ABOUT US
The main areas of treatment are in Workers’ Compensation (WorkCover), Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA), Life Insurance, The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). Our Exercise Physiologists are mobile, meaning programs are implemented in the patient’s local gym, pool or home, whichever environment is most suitable. Prescribing rehabilitation programs tailored to the patients and their local environments and communities, yields higher adherence with ease of access to our programs.
Fundamentally our programs treat the clients’ symptoms of pain, tight muscles and reduction in strength and range of motion. Concurrently through functional exercises, we pay close attention to proper muscle activation and correct movement patterns. This means we ensure the right muscles are active during various functional movements in job requirements and activities of daily living, to ensure this is congruent with the long-term rehabilitation, and there is no recursion of injury. Essentially we treat the cause of any muscle dysfunction or injury, whilst educating our clients on how to self-manage the condition.
We provide mobile exercise physiology typically for workers’ compensation, motor vehicle accident, life insurance and DVA patients, and The National Disability Insurance Scheme clients. Being a mobile service, our exercise physiologists treat in locations most convenient and appropriate for the individual client. This could be at their local pool, gymnasium or in their home. We have access to most gyms and pools and if the patient is not familiar with their local facilities, we know which amenities will be most suitable for their treatment. This not only makes the program easier for the patient to implement, but increases long-term adherence and self-management.
We also understand how the psychological status of a patient can directly impact their injury or condition, so counselling throughout exercise treatment sessions is provided when needed. When necessary we refer patients to psychologists, who work with us through the rehabilitation process.
Assessments
All patients will firstly undertake an assessment of their current functional capacity, physical fitness and restrictions and limitations.
This will allow us to implement the most appropriate tailored program for the patient. Objective measures are recorded at base level, and throughout the treatment phase, to show progress and stages of rehabilitation. The assessment also allows practitioner and patient to set goals most suitable for the individual’s rehabilitation.
Hydrotherapy
Heated pools specific for hydrotherapy are used, as the warm water decreases pain and stiffness that may be present due to the injury or condition. This helps to mobilize joints and tissues with reduced range of motion and function. When a patient commences exercises in the pool, they immediately feel a decrease in pain and increases in their range of motion. Hydrotherapy is used when the patient’s injury is acute, and land based exercises are likely to cause aggravation at that stage. When pain levels have been decreased and range of motion has been increased sufficiently, it is time for the patient to be progressed to land based exercises, either at home or in a gymnasium.
Home Programs
At acute stages of injury, home programs may be necessary due to difficulties with travel. We also understand for various reasons some people will not enjoy or feel comfortable exercising at the gym, and are more suited to performing their ‘rehabilitation at home. Therefore we prescribe functional exercise programs in their home, to provide the best long-term outcomes for these patients. We also provide necessary exercise equipment such as fitballs, therabands and foam rollers, which can easily be used in any home. Furthermore, both hydrotherapy and gym programs will include self-management therapies at home, such as heat packs, triggering, stretching and range of motion exercises, to comprehensively address the causes and symptoms of the injury. Patients may also start treatments at home, and progress to a gymnasium or hydrotherapy pool.
Gym Programs
A gym program will provide the best strength and conditioning, as well as correction of movement patterns. Essentially it will provide the best long-term outcome for patients, but only if that environment is most suitable for them. A gymnasium will ensure the highest levels of hypertrophy (muscle growth), which is important to provide as much support as possible to the injury, whilst undergoing workplace tasks and activities of daily living. A correction of movement patterns will also mean the patient uses the correct muscles and techniques for the tasks at hand, to ensure there is no recursion of injury.
our reason for being
Our Exercise Physiologists
At Story Exercise Rehabilitation, our Accredited Exercise Physiologists are qualified and knowledgeable in most areas of health, but most importantly specialised in treatment for disability and musculoskeletal and neuromuscular injuries. Exercise physiology is a 4 year university degree, comprised of evidence based practice to treat patients for injury, chronic disease and disability. Most of our clients are suffering from injury or disability. Our exercise physiologists understand people are individual regardless of injury or disability, and treatments and interventions are personalized.
We understand how disabilities, injuries and returning to work can be stressful for our clients, so we provide education and counselling in our treatment sessions. We also have a policy that our patients can contact us any time with queries or concerns in regards to their treatment or exercise and rehabilitation program. Psychological stress can often play a huge role in the rehabilitation of injuries, and the management of disabilities, and therefore a factor we strive to keep as low as possible.
Tom Story
Founder
Tom Story completed a Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of Queensland at the beginning of 2013. Prior to this Tom was providing rehabilitation as a personal trainer at UQSport. Following graduation Tom commenced working for an allied health team, where he gained experience and expert knowledge in most facets of health care. Tom is specialised in disability management and musculoskeletal and neuromuscular injury rehabilitation, particularly for workplace, motor vehicle accident, DVA and life insurance injuries, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Tom established Story Exercise Rehabilitation at the beginning of 2015, with the vision of providing superior expertise to clients, through precision in prescription and exercise techniques, whilst addressing psychological needs. Tom believes in a comprehensive approach to treating the cause of the problem, and not just the symptoms, in a tailored individualized style. The most effective rehabilitation will focus on correcting movement patterns and increasing structural support, to ensure there is no recursion of injury.
