MOVEMENT AND FUNCTION

Physiotherapy Outpatients (PTOP) provides a physiotherapy service to adult (over 15 years of age) residents of the Te Toka Tumai area with disorders affecting the bones and muscles of the body. 

We aim to help restore movement and function for patients affected by injury, illness or disability allowing people to move and participate in life and in their communities.  We use a patient-centred approach involving the individual directly in their own care.

After assessing a patient’s current function, the physiotherapist and patient (together with the patient, whānau/family and caregivers) set treatment goals designed to restore function or reduce disability.

The main approaches used by physiotherapists at PTOP include:

• movement, exercise and physical activity to help strengthen weak muscles, loosen stiff joints and mobilise patients with the aim of returning to the optimal level of function possible
• education, advice and coaching about things that can affect your daily lives, such as posture and correct lifting or carrying techniques to help prevent injuries
• we rarely use passive modalities such as massage, heat and electrotherapy as it has become increasingly clear that while passive treatments often provide short-term pain relief, they have little long-term benefit to the patient.