A tendon is a band of tissue that connects muscle to bone. The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel, allowing you to walk, run and jump. Achilles tendinopathy, the strain of the Achilles tendon, is a common injury that may affect runners, or people with overpronated (flat) feet or those with high …
This cliché is usually taken to mean “if things are going well for you, why make changes?” Taken in the context of health and fitness, one might say “if I feel well and look well, then I don’t need to do anything more. Right?” Think about your car. You bought it brand new, yet the …
Clinical research is vital in the field of physiotherapy. Physiotherapists rely on information from research to augment the knowledge they have already gained through their university education and continuing education courses. Physiotherapists use what is called “evidence-based practise” as the foundation for their treatments. This is based on quality controlled scientific research and clinical reasoning. …
Physiotherapists are primary health practitioners so private patients do not need a doctor’s referral before attending physiotherapy. However, if you are planning on claiming your injury through an insurance company, especially if it is a work-related injury or an injury as the result of a motor vehicle accident then it is necessary to see your …
The pain and discomfort of arthritis can turn off even the most determined person from exercise. However, if you know the benefits of exercising with arthritis, you may be more willing to give it a try. But a word of caution: Don’t overdo, and if possible, perform exercises under the supervision of a health professional …
You know when an injury occurs. There may be pain, swelling, bruising or even bleeding. The first and best thing to do is to apply the RICE formula; a tried and tested treatment for reducing pain and swelling and preparing the body for the next stage of treatment. Many sports injuries such as muscle strains, …
Following a bout of illness or injury, the natural inclination would be to rest. Pain, loss of energy, restricted movements will all play their part in making you want to stay between the covers, however, whether you rest or rehabilitate will depend on a lot of factors. And the final decision will lie with your …
In recent times Pilates has gained a lot of ground among fitness gurus and those anxious to lose weight. This form of non-impact exercise was designed by Joseph Pilates, a German nurse working in England in the 1920s. His goal was to enable his patients to improve strength and movement. Pilates used a system of …
Because of the nature of the sport, running injuries can be frequent and sometimes frustratingly disabling for prolonged periods. Many running injuries result from wearing improper footwear, overtraining, employing a poor running technique, and not warming up or cooling down properly. To avoid running injuries, athletes should pay attention to the above factors as well …
The hamstring is found along the back of the thigh and comprises of a group of muscles that extend the hip (backwards movement of the leg) and flex (bend) the knee. A hamstring strain, sometimes called a pulled hamstring, is very common in sports that involve sprinting such as football, rugby and hockey and it …
