
23 Oct October ’21 Newsletter

It’s the circle of life – both growing up and growing old come with their share of aches and pains.
In this month’s newsletter, we’re taking a look at how we can support you to live your best life as you age, and help your little ones get the best start with their health and wellbeing.

GLAD program for Osteoarthritis: Coming soon
The GLAD program for osteoarthritis is coming soon to St Leonards Physiotherapy.
In 2020, the GLAD program had the following outcomes in Australia:
- Reduced pain (33% less for knees, 27% for hips)
- Reduced medication (49% less for knees, 45% for hips)
- Increased walking speed (14% more for knees, 12% for hips)
- Improved quality of life (29% more for knees, 20% for hips)
- 3 out 4 changed their intention to have surgery from yes to no
Register your interest by calling us on (02) 9438 1782 or email enquiries@stleonardsphysio.com.au.
Does your child have growing pains?
Children have a lot of growing to do, which means their bones, muscles and tendons have a lot of growing to do too! Since this is also a time when children are particularly active – playing sports, playing with their friends, and generally running around and jumping about at any opportunity – the tendon that connects the shinbone to the kneecap can pull on the growth plate at the top of the shinbone. All of this causes swelling and irritation, known as Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD).
Despite the name, it is not a disease, but actually a very common knee injury. It is more common in boys than girls and can happen in one or both knees.
Want to know about the symptoms of OSD and how it can be treated? Read our latest blog post to find out!
Paediatric physiotherapy at St Leonards
We use fun and play to help children achieve.
Our paediatric physiotherapists are trained in the treatment of babies, children and adolescents. Comprehensive play-based assessment is used to identify areas where a child needs support. Sessions aim at improving strength, function and skills.
Children are treated individually or in a variety of group settings:
- Paediatric gym at St Leonards Physiotherapy
- Home visits
- Daycare, preschool and schools
- Aquatic Physiotherapy
- Baby Education classes
Give us a call on (02) 9438 1782 or email enquiries@stleonardsphysio.com.au to find out more.
The Education Quarter
LIGAMENT SPRAINS IN A NUTSHELL
Ligaments are bands of collagen tissue that connect bones to bones. You have approximately 900 ligaments in your body, and their main job is to stabilise a joint and provide sensory information to the brain that is important for mobility. So, if you damage one, it could cause quite a few problems!
What is a ligament sprain?
A ligament sprain is usually caused when a joint is suddenly forced beyond its usual range of movement and the ligament fibres are stretched too far. In some cases, the ligament can be torn. This might be the result of falling, twisting, or sustaining a blow to the area.
The most common location for a ligament sprain is the ankle, but they can occur anywhere.
What is the difference between a sprain and a strain?
You might hear these terms used interchangeably by amateur diagnosticians, but sprains affect the ligaments while strains affect muscles and tendons. They both cause pain, though, so it can be difficult to tell the difference when all you know is that it really hurts!
How will I know if I’ve sprained a ligament?
Sprains can look and feel like a break, particularly if they are severe, so it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two.
You will likely experience:
● Pain
● Swelling
● Bruising
● Limited and/or excessive movement of a joint
Some patients report hearing or feeling a “pop” at the time of the injury.
What should I do about it?
You’ll need POLICE – no, not the ones in blue uniforms, these ones:
Protection – avoid further damage to the area through rest
Optimal Loading – early movement to stimulate healing
Ice – applying an ice pack for 10 minutes can reduce swelling and relieve pain
Compression – the use of a compression bandage can help to avoid further swelling
Elevation – keeping the area raised reduces swelling and allows waste removal from the injury site
A physiotherapist will be able to help you with all of this, as well as supporting you with hands on treatment, exercises, and equipment to relieve pain, restore movement and prevent future injuries. So, your first port of call should be to book an appointment to get diagnosed early and start the recovery process with as little time wasted as possible.
If you think you might have sprained a ligament, give us a call on (02) 9438 1782 or email enquiries@stleonardsphysio.com.au and we can look at what’s going on.
Happy to help.
If you’d like to book an appointment, or have questions about any pain or injury you may be experiencing, please get in touch.