FAQs

Do I need a referral to see my physiotherapist?

No, a referral from a GP is not required in order to book a physiotherapy consultation as a private patient.

If you are seeking physiotherapy under a Workers Compensation claim, Motor Vehicle Accidents claim, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), or a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) (formerly Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC)), then a GP’s referral is required to ensure that you are not out of pocket at the time of consultation.

What are your fees?

Our *fees vary depending on the length of the consultation and which physiotherapist you see.

The length of your consultation will depend on the type of injury. We generally like to have a full 1-hour consultation for your first visit to us, particularly if you have been suffering from a chronic condition.

As a guide, our fees range from $101 for a standard 40-minute consultation with a Level 1 Physiotherapist, up to $172 for a 1-hour consultation with a Level 5 Physiotherapist.

*Pension card holders, St Ives FC and F45 members receive a 10% off all physiotherapy services.

Payment at the time of consultation is greatly appreciated.

What will my private health care fund cover?

This depends on the private health fund you are with and the level of cover that you have. If you want to know more information about your gap it is best to contact them directly.

Our clinic is equipped with the latest HICAPS terminal for on-the-spot processing of private health fund rebates. Please bring your health fund card with you so you will only have to pay the gap.

What can I expect on my first visit?

On arrival, you will be greeted by one of our friendly reception staff who will ask you to complete a new patient form. Your physiotherapist will greet and collect you from the waiting room and begin your assessment by taking a thorough history of your injury including things like injury mechanism, pain behaviours, aggravating and easing factors, past history and general health.

Following this, your physiotherapist will guide you through a thorough physical examination to determine the underlying cause of your pain. This often includes observation of your posture, measurement of joint movement, muscle length and strength testing, ligament integrity testing and nerve provocation tests.

Your diagnosis will be explained to you in terms of how/why it has happened, what we can do to help it and how long it may take. Treatment will then consist of the latest evidence-based practices This can include advice/education, mobilisation, manipulation, massage, taping, dry needling and an active rehabilitation program. As a patient in our clinic, you will be given the freedom to choose/refuse treatment options as well as ask unlimited questions.

What should I wear to my consultation?

You should wear comfortable clothing that will allow your physiotherapist to see/access the injured area as this is required to properly assess and diagnose your injury. If this is not possible you may be asked to remove items of clothing so that your physiotherapist can properly assess and diagnose your injury.

As your modesty and privacy is of the utmost importance to us there are towels and shorts available at our clinic.

How many physiotherapy sessions will I need?

This is entirely dependent on your condition. Some conditions like acute back pain may only require 1-2 sessions within a week to restore normal movement and others such as a chronic tendon injury or hip/knee osteoarthritis may require 8-12, scheduled over a number of weeks/months to restore strength, power and flexibility. We cannot guarantee a set number of treatments as each and every individual/condition is unique.

After a thorough assessment, your physiotherapist will be able to give you a clear indication of how many treatments might be required to best suit your individual needs.

Our records indicate that it takes, on average, 3.8 visits for our patients to achieve their goals.

Should I see a physiotherapist or a chiropractor?

Chiropractors have had some negative press over the years about some of their treatment approaches, however, like in any industry, there are exceptional practitioners and some not-so-exceptional ones.

Perhaps a more relevant question to ask is “What types of treatments are the most effective?”  The practitioners we recommend you see will conduct their practice in the following ways:

  • Will have 1-on-1 consultations that last longer than 20mins

  • Will not leave you on the table with devices, instruments or machines whilst they treat someone else

  • Will rely more on a functional movement assessment and special orthopaedic tests to diagnose you rather than basing your treatment purely on an x-ray. Their is a less than 5% correlation between symptoms and what we can see on an xray.

  • Will not advise you that you have a joint “subluxation” or that a joint that is “out of place”. There have been a number of MRI and CT scan studies conducted before and after joint manipulations that have found manipulations do not alter joint position. The “click” you can hear when this happens is from a process called tribonucleation in which an air bubble is quickly formed then dissipated. A manipulation can stretch a joint, but it will not alter its position.

  • Will tend towards joint mobilisations and manipulations for more acute problems (less than 4 weeks) and exercise-based rehabilitation for more chronic problems (greater than 4 weeks). This recommendation is in line with recent, large population studies finding that joint mobilisations and manipulations only have a short-term, pain-relieving effect and do not result in good, long-term outcomes for chronic conditions.

 If you are unsure about what type of treatment might be appropriate for you then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Is there parking available?
Yes, FREE and convenient parking is available at the front of the plaza as soon as you exit off Mona Vale Road. There is easy, ground floor, level access to the clinic.
What types of payments do you accept?
We accept all types of payment including AMEX. Payment at time of consultation is appreciated. WorkCover, DVA, CTP and Medicare payments are billed directly to the insurer/institution so you will not be out of pocket.
What if I am running late or need to cancel my appointment?

 Don’t stress! We have longer consultation times so if you are a little late we will still be able to conduct a thorough assessment/treatment. Please let us know if you are late or are unable to make your appointment by calling us, or replying to your SMS reminder that you received 2 days prior to your appointment. Late cancellation fees may apply if you cancel within 24hours. 

If you have any other questions then please do not hesitate to contact us via the details below.

Contact Us

Email Us

info@clinicalphysio.com.au

Call Us

02 8319 3642

Practice

Shop 5, 351 Mona Vale Road, St Ives, NSW