Alana Richards
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, businesses have had to rapidly adapt to a new way of operating, and ensuring the safety of clients, staff and the community has never been more important.
Symmetry Physiotherapy remains open for face-to-face consultations and continues to provide new and existing clients with the highest level of care, while strictly following the Department of Health and Australian Physiotherapy Association guidelines to ensure clinics remain safe for clients to attend.
Physiotherapist and managing director of the Symmetry Physiotherapy group Mark Round says the Prime Minister and the Australian government have been very clear in their desire to have physiotherapy clinics remain open to help ease the strain on the public healthcare system and GP clinics.
“While some of our clinics have been forced to close due to their location, such as those within a gym, we have had the ability to support all of our clients and staff from our other local clinics,” Mark says. “Our phone lines remain open and our physios have been even more engaged in person and via phone, email and online Telehealth consultations, than ever before.”
The introduction of Telehealth allows physiotherapists to also connect with clients via secure video conferencing. It is a private and confidential consultation where the physio can discuss, assess and accurately determine an injury and advise the appropriate course of treatment and rehabilitation.
Mark, who is also on the Board of Directors of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, explains that the rehabilitation process is enhanced with exercise prescription technology by sharing and demonstrating live videos.
“For those clients who need to self-isolate or are unable to attend our clinics, the telehealth experience and feedback so far has been exceptional.”
Despite this, Mark says that with many people rapidly transitioning to self-isolation and working from home, this has presented a number of new physical health concerns for clients.
“We are finding people are reporting more posture-related neck and back pain and headaches from a poor workstation set-up,” he says. “In response to this, we have introduced new home workstation assessments to our services. Using Telehealth we perform a worksite analysis and provide recommendations to optimise ergonomic set-up. We discuss specific issues and provide a personalised management plan, involving a tailored stretching or alternative exercise program using our Physitrack App.
“This exercise and education program platform allows us to check a client’s exercises and set reminders.”
Providing a well-rounded service, Symmetry’s dietitians, exercise physiologists, myotherapists, podiatrists and sports physician also look after the care and management of sporting injuries, spinal injuries, Pilates, exercise rehabilitation, dry needling and more.
Symmetry Physiotherapy has eight facilities across Melbourne’s West, North-west and Bayside suburbs. The Altona Meadows clinic won the Hobsons Bay Business of the year and Professional Services awards in 2019. Symmetry Physiotherapy. Opens 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-1pm Saturday. www.symmetry.physio
329 Queen Street, Altona Meadows.
Inquiries: 9360 9744
Corner Mason Street and Mills Street, Altona North. Inquiries: 9088 8485
76 Douglas Parade, Williamstown.
Inquiries: 9135 0925
