Saturday, November 30, 2013

Here's a helpful Patella Strap.



Jumper's Strap with Silicone Pad 1429
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Jumper's Strap with Silicone Pad 1429

Patella Strap

This patella strap (jumpers strap) provides excellent relief for:

A specially shaped silicon insert offers extra dispersion pressure for the patella tendon to reduce the painful loading forces.
An adjustable Velcro strap allows you to apply greater tension in the patella strap if needed.
This patella strap minimises your chances of future patella tendon injuries via force reduction and patella tendon support.

Patella Strap Size:

One size fits all.
More info or Buy Online: Patella Strap

Friday, November 29, 2013

How to Improve your Breathing and Keep your Lungs Healthy

You've probably seen people using a nifty breathing exercise device when in hospital. They are called an incentive spirometer. Hold one ball up, then two then three. What's the point?

Breathing exercises can improve breathing. Better breathing techniques is the best tip to keep your lungs healthy.

How to Keep Your Lungs Healthy?

Triflow II Incentive Spirometer

Using an Incentive Spirometer?

The TriFlow II Incentive Spirometer is ideal for developing, improving, and maintaining your respiratory fitness.
The TriFlow II Incentive is a Deep Breathing Exerciser that has been scientifically constructed as a means of encouraging you to take a slow Sustained Maximal Inspiration (SMI).
A Sustained Maximal Inspiration is vitally important to your general well-being. Deep breaths expand the small air sacs of your lungs and help clear the air passages of mucus. This, in turn, can help prevent the build up of fluid in your lungs.
Normally, you take many deep breaths each hour - usually without being aware of it. They are spontaneous and automatic, and occur in the form of sighs and yawns.
In certain instances, such as illness, your normal breathing pattern can change. The Triflow II Incentive Spirometer is designed to help you perform normal deep breathing exercises. In turn, the spirometer will help you to prevent the possibility of respiratory complications or to improve your breathing pattern if you have a respiratory condition,
For example, when you are experiencing pain following chest or abdominal surgery, your breathing tends to become shallow, and your deep breaths are suppressed in an effort to minimize pain. In these instances, it is important that you strive to resume your normal breathing pattern. That's where the incentive spirometer steps in to improve you quickly.
By carefully following your health practitioner's instructions and the directions provided with your TriFlo II Incentive Spirometer, you should be well on your way toward better breathing patterns.
More info or Buy Online: Triflow Incentive Spirometer

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Check out the New PhysioWorks website today!


Click here to view...

physioworks.com.au


New Sandgate Pilates Classes Starting

pilates sandgate

If you've been considering Pilates and whether pilates will help you, then Sandgate PhysioWorks has some beginner and intermediate pilates classes starting soon to help you safely trial the benefits of pilates.


For more information please call Sandgate PhysioWorks to discuss class times, days and what would be best for you.

Phone 32691122

More info about Pilates


What is Pilates?

Pilates refers to a form of exercise that focuses on the activation of your deep core muscles and incorporates them into safely controlling a variety of movements.
There are a number of approaches to pilates that vary in difficulty and skill level, equipment and the aim of the exercises. Clinical pilates, as taught at PhysioWorks, is specifically designed for people with back pain and movement dysfunction! It includes a variety of different exercises which train your core muscles to switch on during dynamic movements of your body.

Why is Pilates Important for You?

Your core muscles are very important in providing stability at each segment of the spine during movement. Research shows that the core muscles tend to “switch off” or become underactive in people with back pain. This means that although the initial episode of back pain may settle, 80% of people with an acute back pain incident will develop recurring back pain within one year of the initial injury.
Core stability retraining is a vital part of the rehabilitation process, and will markedly reduce your risk of reinjury. It is important that these muscles not only learn to switch on when you are not moving, but also during day to day activities such as rolling over in bed, bending over, reaching and sitting at a desk for prolonged periods of time.
Pilates has been proven to effectively re-train all of your core muscles through a range of different movements, and can be altered to cater for your individual needs!

Is Pilates for Everyone?

Sadly, No! Overaggressive pilates exercise programs that are too difficult for your body can cause pain and injury. At PhysioWorks, we are regularly treating patients who have increased their back pain at poorly run or supervised pilates classes.
Pilates, Yoga, gym strengthening and other forms of exercise can place high demands on your core stability system. If the core muscle recruitment order is abnormal, your chance of injury increases in proportion with the exercise difficulty.
Remember, if you build a tower on a poor foundation it will eventually topple. The same goes for your core stability muscles. Recruit the deeper core muscles prior to your superficial layers just like adding floors to a sturdy skyscraper and your back will be strong and pain-free forever.

