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By Rachael Bird, Myotherapist Physios are legends when it comes to rehab. Seriously. But here's the thing—most of the time, they're not doing a lot of hands-on work. And that's where it might be worth thinking about what else could help. You're in pain, right? So you get given a bunch of exercises to do at home. But you're still in pain, which means you either can't be bothered doing them, or you do them and... nothing much changes. You're left thinking, "What's the point?" Now, here's the thing, a lot of people get brilliant results from exercises alone, which is fabulous. But for others, there might be more going on.  Why hands-on work might help: Exercises are great for training and building strength. But they can be less effective if the tissue underneath is tight, restricted, or guarded. Adding hands-on work; releasing tension, breaking down trigger points, addressing restrictions, could potentially create better conditions for those exercises to actually do their job. Let me use plantar fasciitis as an example. Everyone treats the calf and the foot, yeah? But there's a possibility that if your foot isn't working as well as it could, your body might compensate. You could start using the other leg more. That might create a postural imbalance. And then? Potentially some back discomfort. By the time your foot finally improves, those compensation patterns might still be hanging around. That's where things get tricky. What could potentially be going on: • Your glutes might be really tight due to the compensation → which could contribute to tightness in your calves • Tight calves → could feed into tightness in your foot • A tight foot → might mean you're overloading the other side • Overloading the other side → could shift your posture, create hip imbalance, potentially strain your lower back • All of this → might make you more susceptible to injury and recurring discomfort It's a chain reaction that sometimes treatment plans only touch one link of. This is where myotherapy comes in alongside physio: Here's something to think about—myotherapy and physio exercises could complement each other well. While your physio is training that area to work properly and regain strength, myotherapy is loosening restrictions and releasing tension. You're getting both angles at the same time. Hands-on work might create conditions for change, addressing those compensation patterns. Your physio gives you the tools to train that area. Together? That could amplify your results. One alone might work great for you. Both together? That could give you additional benefits, whether it's longer-lasting relief, faster improvement, or just a more complete picture of what's happening. Something worth considering: When you start looking at the broader picture instead of just that one painful spot, things might start making more sense. The area that hurts isn't always the root cause—sometimes it's dealing with the fallout of everything else upstream. Maybe your exercises aren't shifting things because the tissue needs some preparation first. Maybe your pain keeps returning because compensation patterns are still active. Maybe there's more to the story. It's worth exploring :) By Rachael Bird, Myotherapist Most people think that getting a treatment is a fix-all solution, but actually… it’s only a small part of it. To properly manage pain, you usually need a combination of things!  Understanding What’s Going On Where is the pain coming from? Is it local pain or referred pain? What type of pain is it, and how severe is it? Is that the only source of pain? Sometimes there can be underlying issues, old injuries, movement patterns, or compensations that have gradually contributed to the problem without you even realising it. Treatment & Goals If your treatment goal is only focused on the “here and now,” then there’s a high chance the pain may return. It’s important to look a little further ahead and work on how to keep the pain away long term, or at least help manage it more effectively. This can include self-management strategies or maintenance plans for chronic conditions such as Fibromyalgia or MS. These conditions may not be “fixed,” but treatment can still help provide relief so you can go about being your awesome self. Be Realistic If you’ve had an issue for a long time, there’s a possibility it may take a little while to get you back on track. This also applies to fresh injuries or symptoms. Sometimes what feels “new” is actually something that has been building up over time and has only just decided to crack it — so now you’re finally feeling it. Healing isn’t always straightforward, so it’s important to be mindful and understand that it’s our job to help you — and we genuinely want that too. Everybody is unique. For some people, it is a quick fix, while for others (even with the same pain or same area), it can take a bit longer. Yes… You’ll Probably Get Homework I know this isn’t the best news 😂 However, having the right information and tools can help make your pain:
This may include:
These are all important in helping you achieve your goals more effectively. Our job is to be here when you need us — but not for you to have to rely on us completely. We want you to be able to enjoy your life, do the things you love, and only need us occasionally to help maintain things when needed. We’ll work with you to help manage your issue and get you back to doing what you enjoy most. Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, involving inflammation of the plantar fascia—a collection of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes as well as all the muscles that help in controlling the feet. What Is It? Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia becomes irritated or inflamed, often due to overuse or stress. This condition can lead to sharp heel pain, particularly noticeable with the first steps in the morning.  Common Causes
Early Signs and Symptoms
Effective Treatments Conservative (First-Line) Treatments
