Services
- Physiotherapy
- Clinical Pilates
- Rehabilitation
- Prehabilitation
- NDIS & DVA
- Workcover Claims
- Dry Needling
- Orthotics Fitting
- Return to Sport Testing
- GLA:D
- Telehealth
- EPC/Chronic Illness Plans
On-Site Pilates and Rehabilitation Gym
Depending on your needs, our physiotherapists will be able provide services through our on-site gym. To assist with your recovery and rehabilitation, our gym is fully equipped with all the necessary equipment. Pilates reformers, bikes, treadmills, free-weights, resistance bands, specialised rehabilitation equipment and more are available under the supervision of our physiotherapists. On top of providing one-on-one treatments, we also provide group services, including Pilates and GLA:D program classes. To discuss your needs, give our friendly team a call on (03) 9819 2827 or
Need a Physio at Home?
To continue servicing our broader community, we are providing at-home physio services for our clients who may not have the time or capacity to attend our on-site clinic. Whether you are recovering from surgery, losing mobility, need help with the set-up of a work station or just like the convenience of an in-home visit, our home physiotherapists will be able to provide care within your living space. The suburbs that we routinely provide home services, include:
- Hawthorn – Physio
- Hawthorn East – Physio
- Camberwell – Physio
- Kew – Physio
- Deepdene – Physio
- Auburn – Physio
- Balwyn – Physio
- Balwyn North – Physio
- Canterbury – Physio
- Kooyong – Physio
- Malvern – Physio
If your suburb hasn’t been listed, please call (03) 9819 2827 to see whether you may still be eligible. To book in for a home physiotherapy consultation, please click on: home physiotherapist near me.
Telehealth Physiotherapy
As part of our growing treatment options, Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic also provides online physiotherapy consultations. Using digital physiotherapy software called Physitrack, we will be able to screen your movements, assess your problems, help you manage your pain and prescribe exercises to assist your recovery. Like our home visit physiotherapy services, we will be able to treat you within the comforts of your own home.
Areas of the body
Knee
The knee joint is one of the most commonly treated areas seen at Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic. People from all walks of life suffer from knee pain. Injured elite athletes, people experiencing the wear and tear of age or even completely out of the blue.
Our team provides a full range of services to improve and maintain your knee health. For years, our physiotherapists have closely worked with orthopaedic knee surgeons at St Vincent’s Private Hospital and are up-to-date about modern approaches to managing knee pain.
For those living with knee arthritis (i.e. osteoarthritis), our Hawthorn physio Robert Lu is registered to run the GLA:D program. This is an internationally backed and proven program dedicated to preserving and improving knee health. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Common knee injuries and conditions (+ symptoms)
- Knee arthritis (including osteoarthritis): Swollen knee, knee pain during physical activity (e.g. walking, standing from sitting etc.), limited movement (i.e. bending and straightening), clunking and cracking sounds, knee stiffness especially in the morning.
- ACL injury (e.g. partial ACL tear, ACL rupture, etc.): Knee pain, sudden development of knee swelling, knee instability or feeling of giving way
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome (i.e. PFPJ syndrome): Pain around the knee cap, increasing pain with repetitive knee bends (e.g. squatting, going up stairs, running etc.)
- Jumper’s knee (patellar tendonitis or tendinopathy): Pain below the knee cap, knee pain during high impact activities (e.g. jumping, running, etc.), swelling
- Meniscus injuries (e.g. meniscus tear, etc.): Swollen knee, locking or catching during movement, back of knee pain, difficulty with bending and straightening, and outside and inside knee pain.
Back
Back pain describes any pain from your lumbar (lower back) to thoracic spine (middle-upper back). There are many different structures around the back that can cause pain, including muscles, joints, discs, vertebrae (spinal bones) and ligaments.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, it is the second most disabling condition in the country. Additionally, there is a 70-90% chance that you may suffer from back pain at least once in your life.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with back pain and offers a range of treatments to restore your back health. Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common back pain conditions and symptoms
- Lower back pain: Dull and achy pain located between the pelvis and ribcage region, stiffness, restricted movement (e.g. bending, lifting, standing, etc.), muscular tightness
- Middle and upper back pain: Discomfort and pain located at the bottom of the neck and rib cage region, stiffness, restricted movement (e.g. turning the upper body, lifting, carrying, etc.), muscular tightness
- Disc conditions (e.g. bulging discs, disc herniations, etc.): Sharp pain especially when bending, restricted movement (especially after injuring your back), pain can sometimes shooting down the leg
- Sciatica and nerve pain: Pain and discomfort from the lower back, down the back of the leg and to the foot. Symptoms include: numbness, tingling, burning, aches, weakness and pins and needles
- Spinal stenosis: Back pain often during extended movements (e.g. walking downhill, standing up), shooting pain and discomfort down the legs (e.g. numbness, tingling, aching, etc.)
