
Physiotherapy FAQs | Altona Physio Altona North
Got questions? We’ve got answers. Here are the most common things patients want to know before seeing a physio.
Altona Physio FAQs - Your Questions Answered
Find clear answers about our services, appointments, and treatments. Proudly serving Altona North and nearby suburbs with trusted physiotherapy care.
At Altona Physio, we offer a wide range of specialized physiotherapy services designed to address various conditions and improve overall health. Our services include:
Sports Physiotherapy
Manipulative Therapy
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
Ergonomics
Treatment for Back and Neck Pain
Joint and Muscular Injuries
Sporting Injuries and Pain
Ligament and Tendon Injuries
Chronic Pain and Weakness Management
Running Injuries and Problems
Work-Related Injuries
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Exercise Program Review and Design
Motor Vehicle Accident Recovery
Physiapp Home Exercises
Whether you're recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, or enhancing your performance, our experienced physiotherapists provide personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs. Contact us today to discuss your treatment options and how we can help you achieve your health goals.
At Altona Physio, we treat a wide range of injuries, aches, and pains to help you recover and improve your quality of life. Our experienced physiotherapists offer personalized treatment for conditions including:
Headaches
Jaw (TMJ) Pain
Shoulder Pain
Elbow & Arm Pain
Wrist Pain
Hand & Finger Injuries
Thoracic & Chest Pain
Low Back Pain
Buttock Pain
Hip Pain
Groin Pain
Thigh Pain
Knee Injuries & Pain
Leg & Calf Pain
Ankle Injuries & Pain
Foot & Heel Pain
Whether you're dealing with chronic pain, recent injuries, or discomfort affecting your daily activities, Altona Physio offers effective treatments to help you feel better and regain mobility. Book your consultation today to start your recovery journey!
At Altona Physio, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments designed to promote recovery, relieve pain, and enhance your overall well-being. Our approach combines evidence-based therapies with other proven techniques that may not yet have robust scientific backing but are valued for their effectiveness in certain cases.
Electrotherapy Treatments:
Shockwave Therapy
Spinal Traction
Ultrasound Therapy
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
Interferential Therapy
Muscle Stimulator
Muscle Bio-Feedback
Laser Therapy
Short Wave Diathermy
Microtizer
Manual Therapy:
Hand Therapy
Joint Mobilisation & Manipulation
Joint Traction
Soft Tissue Therapy
Myofascial Release
Muscle Energy Techniques
Functional & Exercise-Based Treatments:
Taping & Bracing
Muscle Balance & Core Exercises
Sports & Running Programs
Pilates Exercises
Whether you need help managing pain, recovering from injury, or enhancing physical performance, Altona Physio offers tailored treatment plans to meet your unique needs. Contact us or book online to start your journey to better health!
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses acoustic waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes in areas where recovery has stalled. It’s not designed to instantly relieve pain like medication or injections. Instead, it aims to reset healing in chronically irritated or overloaded soft tissues.
Conditions like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and shoulder or elbow pain often become chronic because the tissue stops healing properly.
Shockwave therapy works by:
Breaking down scar tissue
Increasing blood flow
Stimulating cellular repair
Encouraging tissue remodelling
Some post-treatment soreness is normal, and often a positive sign that your body is responding. The goal is not short-term pain relief, but long-term tissue recovery.
To get the best results, shockwave therapy should be part of a broader treatment plan that includes:
Stretching and mobility exercises
Targeted strengthening and loading
Biomechanical correction (e.g., foot posture, joint alignment)
Body-weight and general fitness training, especially when other factors like weight or deconditioning are involved.
Conditions Treated with Shockwave Therapy
✅ Tendon Injuries & Overuse Conditions:
Achilles tendinopathy (Achilles pain, stiffness)
Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
Rotator cuff tendinopathy (shoulder pain)
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
✅ Foot & Heel Pain:
Plantar fasciitis (heel pain, morning stiffness)
Heel spurs (bony growth causing foot pain)
✅ Hip & Pelvic Pain:
Gluteal tendinopathy (pain on the side of the hip)
Proximal hamstring tendinopathy (deep buttock pain)
✅ Shin & Knee Pain:
Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)
Osgood-Schlatter disease (knee pain in young athletes)
✅ Muscle & Soft Tissue Conditions:
Myofascial trigger points (muscle knots, chronic tightness)
Chronic muscle pain (stubborn pain that limits movement)
Most people need around 3 to 6 weekly sessions, depending on the severity and how long the issue has been present. Improvement often continues even after the final session, as tissue healing progresses.
