Our hip flexors muscles are one of those muscles that always seems to get the blame for something wrong. Hip pain and back pain are commonly attributed to tight hip flexors. But are those ever-important muscles in the hip always the naughty child or could it be that they are in fact the victims that…
Injuries to the rotator cuff muscles are extremely common. In fact approximately 30% of adults over 60 have a tear and 62% of adults over 80 have tears in their rotator cuff muscles. Let’s explore more about the anatomy and function of the rotator cuff to better understand how we can keep them healthy. What…
A common diagnosis for pain on the outside of the hip is called bursitis. But what is a bursa and how does it get inflamed? Keep reading for more information! A bursa is a small fluid filled sac. We have over 150 different bursae around the joints in the body. Most commonly, bursae are positioned…
With spring time upon us, it’s a good time to get out into the garden and enjoy the warmer weather and the therapeutic benefits of gardening. However, while most people enjoy gardening there are a large number of people who experience aches and pains in the back area afterwards. In this article we will explore…
Let’s face it back pain is extremely common – in fact the statistics report that around 70% of people experience at least one episode of lower back pain throughout their life. Many people who have experienced an episode of back pain have undoubtedly wondered how long their back pain will persist for and if it will ever go away completely! Let’s explore what we know from the…
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common health conditions that affects seniors. It is commonly confused with osteoporosis, however the 2 conditions are vastly different. One thing that they do have in common however is that they can both be managed through appropriate exercise. What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the…
A common postural fault that we see in clinic is an increase in the upper back curve, also known as an increased kyphosis. This increased kyphosis is also associated with rounding of the shoulders.
One of the most common approaches given is a “row” or pullback type of exercise. The theory here is that by strengthening the muscles that pull the shoulder blades back, the upper back curve will reduce and posture will return to normal. However there is a fundamental error in this approach
While we often hear of the importance of having strong core muscles to prevent and lessen lower back pain, we rarely here about the deep muscles in our neck that can prevent and lessen neck pain despite the fact that pain here can be just as debilitating, with the possibility of neck problems leading to altered sensation in the arms and finger and even headaches. It is important that we strengthen these muscles as research has suggested that individuals with weak deep neck flexors have a higher probability of experiencing neck pain.
When talking about the effects of stress on the body people often think about heart conditions, diabetes and other metabolic outcomes associated with high stress levels. One area that is little talked about is the effect of stress on the musculoskeletal system. Stress can cause some quite strange manifestations to this system that seem almost implausible.
Shoulders are a common problem area for many people. Is easy to see why when you look at the anatomy of the shoulder. Our shoulders are designed to move….. ALOT!! However this comes at the cost of stability.
When looking at rehabilitation for the shoulder, the rotator cuff often takes the spotlight. While it is an important stabiliser of the shoulder it is not the only one, and it shouldn’t be the only focus of rehabilitation programs. One area that IS often neglected however is grip strength.