We’re thrilled to welcome Edwina Powe to Flow as our newest Sutherland Shire women’s physio. With postgraduate training and experience across hospital and private practice, Edwina supports women with pelvic floor rehab, pregnancy and postnatal care, continence concerns and complex pelvic pain.
If you’re seeking a Shire women’s health physio who combines clinical expertise with a kind, practical approach, Edwina is now accepting new patients.
What We Treated Today in the Sutherland Shire: A Physio Doug's Day Recap
A quick intro
Busy day in the clinic today, so here’s a short recap of the problems we saw and the first steps we usually focus on. This is general guidance only—your plan will be tailored after a proper assessment.
Presentations we saw today (and safe first steps)
1) ACL injury – non-operative management
Focus: swelling control, early full knee extension, quad strength, balance work; clear return-to-sport criteria.
First steps: Heel props for extension, quad sets (10×10-sec holds), gentle bike if pain-free.
When to be cautious: pivoting/cutting sports and deep twisty positions early on.
2) Cervical radicular pain (neck-to-arm symptoms)
Focus: reduce nerve irritation, restore neck movement, thoracic mobility, work and ADL tweaks.
First steps: short, frequent neck range-of-motion (pain-free arcs), chin nods, gentle nerve-glides as tolerated.
Red flags: progressive weakness, severe night pain, trauma - book promptly.
3) Post-operative foot reconstruction
Focus: protect the repair, manage swelling, regain ankle/foot mobility and strength within surgeon protocol.
First steps: elevation, compression, isometrics above/below the site, crutch technique coaching.
4) Spinal cord injury (ongoing rehab)
Focus: functional goals (transfers, sitting balance, gait where appropriate), pressure care, equipment optimisation.
First steps: customised program progression; close monitoring of skin, spasticity, orthostatic responses.
5) Fibromyalgia
Focus: education, graded activity, sleep and pacing strategies, low-impact strength/aerobic work.
First steps: start very small (e.g., 5–10 mins walking), track symptoms, add light resistance 2–3×/week.
6) Post-op meniscus bucket-handle repair
Focus: protect the repair, avoid deep loaded flexion early, regain extension, controlled quad activation.
First steps: heel slides (range-restricted per protocol), quad sets, patellar mobility, gait re-training.
7) ACL reconstruction (patellar-tendon graft)
Focus: full extension ASAP, swelling control, quad activation, progressive flexion, gait normalisation.
First steps: heel props, towel-under-heel quad sets, straight-leg raises if no lag, bike ROM as allowed.
8) Syndesmosis (high ankle sprain) – conservative
Focus: deload + protect external rotation/dorsiflexion stress; later, calf strength and proprioception.
First steps: boot/brace as indicated, crutching, isometrics, gentle ROM within pain-free limits.
9) Achilles tendon rupture – conservative
Focus: functional boot with wedges, staged plantarflexion → neutral, progressive loading.
First steps: adhere to boot/wedge plan, avoid dorsiflexion stretch early, isometrics with boot on.
How we assess & plan care
History → objective tests → diagnosis → plan. We align with surgeon protocols where relevant, set measurable milestones (pain, ROM, strength, function), and give a home program you can actually stick to. Imaging/referral only when indicated.
Quick take-home tips
Short, frequent movement beats long, painful sessions.
Swelling down = rehab up (prioritise swelling management early).
Progress load gradually; sharp increases spike re-injury risk.
If symptoms are worsening, not improving - get reviewed.
When to seek urgent care
Red-flag symptoms (progressive weakness, severe unremitting pain, night sweats/fever, unexplained weight loss, red/hot calf, new numbness in the saddle region).
Post-op concerns (wound issues, fever, sudden loss of function).
Next steps in the Sutherland Shire
Ready for a tailored plan? Book with our physios in Sutherland and Woolooware
Flow Physio Co - Musculoskeletal, ACL Rehab, Women’s Health, Clinical Pilates.
Helpful internal links
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No. You can book directly with a physiotherapist in Australia.
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Often 12–16 weeks if criteria are met (strength, hop tests, swelling), but timing is individual and surgeon/physio guided.
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It can be, when the functional boot and staged loading protocol are followed closely. Your clinician will advise if it’s suitable for you.
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Gentle, guided movement usually outperforms prolonged bed rest. Get assessed to tailor the plan and screen red flags.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is general information for education only and is not a substitute for personalised assessment, diagnosis or treatment. Always follow your surgeon, GP’s or health professional’s advice and consult a registered physiotherapist before starting or changing exercises.
