When the radial nerve becomes irritated or restricted, it can cause frustrating symptoms that affect everyday activities such as typing, lifting, or gripping. One of the most effective techniques we use as physiotherapists to address this problem is radial nerve glides.

What Are Radial Nerve Glides?

Radial nerve glides are gentle, controlled movements designed to improve the mobility of the radial nerve.

Your nerves need to be able to slide and glide freely as your body moves. When a nerve becomes irritated—whether due to muscle tightness, postural strain, or an injury—it may not move smoothly. This can result in pain, tingling, or weakness.

Radial nerve glides work by carefully moving your arm and wrist through a sequence of positions that stretch the nerve in one direction while releasing it in another. This “flossing” action encourages better nerve movement and reduces sensitivity.

Why We Prescribe Radial Nerve Glides

We may recommend radial nerve glides as part of a treatment plan when you’re experiencing:

• Tingling or numbness along the back of the hand or thumb
  
• Pain in the back of the arm, elbow, or wrist
  
• Weakness with gripping or lifting
  
• Symptoms related to conditions such as radial tunnel syndrome or nerve irritation from postural strain
• Tennis elbow- pain on the outside of the elbow
  

By performing these glides, you may notice:

• Reduced nerve-related discomfort
  
• Improved mobility in your arm and wrist
  
• Greater confidence using your arm in daily activities
  

It’s important to remember that radial nerve glides are not a “one-size-fits-all” exercise. We assess your condition thoroughly—often using neurodynamic testing or an Upper Limb Tension Test—before prescribing them.

How to Perform a Radial Nerve Glide (Step by Step)

We’ll demonstrate and guide you through radial nerve glides in your appointment to make sure you’re doing them correctly and safely. A common version of the exercise looks like this:

1. Starting position: Stand tall with your arm relaxed by your side.
2. Arm position: Gently extend your arm out to the side about 30 deg, then rotate it inwards, keeping your elbow straight.
3. Wrist and hand: Flex your wrist and fingers (bend them towards your palm), with your thumb across your palm and the fingers curled over it.
4. Shoulder movement: Slowly tilt your head away from your arm, as you lower your arm to the side to glide the nerve, then tilt towards your arm as you move your arm back out to 30deg. Keep elbow straight and wrist and fingers curled over the thumb.
5. Gliding motion: Repeat this gentle movement 5–10 times, always staying within a comfortable range.

We’ll adapt the exact sequence for you depending on your symptoms, flexibility, and comfort level.

Important: Radial nerve glides should never be painful. You may feel a light stretch or mild reproduction of symptoms, but sharp pain or strong tingling means the nerve is being irritated. If that happens, stop and let us know.

Safety and Precautions

Not every patient should perform radial nerve glides. We avoid prescribing them if there’s:

• Acute nerve inflammation
• Recent trauma or surgery
• Severe neurological symptoms (such as significant weakness)

That’s why it’s essential to have a thorough assessment with us before starting. We’ll use tests such as the Upper Limb Tension Test to confirm whether nerve glides are appropriate for you.

How Radial Nerve Glides Fit Into Treatment

On their own, nerve glides can provide relief. But they’re most effective when combined with:

• Posture correction: Improving neck and shoulder alignment to reduce strain on nerves.
• A thorough assessment to determine why there is nerve tension, which involves assessing the neural interfaces, ie the joints and muscles where the nerve passes around.
• Strengthening exercises: Building support in surrounding muscles.
• Hands-on therapy: Manual techniques to release tight tissues and improve mobility.
• Education: Teaching you how to modify daily activities that may be aggravating your symptoms.

This holistic approach ensures we’re not just easing your symptoms, but also addressing the root cause.

Conclusion

Radial nerve glides are a simple yet powerful tool for easing nerve-related pain and improving mobility in your arm, wrist, and hand. When prescribed and guided by a physiotherapist, they can play an important role in restoring function and helping you return to the activities you enjoy.

