Unbelievable!
I am in my mid 50′s and have always led an active life. I’m not a natural sportsperson but have always kept myself fit by either running or visiting a gym. For over 10 years whilst living in Singapore I used to run 10km each morning. I loved it, but the pain in my hips grew so great I opted for power walking. This was nearly 10 years ago. I believed I was heading fast towards a hip replacement so dropped regular walking and increased my time at the gym. Some 4 years ago I had an accident and walked into a tree and damaged vertebrae in my neck. I visited a general physio and whilst I regained movement the pain was remained. I believed I would just have to live with it. Earlier this year I had yet another tumble and after acupuncture there was some improvement but I was still debilitated by the hip and neck pain. This was having a major effect on my ability to sleep. My partner was visiting Andy McGregor at Functional Physio and he urged me to try the clinic as well, as all I seemed to be doing was addressing the pain at the time but not correcting the underlying problem.
After a few twists and turns, Andy wrote me a programme of 4 exercises to do on the clinic’s specialised machines. Only 15 minutes of exercise! I was to do them every second day (maximum) for a month and then take it from there. Within the first 2 weeks the pain from my hips had disappeared completely and by the end of the month there was no pain in my neck. UNBELIEVABLE! I ceased going to the Functional Physio gym as it was across town from where I live, however Andy has adapted the exercises for me so I can do them regularly at my regular gym that doesn’t boast such sophisticated equipment. I am stunned by the excellent results and wonder how other physios can justify not utilising this highly successful approach. And I’m back running again too. Not quite the mileage I used to do but I just love the feeling of being out there and getting that endorphin buzz. Looks like there’s a few more miles left in the old bird yet!
WHEN I have another tumble I know where I’m going first!
Thanks Andy!
Lisa Perry, October 2012
I suffered a back injury after a substantial fall off a building site in Australia some 20 years ago, causing damage to my lower back. At the time I was relatively fit and young and Doctors at the time didn’t pick up that I had 2 damaged discs.
Now, as I age, and in particular over the past 6 years, I have had to manage chronic pain on a daily basis (never having full night sleeps and not managing day-to-day tasks) – and after many visits to Acupuncturists, Osteopaths etc, without any significant results, I came across an article about Functional Physio and the MedX Spinal Strengthening Machine and haven’t looked back since!
With regular visits to Functional Physio under the professional eye of David and Andy, using the Spinal Strengthening Machine, the improvement to my back has been phenomenal! I never thought that I would get to a stage to where I am now and thought the pain and reduced movement was for life!
I cannot sing the praises of David and Andy enough! They have been so caring and supportive and after over 20 years of various treatments I have never come across a facility as professional as Functional Physio and MedStrength.
Grant Fyfe, Auckland, September 2012
Grant Fyfe Testimonial:
In 2011 we discovered our daughter had scoliosis in her lower back that was a 33 degree curvature. We visited an Auckland surgeon who said the mostly likely remedy would be surgery when she had finished growing. Knowing that she had about 18 months growth left we asked if there were any options we could try in the mean time, he said no. We were later suggested a brace treatment by a friend whose daughter had already had major surgery at age 13 for her Scoliosis. So we went to Australia for a brace fitting and after three months of a really good effort we all agreed that there must be a better less restrictive and invasive way. A local Osteopath, Rachel Ellery, suggested that we contact Dave Woodbridge of Functional Physio as she had heard of his research.
I have to confess we were all pretty sceptical in the beginning – especially when we discovered that each visit twice a week took less than 10 minutes. After 5 months we are absolutely thrilled with the results. We haven’t had another xray to measure the difference yet, but to the naked eye we can see quite clearly a very definite improvement. In fact on most days her spine looks completely straight now. The under developed muscles on the left have formed more and the over developed muscle mass on the right of the curvature has shrunk – her spine looks straight!
We believe Dave and his team are really on to something here and would recommend this treatment strategy as the very first port of call for any adolescent with scoliosis in their treatment range.
Thank you Dave and Co!
G & B Bailey, Waimauku, April 2012
Twelve years ago I fractured my back weight lifting. In 2011 having refractured my back and slipped two discs in my lumbar spine, I was basically incapable of doing most normal activities and was on heavy doses of multiple pain medications which made working difficult.