NDIS Physio and Exercise Physiology services in the Sutherland Shire
NDIS Physiotherapy & Exercise Physiology Services in the Sutherland Shire
As a registered NDIS provider, we offer tailored physiotherapy and exercise physiology solutions that align with the unique needs of each NDIS participant. Our team of skilled physiotherapists and exercise physiologists understand the challenges faced by individuals with various disabilities and are dedicated to assisting them in achieving their health and mobility goals.
What We Offer
Personalised Care Plans: Each NDIS participant receives a customised care plan, designed in consultation with our experienced clinician. These plans are developed to address individual goals, whether it's improving mobility, managing pain, or enhancing overall physical well-being.
High-Quality Healthcare: Our team are not only highly qualified but are also passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of our clients. We utilise the evidence-based treatment in our boutique rehabilitation studio to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Collaborative Approach: Collaboration is key in our approach. We work closely with NDIS participants, their families, and other healthcare professionals to ensure a holistic and integrated approach.
How to Access Our Services
If you are an NDIS participant looking for a qualified physiotherapist, look no further. Accessing our services is straightforward:
Contact Us: Reach out to our friendly team to discuss your needs and how we can assist you.
Plan Review: We will review your NDIS plan to understand your goals and how our services can best support you.
Service Agreement: Once we have established your needs, we will set up a service agreement outlining the specifics of the physiotherapy services we will provide.
Conclusion
Being a registered NDIS provider is not just about offering physiotherapy and exercise physiology services; it's about being a part of a supportive community that uplifts and empowers its members. Our team is excited to extend our expertise and care to NDIS participants, helping them to achieve better health and mobility. Contact us today to learn more about how our services can support your journey towards improved well-being!
Stay in the Game: 4 Physio Tips for Reducing Groin Injuries in Football
As football season approaches, it's important to take steps to prevent groin injuries. Groin injuries are common in sports that involve running, jumping, and quick direction changes. These types of movements can put a lot of strain on the adductor muscles, which run along the inner thigh and are responsible for moving the leg toward the midline of the body.
Here are 4 tips to help minimise groin injury this season:
Include adductor strengthening in your strength and conditioning program.
Reduced hip adductor strength is associated with an increased risk of groin injury in sport (Whitaker et al 2015). Therefore, it's important to incorporate exercises that target the adductor muscles into your strength and conditioning program. Examples of exercises that can strengthen the adductors include side-lying leg lifts, standing hip adduction with resistance bands, and adductor machine exercises.
2. Include some flexibility training targeted to the adductors or groin muscles.
Stretching is an important component of injury prevention. Including flexibility training that targets the adductors or groin muscles can help reduce the risk of injury. Examples of stretches that can help improve flexibility in the adductors include the butterfly stretch and the standing adductor stretch.
3. Include speed work with straight and curved line elements.
Gradually exposing the body to high-speed running that will be required in-season can help reduce the risk of groin injury. Incorporating speed work with straight and curved line elements into your training program can help improve your body's ability to handle these movements.
4. Perform an injury reduction warm-up program like the FIFA 11+, Touch Time, Footy First.
Warm-up programs that are specifically designed to reduce the risk of injury can be highly effective. The FIFA 11+ program, for example, is an injury reduction program that incorporates specific strengthening, motor control, and jumping/landing exercises into a structured warm-up session 2-3x weekly. The FIFA 11+ has been shown to reduce football injuries in recreational/subelite football by 39% (Harøy et al 2019). It was also shown to reduce hamstring, hip/groin, knee, and ankle injuries (60%, 41%, 48%, and 32% respectively). A meta-analysis (a statistical procedure for combining data from multiple studies) showed that injury reduction programs (like FIFA11+), can not only decrease ACL injury up to 50%, but all knee injuries by 30% (Thorborg et al 2017).
It's important to note that injury prevention/reduction is more nuanced than just completing a specific warm-up. However, incorporating the FIFA 11+ warm-up program can provide a valuable tool to help guide future directions in minimising the burden of injury in the football population.
In conclusion, preventing groin injuries requires a comprehensive approach that includes strengthening, flexibility, and speed work, as well as incorporating an injury reduction warm-up program. At our physiotherapy clinic, we can help develop a personalised injury prevention program that is tailored to your specific needs and goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you stay injury-free this season.
Swelling, Instability, and More: The Common Symptoms of an ACL Injury
If you've recently injured your ACL, you may have experienced a pop or snap at the time of the injury, or you may have felt pain immediately.
Some people don't feel any pain initially but notice that their knee feels "off."
In the hours and days following the injury, it is common to experience swelling around the knee, instability, and difficulty controlling the movement of the knee.
It is also possible to have additional injuries to the meniscus or cartilage in the knee.
If you have injured your ACL, it is important to seek medical attention to properly diagnose and treat the injury.