If your pain is lingering or comes and goes, shockwave may be a way to kickstart the healing process again—just be sure to follow it with the right rehab work to support long-term results.
Case Study: Achilles Tendinopathy Recovery
A 42-year-old recreational runner came to Altona Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Centre with chronic Achilles tendinopathy that had been affecting his training for over six months. Previous treatments had provided only temporary relief, and he was frustrated by the ongoing pain.
Our approach combined shockwave therapy, targeted eccentric strengthening exercises, and manual therapy to address both pain and biomechanical deficits. After six weeks of structured treatment, he reported an 80% improvement in pain and was able to gradually return to running. By the 12-week mark, he completed a 10K race pain-free.
This case highlights how a combination of shockwave therapy, progressive exercise rehabilitation, and hands-on treatment can help patients not only recover but return to their active lifestyles with confidence.
At Altona Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Centre, we integrate shockwave therapy with exercise rehabilitation and manual therapy to achieve the best possible outcomes.
If you’re struggling with long-term pain or a stubborn injury, book an appointment today to see if shockwave therapy is right for you.
Absolutely. Physiotherapy science is always evolving, and treatments without strong evidence today may be better understood in the future. At Altona Physio, we focus on creating personalized treatment plans that help reduce pain, improve mobility, and enhance function. What’s most important is finding a solution that works for you, combining the best available research with proven techniques tailored to your unique needs.
At Altona Physio, we prioritize evidence-based physiotherapy treatments, including personalized exercise programs and patient education, as the cornerstone of care. Additionally, we integrate techniques like manual therapy to address individual patient needs and goals. Our approach combines the latest physiotherapy research with tailored treatments to help you reduce pain, improve mobility, and achieve long-lasting results.
At Altona Physio, our primary focus is on providing physiotherapy treatments designed to address pain, improve mobility, and enhance your overall function. While relaxation massage is not our primary service, massage may be included as part of a broader treatment plan to help relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote healing.
We take a comprehensive approach to care, tailoring treatment plans to resolve the root cause of your discomfort or injury. If you're experiencing pain or discomfort, we recommend booking a physiotherapy consultation. Our experienced team will assess your condition and recommend the most effective therapies, which may include massage as part of your recovery journey.
Contact us today or book online to get started!
While dry needling can provide temporary relief for pain and muscle tightness, we have made a clinical decision not to include it in our treatment options. This is due to the small but serious risks associated with the procedure — including pneumothorax (collapsed lung), infection, and, in rare cases, severe complications such as spinal epidural abscess, necrotising fasciitis, septic shock. These risks, though uncommon, can occur particularly if hygiene protocols or technique are compromised.
Health practitioners have a duty to make the care of patients their primary concern, to practise effectively and safely and to ensure that the risk of injury is minimised. In Australia, there are no specific legal restrictions on who can perform dry needling, meaning anyone can do it. In United States, dry needling is prohibited by law for licensed physical therapists in California, Hawaii, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
At Altona Physio, we prioritise safety, comfort, and effective outcomes. Instead of dry needling, we use non-invasive treatments that offer comparable results without the associated risks. These include:
Laser therapy – to reduce inflammation, ease pain, improve circulation, and accelerate healing.
Interferential therapy (IFT) – to relieve pain, reduce muscle spasm, and promote deep tissue recovery using therapeutic electrical currents.
These modalities are used to provide short-term pain relief and muscle relaxation, helping patients feel better quickly and safely.
For long-term improvement and prevention, we integrate these treatments with a tailored exercise program designed to restore strength, improve mobility, and support lasting recovery.