After an MRI and a specialist telling me I needed a double lumbar spinal fusion, I sought the advice of David Woodbridge. Six months on his lumbar strengthening machine and the results are phenomenal.
From three months in I was able to start reducing my pain medication, and after six months my back muscles have more than ten times their injured strength. I was able to come completely off pain medication and now I live a normal active life! I can go to the gym, walk and drive around and will be able to dance with my wife at our wedding in March. I recommend Functional Physio and MedX strengthening system to anyone considering surgery.
Simon Wordsworth, March 2012
Frozen shoulders (adhesive capsulitis). Several years ago I had a right frozen shoulder and eventually saw a Specialist who administered a cortisone injection; this shoulder resolved. From time to time, it would worsen and become very painful with restricted arm movements, and further cortisone injections were given over time. Overall this shoulder regained about 80% movement.
Recently I suffered a traumatic injury to my left shoulder, and you guessed it, it froze! Not only that, my right shoulder decided to join the party and I had two frozen shoulders simultaneously, complete with the agony and restrictions that come with them. Andy set to work on both shoulders and I did eventually have a cortisone injection in the newly-injured shoulder after seeing a Sports Physician. With Andy’s direction, expertise, discipline and humour (“laughter is the best medicine”), together with my sheer determination, I willingly did all the ever-changing exercises prescribed. It did take time and effort, and the end result is I now have two shoulders back to 100% and stronger than ever! Hands-on physiotherapy has made a HUGE difference and it is great to be able to achieve simple tasks often taken for granted again.
I continue to be active and sporty (and mature), and have visited many different physiotherapists over the years; Functional Physio is the best, with its warm, cheerful atmosphere and friendly, professional staff. I highly recommend their services. Thank you Andy.
Shirley McLaren, February 2012
My name is Ben Mackinnon,
I am New Zealand’s top bodyboarder and am currently the only New Zealander competing on a very competitive World Circuit.
Over the course of my adolescence and bodyboard career I have suffered from many major and minor back problems. I have seen every professional under the sun: from Osteopaths and Chiropractors to Yoga Instructors and Pilates Trainers. Not one of them has come close to the results that I have achieved during any of my sessions with David Woodbridge. I have known David since I was a trainer at Bodytech Gym in 2001 and have seen his abilities as a Physiotherapist grow over the last 10 years.
My sport is one of the hardest sports you can do on your body, impacts from large heights, heavy wipe outs and many encounters with reef. David has helped me to stay in my sport, a sport dominated by youth, into my 30’s and beyond. His strengthening regime for back and neck is so far ahead of the current climate that it is only a matter of time before the rest of the medical industry catches up with it.
I highly recommend David and his practice to anyone suffering long-term and short-term back and neck pain.
Ben Mackinnon
Having suffered a prolapsed disk many years ago I am accustomed to lower back pain & manage it as best I can with visits to physiotherapists & pain killers.
After a 6 week session with David and on his lumbar strengthening machine I have to say I was quite blown away with my speed of recovery and have not required any pain medication since.
My back has never been better, cheers David!
Simon Howard
I had a frozen shoulder for at least 6 months before I finally gave up and saw my GP who recommended I get a cortisone injection from a local “expert’. After a month or so when nothing had happened I finally went to Andy (who had successfully treated me many years before for an elbow problem).
He investigated and recommended a specialist sports doctor for another cortisone injection and then a course of physiotherapy. The sports doctor was excellent and was pleased Andy was my physiotherapist.
After the injection (which worked well ) Andy went to work and with a nice mixture of good humour, discipline and science and – despite my skepticism – managed to get me to 95% recovery in about 6 weeks.
It’s great to have my arm and shoulder back to normal and I would recommend Andy without reservation in the future.
Thanks for a great outcome.
Malcom Morrison, March 2011
I am currently a patient at Functional Physio. I feel I need to explain my injury in detail for you to get a full feel of the amazing improvement I have made since seeing David Woodbridge and his colleagues.