If you’re experiencing nerve-related symptoms, don’t try to self-manage with random exercises from the internet. A thorough assessment with our experienced team at Northwest Physiotherapy Group will ensure you get the right diagnosis and a safe, effective treatment plan.

Book your appointment today and take the first step towards lasting relief.

References

• Shacklock M. Clinical Neurodynamics: A New System of Musculoskeletal Treatment. Elsevier; 2005.
  
• Butler DS. The Sensitive Nervous System. NOI Group; 2000.

If this is always true, why can we feel pain when we have not injured ourselves? 

For example, we feel neck or back pain after sitting for a prolonged periods or a trivial action like reaching for a towel causes severe back pain?
How is this possible if pain = damage? This is confusing.

What The Research Shows

The research tells a different story:

One study ( Brinjiki et al) showed a high rate of ‘pathology’ in lower back MRIs in over 3000 subjects without any pain or dysfunction – and this was in people ranging from 20 to 80 years old.

In the shoulder, many studies have painted a very similar picture. One study (Grisih et al) found that a remarkable 96% of subjects who reported no pain or issues had at least one identifiable ‘pathology’ on their ultrasound scan. 

So you can see that tissue damage does not lead to pain in many cases, and pain can arise without  evidence of tissue damage. This is precisely why we constantly remind our patients that ultrasound scans don’t tell the full story.

The general understanding of pain and injury needs to be updated so that people can overcome pain more easily and get back to living their (best) lives.

A New Understanding of Pain

The new understanding of pain is that it is an output signal created by the brain, as a warning sign. It can be out of proportion to the injury. This serves to change behaviour to prevent further damage, which is often required to fix the problem.

The issue is that most people don’t understand this, and remain stuck with a painful condition because they are fearful to move in case it causes more tissue damage. The problem with this is that people are thinking about local structures, not the whole body. There are compensations and protective mechanisms that can develop in other areas of the body that can contribute to your pain…. Where your pain is located is not necessarily where it comes from.

For example, someone can get knee pain because they had a recent back pain episode that affected the way they walked. The back pain improved, but the knee persisted because of secondary protective mechanisms that have not resolved.

A Whole Body Approach

This is why we look at the whole body and how it works together. We want be as thorough as we can and find all the contributors, both local and remote for your pain. This will enable you to get back to the things you love doing without the pain you have been suffering.

We use a 7 step process (the ridgway method) that will find the main drivers of your pain and fix them quickly. It is scientific, objective and based on the latest neuroscience research. 

If you’re not open to a new understanding of pain, you will remain stuck and restricted by your pain and fear of movement. Are you really willing to let your pain dictate your quality of life? 

Or are you looking for a new approach to regain your lifestyle, independence and get on top of your pain long term?

If you’re ready to take control of your life, book an initial consultation with us. We’d love to help you!

References

Brinjikji W et al; Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Apr;36(4):811-6. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173. Epub 2014 Nov 27.

Girish G et al; Ultrasound of the shoulder: asymptomatic findings in men. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 Oct;197(4):W713-9. doi: 10.2214/AJR.11.6971

What Are Ulnar Nerve Glides?

Ulnar nerve glides are gentle, controlled exercises designed to help your ulnar nerve move smoothly through its pathway from your neck, around your elbow, and down into your hand. These movements act like “dental floss” for your nerve—encouraging better gliding and reducing sensitivity.

Your ulnar nerve needs to slide freely as you bend and straighten your elbow, especially since it passes through the narrow cubital tunnel on the inside of your elbow. When this nerve becomes compressed or irritated, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms that affect your daily activities.

Why We Prescribe Ulnar Nerve Glides

We commonly recommend ulnar nerve glides when you’re experiencing:

• Numbness or tingling in your ring and little fingers
• Pain on the inside of your elbow that radiates down your arm
• Weakness with gripping or pinching activities
• Symptoms that worsen when your elbow is bent for extended periods
• “Funny bone” sensitivity that doesn’t settle

These symptoms often indicate conditions such as:

• Cubital tunnel syndrome: The most common form of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow
• Ulnar nerve irritation: From repetitive elbow bending or prolonged pressure
• Post-injury nerve restriction: Following trauma or prolonged immobilization

Recent research shows that ulnar nerve gliding exercises can be particularly useful for moderate cubital tunnel syndrome, helping to reduce pain and improve function when combined with other conservative treatments.

