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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 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 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 […]
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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 […]
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Each year in NSW, Falls and associated injuries lead to 27,000 hospitalisations and 400 deaths. Falls injuries have the highest costing to the NSW health system over any other incident, including road trauma. One in three people over the age of 65 and one in two people over the age of 80 are at risk […]
Read more 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 […]
Read more Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions of an entire joint resulting from a gradual loss of cartilage. Cartilage is the protective cushion between the bones and when this breaks down, bone overgrowth occurs and fluid filled pockets called subchondral cysts result in inflammation and stiffness within the entire joint. The most common […]
Read more 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 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. […]
Read more 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. […]
Read more 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 […]
Read more With pre-season training already in full swing and football teams working hard to prepare for another exciting season, one important question remains… Have you decided what football boots you’ll be wearing to maximise your performance? Not only is it important for your performance, but it’s one of the best ways to prevent football injuries. Common […]
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