Three years ago I had a fall which resulted in pain in my left hip and left groin. I had 3 months of treatment at the local physiotherapist and had no improvement. An x-ray showed I had a spondylolisthesis so I was sent to two different Orthopaedic Surgeons and had an MRI. I am a dance teacher so my work is very physical. Another 6 months passed and my pain got worse. Most nights I would come home and not be able to walk up the stairs. My pain had gone from 5 out of 10 to 9 out of 10. I saw a musculoskeletal specialist who injected me with several cortisone injections which gave me relief for 3 months but this soon wore off and my pain returned. I started to see a chiropractor which gave me temporary relief but didn’t last.
I was confused and didn’t know what to do next then it was suggested to me by a friend to try Functional Physio as they have a MedX spinal strengthening machine that isolates the weak spinal muscles so that they can be effectively strengthened to support the unstable spine. I had nothing to lose so I gave it a go. On seeing David and Stacey it was discovered I had no left leg strength, couldn’t balance on my left leg and because my injury had not been treated correctly for so long my left leg muscles had diminished. It was so refreshing that finally someone explained what was happening and could give me a solution and hopefully a full recovery. At Functional Physio I was given emotional support and a full explanation of what was happening to my body in a way that was easy to understand.
I can happily tell you how wonderful I am doing and what fantastic improvements I have made. I am able to do things that I haven’t been able to do in over 2 years, my pain has diminished greatly and I have my quality of life back again.
Any minor or severe injury, I would highly recommend anyone to seek advice and treatment from Functional Physio. A year ago I couldn’t walk and now I am dancing again.
Angela Sharplin, Whangaparoa, Auckland
I cannot recommend David Woodbridge highly enough for the wonderful treatment and great communication he has given me over the past 9 months. When I first visited David I had been booked in for a 2nd Spinal Cortisone injection after having had a decompression operation the previous year, which was unsuccessful. I was suffering extreme sciatic pain and could hardly walk some days, and the only answer we could see to this problem was to try another decompression operation.
My doctor referred me to David and advised me that he had this wonderful equipment from America which has performed beyond expectations and after 9 months I am completely free of pain.
Thank you so much David for your wonderful help.
Jackie Cooper
I came to Functional Physio on a recommendation with back pain down my right side to the base of my spine. Initially, I had three sessions per week graduating to one session. After my second week I noticed a marked improvement in pain reduction and flexibility. Now I have completed the course I have no pain and greatly improved flexibility. Thank you David.
C Richards
I was absolutely thrilled to find after years of being less and less able to take a deep breath, that after your hands-on skill and “the back machine”, my lung function improved! I am very grateful.
Dr S C
Pediatrician
I always thought that one physio was the same as another, until I had to have major surgery on my hip at just 24 years of age. The operation meant that I spent a lot of time on crutches and also suffered from severe pain when I walked. I could barely walk up stairs. Several months after my surgery, I was referred to a physio to help me manage the pain and learn to walk properly again, but after several months of treatment I saw no change in my condition. I ended up seeing three physios, two acupuncturists and a bowen therapist – all without any result. It was now close to 12 months after having surgery and I was still unable to walk without a limp, struggled with stairs, let alone do anything like running!
Finally a colleague recommended David Woodbridge at Functional Physio. I had decided it was my last shot before resigning myself to the fact that I would be like this for the rest of my life.
David immediately diagnosed the problem and started treating the source of the pain, rather than just the symptoms. I noticed a difference within weeks! I no longer have a limp and am on the home stretch to total functionality.
Emma Van Kekem
As a previous patient of David’s and having experienced great results for a shoulder injury after a two year long battle with other providers, I am once again delighted with the results after my recent knee injury. David explained the holistic approach of working to fix the problem and not just working on the problem area. With exercises to stimulate the muscles relating to the knee and strengthening my back I am now back into my sporting activities with no knee or back pain. Thanks David.
J O’Sullivan
Having suffered with lower back pain and sleepless nights for 3 years and being told I needed a back operation, I was referred to David by a friend. After 4 months of treatment by David and his team my back has muscles it didn’t know it had – I now feel 100% better and now enjoying a good sleep and better quality of life.
Maureen