Understanding Your Ulnar Nerve

Your ulnar nerve is sometimes called the “funny bone” nerve because it runs very close to the surface at your elbow, making it easy to bump accidentally. When you hit your “funny bone” and get numbness and tingling in your fingers as well as a sharp electrical pain, you are actually hitting your ulnar nerve.

This nerve controls important muscles in your hand that help with:

• Gripping and pinching strength
• Fine finger movements
• Coordination between your fingers

When the nerve can’t glide properly, particularly through the tight space at your elbow, you experience the symptoms that brought you to see us.

How We Teach Ulnar Nerve Glides

Before prescribing ulnar nerve glides, we conduct a thorough assessment that may include neurodynamic testing or specialized tests like the Upper Limb Tension Test to confirm that your ulnar nerve is involved in your symptoms.

If appropriate, here’s a basic ulnar nerve glide we commonly teach:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Starting position: Stand or sit comfortably with your shoulders relaxed
2. Begin: Extend your affected arm out to the side, palm facing up
3. Glide phase 1: Slowly bend your elbow, bringing your hand toward your shoulder (palm facing you)
4. Glide phase 2: Gently rotate your palm outward and bend your wrist so your fingers point toward your face
5. Return: Reverse the movement slowly back to the starting position
6. Repeat: Perform 5–10 smooth repetitions

Important Safety Note: This exercise should feel like a gentle stretch or mild tingling. If you experience sharp pain, significant numbness, or worsening symptoms, stop immediately and contact us.

What to Expect During Your Exercises

• A mild stretch sensation along your arm is normal
• Brief, light tingling may occur but shouldn’t persist after the exercise
• Start with small ranges of motion and few repetitions
• Aggressive mobilization of severely entrapped nerves may cause nerve elongation and thus exacerbate symptoms, which is why we start gently

Your symptoms should not worsen after performing the nerve glides. If they do, we need to modify your program.

When We Don’t Recommend Ulnar Nerve Glides

We avoid prescribing ulnar nerve glides if you have:

• Severe nerve compression with significant weakness
• Recent trauma or surgery to the elbow or arm
• Rapidly worsening symptoms
• Signs of severe nerve damage

This is why a proper assessment with our team is essential—we ensure the exercises are safe and appropriate for your specific condition, often using comprehensive neurodynamic testing as part of our evaluation.

How Ulnar Nerve Glides Fit Into Your Treatment Plan

Nerve glides are most effective when combined with other treatments:

Comprehensive Care Approach:

• Activity modification: Avoiding positions that compress the nerve
• Ergonomic education: Proper workplace and sleeping positions
• Strengthening exercises: Building support in surrounding muscles
• Manual therapy: Hands-on techniques to improve tissue mobility
• Posture correction: Addressing contributing factors from your neck and shoulder

This integrated approach ensures we’re addressing both your symptoms and their underlying causes.

Preventing Future Ulnar Nerve Problems

Along with nerve glides, we’ll teach you how to:

• Avoid prolonged elbow bending (especially while sleeping or talking on the phone)
• Use proper ergonomics at work and during activities
• Recognize early warning signs of nerve irritation
• Modify activities that put excessive pressure on your elbow

Taking the Next Step

Ulnar nerve glides can be highly effective for reducing symptoms and improving function when taught and monitored by experienced physiotherapists. However, they’re not suitable for everyone, and the technique must be tailored to your specific condition and symptoms.

If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, or pain in your ring and little fingers, don’t ignore it. Early intervention with appropriate treatment—including properly prescribed nerve glides—often leads to much better outcomes than waiting for symptoms to worsen.

