Helping hands: Local physio on mission to support people to live their best life
This is branded content for Merewether Physio Clinic.
When Adam Dickson walked into physiotherapist Josh Bailey's clinic in Merewether he was looking for a solution to the serious pain that was stopping him from living the life he wanted.
Diagnosed with Huntington's Disease in 2017, Mr Dickson had been referred by his GP who believed physiotherapy could help him manage the pain from elbow injuries and be able to return to the pastimes he loved - like going to the gym.
"I was experiencing 10 out of 10 pain in both my arms and found most tasks with my arms very painful - anything that involved gripping, lifting or pulling was difficult," he said.
"I found the pain was interfering with most of my daily tasks - I couldn't even use the television remote. But the biggest thing was not being able to go to the gym. I really like going to the gym and when I couldn't do that I realised I needed help."
Huntington's disease is a genetic neurological condition that affects the brain and nervous system. It can cause a range of symptoms including involuntary movements, which can lead to problems with balance, walking and functioning.
Today, just over three months after beginning physio with Mr Bailey, the former navy medic is back at the gym lifting weights, and has his sights on gaining more muscle and continuing to be more and more active.
"Since seeing Josh my overall function has improved dramatically and he's got me to a point where I feel stronger than what I was before I had the injury," he said.
For Mr Bailey, being able to help patients like Mr Dickson manage their pain and return to the activities that are important to them is at the heart of what he loves about his work.
A born and bred Merewether local - he went to school just down the road from his clinic - he said his daily reward is seeing the progress of patients whose pain is impacting their lifestyle.
"I have a range of different clients but I'm most interested in treating the everyday person who comes to me, usually referred from their GP, when pain gets in the way of their life," he said.
"It could be someone who just loves walking their dog but back pain is stopping them, or someone who can't work because they're getting migraines every day. And with manual therapy, through exercise and education I'm able to empower the individual and help them get back to doing the things they love or need to be able to do."
Now with 11 years of experience, Mr Bailey teamed up with fellow physiotherapist Warren van der Vlugt to open the doors to their own business in Merewether's Glebe Road in November last year with a goal to become an active and valued part of the local community.
Between them the pair have more than 20 years of experience and share the same vision for their business - to deliver a consistently high standard of care and service for their clients, and to get results.
"That all starts with listening to our clients and spending time to get to know them and understand their pain, whether it's headache, neck and back, or sports related, and developing a plan that's specific to them and their needs," Mr Bailey said.
"Within three to five sessions clients should be getting positive results with their pain management and if physio isn't going to work on its own we'll refer them to the specialists who can help."
After never having visited a physio before he met Mr Bailey, Mr Dickson's weekly physiotherapy sessions have become a regular part of his fitness and health management strategy to help him achieve his lifestyle goals.
"I would like to get more weight gain with the physiotherapy with Josh," he said. "I'm now able to do more with a lot less pain."
Merewether Physio Clinic provides a superior quality of health care for all musculoskeletal dysfunctions from acute stages through to full return to activity, sports, or work. To find out more visit the website or give the team a call on 02 4967 6455.
This is branded content for Merewether Physio Clinic.
