holistic_touch_physio

August Is Tradies Month

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 10:47:03 GMT

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.

APA National President Phil Calvert says “Our research shows that of those tradies who exercise or play sport regularly - more than half will spend a few minutes stretching and warming up because they know this helps reduce injuries. Yet when it comes to starting work for the day, in many respects another type of ‘sport’, less than a quarter will warm up, even though they know it could prevent stiffness and soreness at the end of the day.”

“When we dug deeper we found the majority of tradies were open to the idea of warming up if they felt their boss would be supportive of it. So there’s a real opportunity for trade employers to take a proactive position and encourage their employees to spend a few minutes each day getting their bodies warmed up for the physical work ahead.”

“It’s a bit like wearing hi-vis clothing on work sites - it’s become very much the norm over the past 10 years because we know that it makes workers safer; it should be the same for stretching before the work day starts.”

“Tradies are at particular risk of a range of injuries as a result of the intensity and repetitive nature of their work, so it’s important that they put these preventive health measures in place and get help before little niggles turn into more chronic issues. In this respect physios can be a tradies best friend.”

The Tradies Health Survey 20191 highlighted the blokey culture still symptomatic of many Australian tradies, including:

88% reported taking good care of their tools while just over 60% said they take good care of their bodies and mental health
Only one quarter of tradies felt comfortable talking to co-workers about a mental health issue affecting their work, while just over half (53%) were open to discussing physical health concerns.
Believing that it is normal to be sore as a result of the work they do (69%)
Pushing their bodies past their healthy limits (42%)
Not following safe lifting guidelines (32%)
Almost half (48%) hadn’t taken a sick day in the past six months

Mr Calvert said “While tradies appear reluctant to open up to their workmates and bosses about mental health issues in particular, the majority (73%) said they wouldn’t think any less of their workmates for taking time off for mental health concerns. So it seems they have tougher expectations of themselves than their co-workers.”

“At the end of the day we all want to go home safely to our families, so tradies should look at all options to make sure they are in the best physical and mental shape to get through the day. That might include warm up stretches at the start of the day and open dialogue with bosses and co-workers about personal injuries or issues affecting their work.”

Tradies National Health Month is an annual awareness campaign that focuses on the health of Australian tradies and the benefits of physiotherapy to support better health outcomes.

Almost Everyone Has Back Pain!

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 09:22:51 GMT

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.

10 Tips For Bladder control

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 09:46:50 GMT

Do you sometimes "leak" when you sneeze or cough? Perhaps you feel damp when exercising or don't quite make it to the toilet in time? Don't Despair, because you can do something about it. The Australian Physiotherapy Association suggests these simple tips.

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

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 09:22:51 GMT

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

When we are under stress or feeling anxious or uncomfortable we can experience

high levels of muscle tension for longer periods. The fight-flight response causes this and it

is a natural response to stressful and threatening situations where the muscles tense in

preparation for fighting or fleeing.

Unfortunately when we are exposed to high levels of muscle tension for long periods we can

feel muscle pain, fatigue, and headaches. It can also make us feel irritable or nervous.

Regular practice of relaxation, meditation, and mindfulness is a way of reducing the levels of

tension in the muscular system, and may also help reduce blood pressure, stress, and levels

of stress hormones.