In Australia, the winter months are usually the best time for long distance running. However, whether you are a novice or more experienced runner, running in Canberra during winter involves exercising in what can be an uncomfortable and motivationally challenging environment. The benefit of running at this time of year is that you can push […]
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as ‘An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage’. But what does this actually mean? A key point immediately is the mention of ‘actual or potential tissue damage’. So, can we have […]
It doesn’t matter whether it’s pain from a sprained ankle, sharp pain in your neck, or persistent low back pain. Getting a good, quality night’s sleep is critical to managing your symptoms. There are many factors that will influence this, including pain being present in the first place. Other factors that might affect your sleep […]
Incontinence describes any involuntary loss of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence) or faeces or wind from the bowel (faecal/bowel incontinence). 4.8million Australians experience bladder or bowel control issues (Continence Foundation of Australia). Urinary incontinence affects 13% of Australian men and 37% of Australian women, while faecal incontinence affects 20% of Australian men and 12.9% […]
A Sever’s Lesion causes heel pain to arise in younger athletes as they progress into puberty (around 10-14 year olds). Initially thought to be an inflammatory condition, Sever’s Lesion is now thought to more likely be a non-inflammatory disorder relating to repetitive stress injury. This stress injury continues to aggravate the calcaneus bone, where the […]
‘I have had an ultrasound and been diagnosed with bursitis of the shoulder. I have rested it for six weeks and taken anti-inflammatory medication but I still get pain with movement.’ This is a common statement we hear with shoulders in the clinic and unfortunately it’s due to misinformation. The bursae are fluid filled sacks […]
Osgood-Schlatters disease is an irritation of the patella (knee) ligament at the site of the top of shinbone (tibia) and causes knee pain in children as they approach puberty and are beginning their growth spurt. It is most common in boys aged 13-15 and in girls 10 to 12 and is the result of excessive […]
Winter is approaching, and with this comes the long awaited start of winter sports. This is when people can experience groin tightness, discomfort and pain especially if they have had an inadequate pre-season. Sports like soccer, rugby, AFL, netball and hockey are physically demanding winter activities that require sharp changes in direction, kicking and […]
A general misconception during the postnatal period is that the body is back to its prenatal capacity for exercise after six weeks. However throughout the extended postnatal period it is important to gradually reintroduce activity under the guidance of your doctor or physiotherapist. After the birth of your child you may start thinking of return […]
Returning to exercise the right way after having a baby is extremely important and is often daunting. A common fitness misconception is that doing plenty of sit-ups will always lead to a stronger, toned looking abdomen. In fact, during the postnatal period, sit-ups may actually have the opposite effect, leading to an ongoing protruding stomach […]