Firstly let’s address the difference between a Podiatrist and a Physiotherapist. A podiatrist role in managing lower limb injuries is based around addressing causative factors through biomechanical analysis, footwear advice or incorporation of orthosis. Whereas a physiotherapist helps patients to restore, maximise and maintain their physical strength and function through identifying potential physical or biomechanical […]
Read more
Chilblains are damage to the skin caused by changes in temperatures typically affecting the hands and feet. The small blood vessels that supply the skin dilate and contract in response to changing temperature, fast changes can cause the leaking of fluid and chemicals under the skin causing swelling and injury to the skin. Chilblains are […]
Read more
One of the most frequently asked questions I get in the clinic from patients are the concerning sounds like clicking, popping, snapping produced my movement. These noises can be concerning to the patient therefore leading to think that movement is aggravating and damaging the affected area. As we age, these types of sensations become more […]
Read more
Ingrown toenails are the most common cause of painful nails. The medical name for ingrown toenails is onychocryptosis and the first signs include swollen skin around the nail, tenderness to touch, and formation of granulation tissue, which can progress to become infected in some cases. They are very common among teenagers and young adults because […]
Read more
As that time of year fast approaches where training re-commences for physical winter sports, all those niggling injuries from last season and over indulgence over the holidays can cause problems. A good, solid and progressive pre-season training regime is vital to maximise performance and minimise injuries. Here are three key benefits of completing a structured […]
Read more
Our nervous system sends information via electrical and chemical pathways to the brain and spinal cord and then distributes these signals to the rest of the body. When the nerves are damaged and this signalling is working we call this neuropathy. This can occur when no message is sent, like a broken wire, signally when […]
Read more
A lot of people ask; What is remedial massage and how can it help me? Let me tell you a little bit about how it works; With remedial massage, therapists are trained to assess your body, observe over time, and design individual treatment plans for each client. It is more than just a […]
Read more
Intoeing is when the feet turn inwards during gait and is commonly known as being pigeon-toed. This is often seen among children and in most cases will resolve without treatment as the child grows. This is why it’s less commonly seen in adults. Intoeing may initially cause a child to trip but should reduce over […]
Read more
The latest craze seems to be to villainize carbohydrate. But is there truth to this? At the end of the day, carbohydrate is just a macronutrient that provides your body with energy. So why all the commotion? We seem to live in an era where fear has encouraged diets to be all or none […]
Read more
So many of us try from year to year try to get in shape for the warmer months, but for some of us we go too hard, too fast and this is normally the calling card for shin splints! You’ve probably heard of them but what actually are shin splints? Shin splints is a term […]
Read more
Insulin is a hormone that is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas to collect sugars and take them to the cells for fuel. When we consume certain foods particularly carbohydrates and sugars, they are broken down into glucose and released into the bloodstream – this is referred to as blood glucose. Type 2 […]
Read more
Athletes in every sport dedicate enormous time and energy to perfecting their sport-specific technique. Without continual technique improvement an athlete will never reach their true potential. We all want to be able to run faster or further and most people focus on this in their training while ignoring their technique. Few runners ever schedule time […]
Read more
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL is an important ligament that stabilizes the knee. The role of the ACL is to prevent the tibia or shin bone from moving forward relative to the femur/thigh bone and to prevent buckling of the knee. We need our ACLs to control pivoting movements, ruptures occur when too much […]
Read more
If what you are doing hasn’t worked – it is time to consider a new approach. There are a number of helpful forums, blogs and talks, illuminating the agony of living with this condition. And while I can certainly attest, it is fantastic having the reality of this condition surfacing, it doesn’t answer the out-of-reach […]
Read more
Every day I hear people come in with at least 2 or 3 excuses as to why exercise just doesn’t fit into their lifestyle. So what are these reasons and how do we use simple strategies to overcome them? 1. My favourite is “I dont have time” There are 24 hours in a day and […]
Read more
Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition which occurs when to the body loses its ability to regulate how much sugar is in the bloodstream. It loses this ability when the body becomes insensitive to insulin. Insulin is a chemical the body produces to control how much sugar is in the bloodstream. […]
Read more
1. Start sensibly. If you haven’t done any physical activity in 6 months your exercise capacity is going to have decreased. A good way to start getting back into it without over-doing it is to start at 50% of what your were doing previously then progressing from there. If you have never exercised before it […]
Read more
MRI’s CT’s, ultrasound’s and X-rays are medical assessment tools which Physiotherapists, GP’s and other health practitioners use to assist in diagnosing a patient’s pain or complaint. They are useful tools to determine whether more serious treatments such as injections and surgery are warranted. What is very important to understand is that these scans are pictures […]
Read more
Manage the load Load refers to the volume or intensity of the stress that we put on our body. Many sports injuries could be prevented by better controlling the load placed on our body. One of the biggest mistakes is increasing load too quickly and not allowing time for the body to adapt. e.g. not […]
Read more
The importance of correct breathing both during exercise and during our daily lives is often underestimated. More often then not, people present breathing in incorrect patterns that can be impeding on their progress. What is it? Patients have a tendency to keep their abdominals sucked in tight to make it look smaller, however, this forces […]
Read more