FAQ

If something is bothering you physically and you're not sure why, or your symptoms are changing, unclear, or affecting your confidence with movement, physiotherapy is usually the best place to start.

A physiotherapist can assess your presentation and help identify the next appropriate step.

Physiotherapy can support most aches, pains, injuries, and movement concerns, from everyday stiffness through to post-surgical rehabilitation and balance-related symptoms.

Care may include assessment, education, hands-on treatment where appropriate, exercise prescription, movement retraining, rehabilitation, and a Home Exercise Plan.

Physiotherapy is usually the best starting point when symptoms are painful, changing, unclear, restrictive, injury-related, or affecting confidence with movement.

Exercise physiology may be suitable when the main goal is structured exercise support, strength, conditioning, chronic condition support, or long-term physical capacity.

Massage may be suitable for soft-tissue treatment, short-term symptom relief, recovery support, or muscle tension.

If you are unsure, start with physiotherapy.

No.

Physiotherapy may also support people who want to improve mobility, strength, balance, confidence, tolerance, movement quality, or long-term physical capacity.

If you are unsure where to start, physiotherapy can help identify what your body can currently tolerate and what level of support may be appropriate.

Book physiotherapy if you are unsure.

Physiotherapy gives you a clear starting point through assessment, education, treatment where appropriate, and a plan matched to your current capacity.

You can also call, text, or email the clinic if you need help choosing the most suitable appointment.

Your first appointment is designed to understand what is happening, what your body can currently tolerate, and what the next appropriate step should be.

Your physiotherapist will ask about your symptoms, history, goals, daily demands, and what you are currently finding difficult. They may assess movement, strength, mobility, pain behaviour, function, and physical capacity.

You should leave with a clearer understanding of your body and a practical plan to follow. Where appropriate, this may include a Home Exercise Plan, video links, key focus points, success criteria, or follow-up recommendations.

Standard sessions are usually around 30 minutes, unless a longer appointment has been specifically organised. Appointment length may vary depending on the service, appointment type, clinician, funding requirements, and the complexity of your presentation.

Session prices may vary depending on clinician experience, service type, and appointment type. You can view available appointment types, fees, and times through online booking.

If you are unsure what to book, or need help finding the most suitable appointment, call, text, or email the clinic.

Bring any information that may help your clinician understand your presentation. This may include relevant referrals, imaging reports, specialist letters, medication information, claim details, funding approvals, or previous treatment information.

Wear clothing that allows you to move comfortably and allows the area of concern to be assessed where appropriate.

Yes.

Online bookings are available for physiotherapy, exercise physiology, and massage, including initial and subsequent appointments. Book online to choose your appointment type and select an available time.

If you are unsure what to book, need a time you cannot see online, or your appointment is linked to a claim, referral, or funding pathway, contact the clinic before booking.

Yes.

If you are unsure what to book, need help finding a suitable appointment time, or have funding, referral, or claim questions, call, text, or email the clinic. Our team can help you choose the most suitable appointment and confirm what information may be required.

No. Most private physiotherapy, exercise physiology, and massage appointments do not require a GP referral.

Some funding pathways, including Medicare Chronic Disease Management plans, DVA, WorkCover, My Aged Care, NDIS, or insurer-related appointments, may require referral, approval, or documentation before your appointment.

If you are unsure what applies to you, contact the clinic before booking.

Physio by Design supports private appointments and private health fund claims where applicable.

Your rebate will depend on your health fund, level of cover, appointment type, and provider eligibility.

Please check directly with your health fund if you are unsure what is covered.

Physio by Design supports a range of funding and referral pathways, including private health funds, private appointments, WorkCover, DVA, NDIS, My Aged Care, and Medicare Chronic Disease Management plans where applicable.

Some pathways require a referral, approval, claim number, service agreement, care plan, or other documentation before your appointment.

If you are unsure what applies to you, contact the clinic before booking so our team can help set things up correctly.

If your appointment is privately funded, you can usually book online.

If your appointment is linked to WorkCover, DVA, NDIS, My Aged Care, Medicare CDM, an insurer, or another third-party funding arrangement, please contact the clinic before booking.

This helps us confirm the correct details, documentation, appointment type, and billing pathway before your appointment.

If your appointment is linked to funding, a referral, a claim, or a third-party arrangement, contact the clinic before booking.

You may need to provide a referral, claim number, approval information, service agreement, care plan, insurer details, or other documentation before your appointment.

Yes.

If your physiotherapist believes another health professional may be better placed to support part of your care, they may recommend referral or collaboration.

