Have you experienced pain that lasts a very long time and never seems to get better despite taking medication for it? Maybe your pain has even worsened over time and you’ve had to increase your dosage? Current research on the effects of prolonged exposure to medication for chronic pain now highlights many issues around why taking prescribed opioid drugs is likely to be making your pain worse. ‘Opioids’ are depressant medications which slow down the activity of the central ner

The idea of starting exercise can often be overwhelming. You might find yourself questioning where on earth you start, what you need to do, and how can you possibly fit this into your already busy lifestyle? We have a few top tips for helping you get the ball rolling and start reaping the benefits of regular exercise. Set small achievable goals While you might think getting up at 5 a.m. every day of the week to burn through a grueling workout is the fastest way to get in rout

Education is power, so let’s bust a few myths about back pain and how you should be managing it! BED REST: “I need to rest to let my back heal.” MYTH! Not moving your spine is possibly one of the worst things you could do. Our spines are designed to move, so when we have pain, they respond best to staying as active as possible! AVOID LIFTING: “I’m not allowed to lift anymore since hurting my back.” NEGATIVE! While it may be necessary to reduce lifting loads in the earlier sta

Lower back pain (LBP) is one of the biggest reasons for people to visit their Doctor or Physio, especially as we age. Many people become quite fearful of back pain and rush to their Doctors asking to have scans done to see what’s going on in there. However, studies show that MRI findings (including disc degeneration, disc bulges and disc protrusions) do not always correlate with a person’s pain experience. In the image above, statistics show the prevalence of structural chang

Research shows that exercise has amazing psychological benefits which help to maintain and enhance good mental health. Regular exercise can alleviate stress, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and help with recovery from mental health issues. Feel-Good Hormones Exercise releases important hormones – endorphins and serotonin – which are the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain that produce feelings of happiness and euphoria. They also help to improve mood, reduce feeling

Muscle strain injuries can be graded into four categories based on the extent of damage to the muscle fibers. According to research by Mueller-Wohlfahrt H-W, et al. Br J Sports Med (2013), the four categories are as follows: Type 1 and Type 2 muscle injuries are “Functional Muscle Injuries,” meaning they are symptomatic without actual tissue damage. Type 3 and Type 4 are “Structural Muscle Injuries” that involve damage to the actual muscle fibers. Type 1: Over-exertion relat

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) of the knee is located within the joint capsule, originating from the femur (thigh bone) and attaching onto the tibia (shin bone). Functionally it is one of the most important structures within the knee joint as it is crucial for providing stability during weight-bearing. The term ‘anterior’ highlights the primary role of the ACL, which is to prevent forward movement of the tibia in relation to the femur. It is also important for stabilisi

The term ‘calf muscle’ is collective for a group of three muscles in the lower leg – Gastrocnemius, Soleus and Plantaris – all of which share a joint Achilles tendon that inserts onto the heel bone (calcaneus). Calf muscle strains are usually the result of a sudden acceleration force or eccentric overstretch, i.e. when a sportsperson lunges forward when playing tennis, or runs onto a kerb and the heel drops suddenly. They predominantly occur in the medial (inner side) Gastroc

Load is possibly the hottest, most researched topic in sports at present. So, what is load? Load is the work, exercise (load you put your body through) in training and /or competing in your chosen sport. Load is protective of injury and increases your risk of injury. Confused yet? The oldest example of load is the legend of Milo, a wrestler known for his superhuman strength, who carried a calf on his shoulders as a young man every day. As the calf grew so did Milo’s strength,

Hamstring Strains are one of the most common sports injuries. The hamstring muscles are found at the back of your thigh. The hamstrings are composed of three main muscles; the biceps femoris muscle, the semimembranosus muscle and the semitendinosus muscle. The biceps femoris muscle is the most commonly injured. Hamstring strains occur when excessive or sudden tension is put through the hamstring muscle fibres. Hamstring strains vary from simple strains to complete tears. The

Lateral (or pain on the side) hip pain is an extremely common complaint, and often referred to as pain over the Greater trochanter or trochanteric pain. Pain typically presents in weight-bearing activities, especially ascending stairs, running or high impact activities as well as side lying (on either side). Symptoms can include focal tenderness, weak hip abduction, pain radiating into lower buttock or lateral thigh and even numbness in the upper thigh. Pain is often aggravat

Knee pain is one of the post common causes of pain experienced by people when they exercise. Due to the complex nature and different management required for knee pain, I’ve broken this blog into a few parts. The knee is designed to be a hinge that swings backwards and forwards, held together by two cruciate (inside the knee joint) ligaments and two collateral (outside the joint and part of the joint capsule) ligaments. These ligaments are typically injured with a rotational t

Knee pain is one of the post common causes of pain experienced by people when they exercise. Due to the complex nature and different management required for knee pain, I’ve broken this blog into a few parts. To start with anterior knee pain (pain in the front of the knee) or patella-femoral (kneecap area) pain has been cited as affecting 56% of the general population, with a higher prevalence in athletes. Many people sadly start exercising and then give up due to knee pain. W

Is your foot strong enough for your level of activity? The foot is one of the most dynamic areas of the body, it also takes some of the most punishment. Many people know the importance of looking after their core to prevent back pain, or their rotator cuff and scapula to help control the shoulder. It may come as some surprise, but foot strength is just as important, especially in runners or athletes who perform in high impact or multi-directional sports. If you have “flat fee

What is Physiotherapy? Physiotherapy in Australia (as quoted by the Australian Physiotherapy Association-APA) Using advanced techniques and evidence-based care, Physiotherapists assess, diagnose, treat and prevent a wide range of health conditions and movement disorders. Physiotherapy helps to repair damage, reduce stiffness and pain, increase mobility and improve quality of life. Many people may be of the opinion that physiotherapists mainly work with sports related injuries