Sleep could be influencing your pain and more…. Whatever the reason, ongoing pain, crying babies, iPhone addictions, snoring partners, increasing work demands and constant worries. We have all woken up on the ‘wrong side of the bed’ more sensitive to certain things, our kids nagging us, barely able to get ready for work and function through the day. Interestingly the effects of ongoing sleep issues are much more detrimental to our health than just feeling constantly tired. Firstly, take pain, who would of thought poor sleep would influence pain we feel. We know pain can affect our sleep but it...
Every year one in three of us will get some form of back pain with most back pain affecting the lower back. In the majority of cases you will be able to manage this yourself with over-the-counter painkillers, by keeping mobile and exercising the affected area. It can last for anything from a few days or weeks, or continue for many months or in some cases even years. Back pain can influence your mood, your normal daily activities, your regular sleep patterns, and your ability to carry out your work. If you are experiencing lower back pain, you will likely...
Using a spiky ball on a regular basis is a great way to maintain flexibility, ease muscle tension and optimise performance. Spiky balls are particularly effective at releasing tightness due to myofascial trigger points. These are the knots and contractions that form in response to poor posture and over-use. WHY USE A SPIKY BALL? There are some parts of the body that you can’t quite get to with a foam roller or traditional massage techniques and this is where the spiky ball comes in handy. Spiky balls are firmer and larger than a tennis ball and not quite as...
If you use the right technique, a foam roller can act like a really good, free masseuse. It not only prepares your body for the stresses of a workout, but it also relieves aches and prevents them from coming back, he says. That’s right: a free massage that stops pain. It doesn’t get much better than that. So, what hurts? Keep reading to find your foam rolling fix for common pains. (Of course, if the pain persists or continues to get worse, see a qualified health professional.) Foam rolling might feel uncomfortable at first, but that means the muscle needs...
There are many thoughts about why we get injuries. How come it is always those who exercise regularly? The fitter you are, it appears that you’ll eventually end up in the physio chair or the surgeon’s table. One thought process is the relationship to exercise overload. For example: When you don’t service your tyres on your car, they often run out of alignment, leading to wear and tear on certain parts of a tyre. This can eventually cause alignment and balance issues. This is the same with the body as there’s multiple elements in which one must maintain to try...
In many aspects of life where we need to use our brain power, we also tend to sit down: at school, at work, sitting exams or concentrating on a crossword. In a new paper, we explore how prolonged sitting may affect the brain’s fuel supply and have a negative impact on brain health. The brain is a glucose hungry organ. It weighs about 2% of body mass but demands about 20% of our resting energy requirements, which is mostly in the form of glucose, the primary brain fuel. If this energy supply is disrupted it can impair and even damage brain cells....
Unfortunately, we have seen quite a few knee injuries involving the meniscus at the clinic lately. Here is a little more information about the meniscus and how it is injured. The knees take a lot of impact when doing medium- or high-impact activities such as running, jumping, hill-walking and playing field sports. The meniscus is commonly damaged during these activities, and can be a cause of significant pain and movement dysfunction if damaged. What exactly is this mysterious meniscus, and why is it so important? What is the role of the meniscus? The meniscus is a thin, fibrous cartilage lining...
Many desk-based jobs involve significant amounts of time spent sitting. Many injuries will be provoked by prolonged activities such as sitting, long periods of typing/mousing or repetitive neck movements. For this reason, it is important that our desk space is set up correctly to help minimise risk of associated pain through ensuring good posture at work. There are three main aspects of our work space that need to be set at the correct height to promote more neutral and supportive postures throughout the body. Chair Height This is based on two main components; foot contact and the hip to knee...
Arthritis is a term used in reference to joint pain or joint disease and is prevalent throughout our society, affecting people of all ages. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. Arthritis is known to affect women more than men and has a higher occurrence with increasing age. In this article, we will be focusing on osteoarthritis in the hands. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. In unaffected joints, a smooth, shock absorbing surface called cartilage covers the end of each bone. The cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones. Osteoarthritis takes...
Remedial Massage is more than just rubbing muscles. Remedial Massage is an assessment of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and the connective tissues within the body which aims to help manage rehabilitation, pain and injury. It attempts to iron out tension, discomfort and knots throughout the body using trigger point therapies, firm strokes and stretching techniques. Remedial massage can be specific to one particular area or it can be multiple areas. Time required for remedial massage is generally 1 hour however it does depend on how tense or painful the area(s) is. Swedish massage or most commonly known as Relaxation massage which is...