- Arthritis: Long-term back pain, restricted movement particularly in extended positions (e.g. walking downhill, standing up straight), stiffness, etc.
Neck
Neck pain describes any pain around the cervical spine (spinal area under the neck). There are many different structures around the neck that can cause pain, including muscles, joints, discs, vertebrae (spinal bones) and ligaments. Many people suffer from neck pain, including office workers with poor postures, after trauma (e.g. car accidents, sports injuries, etc.), wear and tear with age or even completely out of the blue.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with neck pain and offers a range of treatments to restore your neck health. Traction techniques, corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common neck conditions and symptoms
- Wry neck: Sharp neck pain, very limited neck movement, stiffness, swollen muscles around the neck, uneven head posture, symptoms that suddenly appear, headaches
- Neck sprain (ligament injury around the neck): Neck pain (especially towards the back), limited movement, stiffness, tingling and numbness down the arm and/or hand, muscle spasms around the neck, related headaches
- Neck strain (muscle injury around the neck): Pain and muscle spasms around the neck, limited movement and stiffness, swollen and prominent muscles, headaches
- Whiplash: Neck pain and stiffness caused by sudden bending forces around the neck (e.g. car accidents, contact sports, etc.), headaches, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, restricted neck movement
- Neuropathy or nerve pain (i.e. cervical radiculopathy): Tingling, aches, pain, numbness, pins and needles, burning and/or weakness which can shoot from the neck to the shoulders, arms, forearms, hands and fingers.
- Spondylosis (also known as neck arthritis): Long-term neck pain, restricted neck movements, stiffness.
Shoulder
The shoulder joint is one of the most flexible and mobile joints in your body. However, this can also lead to an increased risk of developing shoulder pain and injuries. There are many structures around the shoulder that can cause pain, including tendon, muscle, ligaments, bursae and joints.
Many different people can suffer from shoulder pain, especially overhead athletes (e.g. swimmers, tennis players, etc.), ageing individuals, manual labourers, gym goers and even seemingly out of nowhere. In fact, out of all the areas in the body, the shoulder is the third most commonly injured area.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with shoulder pain and offers a range of treatments to restore your shoulder health. Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common shoulder conditions and symptoms
- Rotator cuff conditions (e.g. tears, tendonitis/tendinopathy): Pain around the back of the shoulder and scapula (shoulder blade), pain especially with overhead movement, shoulder weakness (particularly going overhead)
- Shoulder sprains (e.g. acromioclavicular [AC] joint sprains, etc.): Swelling and tenderness over the area of injury, restricted shoulder movement, shoulder weakness, stiffness, avoiding pressure onto the shoulder
- Shoulder strains (e.g. rotator cuff tear, bicep tendon tear, etc.): Painful and restricted shoulder movement, stiffness, limited carrying and lifting capacity
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis): Gradual shoulder restriction in all directions (especially rotation outwards), shoulder pain, symptoms that develop without any particular cause, night pain, unable to quickly move the shoulder quickly
- Shoulder dislocation: Visibly out-of-placed shoulder, extreme pain, no or very limited movement, muscle spasms around the shoulder joint.
