World Spine Day is a great opportunity to shine light on spinal disorders and encourage you to take steps to better health. This year the theme is ‘Your Back in Action’, emphasising the importance of physical activity and improving posture as part of good spinal health and prevention of injury. Millions of people worldwide suffer…

Delayed onset muscle soreness (D.O.M.S) is a medical condition that is characterised by the stiffness, tenderness and pain in muscles several hours after performing a strenuous physical activity. When muscles are stressed, small microscopic tears occur in the ligaments, coupled with the stiffness and inflammation that accompany these tears, causing the pain and fatigue. The…

Stand approximately 3 feet from a wall Place both hands on the wall one on top of the other as high as you can reach. Step back with one foot. Bend at the hips, keeping your chest up and chin tucked in. Take a deep breath, exhale slowly and let your back sag toward the…

It can be confronting to be struck with a sudden onset of acute low back pain. The disabling pain and immobility often generates catasrophising thoughts about permanent damage and the requirement of surgery. Fear not, low back pain is extremely common, affecting up to 85% of people at some stage in their life. The good…

This gentle stretch can help alleviate the aches associated with tight muscles around the neck and upper back. This can be done first thing in the morning, as well as during breaks at work to help minimise tightness and decrease the potential of tension related headaches. Gently bend your head forwards with one hand whilst…

Stretching your shoulders can feel good, especially for those of us who spend long hours hunched over a computer. Roll the shoulders down and back, starting with small circles and working up to larger circles. Do 10 circles backwards and then repeat forward circles.

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.

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…

Bent knee hamstring stretch targets the muscle fibres closer to the hip whereas the straight leg hamstring stretch targets the fibres nearer the knee. Lie on your back and pull the leg over keeping the knee very slightly bent until a gentle stretch is felt at the back of the leg. This should not be…

Lie on your side on the floor with the knees bent to ninety degrees. Place the arms out in front of you with the palms facing each other. Slowly slide the top hand over the bottom arm toward your chest and across to the shoulder. Allow the trunk to rotate and slowly extend the arm…