RISE Treatments

Are you experiencing back pain? It might be time to book in for Osteopathy. Or should it be Physiotherapy? Isn’t a massage therapist able to help? With so many modalities and specialities, it’s common to feel uncertain about where to seek treatment. Often the choices are so overwhelming that we end up doing nothing at all, prolonging our pain and discomfort. If you're experiencing pain and are unsure who to speak to, check out our handy guide below.

Osteopathy

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a holistic treatment that treats the body as a unit. They look beyond just the site of pain to all other joints and tissues with dysfunction to make sure you get a complete treatment. Osteopaths can use a variety of modalities including soft tissue massage, joint manipulation and articulation and dry needling. In conjunction with hands-on treatment, there is an abundance of detailed educational advice around exercise rehabilitation and ergonomics. The aim is to give patients the knowledge to prevent these aches and pains from reoccurring and take control of their own health.

What conditions do Osteopaths treat?
Osteopaths diagnose and treat a wide range of common musculoskeletal complaints including neck and lower back pain, desk related aches and pains, sciatica, headaches, gym related injuries, ankle sprains, tennis/ golfers’ elbow, knee pain and more. They will treat all aspects surrounding the area of pain to ensure all joints and muscles are moving as they should be.

What to expect from treatment?
Treatment will involve hands on work in the form of soft tissue, joint mobilisation, manipulation and dry needling. This hands-on work in combination with education and lifestyle advice will help you maintain the movement and muscle release from treatment and keep you feeling better for longer.


Physiotherapy

What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is another treatment modality that utilises physical techniques to help deal with common conditions and injuries. Through hands-on work, they aim to improve flexibility, increase movement, decrease stiffness, and improve overall joint function. Physiotherapists will assess the body and its movement and work to get it functioning healthily and pain free.

What conditions do Physiotherapists treat?

Physios can diagnose and treat a wide range of musculoskeletal complaints including muscular tightness, joint restriction, stiffness with movement, instability, and tendon irritations. They are also trained in more hospital-based conditions such as stroke, lymphedema, osteoporosis, arthritis, and Parkinson’s disease. Physios can assist with recovery prior to and post-surgery, the return to physical activity, return to work and pelvic floor issues.  

What to expect from treatment?

There is a large hands-on component to treatment where the Physio will use massage, muscle, stretching and joint articulation to get the body back to moving as it should. Physios will also give you exercises to complete in your own time to continue working on mobility and strengthening surrounding muscles to prevent reaggravation.

Do you recommend seeing both a Physiotherapist and Osteopath, at the same time?

Osteopaths and Physiotherapists can both provide an assessment and diagnosis of your condition, so it’s not often that both practitioners are needed. However, if it is a complex complaint, they may refer you to the other, depending on what provides the most benefit for your health to resolve the complaint. If it is a complaint related to rehabilitation, return to sport or pelvic floor a physio may be the best to contact. If it’s a more musculoskeletal or postural related complaint an Osteopath could be best to see. At the end of the day, it comes down to your personal preferences and the allied health profession you feel comfortable speaking with.

Do I need a referral from my GP, to see a Physiotherapist or Osteopath.

You do not need a referral to come in for a treatment. If you have an ongoing complaint, you can receive a care plan (EPC) from your GP which will provide you with a Medicare rebate. Alternatively, if you have private health and have Osteo or Physio cover, you’re able to use that for a rebate on your treatment.


Remedial Massage/Myotherapy

What’s the difference between a remedial massage therapist and Myotherapist?

While both remedial massage therapists and Myotherapists use similar techniques, a Myotherapist has additional experience on the management and treatment of injuries. Therefore, remedial massage therapists will typically only treat the symptoms, whereas a Myotherapist will treat the symptoms and the underlying cause. Myotherapists also provide basic rehabilitation advice, including appropriate stretches or exercises. 

What conditions do Remedial Massage therapists or Myotherapists treat?

Remedial massage and myotherapy can be used to treat a wide variety of muscular complaints including back and shoulder tightness, general pain management, sporting injuries, tendinopathies and other tendon irritations.

I have been receiving regular massages for a few years, but it only provides a couple of days relief. Should I seek a second opinion?

If you find treatment is only lasting a few days, the underlying cause has not yet been addressed. It's easy to treat the problem and have patients leave treatments feeling good. However, the main goal is teaching patients how to maintain the effects of treatment for as long as possible. Osteopaths and Physiotherapists will provide detailed and effective education and advice to remove the aggravating factors that are contributing to the aches and pains and keep you moving better for longer. If you find that the benefits of treatment are short-lived, it might be time to advance your treatment and get a proper diagnosis and understanding of why your body is having these areas of dysfunction.

Can my RISE instructor provide advice on how to manage my injury?

Your RISE instructors are here to offer you any advice and modifications you may need to keep you moving in your class and prevent you from pulling up sore the next day. They are knowledgeable in movement and muscles and can provide alternate exercises, where required. They will also be able to advise you when your injuries are beyond modification and when you need to seek treatment advice.

When should I see a GP?

If you have any concerns, it’s always best to visit your GP. Particularly if it is a sudden onset of pain, vague radiating nonspecific pain, severe headaches and dizziness or any instance where you’re unaware of the onset. If your GP thinks it’s muscle related, they will send you back to the Osteo or Physio but there is no harm in being cautious.


We hope this guide helps you understand which treatment style is best for your situation. We aim to encourage proactive healthcare, offering clarity on when and where to seek professional advice based on the severity and nature of the problem.

Our RISE practitioners are always happy to help! Head to RISE between 9:00am - 1:00pm on weekdays to speak to a team member.