Real Time Ultrasound
Real time ultrasound allows the capturing of real time pictures of structures within the body, using high frequency sound waves that are inaudible to human ears.The sound waves, which are completely safe for human tissue, are sent into the tissues, and the sound waves that are bounced back are used to create the picture. This amazing technology is widely used in medicine for assessing internal organs, blood vessels and developing babies. Ultrasound is also extremely useful for imaging muscles, tendons and ligaments when assessing the consequences of an injury or the cause of persisting musculoskeletal pain. Twenty years ago physiotherapists began using ultrasound not only to look at the size and health of muscles, but to look at activation patterns of muscle groups. There is now a large volume of scientific research confirming the validity, reliability and usefulness of such techniques.
While we can see and palpate the superficial muscles, it is not possible to accurately assess size, quality or activation patterns of deep muscles, as these muscles lay beneath other larger, more superficial muscles. While superficial muscles are generally our power producers for movement, the deeper shorter muscles hug around our joint providing protection, stability and fine control of movement. Researchers have shown that there are often ongoing problems in our deep muscle systems in persisting pain states or recurrent injury. General strengthening programmes in these cases have often failed to normalise function in the deep system, even though the superficial system has become larger and stronger. This can sometimes make the problem worse – if you have larger muscles placing greater loads across joints that are relatively unprotected by an inefficient deep system, worsening pain or re-injury can occur.
Deep muscles are often inhibited and superficial muscles overwork to compensate in persistent pain states or recurrent injuries, resulting in muscle imbalance, pain and stiffness, and reduced efficiency and physical performance.
Deep muscles are particularly prone to inhibition. We know from research that pain inhibits deep muscles, and a lack of weightbearing or poor postures can also negatively influence deep muscles around the spine and pelvis. The superficial muscles have been shown to be much less susceptible to inhibition, so if the deep system is not doing its job the brain ‘upregulates’ the superficial system to ensure you can still get from A to B (hunter & gatherer survival instinct).
However when superficial muscles try to do the ‘stabilising’ job – 1. You become much less efficient using lots more energy for each task (remember you usually only use small muscles to do this task with less metabolic cost) and 2. The underlying joints are exposed to much higher compressive loads and shear forces imposed by the big superficial muscles. This can make you feel tight, rigid or less fluid in your movements, more fatigued, and more painful, and the loss of efficiency may reduce athletic performance.
Real time ultrasound provides an incredible opportunity to assess the health and function of these muscles, not only at rest, but during active movement. No other imaging modality has the same versatility as ultrasound. Physiotherapists can then use ultrasound to train you how to consciously activate your deep muscle systems and protect your joints more effectively prior to and throughout movement. It also helps us to teach you to ‘downregulate’ your superficial system making you less rigid and more efficient in your movements, and then we can strengthen the both systems together in safe and balanced way.
Real time ultrasound provides a unique window into the function of our deep muscles during movement. This level of information cannot be provided by visual assessment, palpation or any other imaging modality to date.
Physio's skilled in RTUS +
BPhty
MPhtySt (Sports)
Dr Alison Grimaldi
Alison is our Principal Physiotherapist, with 28 years of clinical experience and particular expertise in the management of hip, groin and lumbo-pelvic pain and dysfunction. Alison also has a special interest in the assessment and optimisation of lumbo-pelvic and lower limb biomechanics for running, change of direction and all weightbearing sports, aiming to maximize an athlete’s performance outcomes and minimize risks of injury or re-injury.
Alison completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Queensland in 1990, a Masters of Sports Physiotherapy in 1997, and her Doctorate in Philosophy in the Field of Physiotherapy (PhD) in 2008. Her PhD studies were concerned with improving our understanding of hip muscle function and the relationship with hip joint pathology and weightbearing stimulus. These studies involved research collaboration with the European Space Agency. Alison continues to be passionate about extending our understanding of why we develop problems around the hip and pelvis, and what we can do to most effectively prevent and manage these problems. She is currently involved with research studies through the University of Queensland and University of Melbourne, has co-supervised a number of PhD students, and has pioneered the use of Real Time Ultrasound technology for the assessment and retraining of muscle function around the hip & pelvis. Due to her valuable contributions to research at the University of Queensland, Alison has been awarded the title Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in the School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences.
