NDIS participants who require physiotherapy, should have access to the service in conjunction with a holistic allied health plan, to achieve both short and long term goals, say experts.

According to Jamie Chen, Physiotherapist at Therapy Care, physiotherapists often treat patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord or brain injury, and cerebral palsy, as well as people who have experienced strokes.

In all cases, patients would benefit from multiple allied health services, working together, said Ms Chen.

“Physiotherapy can help NDIS participants improve and/or maintain their functional capacity by strengthening muscles, reducing joint stiffness, and increasing balance and coordination,” Ms Chen said.

“We assess and treat secondary musculoskeletal issues that might arise from their primary impairment, to prevent decline in function.”

Having multiple therapists in one setting, means the team can case conference together and come to the best goal-orientated solution for clients.

“It allows the team to use years of clinical knowledge, experience and evidence-based practice when implementing services, and supports new graduate therapists entering the NDIS space.”

It also means cross-referrals, or discharge to another discipline of therapy, is also possible as health is ever changing, Ms Chen said.

“For example, someone may present for physiotherapy, but mention they are having difficulties swallowing and eating food at home. We are then able to refer the client on for speech therapy and dietician management. Super holistic.”

Many NDIS participants worked towards achieving a common goal such as improving functional capacity, Ms Chen said, therefore the best way physiotherapists could support the progression of these goals was by working with the other allied health professionals on the participant’s support team.

“For example, if I’m working with a participant who has behavioural and communication challenges but is working to improve their sport/play skills - it's helpful to know what strategies are being implemented by other allied health professionals (such as a speech pathologist) and continue through with those strategies in various sessions.”

Failure to work with other allied health professionals disadvantages both the patient and the physiotherapist, said Ms Chen, because it was more difficult to case conference and cross refer.

“There are often time delays when working with therapists in other organisations which again slows progress for the participant and means more admin for the therapist.

“One of the great benefits of also offering daily living support services, is that therapists can communicate with disability support workers who can then support the participant to implement the at-home ‘homework’ the therapist has given the participant.

“This is such a crucial element as for example, a participant may have one hour of funding per week for physiotherapy but 20 hours of funding a week for daily support services. That support worker who is spending 20 hours a week with the participant can help them complete their exercises routinely. This means better outcomes overall.”

Ms Chen said this can sometimes get lost if the daily living support team and therapists work in different organisations. 

“Another practice we undertake regularly is to implement goals from other therapies into our sessions,” she said.

“For example, in my physiotherapy sessions I implement exercises to support communication goals that the speech pathology team are working towards. It’s very holistic and supports a client in all aspects of their lives.”