Our experienced team at Northwest Physiotherapy Group specializes in nerve tension testing and treatment. We’ll conduct a thorough assessment, determine if ulnar nerve glides are right for you, and create a comprehensive treatment plan to get you back to comfortable, pain-free movement.

Book your appointment today and let us help you understand and treat the true cause of your symptoms.

References

• Shacklock M. Clinical Neurodynamics: A New System of Musculoskeletal Treatment. Elsevier; 2005.
• Butler DS. The Sensitive Nervous System. NOI Group; 2000.
• Yagata Y, et al. Clinical outcomes of ulnar nerve gliding exercise in the nonoperative treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Journal of Hand Surgery. 2025;50(3):234-241.

What is the Lower Limb Tension Test?

The LLTT is part of neurodynamic testing, a specialised assessment that looks at how well your nerves move and function. The test uses gentle, controlled movements to put specific nerves in your lower body under a light stretch to assess their movement.

By assessing for protective responses such as muscle guarding through the test, or carefully reproducing your symptoms in a safe and measured way, we can determine whether irritated or restricted nerves are contributing to your pain. This gives us valuable information for creating a treatment plan that targets the true source of your symptoms.

Why We Perform the Lower Limb Tension Test

Your nerves need to glide freely as you move. When they become compressed, irritated, or tethered, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Shooting pain down the leg
• Tingling or numbness in the foot or toes
• A feeling of heaviness or weakness in the leg
• Pain made worse by certain positions or movements

The Lower Limb Tension Test helps us identify whether your nerves are at the root of these problems. This is especially important for conditions such as:

• Sciatica: Irritation of the sciatic nerve, often due to a lumbar disc problem.
• Lumbar radiculopathy: Nerve root compression in the lower spine causing leg pain, tingling, or weakness.
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome: Compression of the tibial nerve at the ankle.
• Post-injury adhesions: Nerves can become “stuck” after injury or surgery, limiting their movement.
• Muscle knots and joint stiffness in the lumbo pelvic region can also affect nerve movement.

The Different Types of Lower Limb Tension Test

Just like the Upper Limb Tension Test targets different nerves in the arm, there are variations of the LLTT that focus on specific nerves in the leg:

• Straight Leg Raise (SLR) – Sciatic Nerve Bias: The most well-known test, used to assess the sciatic nerve and its branches. The leg is raised while lying on your back, and foot/ankle movements are added to increase tension on the nerve.
• Slump Test – Sciatic Nerve Bias: Combines spinal flexion with leg extension and ankle movement to assess the sciatic nerve under more “real-life” conditions.
• Femoral Nerve Stretch Test: Targets the femoral nerve at the front of the thigh, performed with the patient lying face down while the knee is bent and hip extended.
• Tibial, Peroneal, and Sural Nerve Biases: Specific ankle and foot movements can be added to the SLR to highlight these individual nerves.

Using these variations, we can test different “branches” of the nervous system in your lower limb.

How We Perform a Lower Limb Tension Test

Here’s what you can expect when we carry out an LLTT:

1. Preparation: You’ll be positioned lying down, either on your side, back or your front depending on the nerve being tested.
2. Baseline testing: We often begin on the unaffected leg to establish what’s normal for you.
3. The test: We slowly guide your leg through specific movements, adding components step by step (for example, hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion in the SLR test).
4. Symptom response: At each stage, we ask what you feel. If your usual symptoms appear, we pause the test. We also test for muscle guarding and other subtle protective responses from your nervous system.
5. Structural differentiation: To confirm nerve involvement, we may add a small movement at a distant point (such as moving your neck or ankle). If this changes your symptoms, it strongly indicates a nerve origin rather than a muscle or joint issue.

This methodical approach ensures your comfort and helps us pinpoint the underlying cause of your pain.