Phillip’s treatment commenced with Story Exercise Rehabilitation prior to his surgery. Philip’s knee injuries occurred whilst moving large bulky objects at work, 4.5 years before his operation. Needless to say, his chronic condition meant he had been suffering from high levels of pain for a long time, and this had taken effect on his psychological status.
Philip’s treatment prior to surgery was to increase strength and functional capacity, whilst decreasing pain and discomfort. Peter’s muscle activation and movement patterns were corrected to achieve this. Philip’s psychological well-being was also cared for, whilst he was prepared for the necessary surgery.
Following surgery Philip was prescribed new exercises to decrease his pain and increase his range of motion around his knees. He was progressed with increases in strength, flexibility and function. Philip now enjoys a full-time workload as ‘Head of Year’ at his high school, and enjoys an active lifestyle exercising at the gym, jet skiing and overseas travelling.
“Having already undergone a couple of unsuccessful knee operations and had received every treatment imaginable, I was placed under the care of Tom, after my full knee replacement surgery. Tom listened to my concerns and tailor-made a program of rehabilitation, where I was able to strengthen my physical and psychological resolve on a weekly basis. He has a genuine caring nature and his human physiology knowledge is extensive. Without Tom’s guidance, I know I wouldn’t be as strong a person mentally and physically as I am today.”
Marcus developed quite a serious back injury whilst lifting heavy loads at work. Because the herniated disc was compressing upon a nerve, he was suffering from sciatic pain down his legs, as well as pain around the site of injury. Marcus’s surgeon thought he might require surgery for his rehabilitation.
Marcus was firstly prescribed body weight range of motion (ROM) and stretching exercises at the gym, to mobilize his body and decrease pain.Marcus had very poor movement patterns, meaning that through functional movements such as lifting heavy loads, he was recruiting the incorrect muscles, which was not compatible with having a healthy spine. Our exercise physiologist corrected Marcus’s movement patterns through functional exercises, executed with precise and proper muscle activation.
Once movement patterns were corrected, Marcus was progressed to functional exercises with a strength and conditioning focus. This provided muscle growth around his injury and throughout his body, to provide support to his lumbar spine. Throughout treatment Marcus was educated on the correct ways to lift and perform his duties at work.
Marcus is now a form worker for a Brisbane construction company, and endures much heavier lifting than he did at the nursery. Furthermore, Marcus’s surgeon was impressed by his rehabilitation, and no longer saw need for surgery.
“I was so happy when the surgeon said I wouldn’t need surgery. Tom corrected the way my body moved, so I could lift heavier loads without hurting my back. This meant I could progress my career into construction, and I have no physical restrictions in my life.”
Tracey was managing a bottle shop whilst she injured her lumbar spine lifting a carton of beer. Tracey’s work incident had formed a bulging disc in her lumbar spine. This left Tracey quite incapacitated in her occupation, with restrictions on lifting.
Before being referred to Story Exercise Rehabilitation, Tracey had endured 6 months of rehabilitation with a physiotherapist, and gained no functional capacity. She was still suffering high levels of pain and mobility issues.
Tracey’s Story exercise physiologist firstly began to correct her movement patterns through functional exercises. Tracey was also prescribed core activation and strengthening exercises, to provide more support to her lumbar spine. Her pain levels were addressed and decreased through the use of a heat pack, and triggering taught by the therapist.
Tracey was given full body strengthening, as well as education on how to lift and perform her work duties correctly, and avoid recursion of injury. Tracey has been back on full duties at her bottle shop for over a year, and still enjoys going to the gym and performing her long-term maintenance program.
“The professional treatment and care I received at Story Exercise Rehabilitation, is like no other therapy I have experienced. My condition began to improve straightaway, my capacity at work increased and my pain disappeared. The exercises taught to me were very thorough and tailored to my job requirements. My therapist ensured I performed all exercises 100% correctly, and I knew my program back to front, by the time he discharged me from treatment.”
Michael was referred to Story Exercise rehabilitation with a torn rotator cuff, and neck and shoulder pain. Rotator-cuff strengthening exercises were prescribed, along with stretching, foam roller and triggering exercises to treat his neck and shoulder pain.
Michael was then prescribed tailored exercises to increase his functional capacity in his job requirements. Michael was able to return to his full duties at work, and still enjoys self-managing his condition in a gymnasium.
“Tom knew exactly what my injury needed for me to return to work. The exercises strengthened the right muscles, and my pain levels were diminished through devices and techniques provided. I never thought I would be a gym person, but Tom knows how to make it fun, and I still enjoy going to the gym. “
E-Referral Form
Please fill in the form below. Alternatively, please click here to download pdf and email to admin@storyexercise.com.au