- Shoulder arthritis (i.e. osteoarthritis, etc.): Gradual and/or long term shoulder pain, limited shoulder movement, stiffness, weakness
Lower Leg
The lower leg describes the region between the knee and the ankle. It contains various important structures, such as muscles, nerves and bones that help you move (e.g. run, swim, cycle). Many people who have suffered from lower leg pain are often active and sporty individuals. However, conditions of the lower leg can also occur without any obvious cause or warning.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with lower leg pain and offers a range of treatments to restore your shoulder health. Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common lower leg injuries and symptoms
- Calf strains: Pain at the back of the lower leg, difficulty putting weight through the legs and feet, problems pushing through the ankles and pointing toes (e.g. jumping, running, etc.), pressure and muscle tightness at the back of your lower leg
- Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome): Dull ache and/or pain at either side of your tibia (shinbone), pain during and after exercise (usually increases with continuous activities such as football and marathons, painful to touch, swelling at the front of the lower leg
- Sciatica: Dull aches, numbness, tingling and/or pins & needles (especially at the back of the lower leg); similar sensations around other body regions (e.g. back, thigh, hips, etc.); weakness.
Elbow
The elbow region is made up of two joints, the humeroulnar joint and the radioulnar joint. They help the elbow move in different ways, including bending, straightening and rotating (i.e. supination, pronation. etc). In combination, these movements are crucial for everyday activities, such as waving, lifting and playing sports.
Elbow pain is a common condition. People ranging from office workers, manual labourers and active individuals can experience elbow pain. Typically, elbow conditions develop from overuse but can occasionally occur from trauma and impact (e.g. falling on an outstretched hand).
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with lower leg pain and offers a range of treatments to help you with your recovery. Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common elbow injuries and symptoms
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis or epicondylalgia): Pain around the outer elbow, feeling weak when lifting and gripping, pain when bending the elbow
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis or epicondylalgia): Pain around the inner elbow, feeling weak when lifting and gripping
- Weight lifter’s elbow (triceps tendonitis or tendinopathy): Pain at the back of the elbow near the boney region, difficulty when lifting and carrying items, pain when straightening the forearm
- Elbow fractures (e.g. Olecranon fracture, etc.): Swelling, very tender if touched, stiffness, sharp and localised elbow pain, unable to move the elbow
Ankle and Foot
Ankle and foot pain are very common problems that are frequently seen by our Hawthorn physios. There are many structures in the ankle and foot which can become hurt or injured, including ligaments, muscles, tendons, bones, joints and other soft tissue.
Ankle and foot pain can occur in many people, including active, sedentary or people who have recently started to become more active. Injuries to the ankle and foot can either occur gradually from overuse or through trauma (e.g. landing heavily, rolling the ankle, etc.).
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with foot and ankle injuries and offers a range of treatments to assist with your recovery . Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, taping, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common ankle and foot injuries and symptoms
- Ankle sprains: Popping sensation after twisting/rolling ankle, ankle pain and swelling, difficult putting weight through the foot, limping
- Achilles tendonitis or tendinopathy: Pain at the back of the heel or Achilles tendon, thickening and swelling of the Achilles tendon, pain during or after physical activity (e.g. running, hopping, etc.)
- Plantar fasciitis: Heel pain especially at the beginning or after exercise, tightness and pain in the arches of the foot, limping, tenderness on touch
- Stress fractures: Localised swelling, pain when putting weight through the foot (e.g. standing, walking, etc.), tenderness on touch, no apparent cause
- Ankle fractures: Substantial swelling over affected area, unable to fully put weight through foot without pain, bruising, tender to touch, symptoms appearing after trauma (e.g. landing heavily on ground, etc.)
Glutes and hip
Glute(s) and hip pain describe pain felt around the back to the sides of the pelvis. The hip joint is the region where the thigh meets the torso. Attaching onto the hip joint are the gluteal muscles (e.g. gluteus maximus, medius and minimus) which help move the hip joint and keep us upright. There are many structures in these regions which can cause pain, including the joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Hip and glute pain occurs in a variety of people. While some conditions occur with repetitive overuse, others may occur after trauma or sometimes seemingly suddenly out of nowhere. It’s important that a proper assessment is performed to identify what could be the origin to prevent your condition from worsening.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with hip conditions and offers a range of treatments to assist with your hip health . Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, taping, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common hip conditions and symptoms
- Hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement): Pinching pain in the groin/front hip area, discomfort and pain with deep hip bending movements (e.g. squatting, sitting in a low seat, etc.), hip stiffness and tightness
- Gluteal bursitis and/or tendonitis (tendinopathy): Pain at the side of the hip, tenderness through the greater trochanter (widest part of the hip), pain when lying on the affected side, discomfort standing on the affected leg
- Piriformis syndrome: Pain at the back of the hip, nerve pain shooting down the leg on the affected side (e.g. pins and needles, numbness, etc.), weakness from the hip down on the affected side, worsening symptoms with prolonged sitting
- Hip arthritis (e.g. osteoarthritis): Deep hip pain and aches, hip stiffness and tightness, pain when weight bearing (e.g. standing, walking, etc.), discomfort at night, clicking and catching of the hip
- Hip labral tear: Pain in the groin and bottock region, clicking and catching in the hip when moving, weakness down the affected leg, hip stiffness
Thigh
Thigh pain describes any pain located in the muscular areas between the hip and joint. This region contains powerful muscle groups, such as our hamstring, quadriceps and adductors which are responsible for generating movements, such as walking, running and hopping.
