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National Pain Week is 25th -31st of July. Pain, at a physiological level, is stimulation of sensitive nerve endings (nociceptive) either by chemical or mechanical means. This commonly occurs through injury and its purpose is to inform us of tissue damage. The causes of musculoskeletal pain are varied. Muscle tissue can be damaged with the…

This blog outlines my successful return to sport from an Achilles Tendinopathy. To read more about the onset of my tendon pathology and early management, read part one and part two of my blog. After two weeks of careful, graduated strengthening exercises, with no recurrence of Achilles tendon pain, I decided I was ready to…

While in a seated position, cross your right leg over your straightened left leg. Hug your right knee with your left arm, making sure to keep your back straight. Hold this stretch for 30-60 seconds, and then repeat on the opposite side.

Sciatica describes pain felt along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back, down through the buttock, hamstrings and into the lower leg. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. Sciatica can be characterised by pain, pins and needles, numbness, and/or weakness in the legs. Commonly pain, pins and needles and numbness…

The “pelvic floor” refers to a group of muscles that attach to the front, back and sides of the pelvic bone and sacrum (the large fused bone at the bottom of your spine, just above the tailbone). Like a sling or hammock, these muscles support the organs in the pelvis, including the bladder, uterus or…

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…