Blog
December 2019 - There are many different types of headaches and the most common is the Tension Headache. In this Blog we will outline what a Tension Headache feels like, what could cause it, how to manage it and how to prevent one from occurring!
December 2019 - In order to get onto the road to recovery, strengthening exercises are essential. Yet after surgery or certain leg and arm injuries, joint and muscle pain can be big problems and limit people to not being able to do much rehab beyond gentle exercises. A recent solution to this problem is Blood Flow Restriction Training (also known as Occlusion Training), which helps give the benefits of harder or heavier exercise training whilst doing a lower intensity one that is less stressful for the injured joint or muscle.
December 2019 - As the weather warms up, more and more Melbourians are inspired to ditch the gym and take up running. Whilst a great and convenient form of exercise, running also places a lot of load on the body. We commonly see patients who have sustained a hip, knee or ankle injury just weeks after taking up running. It’s no surprise, given running can create ground reaction forces 3-4x your body weight with each step! With most distance runners taking between 150-180 steps per minute, that’s a lot of extra demand on your soft tissue and joints!
November 2019 - Tension headaches are the most common headache that people present with. At Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy we have experienced Remedial Massage Therapists that identify the cause of your condition quickly to put you on a proper treatment pathway. The stretching exercises that are provided will work to improve your flexibility of the neck and shoulder muscles, helping to alleviate your symptoms and prevent them from returning in the future. See the article for our top 3 stretching tips!
November 2019 - Tension Headaches are often felt as an even pain or pressure that spreads and squeezes around the head, much like a headband. This particular type of headache can be intermittent and can last from anywhere up to 7 days to 6 months in chronic cases if left untreated.
November 2019 - Low Back Pain is very common in Melbourne and Physiotherapy treatment plays an important role in curing disc injuries. At Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy, we are sick and tired of hearing that people have been told they have an 'slipped disc' when it simply isn't true. Find out more by reading the blog on, "Do Discs Heal? Of Course They Do!".
October 2019 - Groin injuries are a substantial problem among soccer players due to the repetitive kicking, twisting and cutting involved in the sport. The first step to managing adductor related pain should be an assessment with an experienced sports physiotherapist to rule out other causes of groin pain (iliopsoas, inguinal, pubic and hip related groin pain, lumbar spine referral, entrapment neuropathy).
October 2019 - There are many potential causes of pain in the hip and groin area and working out what and why is very important in the management of these problems. In almost all cases, strengthening will play a key role in the improvement of hip/groin symptoms. Keep in mind the specific exercises which a Physiotherapist may give will depend on their assessment, but the following 3 are exercises that I commonly use at different stages in treating adductor tendinopathies in soccer players.
October 2019 - There are many potential causes of pain in the hip and groin area and working out what and why is very important in the management of these problems. Pain, tightness, catching, clicking, locking and giving way can be typical of issues in this area especially if the issue is related to the hip joint. In almost all cases, strengthening will play a key role in the improvement of hip/groin symptoms. Keep in mind the specific exercises which a Physiotherapist may give will depend on their assessment, but the following 3 are exercises are ones I commonly teach patients for their hip muscles:
October 2019 - Plantar fasciitis (or fasciopathy) is a very common problem characterised by heel pain and is due to excessive pressure upon the inner part of the heel where the plantar fascia comes from. It is particularly worse on initial walking after a long period of rest and also after a long period of standing/walking/running. Heel pain due to plantar fasciitis is typically at the region marked red:
September 2019 - Melbourne Marathon Running Festival is upon us! Whether you are a verteran marathon runner or it’s your first go at 42km, you have likely (hopefully) been preparing for several months. With all the hard work done, it’s down to fine tuning and preparing for the event. Here are my top 5 tips to prepare for the marathon in the week leading up to the event.
Bases require a great deal of strength particularly in their core, their legs and their shoulders. Weaknesses cause other areas to have to work harder or you will find your stunts falling or wobbling. Flyers require specific core and hip strengthening to maintain strong and stick their shapes in the air as well as on the floor.
