Time for new runners?
"What runners should I buy?" This is a question we get asked all most every day. The answer is unique to every person as footwear choice depends on many factors. Typical things your physiotherapist will consider when discussing your footwear options: What activity do you need the shoes for? Have your goals changed? E.g. Are you looking at doing more speed work rather than distance? Are you just starting this activity or are you experienced? Your current weight The surface…
Clinical Programs at Hoppers Physio
At Hoppers Physio, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality individual care. We are fortunate to have a fully equipped gym, with reformers, trapeze, barrel, bike, treadmill, fit balls, and more. Our staff assess all our clients individually and tailor programs to suit their needs. If you are considering pilates, our clinical programs are a great place to start. You will have an initial assessment with one of our physiotherapists, involving a real-time ultrasound of your abdominals to gain…
Adductor injuries
As preseason for the 2021 soccer season as well as the return of the A-League, it is important to ensure our bodies are capable of the load that will be required when the season commences. Soccer players are the most at risk of developing adductors strains that can result in leg and groin pain. This type of injury is one of the most commonly seen in soccer players due to the nature of the game which requires both repetitive forward and lateral movements such…
Energy deficiency – a risk factor for injuries in females.
In female sport there is a medical term called the ‘Female Athlete Triad’. This refers to the combination of energy deficiency and absent menstrual cycles which ultimately leads to a disruption to hormone function resulting in reduced bone mineral density. Typically, weight-bearing and resistance exercise would improve bone health as the load through the bones promotes increased bone density. For women who do not have menstrual cycles due to energy deficiencies, they will not get the same effect. This is due to reduced hormonal levels which ultimately leads to a high risk of stress fractures. …
Returning to the Gym
Some good news amidst 2020, gyms have reopened! This means that is finally time to get back to the daily grind. Although it's good to be back, we must remember that it may have been more than several months for some people since last getting in a good workout. The result is that the body will have gone through a long detraining phase in which you feel like you may have lost a lot of muscular strength and endurance. This…
Thrower’s Shoulder
Thrower’s shoulder is a term used to describe pain that occurs when throwing a ball. This is due to instability at the shoulder joint and/or a rotator cuff pathology. This can develop due to loss of structural integrity or dysfunction of the dynamic stabilizers that control the movement of the humerus in the shoulder joint. Typically, individuals who suffer from thrower’s shoulder may feel the sensation of their joint slipping, giving way, or feeling loose. The sensation of a weak arm in certain positions may also be present. If left untreated and an individual continues to abuse their injury by…
Shin Splints – all you need to know
Pain at the front of your shin? This could be shin splints! Pain that is exercise induced and occurs along the lower third of the shin bone is called medial tibial stress syndrome or more commonly ‘shin splints’. Pain typically develops from a spike in load such as an increase in frequency, the duration of exercise or changing to a harder surface. The biomechanics of you walking or running style can also play a part such as excessive pronation at the foot or even wearing footwear with inadequate foot…
Osteoarthritis – What you need to know
What is osteoarthritis? A common expression for osteoarthritis (OA) you may have heard is “bone on bone”. However, there is much more to it than that. OA in a nutshell is a natural aging process in which the cartilage that lines the end of a bone in a joint begin to thin, causing an overall reduction in joint space between two or more bones. This means that not all cases of OA are “bone on bone”, which may only be apparent in severe cases rather than those with…
Neck Pain and Headaches
Neck pain is a common source of headache pain. This occurs due to stiffness or sprain to the top 3 joints in the neck or a strain of the surrounding muscles. The nerves that carry these pain signals cross over with the nerves that carry signals from your face, especially from areas of your temple or across your forehead. The brain then gets confused where these messages are coming from, and means you will experience both pains at the same time. A physiotherapist can…