As part of our commitment to providing the highest quality and leading edge health care, Restore Physiotherapy and Pilates is pleased to announce that we now have the ability to assess and train the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles using Real Time Ultrasound.

What is Real Time Ultrasound?

High frequency sound waves are emitted from a device. These sound waves penetrate the body and provide a picture of the muscles contracting and relaxing on a monitor. It is the same technology used to image unborn babies during pregnancy.

Using this technology both clients and physiotherapists will be able to visualize the deep abdominal muscles, as well as the pelvic floor muscles contracting. This is very exciting as these muscles are located deep within the body often making it hard for both the physiotherapist to assess and patient to feel in normal circumstances. Research shows that these muscles are an important support system for your spine and rehabilitation of these muscles after pain or injury is essential to prevent further pain episodes.

What are the benefits of using Real Time Ultrasound?

With most muscles in our body we can see when they contract and relax, giving us immediate feedback regarding whether these muscles are engaged.

The advantage of Real Time Ultrasound is that it provides the patient and physiotherapist with a visual cue as to when these muscles are being activated. This gives the patient instantaneous feedback about correct contraction and activation of these important supportive muscles. This enhances the rehabilitation and training of these muscles, ensuring you not only return to normal movement and function sooner, but helps minimise the risk of further injury.

What does the session involve?

Real Time Ultrasound is a painless and non-invasive procedure. The Physiotherapist places a water based gel on the skin of your lower abdomen. A probe glides over your skin and images of your muscles are seen on the screen. The Physiotherapist will assess activation, timing and co-ordination of your muscles to determine whether they are working effectively to support your spine. You will also be asked to contract and relax your muscles and you will learn how to do this correctly.

Assessment and training of these muscles are essential in recovery from a variety of conditions. Some of which include:

• Low back pain
• Before and after spinal surgery
• Pre and post pregnancy
• Pelvic Floor weakness
• Before and after gynaecology surgery
• Before and after prostate surgery

As part of an Initial Clinical Exercise Assessment our highly trained physiotherapists will determine whether Real Time Ultrasound is required to help you visualize the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles contracting. If so, this will be booked for you as a separate session.

Existing clients also have the opportunity to book in for a separate session to experience the benefits of using Real Time Ultrasound in rehabilitating the deep abdominals and/or pelvic floor, and assist in returning to full health and function sooner.

To book an appointment or for more details, call reception on 9855 1122.