Pregnancy is a time of major change in someone’s life. Arguably some of the most incredible and fascinating changes during this life stage, are those that occur to a woman’s body. From the moment of conception, right up to and beyond delivery, a woman’s body undergoes major physical, hormonal and physiological changes. One part of the body that is crucial in supporting these changes is the group of muscles known as the pelvic floor.

What is the pelvic floor and what does it do?

The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles found at the base of the pelvis. Formed by several layers of muscle and other important tissues like ligaments; the pelvic floor acts as a “hammock” or “sling” with roles both pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy, including:
supporting the organs within the pelvis (bladder, bowel, uterus, vagina) Read more

Stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, resulting in brain damage or even death. Physical activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of stroke. The good news is, even small increases in physical activity can have a significant impact on stroke risk. In fact, every additional 15 minutes of daily exercise has been shown to be associated with a 24% reduction in stroke risk. So, what does this mean for you? It means that even if you’re short on time, a little bit of exercise can go a long way to improving your health.

Here are some tips on how to increase your physical activity to reduce the risk of stroke: Read more

Stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or reduced. It can cause long-term disability, cognitive impairment, and even death. However, many strokes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices and managing medical conditions which raise your risk of stroke.

Recommendations in order to reduce the risk of stroke include: Read more

Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), also known as ‘shin splints’, is a condition characterised by pain and tenderness along the inner edge of the tibia (also known as your shinbone). MTSS is a common injury among athletes and runners, typically seen in sports that involve repetitive stress on the lower leg bones, such as running, jumping, and dancing.

What causes MTSS?

MTSS is caused by repetitive stress on the lower leg bones, particularly the tibia (shinbone). The stress leads to inflammation and irritation of the muscles, tendons, and periosteum (the membrane that covers the bone). The main contributing factors to MTSS include: Read more

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylalgia or lateral elbow tendinopathy, is the most common overuse condition affecting the elbow. Despite its name, tennis elbow can affect anyone, not just tennis players, and is prevalent in those engaged in activities involving repetitive forearm and wrist movements. It is estimated that up to 3% of the general population will experience this condition at some point in their lives.1 In this blog, we will explore the leading causes, common signs and symptoms, and management of tennis elbow from a physiotherapist’s perspective.

Read more

Recovering from an ACL injury? Here’s why late-stage rehab is essential in getting you back in the game.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are one of the most common knee injuries in the active population. There are both surgical and non-surgical management options following ACL injury with a rehabilitation period recommended with both management pathways. The rehabilitation process is designed to run in phases over 9-12 months and begins early after injury.

Read more

Almost everyone has heard of sciatica. But when we talk about this condition, it can be a bit unclear what it actually is.

The term is often used quite loosely, for example to describe different types of leg pain that aren’t necessarily connected to the sciatic nerve.

There are also some common myths around sciatica, especially regarding diagnosis and treatment.

Read more

Your body does a lot of amazing and powerful things when you’re running, like taking on staggering forces of approximately 250% of your body weight. There’s also a greater demand for balance with only one foot ever in contact with the ground at any time, with many muscles working hard to keep you moving through each stride with power, control and stability. And the hard work doesn’t stop with your feet or legs – the impact of running moves up the joints of the body (called the kinetic chain) to the pelvis, chest, spine, arms, shoulders and head, too. 

Read more

Being in pain can cause significant disturbances to our sleep, leaving us restless, uncomfortable and frustrated throughout the night. It’s an awful Catch 22, given that having a good nights’ sleep is recommended to help relieve pain and promote healing and repair. With adequate sleep being an important part of the overall holistic bigger picture when it comes to recovering from pain and injury, here’s a look into the connection between sleep and pain, and what practical steps you can start implementing at home today to improve your sleep quality.

Read more