“Shin splints”

This is  a general non-descript term athletes seem to use to categorize all types of shin pain that aren’t stress fractures. There are a multitude of shin pains with a pathologically defined cause which have symptoms of pain along the inside or medial border of the shin, which worsens with exertion. However not all types of shin pains are “shin splints”. This undefined “pathological” term should be sort out under clinical diagnosis assessments to develop a more accurate and targeted treatment for a quicker and improved return to sport.

The origin of shin pain generally stems from:

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Did the pain suddenly come on?
• Does the pain improve or get worse with warm ups or stretching?
• Is there swelling?
• Is there pins, needles, numbness or “electric” shooting type pains associated in the shin?
• What have you tried to make it better?

Here are some treatments to try:

• Massage of the calf and inside of leg
• Icing the shin
• Stretching the shin
• Wearing supportive footwear
• Avoiding hills when running/walking

What is HICAPS Go?

Claiming rebates from a private insurance provider or Medicare can be such a drag. Whether you do it online or have to visit their offices, the process is long, complicated and tiring. This is where HICAPS Go comes in.

What is HICAPS Go and what do they do?

HICAPS is a mnemonic for health industry claims and payment service. It is one of the leading claims and payment solution for healthcare providers in Australia.

HICAPS has been in operation for the last two decades, but the procedure was manual. They have now created the HICAPS Go App which allows you to make your claims and payment on the go.

How does it work?

Every time you get a bill from your service provider, they will require you to hand them your WorkSafe Victoria, health fund membership or Medicare card. They will then proceed to swipe it through a HICAPS machine that is electronic.

The HICAPS terminal will then process your claim automatically, and your health fund’s contribution will be included on the spot. All you will then need to pay for is the gap amount if there is any.

What is the procedure for signing up?

If you are an existing Medibank and AHM customer, all you need to do is download the app from the Apple app store or Google play store. But you need to have iOS 8.0 or newer for Apple users. Android users need iOS4.1 or newer.

Once you have the app, you will enter your private health membership information. Alternatively, you may use your debit card payment information.

Your account will then be set up, and you can begin making claims and payments. All you have to do is tap “approve” on your device whenever a practitioner creates a claim. 

Which services can you claim with HICAPS Go?

Sometime you may not be able to make claims for every doctor’s trip. What you can claim mostly depends on your insurance provider.

With HICAPS Go, you can claim for the following services chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy, optical, physiotherapy, dental, myotherapy, dietetics, exercise physiology, psychology, podiatry, occupational therapy, remedial massage therapy and speech therapy.

Are patient details private?

Every time you have to give someone your card, there is a likelihood they may have to go through its data. So how sure are you that your information is safe?

With HICAPS, all patients’ details are kept confidential. Only your health fund and your health care provider can see them. But even this parties need to use a secure encryption protocol. All these measures are put in place, so you don’t have to worry.

References:

https://www.hicaps.com.au/go/home

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.medipass&hl=en

https://news.nab.com.au/news_room_posts/hicaps-go-set-to-improve-cost-transparency-for-patients/

Going to a general practitioner (GP), the optician or dentist is something everything does. We go for regular checkups even when nothing is wrong, or at least we don’t feel unwell. This is not the case with physiotherapists.

Whenever someone goes to a physio, it is either because they have a referral from another kind of doctor or when they have a terrible injury. What most people don’t know is that everyone can and should see a physiotherapist regularly.

To better understand why physios are just an important as GPs and other doctors, let us look at who they are and what they do.

Who is a physio?

A physio or physiotherapist is a medical professional who specializes in the science of movement that helps patients restore, maximize or maintain their strength physically. They also help deal with underlying physical issues, motion, overall wellbeing as well as function.

What does a physio do?

Physios have a broad scope of duties that they perform. They are in two broad categories, preventive and healing. There are different types are depending on their specialization. Let us look at some examples.

Orthopedic physio

This one treats musculoskeletal injuries. These are those that involve the muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and fascias.

Pediatric physio 

They aim to diagnose, provide treatment and manage conditions in infants and children as well as adolescents. They may even help with delays in development. Some of the conditions they specialize in include torticollis, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy.

They will mainly be dealing with people suffering from chronic medical problems, fractures, bursitis, sprains, and tendonitis, they also help people in rehabilitation or recovering from orthopedic surgery.

Neurological physio

Neurological physios assist people who have suffered neurological conditions, spinal code injuries, brain injuries and even strokes. They offer their patient treatment that aims to increase their limbs’ responsiveness, reduce muscle atrophy to increase strength and treat paralysis.

Wound care physio

These make sure that when wounds are healing, they have enough oxygen by promoting blood circulation to the affected area. 

For this treatment, they may use electric stimulation, wound care, compression therapy or manual therapy.

Geriatric physio

They deal with older patients suffering from degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s. They also handle neurodegenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis and straits. Their primary function is to help their patients regain mobility and fitness as well as alleviating their pain.

Vestibular physio

They treat problems with balance and coordination as a result of conditions of the inner ear. To achieve recovery, they will administer a series of exercise and manual methods.