What a “Positive” LLTT Means

A positive Lower Limb Tension Test means the test reproduced your familiar symptoms—whether that’s shooting pain, tingling, or numbness. When structural differentiation changes these symptoms, it confirms that the nervous system is involved.
A positive test can also occur if there is a subtle protective response from your nervous system, which can only be detected by a trained professional.

Importantly, a positive test doesn’t provide the full diagnosis on its own. We combine the results with your medical history, a full physical exam, including a whole body assessment, and other nerve tension tests to form an accurate, complete picture of your condition.

Conclusion

The Lower Limb Tension Test is a safe and reliable way to assess nerve-related problems in the leg. By gently assessing the movement of specific nerves, the Lower Limb Tension Test helps us uncover whether your pain or discomfort is caused by nerve irritation or restriction.

If you’re dealing with sciatica, leg pain, or nerve-related symptoms, our team at Northwest Physiotherapy Group can help. A thorough nerve tension test can provide the answers you need and guide you towards a treatment plan that addresses the root cause—not just the symptoms.

Take the first step toward recovery today by booking an appointment with our experienced physiotherapists.

References

• Shacklock M. Clinical Neurodynamics: A New System of Musculoskeletal Treatment. Elsevier; 2005.
  
• Butler DS. The Sensitive Nervous System. NOI Group; 2000.

What is the Upper Limb Tension Test?

The ULTT is a core part of neurodynamic testing, a specialised way of assessing the health and mobility of your nervous system. The test involves a series of gentle, controlled movements that assess the movement of the nerves running from your neck, down your shoulder and arm, and into your hand.

Our goal isn’t to strain your arm or cause new pain. Instead, we aim to assess any guarding or protective response from the nervous system. This helps us pinpoint whether a nerve is the source of your problem. Think of it like a mechanic testing a car’s steering—we use the Upper Limb Tension Test to check the “mechanics” of your nerves so we can plan effective treatment.

If you’ve been living with persistent arm pain or nerve-related symptoms, the ULTT can be a turning point in identifying the root cause.

Why We Perform the Upper Limb Tension Test

The main purpose of the ULTT is to assess how well your nerves can glide and move. Sometimes nerves can become irritated, compressed, or restricted, leading to symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness. Common reasons include:

• Nerve root irritation: A disc bulge or age-related changes in your neck can press on a nerve root (cervical radiculopathy).
• Nerve entrapment: Nerves can get compressed in narrow spaces, such as the carpal tunnel in the wrist (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) or the cubital tunnel in the elbow (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome).
• Adhesions: Following injury or surgery, nerves may stick to surrounding tissues, preventing smooth movement.
• We also find that muscle knots and joint stiffness can also affect nerve movement in a more subtle way

By performing the Upper Limb Tension Test, we can confirm whether a nerve is contributing to your symptoms. This makes it especially useful when addressing long-term conditions that neurodynamic testing can help resolve.

The Different Types of Upper Limb Tension Test

Your nervous system is like a network of electrical wires. Different versions of the ULTT—called nerve biases—help us test specific “wires”. These are more specific tests that may provoke symptoms to confirm the nerve involved:

• ULTT1 (Median nerve bias): The most common test, used to assess the median nerve, which runs along the front of the arm into the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Movements include shoulder depression, arm abduction, external rotation, and extension of the elbow, wrist, and fingers.
• ULTT2 (Radial nerve bias): Targets the radial nerve, which runs along the back of your arm into the back of your hand. Movements include internal shoulder rotation, forearm pronation, and wrist flexion.
• ULTT3 (Ulnar nerve bias): Focuses on the ulnar nerve (the “funny bone” nerve). It’s useful for symptoms in the little finger and part of the ring finger, using specific shoulder and elbow positions.

