Climbers and pulley injuries
Climbing is an addictive sport and gives the entire body a workout. But when it comes to the hands, they are under a lot of stress. One of the most common injuries in climbing is the pulley injury. Pulleys or ‘Annular Ligaments’ are a fibrous connective tissue that loops around the finger like a ring […]
Ruptured ACL, what happens now?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee is a connective tissue that keeps the knee joint from excessively twisting and gliding forward. This can be damaged or ruptured when the knee receives increased load, more commonly in a pivoting and extended position. Movements such as changing direction and landing in sports of netball, basketball […]
Posture – Is it really to blame for your neck and upper back pain? What’s really the cause?
Often people come see us with pain in clinic and pass of that it’s likely due to their “terrible posture”. But, what is good posture? Automatically we think sitting or standing upright with our shoulders down and back and head held tall. However, if we were to sit or stand with the best posture all […]
DYSPAREUNIA
One of my biggest goals with social media as a Women’s Health physio is to debunk and un-taboo topics that affect so many women, yet no one talks about them. Dyspareunia is a perfect example of this. Dyspareunia is the term used to describe pain before, during or after vaginal intercourse. There are many causes […]
‘PEACE & LOVE’ – Updated injury acronym
Some people may have heard of the acronym ‘RICE’ for an acute injury. This was taught in sports class at schools and was utilised by majority of people with soft tissue injuries. That acronym was then reinvented to RICER, and then PRICE. More recently a different acronym has come to light with the use of […]
Ice or heat? What, when and why?
Throughout our lives we have been told to put ice or heat on bruises and aches or pains. But what’s the difference and why are we doing it? Ice When we use ice on injuries, we call this cryotherapy (cold therapy). There has been records of using ice in surgeries and other medical procedures in […]
Muscle and tendon tears
Many of us have experienced muscle and tendon strains or minor tears, but what happens when the tears are larger and more serious? There are two classifications of tears—traumatic and atraumatic (degenerative)—and within these classifications, we have two grades of severity: Anatomy: What are muscles and tendons? Muscles are a contractile connective tissue made from numerous myofibrils (muscle fibres) containing Actin […]
Why you need physio post-mastectomy
A mastectomy is more than just a surgical procedure. Not simply because it tends to be involved with managing, or the risk of, cancer; it’s understandably a highly emotional experience for a woman to lose a breast for so many reasons. The surgery itself is carried out under a general anesthetic and may include an […]
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Pregnancy
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition that can lead to numbness, tingling and/or pain in the hands and fingers, and we often see it affect pregnant women. So, why would a growing belly cause tingly fingers? Amid the many physical changes that women experience during pregnancy, some can contribute to the development of CTS […]
We’re back in the SLING of things
Ever wondered why when you injure your left shoulder, you suddenly start getting pain in your right hip? Or when you hurt your right knee, the left side of your body seems to be feeling tighter and more tense? Our bodies are an intricate network of slings. Slings are groups of muscles that are connected […]