Often Podiatrists will see patients coming through with the idea that they are sporting the best available footwear on the market, and often they are not far off the mark. A lot of these so called “good” footwear options may be 2 to 3 years old, worn out and to be honest may be causing […]
Losing weight can be difficult, leading many to turn to the latest fad diet to get quick results. Who is guilty of this? These diets are hard to ignore with huge promises that can achieved in a short time span (sounds easy right?). How many of you have undertaken one of these diets? How many […]
Stress is universal, and it’s not always bad. Whenever you jump aside to miss getting hit by a ball, feel especially nervous before an important meeting, or hit the brakes in time to avoid an accident, stress is doing its job. However, when there’s never any relief from stress, the sustained fight-or-flight response can cause […]
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 […]
One of the most frequently asked questions I get in the clinic from patients is 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 feel-good massage, they […]
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 […]
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 Diabetes […]
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL is an important ligament that stabilises 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 […]
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 […]
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 don’t have time” There are 24 hours in a day and […]
Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition which occurs when 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. It […]
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 […]
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 […]
Sciatica is a condition we often hear about from family, friends or co-workers. You commonly hear it feeling like shooting leg pain or a jolt down the leg. It’s normally given quite a serious undertone with a degree of fear attached to it. The question is: what is Sciatica and what can be done about […]
In last week’s article, I discussed how pregnancy can affect your skin and nails.Today we will look at the biomechanical and musculoskeletal issues which can arise during and after the baby arrives. Ligament Laxity: As hormone levels change, ligament laxity can occur. This means that our ligaments become more mobile to allow changes within joints. […]
In line with our Pregnancy information night coming up, ‘The Ins and Outs of Post Natal recovery’, I wanted to write about how pregnancy can affect your feet and what Post Natal care may be required. This will be broken up into two columns, and this week will outline how pregnancy can affect you dermatologically. […]
Often the answer to our injuries is to lose weight. This is a common recommendation from doctors, surgeons and specialists but is a hard one to take on board when it is exercise that hurts our joints. The catch to this is that exercise helps to relieve our pain, we just need to understand what […]