Every treatment plan at Altona Physio is personalised — combining hands-on care, clinical expertise, and modern technology to help you recover, move better, and stay well.
✅ At Altona Physio, we only offer one-on-one physiotherapy treatments.
Each session is conducted individually by your physiotherapist, with no group sessions and no shared treatment spaces. You’ll receive dedicated, uninterrupted care focused entirely on your specific condition and goals.
We believe the best results come from personalised attention. That’s why:
Every patient is treated in a private room, not in an open gym or shared space
You’ll work one-on-one with a qualified physiotherapist, not as part of a class
There are no group rehab sessions or multitasking between patients
Your treatment is tailored and adjusted in real-time based on your progress
This setup ensures comfort, discretion, and a professional environment where you can feel at ease while receiving focused physiotherapy care.
At Altona Physio, we're proud to be recognised by several major health insurance networks as a preferred provider. This means we’ve met strict criteria around quality of care, clinical standards, and facilities, so you can feel confident knowing you’re in good hands.
As a preferred provider, we’re able to offer eligible patients access to set rates, higher rebates and smaller out-of-pocket costs for many of our services.
We’re currently partnered with:
Eligible members from Medibank, Bupa, NIB, Qantas, AAMI, Suncorp, APIA, IMAN, Australian Health Plans, United Healthcare Global, GU Health, and ING Health can access $10 - $40 discounted rates and higher rebates for our physiotherapy treatments.
Contact us today to learn more about your health insurance benefits and how we can assist you with accessing affordable physiotherapy care.
Altona Physio accepts a variety of insurance and compensation schemes to support our patients in receiving the care they need. We are pleased to work with the following:
WorkCover (WorkSafe Victoria)
TAC (Transport Accident Commission)
Medicare (Chronic Disease Management Plan - GP Care Plan)
DVA (Department of Veteran Affairs)
NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)
Conditions and acceptance of liabilities may apply, and some services may require a referral from your GP.
Our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible, ensuring that you can access physiotherapy care without unnecessary stress or delays. Contact us to learn more about your options and how we can assist you with your insurance or compensation claims.
At Altona Physio, physiotherapy sessions typically last between 30 to 45 minutes. The exact duration depends on your specific condition and personalized treatment plan.
Our goal is to provide comprehensive care within each session, addressing your needs and helping you progress toward better mobility, reduced pain, and improved function. Book your session today and take the first step toward recovery!
While individual outcomes may vary, Altona Physio guarantees personalized care tailored to your needs. We use evidence-based treatments to help you achieve the best possible results, focusing on reducing pain, improving mobility, and enhancing overall function.
Our dedicated team is committed to supporting your recovery journey with expert guidance and customized treatment plans.
Yes, at Altona Physio, we provide personalized home exercise programs to support your recovery. Using Physiapp, a user-friendly platform, you’ll have access to guided video demonstrations, progress tracking, and a direct line of communication with your physiotherapist.
These exercises are tailored to your specific needs, helping you manage pain, improve mobility, and achieve your treatment goals—all from the comfort of your home.
Yes, Altona Physio offers off-street parking directly with the clinic, making it easy for patients, including those with limited mobility or pain, to access our services. This convenient parking option helps minimize any hassle, so you can focus on your treatment and recovery without worrying about finding a parking spot.
Our car park is reserved for patients during their appointment time only. Please arrive no more than 10 minutes early and vacate promptly after your session to allow smooth clinic operations and timely closing.
Altona Physio is open during the following hours:
Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Public Holidays: Closed
All consultations are by appointment only. Book your physiotherapy session online or contact us to secure a time that suits you. We’re here to help with your pain relief, mobility improvement, and overall recovery needs!
You can contact Altona Physio by phone at (03) 9391 3072 during our opening hours. If we’re unable to answer, please leave a voicemail, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
For written queries, you can email us at info@altonaphysio.com or use the contact form below to send a message directly to our team.
Want to skip the call entirely? Take advantage of our online booking system, where you can view available time slots, choose what works best for you, and receive instant confirmation. It’s fast, convenient, and available anytime!
Please note: We no longer use fax. Kindly contact us via phone or email.
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