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When an acutely overloaded tendon produces pain, we term the condition a ‘reactive tendinopathy’. The historical term ‘tendonitis’ implies that an inflammatory response is present, however current research suggests this may not be correct. Whether inflammation is present or not, the fact is that the tendon has been overloaded and is reacting in an unpleasant…

Lie facedown on the floor with thumbs directly under shoulders, legs extended with the tops of your feet on the floor. Tighten your pelvic floor, and tuck hips downward as you squeeze your glutes. Press shoulders down and away from ears. Push through your thumbs and index fingers as you raise your chest toward the…

Preventive health is sometimes an underexposed aspect of the healthcare system. Any program or intervention that can improve your current physical and emotional health will in the long run decrease the possibility of incurring an injury or illness. Many aspects of today’s society are detrimental to our physical health. We live in communities where travel…

Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Without posture and the muscles that control it, we would simply fall to the ground. Normally, we do not consciously…

Many of us have experienced frustrating interruptions to our favourite sport, fitness, hobbies and leisure activities due to tendon pain. Overloading a tendon, by changing or increasing activity levels may cause a tendinopathy, previously termed tendonitis. Tendons connect muscle to bone and are found all throughout the body. Tendinopathies commonly occur in the shoulder (rotator…

Hamstring strains occur when your hamstrings muscle or tendon is stretched beyond what they can withstand or torn when substantial stretching of the muscle occurs. Hamstring strains are fairly common in sports activities requiring the athlete to forcefully run or jump. A hamstring strain is also called a pulled hamstring or hamstring tear. An inflamed hamstring…

An Olympic sprinter tears a hamstring. An AFL footballer suffers an ACL injury. A junior gymnast sprains her ankle. A toddler bumps his head. Our instinctive response in each of these cases is to apply an ice pack. But why? What sort of ice is best? How long should we apply it? How often should…

The secret to preventing overuse injuries is simple, yet surprisingly it is often overlooked. My Physio Perth would like to clear things up for you. Load management is a critical concept to understand for anyone participating in physical activity, whether it be gardening, housework, physical work, gym training, general exercise, social sport or even professional…

Nothing annoys Physiotherapists more than when a patient explains that they have a ‘slipped disc’ in their back or neck. This is by no means the fault of the patient. Incorrect diagnoses by medical professionals and a general lack of community awareness is to blame. Unfortunately, this catastrophic belief of severe structural damage can lead…

Australia is today ranked as one of the fattest nations in the developed world. The prevalence of obesity in Australia has more than doubled in the past 20 years. Australia has become accustomed to sitting down – at work, on the couch, in the car – and it’s taking a major toll on the health…