It is one of Alison’s core beliefs that research should be relevant to clinical practice and helping the patients we treat every day, and that physiotherapists in the community should have access to this valuable information to allow them to transfer this knowledge into clinical practice as quickly as possible. To this end, Alison continues to publish, present and provide practical workshops for other health professionals. Alison has published a number of papers in scientific journals, has contributed detailed information freely accessible via podcasts by PhysioEdge (itunes) and the British Journal of Sports Medicine (SoundCloud), and has recently contributed to 3 leading physiotherapy and sports medicine text books. Alison is a visiting lecturer at Masters level at Queensland University, and also runs weekend seminars and courses around Australia & overseas with a focus on muscle function, therapeutic exercise, and the use of real time ultrasound in clinical practice. She has presented at many state, national & international conferences as an Invited or Keynote Speaker, and has run international seminars in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Belgium, Canada, United States of America, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai (UAE).
Alison established Physiotec in 2005 and continues a clinical load, working with patients with complex hip and lumbopelvic conditions, and across a broad spectrum of sports, including elite level triathlon, running, dance, cricket, athletics & swimming. She also spends a considerable amount of time mentoring her excellent staff, ensuring they are up-to-date and able to provide a high level of clinical expertise for management of musculoskeletal problems.
Bike Fit Analyst
Eric Huang
Eric has been a qualified Physiotherapist since 2004, having worked in a variety of clinical settings from medical centres to holistic health centres before joining Physiotec in 2009. With this many years at Physiotec, Eric is currently our longest serving physiotherapist. For many years, Eric split his time between PhysioTec and providing onsite injury management services to a variety of manual handling industries. In 2018, Eric decided to move from onsite injury management to work with Dr Patrick Weinrauch at Brisbane Hip Clinic. His many years working and training under Dr Alison Grimaldi and now under Dr Weinrauch make him highly qualified in the management of Hip & Groin pain.
His other interests in physiotherapy are neck and upper back pain, cycling related pain and injuries and dry needling. Eric is a competitive cyclist himself, runs his own cycling crew, MIA, and is passionate about all things cycling. He has competed at both Australian and World Track Championships. Eric provides our bike fit service and has a personal and professional interest in strength & conditioning. This experience he brings to our GymStart programs, where Eric can teach, assess and correct your form with gym lifts to ensure you will be safe and gain maximum benefit from your gym program. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience where it comes to balancing optimal performance outcomes and recovery from injury or training fatigue. In his spare time he also enjoys spending quality time with his family and keeping a great looking tropical aquarium.
MAdvClinPhysio (Sports)
Kevin Doan
Kevin is an experienced Sports Physiotherapist who completed his undergraduate degree at the University of South Australia. Kevin also holds a Masters in Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy (Sports) and has achieved titling as awarded by the Australian Physiotherapy Association as an APA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist.
In early 2020 Kevin made the move to Brisbane from Adelaide where he worked at a large, multidisciplinary sports medicine and orthopaedic centre. He also worked with NPL football teams in Adelaide, which has helped shape his rehabilitation philosophy.
Throughout Kevin’s many years of experience, he has developed an interest in treating injuries of the hip, pelvis, and groin. His clinical interests also include tendon and soft tissue injury management, low back, shoulder, and knee pain rehabilitation. Having sustained an ACL injury himself, Kevin understands the pitfalls and struggles of the rehabilitation journey, leading to a passion for quality ACL rehabilitation.
Kevin’s passion for Physiotherapy stems from meeting new people and developing great relationships to foster improved health outcomes and long-term recovery. He is a lifelong learner who has a strong commitment to best-practice Physiotherapy having completed numerous post-graduate courses including courses with Alison Grimaldi. Consultations with Kevin involve detailed assessments to understand the cause of your injury, hands-on treatment to relieve pain, and prescription of high-quality exercise to build resilience and improve long-term health.
