While physiotherapy is great for restoring movement and function for those affected by injury, illness or disability, the goal is always to provide clients with the tools and exercises to self-manage.

Lime Therapy senior physiotherapist Denise Krklec says exercise is the key to rehabilitation and the best preventative care for your body.

“Even in palliative patients we now know treatment works better if you’re able to do some gentle exercise,” Ms Krklec says.

“For every condition there is an exercise we give to a client so they can self-manage at home and not become dependent on a therapist.

“We want to get them to a point where they come and see us just to help them along a bit and update their exercises.”

Ms Krklec joined the local Lime Therapy team in January 2020, following the sun from Brisbane to Mildura.

She treats all sorts of clients for common ailments such as back, neck and knee pain, but specialises in hydrotherapy and lymphoedema therapy.

“If part of your lymph system, which is related to your immune system, has been compromised then you may get swelling in that part of the body.

“You see it a lot after breast cancer surgery where people have had their lymph nodes removed and then their arm starts to swell because those lymph nodes normally collect fluid.

“There are different techniques to try and reduce the fluid.”

After moving to its new Fifteenth Street site recently, Lime Therapy now has an onsite hydrotherapy pool, allowing the treatment of more complex cases and those with severe disabilities, thanks to a specialised hoist.

The pool is kept at 33 to 34 degrees, helping to loosen muscles and relieve pain, with a jet stream available for resistance exercises which are often used to treat injured athletes.

Ms Krklec says pool-based therapy is good for those beginning their journey of recovery or with low mobility, but to progress and build strength, clients also need land-based exercises.

“Hydrotherapy is really good for rehabilitating balance…in that respect it’s really beneficial for elderly people, because the water supports a lot of a person’s weight in a safe environment.

“Pool exercises can do the same as on land to a certain point in your muscle strength, but then the pool is not as effective as weight bearing on land.

"The goal is always to get to a point where you can transfer your pool exercises to function on land."

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