of the Physios can help you with this.
However, some Physios specialise in this area through further training as they develop a special interest and expertise in that area.

If your condition/problem relates to a specific Women’s Health issue, such as incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction, prolapse etc you’ll need to book in with a Women’s Health Physio.
Currently we have Women’s Health Physios at Core Physio Marion and Melrose Park.

Some Physiotherapists receive special training to provide this form of assessment and treatment of the pelvic muscles and tissues.
If you are having problems in this area, mention it when you’re making a booking and be sure you are booking with one of the Physios with these skills- at Marion and Melrose Park.

Yes, we provide this service at all of our locations.

Shockwave therapy uses radial pressure waves which are a non-invasive treatment solution for long-term tendon insertion and soft tissue pathologies. Local treatment of the affected area will enhance and reset the healing pattern. The intensive pulses from the handpiece help to inhibit the transmission of the pain signal (Gate Control Theory). Shockwaves influence the tissue on a cellular level, promoting the release of pain inhibiting and inflammatory inhibiting substances.

It is also believed that RPW waves increase cell membrane permeability metabolically which allows old, damaged, and weakened cells to be removed and replaced with healthy viable cells. The application of repeated shockwaves on the affected area influences the blood flow promoting tissue healing and regeneration. Shockwaves help to restore a normalised muscle tone by action through trigger points as well as via reducing the impact of pain on the nervous system.

The length of time of the physical treatment application itself will not exceed the recommended 10 minutes but may vary based on your condition. The rest of your treatment session will involve education, advice, and establishing a home exercise program aimed at enhancing the beneficial effects of the Shockwave Treatment.

If your Physio thinks that RPW Shockwave Therapy is a good treatment option for you, they will start a course of treatments on your specific injury area. The number of treatments may vary between 4-6 depending on your condition and the outcomes. Most treatments are approximately 3-10 days apart depending upon the particular patient.

Once the course has been completed, your Physio will review the outcomes and decide on any further treatment plans.

The patient’s innate healing process will continue once the recommended course of Shockwave Therapy has been completed. Up to 92% of patients record a decrease in tendon pain after a course of Shockwave Treatment. It takes around 16 weeks to experience the full benefits of Shockwave Therapy.

You may feel slightly uncomfortable during your shockwave treatment. This is determined by the level of pain that you’re experiencing prior to your treatment. The treatment may only last for up to ten minutes making the pain level bearable.

Shockwave therapy incorporates the use of radial shockwaves or radial Pressure Waves that are introduced into the body by means of a freely moved applicator. The technology used in the equipment works via the compression of air to create shock waves that are sent through the transmitter. These shockwaves penetrate into the tissue and have a direct effect on the tissues directly under the transmitter.
RPW Shockwave Therapy does not utilise electrical currents, magnetic fields, or other waveforms such as infra-red waves or microwaves.

Shockwave Therapy feels like a strong tapping sensation on your skin. The machine makes an audible noise as it’s working due to the way that the machine creates the shockwaves.

The problems that Shockwave Therapy can assist with are:

• Plantar fasciitis, heel pain, and heel spurs
• Shoulder calcification, tendinopathy, and chronic shoulder pain
• Tennis elbow or lateral/medial epicondylitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Patella/knee tendonitis
• Gluteal tendonitis
• The reduction of myofascial trigger points (localised or referred muscle pain)

Appointments are available outside of school hours, we have Physio’s available until 8 pm weekdays and Saturday mornings.

We are able to accommodate children with Autism, ADHD, and Aspergers at our practices. We are part of the Autism Friendly Charter and do our best to accommodate any needs that the child may have. For example dimmer lights, a quiet room, and colour in pencils and paper.

Yes, our Physios have a wide variety of experience with non-verbal patients.

Our Physios are able to help children with low tone.

Yes, some of our Physiotherapists have a special interest in Paediatrics,
they are currently located at our Aberfoyle Park, Burnside and Christies Beach practices.

Our Physios have lots of experience in this area as this can be a common condition for many children.

We are able to help children with different types of motor delay. The Physio will work with them to create a plan designed specifically for their needs.

There is no minimum age for a child to be treated by one of our Physios, we cater for children of all ages.

No, we don’t offer this service to our patients.

Yes and no. After assessing your injury/problem your Physio will come up with a plan of management. This could include any or more of the following as appropriate to your condition:
Joint mobilisation or manipulation, soft tissue release / massage / muscle release / dry needling, muscle energy techniques, McKenzie therapy, shockwave therapy, postural and lifestyle advice and movement pattern retraining, exercise therapy and exercise prescription.

In other words, we often use therapeutic massage as part of your treatment based on what we think will give you the best quickest and most effective outcome for your problem.

Our primary method of solving clients problems is via a hands on approach.

In this approach combined with massage are other techniques such as release of stiff and immobile areas.

We do not provide general remedial or relaxation massage.