In Australia, a referral is not required to be able to see an allied health professional such as a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or exercise physiologist, although it is often helpful for you to bring as much information about your health history as well as any specific medical or surgical details that relate to your reason for seeing a physiotherapist. There are a few exceptions to this, where you will need to obtain a referral from your GP prior to attending our clinic. This includes:

• Workers Compensation Claims
• CTP (Third Party) Road Accident Claims
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Claims
• Medicare Claims (e.g. Chronic Disease Management referral)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults, recommends the following in order to improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, bone health, reduce the risk of chronic disease and depression: o Older adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. o Aerobic activity should be performed in bouts of at least 10 minutes duration. o Muscle-strengthening activities should be done involving major muscle groups on two or more days a week. o When older adults cannot do the recommended amounts of physical activity due to health conditions, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow. Something is always better than nothing!

Exercise helps to maintain muscle strength, bone density, balance and optimal heart and lung health. Exercise is also a natural mood-booster, so it is a great remedy for stress. Regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and diabetes and can help with managing these conditions. Physical activity is important for maintaining healthy joints, muscles and bones.

The most important thing is to keep active on most days of the week and to do an activity that you enjoy and will stick with. The best exercises for all ages are functional, whole-body exercises. These can include walking, swimming, Tai Chi, yoga, golf, or dance-based exercise classes such as Zumba. As we age, our muscle mass declines so it is important to try and incorporate some strength-based exercise a couple of times a week.

WHO defines healthy ageing “as the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age”. This includes a person’s ability to meet their basic needs; to learn, grow and make decisions, to be mobile, to build and maintain relationships, and to contribute to society. Healthy ageing includes addressing our physical, mental, emotional and social needs as we get older. Regular involvement in group exercise classes can help you to stay physically fit and active whilst also providing a social environment.

Chronic pain syndromes represent a challenging area for researchers and health practitioners. It is often difficult to find treatments that give good relief, but there is good evidence to show a graduated exercise program delivered by an appropriately qualified team of health professionals can help a person manage and understand their pain so they can continue to participate in the activities they enjoy. There is also evidence for an approach that addresses the whole body and mind and the numerous contributing factors that form a person’s pain experience. A team of health professionals will work together to plan the best treatment regimen for each patient.

Chronic Pain is defined as pain lasting longer than expected, and for greater than three to six months in duration. In chronic pain conditions, pain continues despite the fact that tissue healing has occurred. Whilst complex in nature (i.e., it is often difficult to work out what is causing it) we know that chronic pain is largely driven by changes in the nervous system, such as your brain and spinal cord changing the way they function.

Persistent pain states bring about changes in the sensitivity and number of pain receptors in a previously-injured site. In addition to an increased sensitivity of pain receptors, previously inactive or silent pain receptors may also become activated. These physiological changes can persist beyond normal tissue healing times and can facilitate on-going pain.

In Australia, a referral is not required to be able to see an allied health professional, although it is often helpful for you to bring as much information about your health history as well as any specific medical or surgical details that relate to your reason for seeking help. There are a few exceptions to this, where you will need to obtain a referral from your GP prior to attending our clinic. This includes:

• Workers Compensation Claims
• CTP (Third Party) Road Accident Claims
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Claims
• Medicare Claims (e.g. Chronic Disease Management referral)