For Referrers

Information for Referring Practitioners

A brief overview of our telehealth metabolic physiotherapy model, the patient profiles we work with, and how we collaborate with referring GPs and allied health practitioners.

The Model

Metabolic Physio is a telehealth physiotherapy practice that uses comprehensive blood chemistry, DEXA body composition, and functional testing to inform rehabilitation, recovery pacing, exercise tolerance, and lifestyle care. All consultations are conducted via secure video with patients across Australia.

Pathology is interpreted within our scope of practice to support physiotherapy goals — it is not offered as medical diagnosis or prescription treatment, and any result suggesting a condition requiring medical management is referred back to the patient's GP with a written summary.

When to Consider a Referral

Patients who commonly benefit from this model include:

  • •Persistent fatigue or poor exercise tolerance with an unremarkable standard workup
  • •Slow injury recovery, plateaued rehabilitation, or repeated soft-tissue flare-ups
  • •Chronic musculoskeletal pain where metabolic or nutritional contributors may be relevant
  • •Active patients and athletes seeking objective data on recovery, body composition, or training adaptation
  • •Patients interested in a structured, data-informed approach to their metabolic health alongside your ongoing care

What We Test

The Metabolic Assessment (45 min) — $499

Comprehensive blood panel via i-Screen: full iron studies, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, HbA1c, full thyroid panel with antibodies, hsCRP, homocysteine, vitamin D, active B12, RBC magnesium, zinc, lipids, liver and kidney function. Results are shared back with the referring GP with a written summary.

Optional add-ons (clinically indicated, selected at booking)

DEXA body composition (visceral fat, regional lean mass, bone mineral density) referred to the patient's nearest accredited centre; and Organic Acids + Cellular Energy testing via NutriPath — markers of mitochondrial function, neurotransmitter metabolism and gut dysbiosis. Add-ons are recommended on clinical indication, not bundled by default.

Review & Refine Follow-up (30 min) — $199

For established patients — re-test interpretation, protocol adjustments, and progress review.

Scope of Practice

Within our physiotherapy and postgraduate nutritional/environmental medicine scope, we interpret pathology to inform rehabilitation intensity, exercise tolerance, recovery pacing, and lifestyle/nutrition support. We do not:

  • •Provide medical diagnosis or prescription treatment
  • •Order or interpret imaging outside musculoskeletal scope
  • •Manage acute medical conditions

When results suggest a condition requiring medical investigation or management, we refer the patient back to you with a written handover and coordinate ongoing care accordingly.

How Patients Book

No formal referral is required — patients self-book through metabolicphysio.com.au. If you'd like to share a referral letter or background notes, the patient can forward them to scott@metabolicphysio.com.au ahead of their first consultation.

A structured case summary — findings, working hypotheses, and the plan set with the patient — can be provided back to you after the initial consult with the patient's written consent.

Practitioner

Scott Dunford — AHPRA-registered Physiotherapist (PHY0002271516) with ACNEM Foundations Parts 1 & 2 postgraduate training in nutritional and environmental medicine.

Email: scott@metabolicphysio.com.au

Web: metabolicphysio.com.au

ABN: 11 503 543 399

Practitioner-to-practitioner conversations are welcome — if you'd like a short call to discuss the model or a specific patient, please email to arrange a time.