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Tag: physiotherapy

Understanding Hip Rotation

Understanding Hip Rotation

What is external and internal hip rotation? You’ve probably heard that your glutes (aka ass) are important muscles. They directly influence hip rotation & position and when activated correctly they can help your body move in an ideal way for specific tasks. The glutes are one of the muscle groups responsible for external (outward) rotation of the hip.  External rotation is important because it increases torque in the joint.  When you add this rotation it removes the slack within the…

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Gym Program Duration

Gym Program Duration

How often do you mix up your gym program? People often speak of muscle confusion, they change up their programs frequently in order to ‘confuse’ the body so it will adapt to the changed stimuli. However, frequent change to programs without giving the body time to adapt to them can be harmful for a number of reasons. Moritani et al. Showed that lifters training for an 8 week block on a new program did not experience muscle growth for the…

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Is Ice Application Harmful?

Is Ice Application Harmful?

Over the years we’ve become accustomed to hearing ‘put ice on it’ anytime we injure ourselves.  After someone suffers an injury I often hear “should I use ice or heat?”.  Unfortunately the answer is, it depends and the rationale is complex. R.I.C.E For as long as I can remember the household acronym for acute injury management has been R.I.C.E .  It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.  The combination of these four things is what is generally prescribed as the…

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Crossfit, safer than we think

Crossfit, safer than we think

This is not a discussion about the benefits of CrossFit.  In fact you would be hard pressed to call me a CrossFitter.  I have only participated in a small handful of classes since its mainstream introduction.  This sport is not something that I regularly participate in or is it something I generally advocate to others.  This makes it a strange topic for me to discuss.  However, I do see it as another form of exercise to help individuals achieve their…

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Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness Month

Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness Month

Well, I’m a little bit late to the party but, better late than never right? Last month in April it was Ankylosing Spondylitis Awareness Month.  For those of you who do not know, Ankylosing Spondylitis is a form of  spinal arthritis that predominantly affects young males and carries on into adulthood. Although it is predominantly of the spine, other joints can also be affected. Common symptoms of this condition include stiffness, discomfort, chronic pain and fatigue.Cause and TreatmentThe cause of Ankylosing…

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Exercise Advocates

Exercise Advocates

  Movement for MovementThis picture sums it up well.  As a Physiotherapist I am placed in a prime position to encourage others to participate in physical activity.  In the span of a year one physiotherapist could see hundreds of different individuals. It is well established that exercise is a great source of ‘medicine’ to help cure, prevent or manage a number of health conditions. Unfortunately the reality is that many of us fall into the habits of our usual routines.  This…

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The Banded Hip Hinge

The Banded Hip Hinge

What is a Hip Hinge?The hip hinge involves bending forwards at the hips while maintaining alignment of the spine.  Think about it sort of like turning yourself into the shape of letter L.  It is an important movement as it allows for the dissociation of movement from the hip and lumbar spine.  Without it our body has to compensate using other movements to bend such as flexing the spine, ankles or placing excessive force through the knees.  This movement of…

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Shoulder Bursitis Pain

Shoulder Bursitis Pain

Shoulder pain can be a giant pain in the butt!  Your shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and most people are unaware of, or forget its importance in undertaking daily activities.  Once they develop shoulder pain, they soon realise!The most common cause of shoulder pain that I personally come across in a clinical setting is bursitis of the glenohumeral joint.  This usually fits into a syndrome named shoulder impingement which occurs when there is impingement between the tendons…

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