In this sponsored post, “CityNews” speaks with a range of local allied health experts and medical practitioners passionate about improving the wellbeing of their patients.

THERE’S no shortage of knowledgeable health experts in Canberra. Whether it’s general practice, keeping fit, providing surgical intervention, or supporting those with chronic conditions, “CityNews” speaks with a variety of health experts, all passionate about the wellbeing of their patients.

Expert advice for dealing with pain

ARTHRITIS ACT has a team of expert allied health professionals, who can support people with chronic pain, whatever their age or condition, says CEO Rebecca Davey.

“We’re experts in ways of dealing with pain,” Rebecca says. 

“We know that weight loss and exercise are the gold standards for managing chronic pain conditions, and we have a dietitian who can recommend what to eat to avoid painful flare-ups, whether a person is dealing with arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, food allergies or food intolerance.”

Rebecca says the not-for-profit also has an occupational therapist who can help make life easier for people through assisting with home modifications for safety and access, energy-saving equipment, technology and daily living aid recommendations, and through providing support to access the NDIS or the Disability Support Pension. 

“We provide one-on-one physiotherapy consultations, including hands-on manual therapy, exercise prescription and posture education, as well as rehabilitation options post-surgery,” Rebecca says. 

Arthritis ACT also offers exercise physiology programs designed to reduce pain for anyone living with any musculoskeletal conditions.

One-on-one exercise physiology consults are designed for anyone who needs help with an individually prescribed exercise program (land-based or hydrotherapy), a review on a current exercise program and advice on how to safely progress towards their goals through exercise.

Arthritis ACT, Building 18, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041, email info@arthritisact.org.au or visit arthritisact.org.au

Clinic’s dedicated to travel medicine

AS a member of the Travel Clinics Australia group, Dickson Medical & Travel Clinic provides up-to-date information on disease protection across the world, says co-owner and director Guillaume Prudent-Richard.

Guillaume says the practice has a full range of vaccines and preventative medicines in stock, and is one of two places in Canberra dedicated to travel medicine and one of the few accredited to vaccinate against yellow fever.

Established in 1987, Dickson Medical & Travel Clinic also offers general practice and occupational medicine, such as employee medicals and screening.

Guillaume, his wife Dr Tereza Prouza and Dr Zdenka Grundel took over the practice as co-owners in October and say their books are open for new patients. 

The team includes Dr Les Buczynski, who has an interest in travel medicine and family and men’s health, Dr Di Hannaford, who specialises in women’s health, Dr Doug Randell, who performs employment checks, diving and aviation medicals and two nurses, Margaret McLachlan and Susan Webster.

“We have a large, experienced team, offering flexibility and choice for patients, with a number of emergency appointments available each day,” says Guillaume. 

“With a comprehensive suite of services, from standard general practice services such as diabetes and asthma management to tropical vaccinations and occupational medicine, we’re a one-stop shop.”

Dickson Medical & Travel Clinic, Unit 5, 151 Cowper Street, Dickson. Call 6257 3853 or visit dicksonmedical.com.au

Team welcomes pain management specialist

PAIN management specialist Assoc Prof Tillman Boesel has joined the team at Orthopaedics ACT offering a spectrum of pain management services, including advanced neuromodulation therapies. 

Having trained in anaesthesia and pain medicine at the Royal Prince Alfred and Nepean Hospitals in Sydney, Boesel’s professional interests include teaching at both undergraduate and post fellowship levels, the treatment of neuropathic pain and complex medico-legal work.

Offering a complete service to its patients is important to Orthopaedics ACT, says practice manager Deborah Henry.  

“Our aim is always to manage the wellness of our patients and to provide the best service to our referring doctors,” she says. 

“Not all patients require surgical intervention and by having a range of experts working cohesively, this gives our patients the best outcome.”

Other experts on the team are Adj. Prof Chris Roberts (trauma, sport, hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder), Prof Paul Smith (trauma, pelvis, hip and knee), Dr Nicholas Tsai (trauma, spine, hip and knee), Dr Al Burns (trauma, sport, knee and hip), Dr Phil Aubin (trauma, tumour, foot, ankle, hip and knee), Dr Gawel Kulisiewicz (trauma, sport, hip, knee, foot and ankle), Dr Igor Policinski (microsurgery, hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder), Dr Larissa Trease (sport and exercise medicine), Prof David Little and Dr Samya Lakis (paediatric orthopaedics).

Orthopaedics ACT, Woden Specialist Medical Centre, Level 2, 90 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6221 9320 or visit orthoact.com.au

Diabetes screening takes five minutes

THIS World Diabetes Day (November 14), ACT general manager of Diabetes NSW & ACT Natalie Smith is urging Canberrans to take five minutes to complete the quick and easy online screening on the organisation’s website. 