How We Perform an Upper Limb Tension Test

When we carry out a ULTT, your comfort and safety come first. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Preparation: You’ll usually lie on your back. We often start with your unaffected arm to understand your baseline movement and sensation.
2. The test: On the affected side, we gently guide your arm through the sequence of movements, adding one step at a time.
3. Assessment: At each stage, we’ll ask you what you feel. If your usual symptoms are reproduced, we stop the test. This usually confirms a positive test. We will also assess for any guarding or protective response, such as resistance through movement, to determine if the test is positive.
4. Structural differentiation: To confirm that the symptoms are nerve-related, we may adjust a distant body part (such as gently moving your neck). If this changes your symptoms, it strongly suggests that a nerve—not a muscle or joint—is involved.

This methodical approach is what makes nerve tension testing in Melbourne so effective for finding the true cause of pain.

What a “Positive” Test Result Means

A positive Upper Limb Tension Test means the test reproduced your familiar symptoms—whether that’s tingling, pain, or heaviness. When combined with structural differentiation (where a small movement away from the test site alters your symptoms), this provides strong evidence that the nervous system is involved. Other positive signs include muscle guarding and resistance through movement.

It’s important to note that the ULTT is just one piece of the diagnostic puzzle. We always combine the results with a full physical examination, including a whole body assessment, your medical history, and a discussion of your good result before making a plan to fix your condition.

Conclusion

The Upper Limb Tension Test is a safe, effective, and highly informative tool we use to understand nerve-related pain in the arm, neck, and hand. By gently assessing movement of specific nerves, the Upper Limb Tension Test helps us identify whether the nervous system is involved—and from there, we can create a treatment plan tailored to you.

So, how do you book a nerve tension test in Melbourne?

If you’re struggling with persistent arm or nerve pain, we encourage you to book an appointment with our experienced Melbourne physiotherapists. A thorough neurodynamic assessment can help move you from managing symptoms to addressing the root cause, so you can get back to moving freely again.

References

• Shacklock M. Clinical Neurodynamics: A New System of Musculoskeletal Treatment. Elsevier; 2005.
  
• Butler DS. The Sensitive Nervous System. NOI Group; 2000.

What is Nerve Tension Testing?

Nerve Tension Testing is a gentle method used by physiotherapists to check if nerves in your body are tight, irritated, or trapped. This can cause long-lasting pain or discomfort.

Why Should You Consider Nerve Tension Testing?

If you’ve tried other treatments but still have symptoms, nerve tension testing can help pinpoint the exact cause. It helps in diagnosing problems such as:

• Sciatica (pain down your leg)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (pain or tingling in your hand)
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Lower back pain
• Elbow or wrist pain
• Tingling or numbness in arms and legs

How Does Nerve Tension Testing Work?

At our Melbourne clinic, our trained physiotherapist will gently move your limbs in specific ways to see if your nerves move freely. To get to the root of your discomfort, we utilize a range of targeted techniques, including ulnar nerve glides, a precise lower limb tension test, and a comprehensive upper limb tension test. These movements are slow, controlled, and safe.

Here’s what you can expect during your session:

1. Assessment: We ask about your pain, symptoms, and health history.
2. Testing: Gentle stretching and positioning of arms, legs, and neck.
3. Results: Immediate feedback about the health of your nerves.
4. Plan: A clear treatment plan to help ease your symptoms.

Who Can Benefit from Nerve Tension Testing?

You may benefit if you:

• Have long-term or chronic pain
• Feel numbness or pins and needles
• Experience pain that hasn’t improved with other treatments
• Are recovering from an injury or surgery and still have nerve pain

Simple Steps To Relief

Our process is designed to be clear and effective, guiding you through each stage of your recovery. We’ll show you how to fix your pain using a step by step approach to achieve lasting relief. Your journey begins with these simple steps:

1. Book your appointment
2. Attend your nerve tension testing session
3. Receive your personalised treatment plan
4. Start feeling better

FAQs about Nerve Tension Testing

Is nerve tension testing painful?

The testing is gentle. You might feel slight discomfort or a temporary increase in symptoms, but it’s very brief and safe.

Do I need a doctor’s referral?

No referral is necessary. You can book directly with our Melbourne clinic.

How long does testing take?

Testing sessions usually take around 30 to 60 minutes.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable, loose clothing so you can easily move your arms and legs.

