Our Services

MSWA has a team of over 65 therapists spread across WA, including physiotherapists, accredited exercise physiologists, physiotherapy assistants and massage therapists.

We operate out of all nine MSWA service hubs, as well as offering flexible options for Clients limited by transport, including home visits, attending your local gym or pool (subject to entry conditions) and telehealth services (virtual appointments).

Physiotherapy Services

Exercise Physiology Services

Massage

Groups & Workshops

Our Therapists

Whatever your goals we have a range of therapists to help you achieve them. These include physiotherapists, accredited exercise physiologists, therapy assistants and massage therapists. Please see a break down of our therapists and key roles below:

	Massage Therapists	Physiotherapy Assistants	Physiotherapists	Exercise Physiologists
Perform Client Assessments	✓		✓	✓
Write Reports			✓	✓
Create tailored treatment/exercise programs	✓		✓	✓
Deliver exercise programs		✓	✓	✓
Monitor client progress	✓	✓	✓	✓
Mobility review			✓
Prescribe mobility aids			✓
Work with high level functioning clients	✓	✓	✓	✓
Work with complex and high needs clients	✓	✓	✓	✓
Perform circuit and group classes		✓	✓	✓
Provides hands on therapy	✓
In home services		✓	✓	✓
Covered under NDIS		✓	✓	✓
Covered under HCP	✓	✓	✓	✓
Private health rebate available	✓		✓	✓
Other physiotherapy services (respiratory, lymphoedema, continence)			✓

Physiotherapy Services

Neurological Physiotherapy

MSWA offers the following services for those seeking neurological physiotherapy;

Comprehensive neurological assessments and ongoing review, including NDIS or aged care intervention reports as required
Ongoing individualised therapy programs targeting your goals and needs
Various modes of therapy including personalised 1-on-1 sessions, self-managed exercise programs
Therapy options may include:
- Strengthening, balance and cardiovascular endurance exercises, functional training to assist tasks of daily living, stretching and range of motion exercises.
- Pilates, Yoga or ‘PhysioChi’ classes
- Hydrotherapy
- Education Workshops (falls prevention, fatigue, symptom management)
Prescription of walking aids, assistive technology equipment trials and acquisition
Mobility reviews and gait rehabilitation

Please note: we are unable to provide acute rehabilitation services.

Other Physiotherapy Services

MSWA’s community respiratory physiotherapy service is designed to assist Clients experiencing respiratory symptoms associated with their neurological condition. Respiratory physiotherapy incorporates both physiotherapy treatment techniques and prescription of specialised equipment to help improve respiratory efficiency.

Our services include education on airway clearance techniques, organising respiratory equipment, carer training, and liaising with the Client’s multidisciplinary care team to create respiratory action plans.

Our services can assist Clients who:

Are unable to clear secretions effectively
Have an ineffective cough due to respiratory muscle weakness
May have frequent chest infections and/or frequent hospital admissions related to chest infections

Following a thorough assessment, the physiotherapist will discuss treatment techniques and specialised equipment that can assist in improving respiratory efficiency. Our aim is to work together with the Client, their family and multidisciplinary team to develop an individualised respiratory action plan, designed to optimise the Client’s respiratory management at home.

The NDIS will provide funding for reasonable and necessary respiratory supports, including specialised equipment (e.g. CoughAssist Machine hire). As this process can take some time, please consider early referral and assessment so that applications can be made in anticipation of future needs, particularly for Clients with progressive neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neurone disease, spinal muscular atrophy, and muscular dystrophy.

Please Note: MSWA does not provide emergency services. If any Client is acutely unwell, they should contact their GP, relevant specialist, or emergency department.

MSWA’s lymphoedema physiotherapy service is designed to assist Clients who experience chronic swelling. Our therapists use Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT) which is in line with the latest research.

Services include:

Assessment
Prescription of compression garments and aids
Bandaging therapy
Manual lymph drainage (MLD)
Education
Development of a Lymphoedema Management Plan
Ongoing support

Our services can assist Clients who:

Experience visible and/or palpable swelling
Experience a purple/blue discolouration in their feet and/or lower legs
Have a brownish discolouration on the skin of their lower legs
Have varicose veins
Experience aching legs
Have reduced skin integrity, poor healing, and/or diabetes
Have limited mobility

MSWA’s continence & pelvic health physiotherapy aims to provide services to Clients experiencing continence symptoms associated with their neurological condition.