What's the Link Between Pilates and Core Stability?

The whole 'core stability' phenomenon started back in the 1920's with a chap named Joseph Pilates, who's exercise regimes have become quite trendy in the last ten years.
Pilates talked about developing a 'girdle of strength' by learning to recruit the deep-trunk muscles. Even without a complete knowledge of anatomy and the benefits of the latest muscle activity research, he was aware of the importance of these deep muscles and their supportive effects.
Put simply, core stability training specifically targets the smaller and deeper back and stomach muscles. Once recruited, these muscles control the position of the spine during dynamic movements of your body.

Pilates Classes at PhysioWorks?

PhysioWorks operates small group pilates classes to provide a safe and steady progression from basic control to intermediate and advanced control. 
The small groups enable us to ensure that your quality of movement is maintained to prevent increasing your back pain or causing it in the first place.
If you are interested in attending our pilates classes, please contact your nearest PhysioWorks clinic.

How Do You Know if Pilates is Suitable for You?

At PhysioWorks, we only want clients who are suitable for clinical pilates to participate.
Before enrolling in one of clinical pilates groups, one of our clinical pilates physiotherapists will assess and screen you for suitability. While most clients are able to participate in pilates classes you may require some individual treatment or to perform some specific pre-pilates homework to ensure that you benefit the most from your pilates classes.

Can You Bring a Friend to Pilates?

Yes. We encourage you to bring a friend or two, or even book out the entire small group.  

Which TENS Machine or Muscle Stimulator is the Best for You?

Which tens machine to buy?

Which TENS Machine or Muscle Stimulator is the Best for You?

If you are considering a TENS Machine or an Electronic Muscle Stimulator for Christmas you'd better order very soon to ensure that your machine arrives in time.

Simply Answer these 3 Questions and we'll help you decide the best tens machine for your needs.


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

How to Manage your Soft Tissue Injury.



What are the Healing Phases for a Soft Tissue Injury?
soft tissue injury

Managing the Soft Tissue Injury

Soft tissue injuries are commonly categorised depending on the time frame since injury and the healing processes that are occurring at that time.

Acute - Protection Phase

A soft tissue injury is termed as acute from the initial time of injury and while the pain, bleeding and swelling is at its worst. Your body's aim at this point is to protect your injury from further damage. The usual time frame for your acute symptoms to settle is two to four days post-injury, but this can vary depending on how you treat your injury.

Sub-Acute - Repair Phase

A soft tissue injury is termed as sub-acute when the initial acute phase makes a transition to repairing the injured tissues. This phase commonly lasts up to six weeks post-injury when your body is bust laying down new soft tissue and reducing the need to protect your injury as the new scar tissue etc begins to mature and strengthen. 

Late Stage - Remodelling Phase 

Your body does not magically just stop tissue healing at six week post-injury. Healing is a continuum. At six weeks post-soft tissue injury your healing tissue is reasonably mature but as you stretch, strength and stress your new scar tissue it often finds that it is not strong enough to cope with your increasing physical demand. 
When your body detects that a repaired structure is still weaker that necessary, it will automatically stimulate additional new tissue to help strengthen and support the healing tissue until it meets the demands of your normal exercise or physical function.
The period between six weeks and three months post-injury is commonly referred to as the remodelling phase.

Chronic Phase - Ongoing Repair and Remodelling

Beyond three months is referred to as the chronic phase and probably refers mainly to pain that lasts more than 3 months. However, your soft tissue is constantly being injured by your daily activities and workout, only to magically repair and remodel the tissue to meet your specific exercise demands.

How Does Treatment Vary Depending on the Phase?

Read full article: Soft Tissue Injury

Monday, November 25, 2013

Corked Thigh Treatment. What to do? Why & When?

What is a Corked Thigh?

Corked Thigh
(Also known as: "Dead Leg", Quadriceps Contusions, "Charleys Horse") 
corked thigh  is very common in contact sports. In simple teams, your thigh muscles are usually "kneed" by an opponent during a tackle or similar impact. The muscle is crushed against the underlying bone. The impact to the muscles causes significant bruising and bleeding both intramuscularly and also between the muscle and your femur (thigh bone).

It's damage can often be much more than you might expect for such a simple cause and these injuries should be treated with respect.  If not treated correctly or if treated too aggressively then Myositis Ossificans may result.

