Treatments and Services

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is the term used to describe manual treatment techniques applied to the soft tissues and joints of the musculoskeletal system and includes soft tissue massage, trigger point release, joint manipulation. It may also include active participation by the patient to increase range of movement such as muscle energy techniques.

Research has shown that manual therapy can provide significant improvements in pain, movement and function and has a much better effect overall when combined with exercise therapy. 

Exercise Prescription

We provide individual exercise plans based on a detailed assessment and diagnosis of your problem. This will help you to achieve your treatment goals and is the most effective way of preventing recurrence of many musculoskeletal conditions for example, low back pain.

Clinical Pilates Classes

Clinical Pilates classes have been running at the clinic for over 4 years. Pilates is a controlled method of body strengthening focusing on our stabilising muscle system. It is a low impact form of muscle strengthening and is suitable for people who are recovering from injury. Classes are restricted to 5 participants which means we can modify and supervise exercises to suit individual goals.

Please contact the practice directly for more information.

Sports Rehabilitation

As Clinical Specialists in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, we are specialised in the diagnosis and management of problems of the musculoskeletal system (i.e. muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, nerves, connective tissue etc), including sports injuries. Sports injuries can result from mechanical trauma (acute injuries e.g. ligament sprain) or repetitive overload to the musculoskeletal tissues (overuse injuries e.g. tendinopathy or stress fracture). At Donabate Physiotherapy, we see people from all types of sport and offer discounted rates to some local sports clubs including St Pats GAA Club and Donabate/ Portrane Tennis Club.

Dry Needling

This technique involves using single sterile acupuncture needles to release trigger points (taut bands) deep in muscle tissue.It works by changing the way your body feels pain and by helping the body heal trigger points. Myofascial trigger points are tender nodules within taut bands of muscle. Normal muscle does not contain taut bands which feel hard but feels soft and elastic. There are electrical and biochemical changes associated with dry needling that assist in the healing process. It is important to see the dry needling as just one part of your rehabilitation at Donabate physiotherapy.It is vital that you do the exercises prescribed by your Chartered Physiotherapist and these in conjunction with the dry needling optimize recovery. Stretching the muscles after treatment is extremely helpful. This treatment is a very effective way of relieving painful muscles.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been in practice for over 3000 years. Chinese medicine defines good health as a state of harmony or balance between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects taking into account age, lifestyle etc., of the person. Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide range of conditions from back pain and musculoskeletal problems to conditions like sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, headaches and much more.

Biomechanical Assessment and Orthotic Prescription

Our assessment of all musculoskeletal problems involves an investigation of how you move and how your body disperses its load though your joints and soft tissues. Many painful conditions arise out of tissue overload. Ideally, we should all be trying to raise our tolerance to load by keeping strong and fit, and by gradually increasing our activity levels. Sometimes the shape of our skeleton or the way we use our body can increase the load on some of our tendons, muscles or joints. We call this increased biomechanical load.

A problem with the biomechanics of your feet (e.g. over pronation, supination etc.) can cause a feeling of ‘tired feet’ or pain in the feet, knees, hips and spine. Orthotics (a special type of insole in your shoe) work to optimise the biomechanics of the feet, leading to less strain on your feet, lower limbs and spine. The range of orthotics available is comprehensive; ranging from a simple off the shelf device to a device that is custom made in a laboratory for your individual foot.

Taping/ Strapping

At Donabate Physiotherapy we offer many types of taping and strapping materials and techniques for foot strapping, ankle strapping, knee strapping, shoulder strapping , wrist/hand/ thumb strapping, hamstring muscle strapping, calf muscle strapping etc. Taping can be a useful adjunct to your rehab from injury, including allowing return to sport while protecting an injury but the exact diagnosis and extent of your injury are the major determinants of return to sport. Following a thorough musculoskeletal assessment, we will discuss with you whether or not taping will be helpful for your problem and which type of tape and taping technique is most appropriate.

Chest Physiotherapy

Many chest problems benefit from chest physiotherapy such as chest infections, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. We can prescribe a breathing exercise program & provide you with management strategies for your lung condition. It is important that the G.P. and or respiratory physician keep the physiotherapist informed of results of x-rays, ct scans etc. so that treatment targets correct area of lungs.

Women’s Health Physiotherapy

Incontinence is common affecting approximately 1 in 4 women at some time in their life, so if you have trouble with bladder control you are certainly not alone.Involuntary loss of urine can deprive you of sleep leaving you tired, make travel difficult and keep the joys and benefits of exercise out of reach. Despite these limitations fewer than half of sufferers look for help, often because of embarrassment or because they do not realise help is available.

A pelvic floor muscle training programme prescribed by your Chartered Physiotherapist can help.