
20 Aug August ’22 Newsletter
Need help managing a chronic condition?
August news:
August is here, which means spring is just around the corner. If you’re living with a chronic condition, read on to find out more about our exercise programs for chronic disease management, including physiotherapy for osteoporosis. Then head to the Education Quarter where we bust the most common myths about physiotherapy. See you next month!
Living with a chronic condition?
Living with a chronic condition like diabetes, osteoarthritis, or cancer, can be a stressful and isolating experience. Along with the pain and physical limitations, there is also the mental and emotional toll of managing your condition.
At St Leonards Physiotherapy, we run exercise programs to help you create long-term changes in your life, to better manage your pain and improve your quality of life. Our physiotherapists aim to create a supportive environment where you can learn to get the most out of life alongside other people with the same condition, or one-on-one, if you prefer.
All of the programs are tailored to your individual conditions and exercise capacity. Our programs take place in our clinic gym in Atchinson St, St Leonards. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Physiotherapy for osteoporosis
Did you know that a properly designed exercise program can help prevent falls and fractures? Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them more likely to break. There’s no cure for the condition, however the right approach can help protect and strengthen your bones and slow the rate of deterioration.
ONERO is an exercise program developed for people with osteopeania and osteoporosis, designed to help reduce the risk of fractures. It does this by building balance, muscle strength and, most notably, bone density. This evidence-based program is proven to improve bone health, as well as helping to prevent falls and thereby reducing the risk of osteoporotic fractures. For more information about the program, contact us or visit our website.
Check out our latest injury blog!
There is no doubt that dislocating a joint is a painful experience. Whether from a nasty fall, a car accident, or during a game of rugby, the shoulder is easy to dislocate, as it is a very mobile joint. Recovery can take months and after you have done it once, you are more susceptible to it happening again. In our latest blog, we look at common causes of a dislocated shoulder, and how physiotherapy may help with your recovery.
The Education Quarter
PHYSIO MYTHS BUSTED!
There are many myths and misconceptions about physiotherapy that can prevent people from seeking treatment to enhance their lives. So, let’s bust some of the common physio myths!
Myth: Physiotherapy only helps your muscles
People think that physiotherapy only helps with your muscles.
It’s true that physio treatment can help if you have pulled a muscle or have an area of muscle weakness that needs strengthening. However, it has many other benefits for your health and wellbeing. Physical therapy can reduce pain and increase mobility if you have stiff joints or are suffering from arthritis, it can also help to strengthen your bones and prevent them from weakening. There are many ways that physiotherapy can help to enhance your well-being and your life.
Myth: You only need physiotherapy when you have an injury
The belief that you only need physiotherapy when you are injured is a common misconception.
As physios, we can help you to recover from injury and promote rehabilitation by developing a program of specific exercises and stretches designed to restore function and strength. However, you don’t have to wait until an injury pops up to come and see us. Prevention is better than cure! If you are putting up with any niggling pain or discomfort in your day-to-day life, come and see us before injury occurs and it becomes a bigger problem.
Myth: Only athletes need regular physiotherapy
On TV or at sports games, we often see professional athletes or sports teams with a dedicated physiotherapist (or several) on the side-lines ready to assist with injuries. This probably adds to the misconception that regular physiotherapy is only for professional athletes or people into sports and fitness.
It’s true that we help sportspeople whether professional or amateur, to improve their strength and fitness or recover from injury. However, everyone can benefit from physiotherapy! We treat a range of patients from all ages and levels of fitness and mobility. Regular physiotherapy can be beneficial if you are suffering from chronic conditions like osteoarthritis or osteoporosis or are experiencing chronic back pain or headaches.
Myth: Physiotherapy treatment is just stretches and exercises!
Most people think that physiotherapy treatment consists of a list of stretches or exercises to do.
Depending on your condition, your treatment will possibly involve a range of exercises and stretches to improve your strength, flexibility and mobility. There is so much more to physio treatment though! We may use techniques such as massage and soft tissue therapy, lifestyle advice, education, training plans, acupuncture and dry needling, joint mobilisation and more!
We will take the time to listen to your symptoms and medical history, assess your condition, and develop a treatment plan that is specific to you and your needs.
If you have any other questions about physiotherapy, let us know! We will do our best to answer and hopefully put your mind at ease. Please contact us with your concerns.