Services include education in relation to bladder and bowel function, advice regarding overactive bladder management and urinary retention, pelvic floor muscle assessment and treatment, and liaising with the Client’s multidisciplinary care team to provide continence services.

Following a thorough assessment – including a bladder diary, bladder scan and pelvic floor muscle assessment – the physiotherapist will discuss the most appropriate treatment plan to manage the Client’s current symptoms.

Appropriate for Clients experiencing:

Bladder symptoms:
- Urinary frequency
- Urinary urgency
- Urinary incontinence
- Pelvic floor dysfunction

Bowel symptoms:
- Constipation
- Bowel incontinence

MSWA's vestibular physiotherapy service aims to provide services to clients experiencing vestibular symptoms associated with their neurological condition. It is a specialised form of physiotherapy designed to assess and treat vestibular system disorders. This approach combines Repositioning Maneuver-based and Exercise-based treatments to alleviate vertigo and dizziness, enhance gaze stability or visual focus, improve balance and stability, and reduce the risk of falls.

Following a thorough assessment – including an oculomotor assessment, positional testing, and a balance and gait assessment – the physiotherapist will discuss the most appropriate treatment plan to manage the client’s current vestibular symptoms.

Appropriate for clients experiencing:

Current or history of dizziness or vertigo
Nystagmus (rapid involuntary eye movements)
Motion sensitivity, such as increased sensitivity to motion (e.g., car rides) and in crowded areas (e.g., supermarkets and shopping malls)
Chronic or recurrent disequilibrium, especially with head movement: frequent episodes of feeling unsteady or off-balance, recurrence of falls

Find out more about our Groups and Workshops here.

Exercise Physiology Services

AEPs are university qualified allied health professionals equipped with the knowledge, skills and competencies to design, deliver and evaluate safe and effective exercise interventions for people with acute, sub-acute or chronic medical conditions, injuries or disabilities.

Our MSWA Exercise Physiologists are focussed on delivering a client- and goal-centered approach to clinical exercise intervention. They are experts at prescribing and delivering safe, individualised, evidence-based exercise programs that can be modified and progressed to suit your needs. Following a thorough functional assessment, the Exercise Physiologist will work with you to tailor an exercise program that is based off your goals and activities of daily living. The exercise interventions will be designed to optimise your independence, functional capacity, exercise tolerance, physical health and wellbeing, and quality of life. Exercise Physiologists may also liaise with other allied health professionals to ensure you receive high quality care.

Comprehensive functional assessments and ongoing review
Individualised exercise programs tailored to your lifestyle
Functional and goal-based programs
Self-managed home exercise programs
Home visits
Community gym and pool visits (we come to your gym or pool)
Balance training
Group circuit classes
Education on lifestyle and behaviour change
Newly Diagnosed Online Workshops (see Groups & Workshops page)

There is an increasing body of research to support the benefits of regular physical activity and exercise for people living with neurological conditions. Regular exercise is an important tool in preventing the development of comorbidities and premature mortality.

In people with neurological conditions, exercise has been shown to:

Promote the health of nerve cells
Optimise function through maintaining strength and mobility
Help to manage and/or reduce fatigue
Reduce the risk and rate of falls

Exercise has also been shown to play an important role in mental health through:

Improving self-esteem, confidence and mood
Preventing and reducing anxiety and depression

Massage Therapists

Experience a therapeutic massage with one of our highly trained massage therapists. Our therapists are well versed in a wide range of neurological conditions. They will conduct an independent assessment to create a tailored treatment plan to suit your individual needs. Please enquire prior to your appointment if you are seeking a specific technique.

Our massage therapists have been trained to assist with your positioning and transfer needs. They will ensure your upmost comfort throughout your treatment whether it be on the massage bed or in your chair.

Frequently asked questions

Appointments are available to be booked in 15min, 30min, 45min, and 60min timeslots.

Please note, the appointment duration includes time taken for client transfers, positioning, dressing, and repositioning etc.

Clients have the option to pay on the day via cash or card or receive a monthly invoice. Private health rebate is available for selected therapists.

For those with a Home Care Package, your massage services can be costed to your package at a rate of $99 per hour (or equivalent thereof).

For Clients where massage funding is not available, Clients can access this service under the MSWA Co-contribution where by the out of pocket expenses is $30 per hour (MSWA contributes a further $30 to fund the cost of providing the service).

For these Clients, please note;