There are Two Types of Contusion

Intramuscular Contusion

This is a tearing of the muscle within the sheath that surrounds it. This means that the initial bleeding may stop early (within hours) because of increased pressure within the muscle. However, the fluid is unable to escape as the muscle sheath prevents it. The result is considerable loss of muscle function, power and pain which can take days or weeks to recover. You are not likely to see any bruising come out with this type - especially in the early stages. Physiotherapy and carefully performed Massage Therapy are highly recommended for a speedy recovery. These interventions are important to prevent functional morbidity related to the large compression issues and myositis ossificans.

Intermuscular Contusion

This is a tearing of the muscle and part of the sheath surrounding it. This means that the initial bleeding will take longer to stop especially if you do not ice it. However recovery is often faster than intramuscular as the blood and fluids can flow away from the site of injury. You are more likely to see bruising come out with this one. These injuries respond very well to Physiotherapy and Massage.

What are the Symptoms of a Corked Thigh?

  • Pain after being whacked in the leg.
  • You might get swelling or bruising.
  • Restricted movement and reduced power.

Corked Thigh Treatment?

Seek professional help quickly if you can. Otherwise implement a RICE regime until you can be assessed.

After two to three days check:

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Pocket Physio


Simple and Effective!

Have you ever experienced muscle tightness that you just cannot relieve by stretching alone? 
The Pocket Physio was developed by physiotherapists as a simple inexpensive tool to help you to release your muscle tension. 
Trigger Points are specific areas within muscles that tend to knot up and cause increased muscle tightness and referred pain. The pocket physio helps you to quickly and effectively target your trigger points to instantly release your tight muscles.
The Pocket Physio is ideal for sportspeople, manual labourers, active adolescents, office workers, sporting & exercise groups of all ages. 
As the name suggests... it's just like having a physio that fits in your pocket.
More info or Buy online: pocket physio


Saturday, November 23, 2013

Electronic Posture Corrector


The Back Tone 4000 is designed to correct your posture quickly using a simple posture exercises reminder system via the unique biofeedback system built into the Back Tone 4000 Posture Brace. 
Using the Back Tone 4000 Posture Brace you can effectively re-train your correct posture in just 20 minutes a day.

How Does the Back Tone 4000 Posture Brace Work?

The BackTone 4000 is the latest biofeedback device for re-training your correct postural muscles. Wearing this posture brace for short periods daily, the Back Tone 4000 cleverly beeps or vibrates whenever your posture slouches. 
Simply returning to your correct posture will automatically turn off the beep or vibration
These simple reminders to correct your posture are the perfect posture exercises to fit into your busy day.
Wearing your Back Tone 4000 for about 20 minutes at a time during everyday tasks will quickly correct your posture and improve your posture muscles.
Amazingly, within just a few days or weeks, your can safely retrain the strength and endurance of your correct posture muscles. Not only will your posture improve, but you pain will disappear and you can even start to wean your self off the Back Tone 4000 posture brace.
Without even thinking about your correct posture, you will straighten up whenever the Back Tone beeps or vibrates.
More info or Buy Online: Posture Corrector

Friday, November 22, 2013

What's the Healing Time of a Knee Ligament Injury?

knee ligament injuries

What is a Knee Ligament?

A ligament is a short band of tough fibrous connective tissue composed mainly of long, stringy collagen molecules. Ligaments connect bones to other bones in and around joints. They do not connect muscles to bones; that is the function of tendons. Ligaments limit the amount of mobility of a joint, or prevent certain movements altogether.

What Causes Knee Ligament Injuries?

You can injure a ligament through a sharp change in direction, landing wrong from a jump, or the most common a blunt force hit to the knee, such as in football tackle.  The incident usually needs to happen at speed.  Muscle weakness or incoordination predispose you to a ligament sprain or tear.

Major Knee Ligaments

ACL: Anterior Cruciate Ligament
PCL: Posterior Cruciate Ligament
MCL: Medial Collateral Ligament
LCL: Lateral Collateral Ligament
Coronary Ligament

Knee Ligament Injuries

What are the Symptoms & Severity of Knee Ligament Injuries?

The severity and symptoms of a ligament sprain depends on the degree of stretching or tearing of the ligament.
In a mild grade I sprain, the ligaments may stretch, but they don't actually tear. Although the joint may not hurt or swell very much, a mild sprain can increase the risk of a repeat injury.

With a moderate grade II sprain, the ligament tears partially. Swelling and bruising are common, and use of the joint is usually painful and difficult.

With a severe grade III sprain, a ligament tears completely, causing swelling and sometimes bleeding under the skin. As a result, the joint is unstable and unable to bear weight.  Often there will be no pain following a grade 3 tear as all of the pain fibres are torn at the time of injury.
Knee Ligament Injury Grades

What's the Healing Time of a Knee Ligament Injury?