September 2019 - Following on from our injury prevention advice I would like to show you three of our favourite exercises for cheerleaders.
Remember cheerleading is a sport with a variety of requirements and no two athletes are the same so you may require a more tailored exercise program to suit your needs.
August 2019 - Strength is often overlooked in cheerleading in preference of stretching. Whilst flexibility is important particularly if you are a flyer, strength is the most important factor in injury prevention.
Bases require a great deal of strength particularly in their core, their legs and their shoulders. Weaknesses cause other areas to have to work harder or you will find your stunts falling or wobbling. Flyers require specific core and hip strengthening to maintain strong and stick their shapes in the air as well as on the floor.
August 2019 - As outlined in previous posts, the key to returning back to sport well involves a great strengthening program which involves heavy resistance training and hop/skipping drills to help train the Achilles to adapt to the functional needs of sports. By doing so, you can return to sport performing well and without pain! In this blog post, 3 examples of appropriate exercises are shown which can be performed depending on what stage of rehabilitation:
August 2019 - This August we are shining the spotlight on tradies health to keep them moving well and pain free. A tradies’ health is their most important tool, yet Australian tradies experience some of the highest rates of injury and time off work compared to other workers.
August 2019 - If you are suffering from a shin splint issue or injury, you should view these videos on Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy's top 3 shin splint injury prevention exercises.
August 2019 - Come to the 'How to fix your Knee Pain' seminar on August 28th at 7pm in Essendon, and learn how you can fix you!
July 2019 - If you are suffering from a shoulder injury, don't worry, we can help you! Below are a few of our favourite shoulder exercises for overhead sports, such as tennis. The list is essentially endless, and each shoulder needs to be assessed to determine which are the best specific exercises to fix your problem, but I'm loving these 3 at the moment!
July 2019 - 1. Smith machine Squat. The Smith machine is one of the most versatile machines and can be found at virtually every single gym. It is often considered a 'safe' alternative to many free-weight exercises because of the safety pins. The barbell squat is an intermediate-advanced exercise and therefore many people choose to perform the smith machine version for safety.
July 2019 - The Achilles tendon is the strong connection between the calf muscles and the ankle. Achilles tendinopathy typically presents with tendon pain, stiffness after rest and tenderness and is usually due to overuse beyond what it is strong enough for, or sharp spikes in activity. It occurs in 25% of all athletes and 15% of amateur runners. No wonder we see alot of this problem at the clinic! Here are some common myths regarding this problem
June 2019 - Running is great for so many reasons. It has amazing health benefits, it can be a great stress release, a reason to compete or even just a way to socialise. Unfortunately, at any level it is not always smooth sailing. The word ‘injury’ is one that almost every runner in the world can relate with – certainly every runner I have ever met, including myself.
June 2019 - Osteoporosis is a condition that results in loss of bone strength, making bones more fragile and more prone to fracture.
Osteopenia is essentially lower bone density, where bones have lost some mass and strength. In osteopenia the bone density is between normal bone density and osteoporosis.
June 2019 -Exercise after pregnancy is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Regular exercise after pregnancy can: Promote weight loss, Improve your cardiovascular fitness, Strengthen and tone abdominal muscles, Boost your energy level, Relieve stress and Promote better sleep.
However, it is important to follow certain guidelines and ensure a safe return to exercise postpartum. Every woman, every pregnancy and every delivery is different: so return to exercise needs to be tailored to the individual.
June 2019 - Many women experience changes to their weight during the perimenopause and after menopause. Menopause doesn't cause women to gain weight, but it can cause body fat to shift from the hips to the abdomen due to the decrease in oestrogen levels. Weight gain around the stomach is not healthy. It can increase blood pressure and blood fat, and can increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and some cancers. Maintaining a healthy weight and fitness at this time of life is very important to help reduce the risk of chronic disease.