Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body and is based on the principle that the physical well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together. Treatment is direct and results are usually experienced quickly.

Osteopath's work with the structure and function of the body to restore a state of equilibrium and balance. Osteopaths use manipulation, stretching and soft tissue mobilisation to increase joint range of motion and stability, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood supply and stimulate nerve function. They also provide advice on posture and prescribe rehabilitation programs to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.

Cranial osteopathy is a natural approach to healthcare for all life’s stages. It recognises the importance of the subtle mechanics at work in the head and their profound influence on the health of the whole body.

The treatment is very gentle and effective, making this technique suitable for particularly sensitive patients. Cranial osteopathy is available for all adults at The Harrison Clinic.

Physiotherapy is a evidence based profession and takes a ‘whole person’ approach to health and wellbeing, which includes the patient’s general lifestyle.

At the core is the patient’s involvement in their own care, through education, awareness, empowerment and participation in their treatment. and rehabilitation.

Physiotherapy can benefit people at all life stages. Physiotherapists commonly work with back pain, joint pain and soft tissue injuries. Physio's can help with acute injuries, manage the physical aspects of long-term medical condition such as asthma as well as help women preparing for childbirth. Physio's are also excellent in helping sports people recover from injury, stay injury free and perform to their maximum.

Pilates is an excellent form of exercise for any age group and for all your exercise needs. Whether you are recovering from an injury, you want to increase your flexibility and strength or you want to better your technique at other sports by using your body more efficiently Pilates can help you. It also helps to prevent injury, and helps to tone your body, or recondition your body after pregnancy.

At the Harrison Clinic we are now offering one to one Pilates lessons with a qualified Physiotherapist with special interest in Pilates and Qualified in APPI Pilates (Australian Physiotherapist in Pilates Institute). With a one to one Pilates session you can ensure that you are doing exercises that are correct for you, suitable to your own specific needs. With individual care and attention you can be sure that you are performing the exercises correctly, which will lead to you seeing improvements more quickly.

It is important to build a good technique from the beginning, then allowing you to progress with ease and confidence in to the higher level exercises. It is a form of exercise that starts with engaging the core muscles, these include the transversus abdominus, pelvic floor and diaphragm muscles and then build on this core contraction to add in resistance and load to strengthen the core and condition the body.

Pilates is an excellent form of exercise for any age group and for all your exercise needs. Whether you are recovering from an injury, you want to increase your flexibility and strength or you want to better your technique at other sports by using your body more efficiently Pilates can help you. It also helps to prevent injury, and helps to tone your body, or recondition your body after pregnancy.

At the Harrison Clinic we are offering one to one Pilates lessons with a qualified Physiotherapist with special interest in Pilates and Qualified in APPI Pilates (Australian Physiotherapist in Pilates Institute). With a one to one Pilates session you can ensure that you are doing exercises that are correct for you, suitable to your own specific needs. With individual care and attention you can be sure that you are performing the exercises correctly, which will lead to you seeing improvements more quickly.

It is important to build a good technique from the beginning, then allowing you to progress with ease and confidence in to the higher level exercises. It is a form of exercise that starts with engaging the core muscles, these include the transversus abdominus, pelvic floor and diaphragm muscles and then build on this core contraction to add in resistance and load to strengthen the core and condition the body.

Sports massage & soft tissue therapy is focused upon both consultation and treatment. A thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology means that the source of pain can be pin pointed and then treated with the appropriate massage therapy. In the sports world it is used proactively to prevent injury.

Sports massage & soft tissue therapy combines general and deep tissue manipulation with various forms of stretching techniques to improve muscle health and performance. The treatment is direct and results are experienced quite quickly.

The treatment of sports injuries is the area most people naturally associate with remedial massage but it is also used very successfully in the treatment of a broad range of conditions. Patients of all ages with a wide variety of problems benefit from sports massage.

Women go through various significant physical changes during their lifetime and at the Harrison Clinic we believe passionately about giving women the opportunity and the confidence to prioritise their own physical health.

If you are “putting up with” issues such as leaking, prolapse, pain, feeling weak or disconnected from your core, feeling as though you are losing flexibility or strength as you age, or have recently recovered from abdominal surgery there are many things which the Harrison Clinic can support you with.

During a women’s health appointment, you will be given the opportunity to discuss your personal symptoms and medical history, ask questions, have any relevant assessments performed that relate to your symptoms, and to develop a plan together with your practitioner to address your concerns.

This appointment type is suitable for:
Pelvic Floor issues such as leaking, prolapse, pelvic pain, painful sex
Menopause specific physical conditioning - addressing your own physical needs and goals which could be related to pain, flexibility, strength, balance, posture and fitness

The approach to each session will vary for everyone, but you can expect it to be a bespoke mix of hands-on manual therapy, exercises and homework between sessions to maximise the benefits of each treatment.

Private patents only - please be aware that this will not be be covered by your health Insurance policy.

Diastasis Recti is the medical term for a “wider than before” gap between the left and right sides of the abdominal muscle wall. It can happen for many reasons, but it is mostly associated with pregnancy. As the baby grows and the connective tissue down the midline of the body thins and widens, each side of the rectus abdominis (“six-pack”) muscles separate further away. After pregnancy and with time, the gap reduces once more; but some people need a little help for the area to heal and strengthen fully again.