Our therapists are all highly qualified and have experience in treating Plantar Fasciitis. We are here for you 7 days a week to support you through treatment of painful conditions - you can book online with any of our therapists. Jumper’s knee is a degenerative condition of the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia). It typically results from repetitive stress and microtears/degeneration in the tendon, leading to pain and inflammation at the front of the knee.  Common Causes:
Early Warning Signs:
Effective Treatments:
Our therapists are all highly qualified with experience in injury rehabilitation and knee pain. We are here for you 7 days a week to support you through treatment of painful conditions - you can book online with any of our therapists. By Andrew Wickens, Myotherapist Hip-focused muscular treatment can significantly boost basketball performance by improving mobility, strength and coordination. Since the hips drive key movements like sprinting, jumping and quick direction changes, keeping these muscles balanced and flexible helps players move more efficiently while reducing injury risk. By maintaining healthy hip function through techniques like stretching and massage, athletes can enhance agility, stability and explosiveness on the court. This leads to better defensive movement, stronger drives and more consistent performance throughout the season.  By Andrew Wickens, Myotherapist Dry needling is used to ease pain and tightness in the calf by targeting specific trigger points (Tight bands within the muscle). The insertion of very fine needles helps these areas, promoting better circulation and reducing muscle tension. This can result in improved flexibility, discomfort decrease and support recovery. This is particularly helpful in people with overuse issues and muscle strains.  By Dr Sarah Varmalis, Senior Osteopath Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of genetic conditions that affect the body’s connective tissue. Connective tissue is what gives structure and support to things like ligaments, skin, blood vessels, and even internal organs. It’s essentially the “scaffolding” that holds everything together. In people with EDS, this connective tissue is more elastic and less supportive than usual. This often shows up as joints that move more than they should (sometimes called hypermobility), skin that may be more stretchy or fragile, and a tendency toward injuries like sprains, dislocations, or ongoing aches and pains. But EDS isn’t just about being “flexible.” Because connective tissue exists throughout the entire body, it can affect multiple systems. This means people may experience a wide range of symptoms; from joint pain and fatigue, to digestive issues, dizziness, or difficulty regulating energy levels. It can look very different from one person to another, which is part of why it’s often misunderstood or missed early on.  Learning More and Getting Diagnosed For those wanting to better understand Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, ‘The Ehlers-Danlos Society’ is one of the most trusted resources available. They provide up-to-date information on the different types of EDS, as well as guidance around diagnosis and management. The current diagnostic criteria (particularly for hypermobile EDS (hEDS)) can be found here: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/heds-diagnostic-checklist/ Diagnosis is not always straightforward. It typically involves a combination of medical history, physical assessment (including joint hypermobility), and ruling out other conditions. For many people, the process can take years. EDS also rarely exists in isolation. Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, it’s common to see overlap with other conditions and symptoms, including:
 An Osteopathic Approach to Ehler-Danlos Living with a condition like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or ongoing chronic pain can feel confusing, frustrating, and at times, overwhelming. Many people go years trying different treatments, often being told that everything looks “normal” despite still feeling far from it. From an osteopathic perspective, the focus shifts away from chasing symptoms and toward understanding how the whole body is functioning and more importantly, where it’s struggling to adapt. What’s Actually Going On? Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a connective tissue condition. In simple terms, the “glue” that holds the body together; ligaments, fascia, blood vessels, even organs have a different structure. This often leads to increased flexibility, but that flexibility comes at a cost: reduced stability. Over time, the body works harder to compensate. Muscles overwork, joints become irritated, and the nervous system becomes more sensitive. This is where chronic pain can start to take hold. But here’s the key thing; pain in these conditions isn’t just about joints being “loose.” It’s about how multiple systems in the body are interacting and, in many cases, becoming overloaded. Why Traditional Approaches Don’t Always Work A lot of treatments focus purely on strengthening or stabilising joints. While that can absolutely be helpful, it often doesn’t address the full picture. In people with EDS or persistent pain, there are often underlying drivers such as:
A Different Way of Looking at the Body Osteopathy takes a whole-body approach. Rather than asking “where does it hurt?”, the question becomes “why is the body under strain in the first place?” Two techniques that are particularly useful in these cases are:
Counterstrain: Calming the Nervous System Counterstrain is a technique that focuses on tender points in the body, small areas that reflect dysfunction in muscles, nerves, blood vessels, or organs. Rather than stretching or pushing into pain, the body is placed into positions of ease. These positions are held briefly, allowing the nervous system to “reset” its perception of that area. In patients with EDS or chronic pain, this can be incredibly powerful. Why? Because the nervous system is often running in a heightened, protective state. Counterstrain helps reduce that sensitivity, allowing muscles to relax and improving how the body coordinates movement. A key part of this process is the cranial scan. By gently assessing points along the skull, practitioners can identify which systems in the body are under strain—whether that’s vascular, neurological, or visceral. It becomes a roadmap for treatment, rather than guessing where to start. The Barral Approach: Supporting the Organs When people think about pain, they rarely think about organs but they should. The Barral approach (often called visceral manipulation) looks at how organs move and interact with surrounding structures. Each organ has its own natural rhythm and mobility. When that movement is restricted, it can create tension patterns throughout the body. For example:
