Blog Post

Almost Everyone Has Back Pain!

Nov 14, 2018

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical help. More than 90% of people experience back pain at some time in their lives, but it’s usually not very serious and with time, staying calm, and continuing to remain gently active, it will get better!

Instead of seeing back pain as a relatively normal human experience we sometimes make it into a very big deal and this is costing us immensely financially, physically, and in reduced productivity.


Despite back pain many people are able to function at very high levels- this includes sportspeople, professionals, celebrities, and business people. You can help yourself recover from a back pain episode, and in many cases you won’t require expensive and sophisticated investigations and treatments.


Back pain is very real but it doesn’t need to limit you long term from your hobbies, work, or every day activities. 


We can turn down the body’s overactive alarm system (pain) by:


  • Having a little rest and recovery after a severe back pain episode is okay, similar to when you have a bad cold or the flu,
  • Understanding more about your pain,
  • Moving gently and often- MOTION IS LOTION!
  • Problem-solving,
  • Simple analgesics,
  • Relaxation techniques,
  • Sleep, adequate water, nutritious food.


When to get help:


  • When you have had a significant injury such as a car accident,
  • When you have limb weakness and numbness,
  • When you have unbearable pain that is not responding to anything,
  • When you have unexplained weight loss or
  • Problems going to the bathroom,
  • When you have problems with walking such as stumbling gait and difficulty lifting your legs.

August Is Tradies Month

01 Aug, 2019
Seven out of 10 tradies consider themselves fit and try to eat healthily - challenging the pie eating, chocolate milk drinking stereotype - but a persistent blokey culture is leading to serious injury. The Australian Physiotherapy Association’s annual survey, released today to mark Tradies National Health Month, revealed some concerning attitudes amongst tradies and a disconnect between their attitudes to work and sport.

10 Tips For Bladder control

09 Nov, 2017
1. Exercise your pelvic floor. Strong healthy pelvic floor muscles are essential for staying dry. A physiotherapist skilled in treating incontinence can show you the correct exercises. 2. Take care when you cough or sneeze. Lift and hold your pelvic floor muscles. This will strengthen the muscle and prevent leakage. 3. Limit picking up heavy objects. Lift and hold your pelvic floor muscles to avoid bearing down and straining. Remember to look after your back as well. 4. Keep exercising your pelvic floor during the childbearing year and beyond. Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken your pelvic floors. 5. Constipation can strain your pelvic floor. So eat a lot of fibre and drink plenty if fluids to maintain a regular bowel movement. 6. Keep drinking normal amounts of fluid. Reducing your fluid intake will not prevent or stop leakage but could in fact make things worse. To stay healthy most people need between 1.5 and 2 litres of fluid every day. 7. Limit your intake of tea and coffee and other caffeinated drinks. Caffeine increases the urge to go to the toilet. Limit yourself to 2 to 3 cups per day. 8. Don't go to the toilet "just in case" Train your bladder to hold more urine by delaying trips to the toilet. 9. Beware of infections. Urinary tract infection and cystitis where bacteria spread from the bowel ti the bladder increase the urge to go to the toilet. To prevent infection always wipe yourself from front to back. 10. Don't just "pad it up". Pads may not be the best or only solution. Fixing your problem means throwing away continence pads forever. Women's health physiotherapists can show you how to use and exercise your pelvic floors muscles effectively. Get in touch today to talk about your options.

Relaxation

09 Nov, 2017
Our skeletal muscles are designed to remain relaxed until we need to use them for some activity.
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