Strengthening the midline is important because any weakness in this area will reduce the overall effective strength of your core, breathing pattern and pelvic floor, and can be the cause of back pain, leaking, and doming or coning of the abdominal muscles during exercise.

An initial DR appointment lasts 85 minutes and will include a full New Mummy Assessment. This is a postnatal assessment covering pelvic floor engagement, breathing analysis and connecting your breath with your movement, a full diastasis check, muscular imbalance assessment, and an overall wellbeing and lifestyle assessment to check how you are really doing.

The session will also involve soft tissue work to release any areas of tension which may be pulling the abdominals away from your midline, such as a C-section or other abdominal scar, tight abdominal muscles used to gripping from pregnancy, and any other areas of the body feeling tight or asymmetrical. We will also work on breathing patterns, and you may need further hands on work around the ribcage and diaphragm.

Finally, we will create a bespoke set of exercises to do confidently and safely at home each day before your next appointment. These will combine strengthening exercises with pelvic floor and breathing work to reconnect your core to its fullest. You can expect to spend 5 mins a day on your homework, which may not seem like much but the regular challenge to your abdominal muscles will encourage the body to create more collagen and lay down connective tissue across your gap to strengthen it over time.

3-6 sessions are recommended for healing and recovery, but this can vary between individuals. Each follow up session will last 55 mins and we advise leaving sessions 2-4 weeks apart to allow for healing time in between. Reassessment will be completed at each follow up session to check on progress.

Private patents only - please be aware that this will not be be covered by your health Insurance policy.

Scars can be uncomfortable, tight, numb or painful, and massage is a wonderful tool for relieving both the physical symptoms of the scar and the appearance of it.

Scar therapy massage is a combined treatment of massage and other soft tissue release techniques that are used to reduce areas of tension, rigidity and adhesion that build up around and under your C-section, hysterectomy or any other abdominal scarring. Improving these will allow your body to move with more fluidity and suppleness and remove the feeling of being stuck or restricted in your movement.

An initial Scar Work appointment lasts 85 minutes and will include a full New Mummy or Women’s Wellness Assessment. This assessment covers pelvic floor engagement, breathing analysis and connecting your breath with your movement, a full diastasis check, muscular imbalance assessment, and an overall wellbeing and lifestyle assessment to check how you are really doing.

During the appointment we will also work on correcting your breathing pattern, reconnecting your core with your breathing and correcting your pelvic floor function. You’ll be taught techniques to work on your scar at home in between follow up appointments.

3-6 sessions are recommended for healing and recovery, but this can vary between individuals. Each follow up session will last 55 mins and we advise leaving sessions 2-4 weeks apart to allow for healing time in between. Reassessment will be completed at each follow up session to check on progress.

Note that your scar must be fully healed before hands on work can be done, so please allow 8 weeks post op before booking. If you have had an infection, it may take a little longer to heal before you can come, so please don’t rush.

It doesn’t matter if your surgery was 20 years ago, scars can be improved however long they have been there! Please give the clinic a call and ask to speak to Gemma if you have any questions before booking.

Private patents only - please be aware that this will not be be covered by your health Insurance policy.

Women can very commonly experience changes in the function of their pelvic floor both after the stresses and strains of pregnancy and childbirth, and as we approach menopause due to the changing levels of hormones in our bodies. This can manifest itself in many issues such as stress and urge incontinence (leaking of pee or poo), prolapse, discomfort or pain. It is commonly thought that these issues must be due to weak or damaged muscles but often the pelvic floor muscles can be overly tight, as well as the surrounding areas of the body which connect into the pelvic floor such as the inner thighs, hamstrings and hip flexors.

Any amount of leakage, pain or discomfort is not normal and in many cases symptoms can be reversed or at least significantly improved without the need for invasive techniques such as surgery.

A Women’s Health Appointment can be tailored to address your pelvic floor symptoms and will involve a combination of (external) hands on manual therapy if required, exercise, stretching, breathing and postural work. You will be given homework to complete regularly in between your follow up sessions, and it is important that you are fully committed to this to achieve results.

A course of 6-8 sessions is recommended with 1-2 weeks between appointments to see the best progress, although individuals always vary. You can always call and ask to speak to a practitioner if you are unsure about whether this could help you.

Private patents only - please be aware that this will not be be covered by your health Insurance policy.

Congratulations! In the whirlwind of having a new baby it is very easy to ignore the aches and pains your body is going through. You may be wondering what is normal, what is not, and all the time probably prioritising your little one over your own needs.

Our new mummy assessments put your health first so that you can understand where your postnatal body is currently at, so you can be in the best position to look after your little one. We will look at your pelvic floor engagement, breathing and how well you connect your breath with movement. We’ll also complete a diastasis check, look at your body for muscle strength, weakness and any areas of pain, as well as your overall wellbeing.

You’ll be given advice on postnatal recovery options suitable for you if you need them, and support or signposting for further help if required.

Private patents only - please be aware that this will not be be covered by your health Insurance policy.