Thigh pain is seen in a large variety of our patients. Common reasons include sports injuries and nerve-related problems. Besides the aforementioned muscle groups, the sciatic nerve plays a large role in controlling the sensation and movement of this area. Many of our sports and athletic patients will experience thigh injuries because of its involvement in explosive and powerful movements.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with thigh pain conditions and offers a range of treatments to assist with your recovery . Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, taping, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common thigh conditions and symptoms
- Hamstring strain injury: Pain at the back of the thigh, difficulty straightening and bending the knee, bruising and swelling at the back of thigh, limping when walking, sudden onset of pain after a specific movement (e.g. sprinting, kicking, etc.)
- Quadricep strain injury: Pain at the back of the thigh, difficulty extending the knee and hip, bruising and swelling at the front of the thigh, limping when walking, sudden onset of pain after a specific movement (e.g. jumping, kicking, etc.)
- Sciatica/piriformis syndrome: Shooting pain from the back and/or buttocks to the back of the hip, nerve-related symptoms at the back of the thigh (e.g. pins and needles, numbness, tingling, etc.), weakness down the affected leg
- ITB pain syndrome: Pain on the outer part of the thigh, a band of tightness located at the side of the thigh, pain that worsens when running
- Contusions and corkies: Bruising and swelling at the point of pain, symptoms appearing after impact (e.g. falling, colliding with others, etc.), pain when moving the affected area (e.g. difficulty straightening the knee if the quadriceps are affected, etc.)
Upper Arm
Upper arm pain describes any pain located between the muscular areas between the elbow and shoulder joint. Similar to our thigh, the upper arm contains many powerful muscle groups, such as our biceps and triceps which are responsible for generating movements, such as lifting, pushing and pulling objects.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with upper arm pain conditions and offers a range of treatments to assist with your recovery . Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, taping, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common upper arm conditions and symptoms
- Nerve pain: Pain radiating from the neck and shoulder, nerve-related symptoms (e.g. pins and needles, tingling, numbness, etc.), weakness down the affected arm, increased sensitivity
- Muscle strain injury: Pain after a specific cause of injury (e.g. lifting, pulling something heavy, etc.), pain when moving the elbow and/or shoulder, stiffness and tightness through the forearm, swelling and/or bruising
- Biceps tendon rupture: Pain in the upper front region of the arm, noticeable bulge in the biceps region (Popeyes sign)
- Shoulder bursitis: Pain along the upper part of the arm, shoulder stiffness and pain, aggravating symptoms during overhead movement, vague pain stemming from the shoulder joint
Groin
Groin pain describes any pain located around the inner thigh. There are many structures in this region which could be causing pain, including the adductor muscle groups, hip joint and pelvis. Pain in this region can impact your ability to exercise, move or even sit. The problem can affect many people, including athletes, senior individuals, pregnant women and everybody else in between.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with groin pain conditions and offers a range of treatments to assist with your recovery . Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, taping, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common groin conditions and symptoms
- Adductor strain: Sharp pain in the inner thigh occurring after a specific movement (e.g. running, kicking, etc.) hip stiffness especially with side-to-side movements, tenderness to touch in the inner thigh, pain when bringing legs in together
- Adductor tendinopathy: Inner thigh pain that gradually worsens over time, hip stiffness especially with side-to-side movements, tenderness to touch in the inner thigh, pain when bringing legs in together
- Hip impingement: Inner thigh pain that worsens over time, hip stiffness, restricted knee to chest movements (e.g. squatting, going upstairs, sitting for long periods etc.)
