June ’23 news: Kids School Holidays Program

Can you believe the Winter School Holidays are just around the corner already? Our term two physio classes will finish at the end of this month BUT read on for details about how we’ve got YOU and YOUR KIDS covered for the July School Holidays with fun activities and classes on offer for all. In this month’s newsletter, we also cover a less fun topic, that being ACL Ruptures, and we touch on one of the most common questions we get here at the physio… “How many physio sessions will I need?” Read on for more details.

Kids School Holiday Program

We’re excited to announce that we’ll be running SUPER FUN kids school holiday classes this July School Holidays.

We will be running classes for ages 6-9 and classes for ages 10-14 on the following dates:

AGES 6-9
Tuesday 4th July
Tuesday 11th July

AGES 10-14
Friday 7th July
Friday 14th July

PLUS book in now and we’ll let you bring a friend along for free!!!

For more information about the school holidays program or to make a booking contact the team at (02) 9438 1782 or contact us via email at enquiries@stleonardsphysio.com.au

Adult Classes During School Holidays

The sound no-one wants to hear on a sporting field…

If it has happened to you before, chances are that you’ll know the sickening sound we’re talking about… Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Ruptures are a very common injury that is often characterised by a loud popping sound. Our latest blog article covers the painful detail behind these injuries including what you can do about it if you have ruptured your ACL and what you can do to make it less likely to happen again.

Jump over to our blog here to read more.

Bottom line is that if you have ruptured your ACL, we highly recommend you come in and see us as soon as you possibly can so we can assess the injury and advise you whether you’ve had a minor strain or a complete tear.

Call us on (02) 9438 1782 to make an appointment.

The Education Quarter

How many physio sessions will I need?

Ah, the age-old question! How many physiotherapy sessions will it take to recover from an injury? Fortunately/unfortunately, as with most things in life, the answer is: “it depends”. We know that might not be the answer you’re looking for. Read on to learn more…

Different injuries require different levels of treatment, and the number of sessions needed can vary depending on the nature and severity of the injury, your overall health and fitness, what recovery means to you, and a host of other factors.

For example, a minor sprain or strain may only require a few sessions of physiotherapy to get the patient back on track. But if it’s a recurring sports-related injury recovery might mean something different – it might mean unlearning movement patterns that have repeatedly caused harm and ultimately improving peak performance. A small fall might not need much treatment at all, but in an elderly patient for whom falls could have serious consequences, recovery might mean balance and proprioception training on top of treating the injury. On the other hand, a more serious injury, such as a torn ligament or a broken bone, may require several weeks or even months of treatment to fully recover. But then nothing after that – it all, well, depends.

The good news is that physiotherapy is a highly effective form of treatment for many injuries, and can help to reduce pain, improve mobility, and speed up the healing process. So, while it may take some time and effort, with the help of a skilled physiotherapist, you might even come out the other side of your injury stronger than before.

Of course, there are no guarantees when it comes to recovery times, and everyone’s journey is different.  So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty with a few examples:

Example: ACL Rupture

Recovering from an ACL rupture can take several months of physiotherapy treatment. The number of actual sessions required might vary depending on the severity and location of the tear, the patient’s age and overall health, and their level of physical activity.

Example: Minor Ankle Sprain

Recovery time for a minor ankle sprain on the other hand can range from a few days to several weeks: the first few sessions will focus on reducing pain and swelling, as well as restoring the range of motion in the affected ankle. But as the ankle begins to heal more intensive exercises aimed at preventing future injury (through improved balance and proprioception) will begin to dominate.

These are two extremes just to give you an idea.  In either instance, the patient’s diligence in performing their exercises and following other advice around rest, strapping, elevation, and so on, makes a big difference to the quality and duration of their recovery.

Our Big Takeaway…

But here’s the thing. If it takes a few months (or even a year) for your injury to heal well, the same amount of time will have passed as if you didn’t invest time and effort into healing. It reminds us of the old joke about someone who wanted to learn to play the piano and was dismayed when the teacher told them it would take years to become great at it. “Do you know how old I’ll be by then?” the student demanded. “The same age you’ll be whether you play or not” retorted the teacher.  How old will you be when you’re finally able to run/jump/pivot/play football/dance/pick something (like a beloved pet) up off the floor again? Whether it’s weeks or months from now, the physiotherapists at St Leonard’s Physiotherapy are here to help you.

Call us on (02) 9438 1782 to make an appointment. And in the meantime, we invite you to follow us on Instagram or Facebook for handy tips and updates.