Now’s about the time of year that that we see a few ‘dicky’ elbows walking in the door at the clinic.
So what is tennis elbow, how does it happen, and above all, how can we manage and treat it?
Welcome to summer, and what a start. Drizzly 15 degrees and onshore one day then 40 degrees the next- I can’t keep up! Ah well, after a quick run and swim the other day, my confidence in the water temperature is well and truly boosted and I’m looking forwards to keeping at it, last year it took me until May to don the wetsuit!
Hoping that you’re all the same, and like to keep fit and wet, I’ve put together some basics of recovery that may assist you in getting something extra out of yourself, as well as preventing any injuries that can come out of endurance swimming. There is no shortage of Open Ocean swims coming up if you’re looking to challenge yourself. You may have chosen one, or if your keen, a few of swims like the Pt Leo Swim Classic, Anglesea Rock2Ramp, Mornington 5km Swim, Danger 1000m, Ripview Swim Classic, Lorne Pier to Pub…. and more!
During the winter, our health focus tends to be around staying warm, getting enough vitamin C and D, eating hearty food and trying to stay clear of the coughs, colds, sniffs and snuffles and all other lurking illnesses.
During the summer, it is easier to feel and stay healthy.
We tend to get outside more, increase our exercise and we crave the lighter, leafier meal options.
Nevertheless, health during the summer is just as important- if not more so, to ensure we are promoting health that can sustain us later into the year.
Here are my top tips to promote health during the summer.
I love ocean swimming, especially this time of year when the water’s starting to heat up again and the sun’s up that little bit earlier. For those that enjoy swimming regularly, you’d often find that once you’re in the water and swimming, the body frees up, breathing is easy, and everything flows. I get a kick out of seeing others enjoying this as much as possible and enjoy helping them with osteopathy so they can get out there and ‘’just keep swimming’’.
As a follow on from our previous article on keeping mobile and ready for the cricket season, here is a brief overview of three of the most common cricketing injuries.
There are many different exercises and ways to manage each of these areas and muscle groups. Here are some commonly stressed regions, some basics of management and the areas to work on next time you hit the gym or cricket training
So it is a winter Saturday, the courts are a little damp, there’s a cool breeze on your back and those white knee caps are starting to feel the pinch of cold seeping in. Or maybe its Friday night, inside, the stadiums alive and you’re ready to hit the court before the weekend.
Either way, once you run out on that netball court, no matter what position you play, there will be plenty of stop-start, stop-start running. Usually not such a problem for the juniors, but seasoned veterans will tell you those knees of yours will cop a beating.
While muscular strength serves to stabilise and support our joints, as with everything, technique is the key. Poor positioning and repetitive movement has the capacity to create unnecessary friction and overload, and can lead to injury. For anyone who is a lifter, you know the addiction that develops.
Being sidelined by injury is not an option.
I have had so many questions, both in and out of clinic regarding the pros and cons of lifting. For many people, the prospect of weight training is daunting due to the element of the unknown, and some recent negative light that has been cast upon it - despite growing recognition as to its benefits.
I thought it was time to weigh in from the perspective of both osteopath and lifter.
As a general rule of thumb, most people know the basics of an injury or trauma, rest and time then some sort of exercise that gets you back to pace. Here’s a simple rundown of injury 101.
We all know that preparation and keeping yourself in good order will help you get the best out of this season. But staying at 100% during the season can be hard, I get it.
So to give you a starting point, I’ve included a few tips and training ideas for you to consider.
The one thing I’ve found is always the limiting factor in surfing performance is fatigue and paddle endurance, and how my shoulders feel towards the end of a long session.
Keeping up regular sessions, and not getting sloppy with your technique (keeping centred on your board, hand underneath, fingers together etc) all helps but what to do when you can’t do that, or how to get that added edge?
In a society where a sedentary lifestyle is common, so too are low back problems.
Whether it be at school, uni, work, or home, the vast majority of us spend most of our day sitting. We do not utilise the full hip movement available, often resulting in tightness through the surrounding musculature. To combat this, in many occasions the lower back must work even harder. It is my experience, both in clinic and in my own life, that improving hip function can greatly improve low back pain.
Here are a few of my little tips to improve hip mobility, muscular tightness and ease your lower back pain.