OrthoMED: A
multidisciplinary team working together to preserve and restore function, keeping you pain-free.
Ruan Fourie
Physiotherapist
Ruan studied Bachelors of Physiotherapy at the University of Pretoria and graduated in 2000. During his career as a sports physiotherapist, he has gained extensive knowledge enabling him to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate injuries after being involved with players from numerous sporting teams, including elite and Olympic athletes. His career as head physiotherapist for sporting disciplines, to name a few are, the Natal Sharks Super Rugby team for 5 years, The Lions Super Rugby Team, Russian Federation National Rugby Team, Sundowns Football Club as well as other sporting codes.
Our practice philosophy is… “You don’t have to be an Olympic champion to be treated like one”. We strive to treat our patients with the utmost respect, care with high-end skill and technology.
Dominic Haussamer
Physiotherapist
Dominic also spent two years assisting Maritzburg College and Hilton College, with the management of their athletes and developed a special interest in assisting young athletes reach their full potential, while preparing for the demands of professional sport.
Dr Rochelle van Eck
Aloha Chiropractic
I am a passionate, active, energetic, compassionate and dedicated chiropractor here to help you and your body function at its best. I chose chiropractic to help heal people naturally without going under the knife or using medications that only mask the pain. This translates directly into my passion, helping people live their best life free of pain and invasive procedures.
The essence of Chiropractic is treating the body holistically, which means finding the root of the problem and treating all aspects of the body involved with it. By treating the cause and not just the symptoms, the body heals faster and minimizes long term damage. The spine is essentially the highway for your nervous system as it houses your spinal cord. The spine carries an endless amount of information up and down from your brain to the rest of your body and back.
When the spine is not aligned, this highway of information is interrupted, resulting in your body function being suboptimal. Correcting the malalignment is essential to allow the body to function optimally.
Although Chiropractic does focus mostly on the spine, contrary to popular opinion Chiropractic treatment also involves treating the extremities and the rest of the body. Chiropractic treatment primarily consists of adjustments, but also involves dry-needling, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), soft tissue therapy, massage, trigger point therapy (“knots” in muscles), strapping, rehabilitation as well as ultrasound therapy and laser therapy. Chiropractors are spine specialists who diagnose and manage a range of conditions. We are best known for our treatment of back and neck pain and due to the nature of our scope of practice we can assist sports medicine, orthopaedics and neurological disciplines. The goal is to improve mobility and function, assist in improving range of motion and quality of life, reduce pressure on nerves and provide relief for muscular pain. The ability to improve function of the spine and extremities without the use of surgery or drugs gives Chiropractic a central role in the conservative management of pain.
OrthoMED
At OrthoMED we work as a team. Lead by our orthopaedic specialist, the team comprises of physiotherapists, biokineticists, occupational therapists, sports rehabilitation therapists, audiologists and speech therapists who work in unison to achieve the common goal of optimising our clients function.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy improves your physical condition by restoring normal body functions and addressing disability that may arise from a disease, trauma or injury.
Physiotherapy is a primary care speciality in medicine that encompasses posture, balance, movement as well as knowledge of disease, injury and its healing process.
It uses mechanical force and movements (Bio-mechanics or Kinesiology), manual therapy, exercise therapy, electrotherapy and various physical therapies including dry needling to restore normal function, decrease pain and speed up tissue healing rate.
It remediates impairments and promotes mobility, function, and quality of life through examination, diagnosis, prognosis, and physical intervention.
Physical Therapy (PT) services may be provided as primary care treatment or in conjunction with other medical services to provide a holistic approach to recovery.
Our Physiotherapists at PearlsMED have a comprehensive understanding of how the body works gained from many years of rigorous academic study and practical experience. They will address the illnesses or injuries that limit your abilities to move and perform functional activities in your daily life.
A patient’s individual history and physical examination findings aid to formulate a diagnosis and establish a personalised management and treatment plan, and when necessary, may incorporate special laboratory or imaging modalities such as X-rays, CT-scan or MRI studies.
PT management commonly includes education of the injury, the prescription of specific exercises, manual therapy and manipulation, mechanical devices such as traction, physical agents which include heat, cold, electricity, sound waves, radiation, assistive devices, prosthesis, orthosis and other interventions.
In addition, Physiotherapists work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-orientated programs to achieve healthier and more active lifestyles; providing services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functionality throughout the lifespan. This includes the provision of therapeutic treatment in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.
Sports Physiotherapy
Sports Physiotherapy is a specialised branch of physiotherapy which deals with injuries and issues related to sports people, athletes and elite performance.
Sports injuries do differ to everyday injuries. Athletes normally require high level performance and increased demand placed upon their body, which stresses their muscles, joints and bones to the limit. Sports physiotherapists help athletes recover from sporting injuries and provide education and resources to prevent complications.
Each sports physiotherapist usually has sport-specific knowledge that addresses acute, chronic and overuse injuries. Their services are generally available to sports men and women of all ages engaged in sports at any level of competition.
Sports Physiotherapists have experience and knowledge of the latest evidence-based practice, skilled assessment and diagnosis of sports injuries, and use effective ‘hands-on’ management techniques and exercise protocols to assist recovery and prevent injury.
At PearlsMED our highly skilled and experienced sports physiotherapists can help you achieve optimal function and performance through treatment, advice and training to support every level of participation.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors are primarily spine specialists who diagnose and manage a range of related physical conditions. Best know for their treatment of back and neck pain they may also assist sports medicine, orthopaedics and neurological disciplines.
There are a few basic types of chiropractic treatments that are commonly called adjustments. The traditional adjustment is rendered by hand but other types of adjustments may be performed with the use of specialised instrument. The goal is to improve mobility and function, assist in improving range of motion, reducing pressure on nerve structures and providing relief for muscular pain. This ability to improve function of the spine or extremity without the use of surgery or drugs gives Chiropractic a central role in the conservative management of pain.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is a critical part of the recovery process – ithout it, patients may struggle to regain the ability that allows them to be
independent and confident. The rehabilitation journey is often challenging, but with our support, we will guide you to achieving recovery and starting a new chapter in your healing.
Our facilities are designed to make you feel comfortable, and are conducive to achieving a high rate of recovery. Our interdisciplinary teams understand the difficulty you may be facing and work tirelessly to help you mentally and physically. We offer the following services:
- Injury rehabilitation
- Post-operative support
- Chronic pain management
- Back pain relief
- Lymphatic drainage
- Functional improvement
- Stroke rehabilitation
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapists in medicine work with patients who experience difficulties in completing activities of daily living due to a wide range of health problems including neurological impairments, functional limitations, hand rehabilitation and cardiovascular conditions.
Our occupational therapists aim to promote personal independence through assessments and interventions. Assessments may include gathering information about how a patient was managing before they were diagnosed and analysing how they can manage those tasks at home, for example washing and dressing. Other assessments may look at a patient’s memory or concentration. Interventions may include practicing new techniques or prescribing equipment to complete tasks a patient is finding difficult, providing education or referral to rehabilitation services.
Biokinetics
Biokineticists are human- movement specialists who prescribe exercise routines either as a preventative health measure or recovery from operation or illness.
Our biokineticists focus on orthopaedic rehabilitation. This includes strengthening of muscles to protect joints for sport and activities of daily living alike. Biokinetics also plays a role in optimising chronic disease management (cardiovascular, diabetes, arthritis) and promoting total wellness.
Biokinetics provides natural, drugless, non-surgical health treatments and rehabilitation, and relies on the body’s inherent recuperative abilities.