How soon will I feel better?

Many people start to notice improvement within a few sessions, but results vary based on your individual condition.

Ready to Feel Better?

Don’t let nerve pain limit your life. Contact our friendly Melbourne team today and book your nerve tension testing session.

Book Your Appointment Now!

At Northwest Physiotherapy Group, we use a step-by-step approach to fix your pain.

It all starts with a pre-initial phone call before you attend your first session. We will contact you and ask more about your problem and what your needs are. We will also explain our approach and what to expect in the first session.

At your initial session, we go deeper and find out how your life is impacted and set clear measurable goals as well as your good result and why that is important to you. We both then have a clear understanding of what we are trying to achieve.

We will prepare a written treatment plan and recommendations, answer any questions, outline costs, and discuss any barriers to treatment.

All good physiotherapists will clear red flags — that is, conditions that need to be referred on for further assessment or a specialised opinion. However our experience has shown that neural tension that occurs when the free gliding of your nerves is impaired can also block progress.

At NWPG, we assess and clear nerve mobility in the body through specialised testing first. This simple step restores mobility and gliding to the nerves. When we ensure optimal nerve gliding, we know that progress will be quicker and improvements would be held longer.

A physiotherapist will usually assess the area of pain and surrounding tissues. You may have thought to yourself that they are missing something. When we practiced in this way, we realised that we were missing something, too, and we couldn’t help as many people as we would like.

This is why we became Ridgway Method Practitioners. We find dysfunctions that contribute to pain that are remote from where you feel your pain. The brain is hardwired to protect you and pain is an effective way of forcing you to restrict activities that could contribute to further injury. We know that completing a full body assessment that assesses dysfunctional tissues throughout the body means that we do not miss a key contributor, even one that is remote from your pain.

Standard physiotherapy tends to use patterns of presentation and recognising common conditions. If you follow that approach without being open-minded and curious, you may miss key contributors to your condition.

We thoroughly assess and treat all the possible contributors. We use key movement tests that are related to your pain and use them to measure improvement and to help identify the root cause of your pain. We always assess these key movements at the beginning and at the end each treatment session and plot your objective improvement on a progress graph. This helps assess how quickly you are responding to treatment and gives us great feedback. If the progress graph shows inconsistent or slow progress, then we may have to refer on for further investigation.

When the key movement tests are improving, it means that the brain is reacting to the reduction of load in the tissues of the body as they improve, which leads to less ‘’protective pain’’ and better function.

When managing complex chronic or even acute conditions in standard physiotherapy, treatment often continues even when improvement has plateaued. Or you are told that you can’t be helped.
Our approach narrows down the interventions that have improved your key movement tests to find the primary contributors for your condition: muscles, joints, or nerves that are strained through poor postures, motor control issues, repeated movements, or decreased strength. When we treat the primary drivers, we often find other dysfunctional tissues also improve. The body is interconnected.

Standard physiotherapy treatment can relieve symptoms, but that may be only temporary. The pain is back again before long. To ensure that the improvement holds, exercise is another key part of our process. Once your pain is gone, we also work to improve your tolerance to loading with exercises for strength and motor control. It’s not enough to be in less pain: you must have the capacity to get back to the important tasks that you love such as exercise, sport, and hobbies. This comprehensive process, which we have refined over many years, is what establishes us as one of the top clinics for nerve tension testing in Melbourne.

Once we have achieved your good result we offer a Prevention and Optimisation Program (POP) with regular tune- ups to ensure that you maintain nerve mobility, manage your primary dysfunctions, and progress your exercise program as needed to keep you moving freely and have confidence in your body.

So, do you want to stop trying to fix your pain with  band-aid treatments that only give short term relief? Or do you want to experience a different approach that will get to the underlying cause of your problem and keep you pain-free for the long-term? If that’s you or someone you know, we are here to help!

Contact us at Northwest Physiotherapy Group to discuss your concerns or take our Quiz to see if we are a good fit for you.