Pilates Instructor
Dance
MIADMS-Dance Medicine
Joanne Manning
Joanne graduated from the University of Queensland in 2014 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy Honours Class l. A skilled dancer, choreographer and director, Joanne forged a highly successful career internationally and more specifically on Broadway before transitioning to a career in physiotherapy.
After completion of her physiotherapy degree, Joanne has worked in both private practice and hospital settings, gaining experience in outpatient musculoskeletal work, general hospital medical/surgical, and post-surgical rehabilitation.
With her extensive dance background Joanne has a special interest in dance rehabilitation and injury prevention for dancers and is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.
Joanne is always looking to expand her knowledge and skills. She has trained in dry needling, pain sciences, dancer assessment and rehabilitation, kinesio-taping, vestibular dysfunction and APPI clinical Pilates.
Outside of work Joanne is an avid traveller, scuba diver and photographer, and enjoys spending time with family and friends while enjoying the Aussie lifestyle.
Dance
Pilates
Rhianna Tunks
Rhianna graduated in 2018 from Curtin University in Perth with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy. During her studies, Rhianna had the opportunity to work closely with full-time ballet and contemporary dancers at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and contributed to a paper investigating the beliefs about low back pain in pre-professional dancers.
After completing her studies, Rhianna moved over to Sydney and gained experience working in private practice settings and teaching Pilates classes. She attained additional training in dry needling, clinical Pilates and pre-pointe assessments. Her experience includes a wide exposure across musculoskeletal pain and injuries, including hip and lower limb conditions. Rhianna has completed Dr Alison Grimaldi’s in-depth training on hip, groin and buttock pain.
With her extensive background in dance, Rhianna has a special interest in dance injury rehabilitation and prevention. Rhianna has worked backstage treating members of the Dream Dance Company and made the move to Brisbane after completing a full-time dance course herself. Rhianna continues to enjoy her dance training across all styles including hip hop, heels, and jazz in her spare time.
MPhty (Musc)
Irene Li
Irene is currently on Maternity Leave.
Irene completed her Master of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy in 2019 and graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2014 from the University of Queensland.
Over years of working in private practice setting, Irene developed special interests in treating spinal, hip and pelvis related conditions. Despite treating musculoskeletal disorders, Irene is also qualified in providing lymphoedema management. She is an Australasia Lymphology Association (ALA) accredited lymphoedema physiotherapist since 2015.
Irene is a lifelong learner who had additional training in dry needling and clinical Pilates, but also she is planning to advance her learning in women’s health area.
Outside physiotherapy, Irene is a keen snowboarder and has a strong interest in rehabilitation of skiing or snowboarding related injuries as well as conditioning. Irene also enjoys hiking, weight training and travelling with her family during her spare time.
Post Cancer
Physiotherapist
Julie Allen – Physiotherapist
Julie Allen is an empathetic, caring and delightful physiotherapist with over 20 years experience in both sports physiotherapy and rehabilitation for chronic neck and back pain. She is passionate about tailoring exercise filled with enjoyment, skills and interests. Her early career was filled with success as a sports physiotherapist who travelled with Australia’s top international sporting teams including the Australian Hockeyroos, Queensland Firebirds, the Brisbane Blades and Queensland Netball State teams. Her passion was rehabilitation after injury, helping athletes recover and return either to full function or transition to life post sport.
Julie is also a survivor of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and has drawn on both her professional expertise and own cancer experience to develop the Pentimento Project – A physiotherapy approach to post cancer treatment rehabilitation. Julie offers individual tailored rehabilitation options, in addition to group support sessions. Her aim is to assist cancer survivors regain a level of physical and psychological health and wellbeing in a quest for improvement in quality of life.
She obtained her Bachelor of Physiotherapy with first class honours from the University of Queensland in 1994. She is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)and endorsed by the Australian Health Practioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA). She works closely with The Queensland Branch of the Leukaemia Foundation. She also provides service to clients of Haematology Oncology Clinics of Australasia (HOCA) and their clinical network company: Integrated Clinical Oncology Network (ICON).
Visit The Pentimento Project founded by Julie Allen