In EDS and chronic pain conditions, these subtle restrictions can play a much bigger role than expected. By gently improving how these structures move, the body often finds it easier to settle, stabilise, and function more efficiently. Why Gentle Treatment Matters One of the biggest misconceptions is that stronger or more forceful treatment leads to better results. In reality, for people with EDS or heightened pain sensitivity, the opposite is often true. The body responds best to:
Both Counterstrain and the Barral approach respect this. They work under the body’s tolerance, rather than pushing past it. What Patients Often Notice While every person is different, common changes patients report include:
Importantly, progress is usually gradual and layered—because the body is unwinding patterns that have often been there for years. The Bigger Picture Managing Ehlers-Danlos and chronic pain isn’t about finding a single “fix.” It’s about helping the body become more adaptable, more efficient, and less reactive over time. Osteopathy, particularly when using approaches like Counterstrain and Barral, offers a way to support that process gently and intelligently. It’s not about forcing the body into place—it’s about giving it the space and input it needs to find a better way of functioning. Matt has a strong passion for helping people recover from injury, reduce pain, and improve their overall physical wellbeing. He brings a calm, professional approach to treatment and is committed to delivering hands-on care that supports both short term relief and long term recovery. With practical experience working alongside a local football club, Matt has developed a strong understanding of sports related injuries, muscle recovery, and performance based treatment. This exposure has given him valuable insight into the demands placed on the body through training, competition, and physical activity, allowing him to better support both athletes and active individuals.  Matt enjoys working with clients from all backgrounds - whether they are managing a specific injury, recovering from sport or gym related strain, or dealing with general muscular tightness and postural discomfort from work or lifestyle factors. His treatment approach is focused on identifying the root cause of pain and dysfunction, rather than just treating symptoms. Depending on your needs, Matt may use a combination of:
Matt has a particular interest in helping clients with:
Matt takes pride in creating personalised treatment plans that support recovery, improve movement, and help clients return to the activities they enjoy with greater confidence and comfort. Whether your goal is injury rehabilitation, performance improvement, or simply reducing everyday tension and stress, Matt provides a supportive and effective treatment experience tailored to your individual needs. You can now book with Matt on Mondays, Thursdays & Sundays By Peter Pascalis, Clinical Myotherapist As a gentle, therapeutic technique, lymphatic drainage helps support immune function by removing waste from the body via little cells located throughout our bodies. Often our system can be overwhelmed with toxic insults coming from food, medicines, chemicals we use on our skin (the largest organ of our body) and the environment. There are many reasons why lymph flow is important especially in cases of post operative swelling and sports injuries.  What exactly is lymphatic fluid? Lymph fluid consists of lymphocytes (a specific white blood cell that helps to fight infections), bacteria, cellular debris, plasma proteins, and other cells. Lymphatic motion is usually slow and is dependant on respiratory motion, arterial pressure, and muscle and joint pumps working both on the veins and on the lymph vessels. What Is Lymphatic Drainage? Lymphatic drainage is a specialized massage technique that uses light, rhythmic movements to stimulate lymph flow. It focuses on specific pathways and nodes within the lymphatic system in a systematic fashion. Often it is a very relaxing treatment with clear health benefits: Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage 1. Reduces Swelling and Inflammation One of the most immediate benefits is the reduction of post-surgical swelling. By promoting fluid movement, lymphatic drainage helps prevent fluid accumulation and reduces pressure in affected areas. 2. Accelerates Healing Improved circulation of lymph fluid means better removal of toxins and cellular waste, which can speed up tissue repair and recovery. 3. Minimizes Pain and Discomfort Less swelling often translates to reduced pain. Many patients report feeling more comfortable and mobile after sessions. 4. Decreases Risk of Complications Proper lymph flow can reduce the likelihood of complications such as fibrosis (hardening of tissues) and seromas (fluid pockets). 5. Supports Immune Function By enhancing lymph movement, the body’s immune response is better supported—an important factor in preventing infections after surgery. When to Start Lymphatic Drainage In many cases, lymphatic drainage can begin within a few days after surgery or sports injury, but this depends on the go ahead from a medical practitioner. What to Expect During a Session A typical lymphatic drainage session lasts 60 minutes, and multiple sessions may be recommended for optimal results. Some patients notice immediate improvements, while others experience gradual changes over several treatments. Is It Safe for Everyone? While lymphatic drainage is generally safe, it may not be suitable for individuals with certain conditions, such as active infections, current treatments for cancer, blood clots, or untreated heart issues. Tips for Maximizing Results
