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Services

Our services at a glance

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General Musculo-Skeletal Injuries

General Musculoskeletal conditions refer to injuries and disorders that affect the human body’s movement and musculoskeletal system (muscles, nerves, discs, tendons, ligaments etc). At Cathy Carstens physiotherapists we treat all spinal and joint conditions, general trauma, sports injuries and provide rehabilitation post operatively.

Common General Musculo Skeletal Conditions seen:

  • Neck & Low Back injuries
  • Sprain/strain of muscles and ligaments
  • Disc Herniation
  • Stenosis
  • Muscle spasm
  • Posture
  • Headache
  • SI Joint Dysfunction
  • Joint Pain – Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, Hip, Knee, Ankle etc

Post-op Rehabilitation

Post operative rehabilitation is the process where a therapist assists a patient to regain full function (movement and power) after an operation eg: the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, calf, ankle, foot and spine.
You will greatly benefit from a supervised physiotherapy exercise program to regain full function to assist with fast, safe and easy recovery.

Common operations which benefit from rehabilitation for various joint, muscle and skeletal areas include:

  • Joint Replacements
  • Ligament and meniscal repairs
  • Joint Arthroscopies
  • Release and Manipulation
  • Joint Reconstruction
  • Fractures
  • Spinal and Joint Fusions
  • Spur removals

At Cathy Carstens Physiotherapy, we tailor specific post – operative rehabilitative programs for your individual needs to facilitate return to your highest level of function (basic day to day, work and sports) as quickly as possible.

Sports Injuries

We work with athletes of any age, ranging from primary school level to grandmasters as well!

We also treat Elite athletes who compete on National and International levels in various disciplines such as Cycling, Mountain biking, Athletics, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Swimming, Baseball and Tug-of- War.

We have a holistic approach to treating our athletes. An initial assessment is done to determine the cause of the injury. The pain and pathology is addressed with the most appropriate modalities (often including Radial Pressure Shockwave Therapy, Soft tissue mobilization and release, Muscle activation, Dry needling and Taping).

Specific rehabilitation exercises are given to our clients to prevent recurrences. We have various assessment tools we use to provide specific prehab in order to minimize the risk of injury and or re-injury. We use Lynotherapy to asses and treat chronic muscle imbalances and weaknesses. We are certified in this area.

Besides the Rehabilitation programs that we work out for each individual, we also have the Eccentric Grucox Trainer at the practice which provides excellent strengthening and treatment for many lower limb issues (eg knee problems, patellar tendinosis, muscle imbalance and weakness, ankle injuries and low back pain)

We are all involved in Sports at various levels. Deidre has worked with the local rugby clubs. We have all worked with the OMX pro MTB team on 2 Absa Cape Epics. Cathy also travelled with the SA XCO and Downhill MTB teams to the World Champs, as their Physiotherapist.

Headaches

Headaches are classified as primary or secondary by the International Headache Society. Primary headaches include Migraines and Tension Type Headaches (TTH) where as headaches that originate in the neck (cervicogenic HA’s) are secondary.

Cervicogenic HA’s are head pain that is referred from the bony structures and soft tissue of the neck. It can be caused by previous neck injuries but it may also occur in the absence of trauma. Physiotherapy has been proven as an effective treatment of cervicogenic HA’s. (Conservative physical therapy management for the treatment of cervicogenic headache: a systematic review. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. Volume 21, 2013-issue 2)

Migraines and TTH can also have a muscular component. Some of the pain can be referred from trigger points in the neck muscles. In these cases Physiotherapy can play a role in pain management.

Chest Conditions and Sinusitis

Chest condition refers to medical conditions that cause inflammation, infection, irritations in the lungs or the airways (pipes). These can be acute or chronic. Chest conditions are especially common in winter after colds and flu. The most common types of chest infections are Bronchitis and Pneumonia. These infections are spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Some conditions clear on their own but others need some assistance.

Physiotherapy plays a major role in improving lungs function, reducing duration and intensity during and even after a chest infection. There are various other chest conditions which benefit from physiotherapy. These include: ARDS, Bronchiectasis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, Pleural Effusion, TB, whooping cough and bronchiolitis (your baby).

Sinusitis is when there is swelling (inflammation) of the lining of your sinuses. The sinuses are small, air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead. Acute sinuses can be triggered by allergies or a cold (virus) whereas a chronic sinus is more related to infection (bacterial).

At Cathy Carstens Physiotherapy we can assist you with chest physio and specific sinus treatment to accelerate the recovery process.

Neurological Low Muscle Tone Conditions

Low muscle tone/hypotonia in babies is also referred to as Floppy baby syndrome. These babies find it more difficult to move and they tire quickly. They take longer to reach motor developmental milestones, such as sitting up, crawling, walking and feeding themselves.

In toddlers and older children it is also called the Clumsy child syndrome. These children trip and fall frequently, they struggle to sit still and upright in class and they cannot concentrate well. They have difficulty with tasks involving coordination and balance. Low muscle tone can be part of a specific diagnosis such as Down Syndrome, but it is often of unknown origin.

Physiotherapy plays an important role as part of the medical team. We evaluate to determine the severity of the hypotonia and then treat accordingly. We work with the pediatrician, occupational therapist, parents and teachers to achieve the best outcome for the child.

Adult Neurology

Adult Neurology refers to the treatment of disorders of the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves. Examples of these are hemiparesis following a stroke or a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries resulting in paraplegia/quadriplegia and Parkinson’s disease.

At Cathy Carstens Physiotherapy we aim to improve the function and quality of life of our clients through facilitating new and appropriate movement patterns, maintaining function and strength and preventing associated complications through various treatment techniques and strategies. We also educate the carers on how to manage their loved one in the home
environment in a safe, efficient manner.

Orthopaedic Conditions

Orthopaedic Conditions refer to the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine, joints, and muscles.   As physiotherapists we diagnose, manage and treat injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.  This also includes rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery and acute trauma such as strains, sprains, bursitis, tendinopathy and deformities such as scoliosis.

Common orthopaedic conditions seen are as follows:  

  • Achilles Tendinitis,
  • Tennis Elbow,
  • Golfers Elbow,
  • Post-operative Knee Replacement Therapy
  • Post-operative Hip Replacement Therapy
  • Post-operative Knee Ligament Reconstruction Therapy
  • Ankle Sprains
  • Hamstring Strain/Tear
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Whiplash
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Developmental Therapy

At Cathy Carstens Physiotherapy we are able to assess your infant’s motor development from birth to 7 years of age. This is important to detect whether your infant’s development is within normal limits and whether early intervention is recommended.

Treatment is usually given on a weekly basis over period of time to facilitate normal development and achieve functional milestones. The type of treatment mainly used is Neurodevelopmental Therapy.

Guidance and specific home exercises are given to parents to help achieve the goals of treatment.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is the process of regaining full function following an injury and involves strengthening, mobility/flexibility, endurance and power. We offer a variety of equipment and exercise modalities to accompany the various, appropriately prescribed exercises. Some of these modalities include the Grucox Eccentric Trainer and Lynotherapy. Through rehabilitation we aim to assist our clients return to preinjury level and prevent re-injury.

Treatment Modalities

Shockwave Therapy

Dry Needling

Myofascial Manipulation and Soft Tissue Release

Joint Mobilisation and Manipulation

Rehabilitation Programmes

Lynotherapy

Taping

Electrotherapy

Neural Mobilisation

Grucox Eccentric Trainer