- Pregnancy-related pain: Pain during single leg activities (e.g. going upstairs, getting in and out of the bath, etc.), clicking and grinding in the pelvis, discomfort above the vaginal/bladder regions.
- Hip arthritis: Pain that also spans around the hip joint, stiffness in the hip joint especially in the morning, swelling, clicking and catching sensations
Forearm
Forearm pain describes any pain located between the elbow and the wrist. Structures, such as the bones (radius and ulnar), nerves and approximately 20 individual muscles. The forearm is important for most of our day-to-day activities, such as gripping, lifting and manipulating small objects. As a result, pain in the forearm can severely affect your ability to live out our daily routines (e.g. exercise, working, etc.).
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with forearm pain conditions and offers a range of treatments to assist with your recovery . Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, taping, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common forearm pain conditions and symptoms
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis or epicondylalgia): Pain around the outer elbow and the top part of the forearm (opposing the palm), feeling weak when lifting and gripping, pain when bending the elbow
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis or epicondylalgia): Pain around the inner elbow and bottom part of the forearm (facing to the same side as the palm), feeling weak when lifting and gripping
- Nerve pain: Pain radiating from the neck and shoulder, nerve-related symptoms (e.g. pins and needles, tingling, numbness, etc.), weakness down the affected arm, increased/decreased sensitivity
- Muscle strain: Pain around the forearm after trauma/impact (e.g. landing on outstretched hand, pushing-off, etc.); weakness and pain with lifting and gripping; pain when stretching the forearm muscles; swollen and prominent forearm muscles
Head
The head has many structures that could be the source of your discomfort, including the jaw, forehead, upper neck, cheeks and ears. One of the most common problems around the head are headaches which could be related to the listed structures above. Additionally, these structures may also be causing and leading to other symptoms, including dizziness, pain when opening your mouth and clenching jaw.
Discomfort around the head can significantly impact your mood, energy, ability to work and many other important aspects of life. The source of this discomfort can often be difficult to pinpoint. Sometimes it can be easy to identify. However, in other situations further assessment may be required.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with head conditions and offers a range of treatments to assist with your recovery . Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, taping, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios.
Common head conditions and symptoms
- Migraines and headaches: Pain around the head; throbbing discomfort; tightness and pressure across the face and neck; difficulty concentrating; fatigue
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction: Jaw pain on either or both sides; aching around the ear; locking jaw; discomfort and pain when chewing (especially crunchy and hard foods); audible clicking sounds when opening and closing mouth
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Dizziness which is worsened with head and ear movements; vertigo; nausea; light-headedness; head spinning; loss of balance
Hands and Wrist
Hand and wrist pain describe any discomfort that spans from the tips of your fingers to the beginning of your forearm. Structures in this region which could be the source of your pain, include tendons, ligaments, bones, nerves and muscles. Pain in these areas can severely impact your ability to grip, carry and even work.
Hand and wrist pain is experienced by many people. Common reasons include repetitive occupational tasks (e.g. typing, manual work, etc.), trauma (e.g. falling on outstretched hand, collisions, etc.) and even suddenly without any obvious causes.
Hawthorn Physiotherapy Clinic routinely manages people with hand and wrist conditions and offers a range of treatments to assist with your recovery . Corrective exercises, pilates, electrotherapy, taping, massage, manual therapy, lifestyle advice and dry needling are just some of the strategies employed by our physios
Common hand & wrist and symptoms
- Fractures: Immediate swelling and pain after trauma or impact; bruising around the affected area; difficulty moving or using the hand and wrist (e.g. gripping, lifting, pinching, etc.); audible crack directly after trauma;
- Referred pain from the neck: Shooting pain from the neck, shoulder and/or pain; tingling; pins and needles; increased/decreased sensitivity in the area; weakness; numbness
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: Swelling around the hand and wrist; numbness; tingling; pins and needles; weakness; increased/decreased sensitivity in the area; symptoms that are especially present around the thumb, index and middle fingers
- De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis: Pain and swelling around the base of the thumb and inner part of the wrist; clicking and catching sensations during thumb movements; difficulty grasping and pinching (e.g. lifting objects, handwriting, etc.);
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