A great time for a lymphatic treatment With winter around the corner this is a great time to get a lymphatic drainage as it supports immunity, reduces seasonal fluid retention, and boosts energy sluggishness caused by cold weather and inactivity. Gentle, rhythmic massage increases lymph flow, aids detoxification, and reduces stiffness. By Rachael Bird, Myotherapist Myotherapy, which involves manual therapy techniques to address muscle tension and pain, can be a useful adjunct to the treatment of all types of headaches/migraines, particularly when muscle tension or trigger points contribute to or exacerbate these symptoms. While myotherapy is not a primary treatment for migraines, it can help manage muscle-related aspects of the condition and provide relief from secondary symptoms.  Here's how myotherapy can be integrated into the treatment of headaches/migraines: Migraines Usually on one side of the head. This type of headache affects muscles of the face, scalp, neck, and jaw. Muscle Relaxation Myotherapists can use various techniques, such as massage, stretching, and deep tissue work, to relax tense muscles in the neck, shoulders, and head. Muscle relaxation can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, especially if muscle tension is a trigger for your migraines. Trigger Point Therapy Myotherapists are trained to identify and release trigger points—small, tight knots in muscles that can refer pain to other areas of the body. Trigger points in the neck, shoulders, and upper back can contribute to migraine symptoms. Targeted therapy to release these trigger points may alleviate some of the associated pain and tension. Postural Education Myotherapists can assess your posture and recommend changes or exercises to improve it. Poor posture can lead to muscle tension and migraine triggers. Correcting posture can help reduce the likelihood of migraines. Stress Reduction Myotherapy sessions often incorporate relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and mindfulness, to help manage stress. Stress is a common migraine trigger for many individuals, so stress reduction can be an important component of migraine management. Pain Relief Myotherapy can provide temporary relief from migraine-associated muscle tension and discomfort, helping you feel more comfortable during an attack. It's essential to remember that myotherapy is a complementary therapy and should be used in conjunction with a comprehensive migraine management plan, which may include: Medications Your healthcare provider may prescribe acute migraine medications (abortive) and preventive medications to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. Lifestyle Modifications Identifying and avoiding migraine triggers, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, managing stress, and staying hydrated are important lifestyle changes that can help reduce the frequency of migraines. Dietary Changes Some individuals may find relief by avoiding specific trigger foods or additives that can exacerbate migraines. Biofeedback or Relaxation Training These techniques can help individuals learn to control physiological responses and manage stress, which can be beneficial in migraine management. Regular Check-Ins Ongoing communication with your healthcare provider is crucial to assess the effectiveness of your migraine treatment plan and make necessary adjustments. Before starting myotherapy or any complementary therapy for migraine management, consult with a healthcare provider to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for your specific condition. They can also help you integrate myotherapy into your overall migraine treatment plan effectively. Cluster Usually around the eye, this might cause the eye to water. This type of headache affects the muscles around the eye, temples and neck. Cluster headaches are primarily neurological in nature, and their underlying causes involve abnormal activation of the trigeminal nerve and changes in blood vessel dilation in the brain. The pain associated with cluster headaches is intense and severe, and it is not primarily related to muscle tension or musculoskeletal issues. Therefore, myotherapy is not typically used as a standalone treatment for cluster headaches. However, some individuals with cluster headaches may experience muscle tension and discomfort in the head, neck, or shoulder region during or after headache attacks. In such cases, myotherapy or physical therapy may be considered as part of a broader treatment plan to help relieve muscle tension and improve overall comfort. Here are some ways myotherapy or physical therapy may be integrated into the management of cluster headaches: Muscle Relaxation Techniques Myotherapists or physical therapists can teach relaxation techniques, stretches, and exercises to help reduce muscle tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. These techniques may be useful in managing secondary muscle discomfort associated with cluster headaches. Posture Correction Poor posture can contribute to muscle tension and headaches. Myotherapists or physical therapists can work with individuals to improve their posture, which may help reduce the frequency and severity of muscle-related discomfort. Stress Management Stress can exacerbate muscle tension and headache symptoms. Myotherapy and physical therapy sessions may include stress management techniques to help individuals cope with stress and anxiety. Pain Relief Some manual therapy techniques used in myotherapy, such as massage or trigger point therapy, may help provide temporary relief from muscle tension and discomfort during a cluster headache episode. However, these techniques are unlikely to provide significant relief from the headache pain itself. |
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Mel Simon (Senior Clinical Myotherapist) and Dr Sarah Varmalis (Senior Osteo) are available 7 days a week at our Boronia clinic. Archives
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