This may include your GP, psychologist, dietitian, podiatrist, occupational therapist, exercise physiologist, medical specialist, or another suitably qualified practitioner.

Yes, where appropriate and with your consent.

This may include sharing relevant information, providing updates, supporting rehabilitation planning, or helping coordinate care when your presentation involves multiple providers.

Sometimes pain, movement, recovery, confidence, or function are influenced by factors that sit partly outside physiotherapy alone.

A psychologist may help with pain-related distress, fear, confidence, adjustment, stress, sleep, or behaviour change.

A dietitian may help with nutrition, metabolic health, diabetes, recovery support, weight management, or healthy ageing goals.

A podiatrist may help with foot, ankle, footwear, gait, or orthotic-related concerns.

An occupational therapist may help with home setup, daily function, equipment, falls risk, or aged-care support.

A medical specialist may be appropriate when further review, diagnosis, imaging interpretation, or medical management is required.

A Home Exercise Plan is a practical plan designed to support progress between appointments.

It may include video links, simple exercises, range-of-motion activity, strength work, recovery strategies, movement focus points, or success criteria. Your plan should be matched to your recovery phase, tolerance, movement quality, goals, response to care, available equipment, and lifestyle.

Not always.

Where possible, exercises are designed to fit your lifestyle and use simple or minimal equipment.

Some programs may require bands, weights, a chair, a wall, step, or other simple equipment depending on your goals and stage of recovery.

Your clinician will guide what is appropriate.

The Educational Hub is our public education area, introducing key ideas about movement, recovery, capacity, and Home Exercise Plans. The Client Lounge is the private resource area for clients, with exercise links, video support, and material connected to your care.

Together, they help you remember what was covered in your session, understand why your plan matters, and apply it more easily at home. This information supports your understanding and does not replace individual assessment, diagnosis, or medical advice.

Physiotherapy may help with back pain by assessing movement, strength, mobility, pain behaviour, function, physical capacity, and daily demands.

Care may include education, hands-on treatment where appropriate, exercise prescription, movement retraining, activity modification, and a Home Exercise Plan.

If symptoms are severe, worsening, unusual, or medically concerning, medical review may be required.

Physiotherapy may help with neck pain and neck-related headaches by assessing movement, strength, mobility, muscle sensitivity, work demands, posture variability, recovery, and contributing factors.

Care may include education, hands-on treatment where appropriate, exercise prescription, movement strategies, and a Home Exercise Plan.

If headaches are sudden, severe, unusual, worsening, associated with neurological symptoms, or medically concerning, seek urgent medical review.

Physiotherapy may help with some dizziness, vertigo, balance, or vestibular-related presentations, depending on the cause and assessment findings.

Because dizziness and vertigo can have several causes, assessment is important.

Medical review may be required if symptoms are sudden, severe, worsening, associated with fainting, chest pain, neurological symptoms, hearing changes, severe headache, or other concerning symptoms.

Physiotherapy may help with some jaw pain, TMJ-related concerns, clicking, stiffness, muscle tension, and movement-related jaw discomfort.

Assessment helps identify how jaw movement, muscle sensitivity, neck involvement, habits, loading, and other factors may be contributing.

Referral to a dentist, GP, or specialist may be recommended where appropriate.

Seek urgent medical attention if you experience changes in bowel or bladder function, progressive weakness or numbness, unexplained fever, significant trauma, fainting, chest pain, sudden severe headache, or symptoms that feel medically concerning.

If you are unsure, seek medical advice.

Group movement may be suitable if you want support with consistency, confidence, movement quality, strength, balance, mobility, or physical tolerance.

If you are new to Physio by Design, recovering from injury, managing symptoms, returning after a flare-up, or unsure which class is right for you, we recommend starting with physiotherapy first.

The right class depends on your current capacity, goals, symptoms, tolerance, and confidence.

If you are unsure which class is appropriate, contact the clinic or start with physiotherapy.

Not always.

However, physiotherapy is recommended if your symptoms are new, changing, worsening, unclear, injury-related, or limiting your confidence.

A physiotherapy appointment can help identify your current capacity, goals, limitations, and the level of movement support that is appropriate.

The right frequency depends on your goals, symptoms, recovery phase, tolerance, and daily capacity.

As a general guide, repeated appropriate movement helps build consistency and adaptation over time.

Your clinician can help guide frequency based on your presentation.

Sometimes, but not always.

Classes are guided and adaptable, but they are not a substitute for one-to-one physiotherapy when symptoms are new, worsening, unclear, injury-related, or limiting your confidence.

If you are unsure, start with physiotherapy.