Natalie says there are currently 18,550 people in the ACT registered as living with diabetes, of which 83.1 per cent of those are living with type 2 diabetes.

In Australia, about 280 people are diagnosed every day, according to Diabetes NSW & ACT, and one in four adults over 25 are living with diabetes or prediabetes.

Natalie says it’s estimated 500,000 people in Australia are unaware they have diabetes until they develop a serious complication such as kidney disease, blindness or stroke.

On World Diabetes Day, Natalie says they’ll also be celebrating nurses and midwives, in recognition of their work supporting those living with diabetes.

“We’re also supporting them to enhance their knowledge of diabetes through continuous learning opportunities,” she says. 

Diabetes NSW & ACT, Level 1, 101 Northbourne Avenue. Call 6248 4500, call the helpline on 1300 136588, or visit diabetesnsw.com.au

Full-body workout that’s easy on the joints

FITNESS classes for the over-50s should include a mix of strength, cardio, balance and flexibility training, says Duncan Craig, personal trainer, founder of BoomerAABS and ACT representative of BungyPump. 

Duncan offers one-on-one, group or active training classes, modifying exercises to suit individual needs, and using Nordic walking techniques with BungyPump poles. 

“Walking with BungyPump gives a full-body workout, burns more calories, trains more muscles and is easier on the joints,” he says.

“The poles offer all the benefits of aerobic activity as well as strength development, flexibility and balance all in the one activity.”

The “AABS” stands for “Active Ageing, Balance and Strength”, and with 43 years’ experience in the Australian Army and Department of Defence, experienced fitness professional Duncan, who also has a Cert III and IV in fitness at CIT, says he knows how to help older people get strong and healthy, the right way.

“I teach the correct techniques to allow clients to exercise safely and effectively, without risk of injury, so they can enjoy everyday life,” he says. 

“My classes are a friendly, sociable environment which motivates people to stay healthy.”

Call Duncan on 0404 373157, email info@boomeraabs.com.au, visit boomeraabs.com.au or facebook.com/BoomerAABS

Get more out of Pilates with a skilled instructor

PEOPLE interested in taking up Pilates should be scrupulous about the teacher they choose, says Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie of Pilates Centre Canberra.

“Pilates training is a long process and a course can cost between $7000 to $10,000, with 300 hours work experience required,” she says. 

Pilates instructors need to be highly trained, according to Felicia, who says they are at the Pilates Centre Canberra, which is a host site for BASI, the world-leading Pilates instructor training school.

Felicia has been teaching Pilates for 13 years, and says that with a properly trained instructor you get skilful teaching with an understanding of how to perform what can be complex exercises.

“As a qualified teacher, I can see when an exercise is correct and know exactly how to get quality work out of a client,” she says. 

The challenges and goals within Pilates are different for everyone, Felicia says, but it’s rewarding to see people progress. 

“Many people start classes for one reason, say to fix their hip, then realise it helps their whole body,” she says. 

“Pilates helps the body work how it’s meant to work.”

It’s the perfect training partner for anything, Felicia says, whether in recovery from injury or surgery, for athletes or walkers, or for people wanting to build strength, flexibility, coordination or balance. 

 The Pilates Centre Canberra, 58 Colbee Court, Phillip. Call 6162 1793.

Greg’s been treating ‘covid-related’ injuries

PHYSIOTHERAPIST Greg Nash says he’s been treating many patients for “covid-related” injuries.

Greg, who’s the practice principal at Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, says he’s seen people hurt themselves through activities such as overdoing house jobs, gardening or taking on different activities such as house painting.

“It’s peak gardening season so I’m expecting to see more of these injuries throughout spring,” he says. 

Greg says Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic has plenty of runs on the board, with 40 years in practice, 20 of those in Canberra.

Backed with 35-plus years’ experience, including working at the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics in 2000, Greg’s special interest areas are in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports injuries and occupational health and safety. 

“This sports season is like no other due to the impact of COVID-19, and it takes time to get fitness and strength back to how it was,” says Greg. 

“I’ve covered all football codes through my career, and I’m currently working with the Canberra Centurions who are the carry-over champions from 2019 and have won this season as well.

“Our daughter is an accomplished dancer and ballet teacher, so I’ve also been the physiotherapist for her students, too. 

“I’ve covered a wide range of injuries over my professional career.”

Manuka Woden Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, 3/48 Corinna Street, Woden. Call 6281 1382 or visit manukawodenphysio.com.au