Have you ever come home from a long day of working on the tools or at your desk and noticed that the outer part of your elbow is quite sore? If this is something you experience regularly, you may be experiencing a condition known as tennis elbow. But how can I have tennis elbow if I don't play tennis? The name derives from the condition's prevalence among people who play tennis, but it can affect anyone. It's usually caused by…
When someone has sustained an injury or is experiencing pain, it is pretty typical for a doctor or other health professional to refer this person for diagnostic imaging scans, such as X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI. Copies of imaging scans or reports are often given to patients. When received, these reports can be long and detailed, full of medical jargon and findings described as “a little smudgy.” What is the purpose of X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs? How can you get the…
As we age our body will change and many people tend to slow down or significantly reduce their activity levels. For some people their health conditions prevent them from exercising causing further deterioration in their health. For example, the incidence of osteoporosis, or decreased bone density, tends to increase as people age and move less. There are many risk factors to osteoporosis including: Women in menopause due to lower levels of oestrogen that cause calcium loss from the bones and…
In this video Michael Tricarico from Hoppers Physio talks about injury prevention and recovery for ankle ligaments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOFFkxFJ9w8&t=5s
Clothing: Focus on staying dry not warm. Avoid cotton fabrics and wear synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon which are designed to dry quickly. A lightweight nylon jacket can be a good option for windy days or a water-resistant jacket if there's a mild drizzle. Unfortunately, the more water resistant the jacket is the more it will trap moisture and warmth. Arm/knee warmers can also be a great option that easily fit into a pocket if you heat up during your exercise. Warm-up: Completing a 5-10minute warm up at…
After injuries to the joints of the body, a sports doctor or physiotherapist might recommend that you require bracing or taping for returning to sport. This is to help prevent further injury to those areas until your rehabilitation is complete. Common areas for bracing and taping are fingers, thumbs, knees, ankles and shoulders. It is usually heavily dependent on the intensity and type of sport you are playing. For some contact sports, such as rugby and AFL bracing it is against the rules due to injury risk from…
Cervical Headaches Headaches are a very common and debilitating condition. Whilst there are many forms of headaches with numerous causes, your neck is a very common source. This is not surprising considering our work commitments and the length of time we spend faced with the computer. It’s our prolonged posture in sitting that eventually leads to potential problems over time. Experimental studies show that the upper 3 vertebrae are intimately related to the same nerves that supply our face and…
It is well known amongst most people, particularly among athletes, the importance of having some form of a strengthening and athletic development program for sports performance. During the pre-season, many athletes use the time away from competition to perform a thorough program. What's more interesting to note, particularly within local and club level sports, is that the amount of sessions dedicated to a strengthening program dramatically reduces once the season starts. While this does seem like the logical thing to…
The footy season is back in 2021! It's a great sight to see large crowds back watching the AFL, but perhaps what's even greater is the return of local footy. However, a shortened pre-season, coupled with a year of sitting out due to COVID, potentially brings the return of one of the most common injuries in AFL and other sporting codes alike. This of course would be hamstring strains. These are a group of three muscles of the backside of…
Running is a fantastic way to get your blood pumping and let off a bit of steam. It can be a great way to get some alone time if you're always surrounded by work colleagues or young children, or it can be a fun way to fit in a work out whilst spreading your social butterfly wings with a group of like minded exercisers. Whilst it is important to move your body, the question is are you guilty of doing…