Latest post on physioquestions.com | Round Ligament Pain in Pregnancy

With all of the changes and growth occurring in the body during pregnancy, some women may report pain that occurs in the lower abdomen or groin area on one or both sides. It may feel like a “strong pulling sensation” or a “quick sharp jabbing pain” in the lower abdomen. Most often this is “round ligament” pain, and is not uncommon or harmful.

Round ligament pain is usually noticed around the beginning of second trimester during a growth spurt of the baby, and again later in the third trimester. It usually resolves completely following delivery. The pain is reported to be quite deep within the lower abdomen or groin, not superficial, and may move upward/outward towards either side of the top of the hips.

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Want to avoid dementia later in life? Walking can do just that, latest research shows.

A new study in the latest edition of Neurology journal has found that walking can have beneficial effects on brain size and cognitive function. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh found that adults who walked 72 blocks a week (ie. 9 miles, or 14 km), had significiantly increased brain gray matter volume than those who did not.

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Hamstrings stretching techniques

There are various different techniques to stretch your hamstrings muscles. It is best to choose the position which is most comfortable for you.

Stretches should be held for 10-15 seconds each, repeated 2-3 x. The stretches shown here are all static techniques, ie. no need to bounce at the end of range, simply hold. There should also be no pain at the end of range, just a gentle ‘stretch’ sensation.

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Patellar Tendinitis (Jumper's Knee)

What is it? 

Commonly known as "Jumper's Knee", this condition results from the overuse and repetitive overloading of the knee extensor mechanism. It occurs frequently in jumping-type sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, running, badminton, skateboarding, snowboarding, and others.

Patellar 'tendinitis' simply refers to the inflammation of the patellar tendon in the acute phase of the injury. However often this acute inflammation is not addressed properly, causing the condition to progress further into 'tendinosis' or 'tendinopathy' (ie. chronic degeneration and/or tearing of the tendon due to insufficient healing).

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Which part of the brain is involved in sensation?

Q: Which part of the brain is involved in relaying somatic sensory information from the skin of the trunk and extremities to the somatosensory cortex? 

A: The thalamus has several functions, one of which is the processing and relaying of sensory information. It receives sensory signals and then relays them to the appropriate cortical area in the cerebral cortex. The thalamus sits between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain, and comprises of a paired structure in the midline of the brain.

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Exercise after pregnancy: looking after yourself

Exercise after giving birth is probably the last thing on your mind with a newborn requiring much of your time and attention, not to mention the sleep deprivation and change in lifestyle. However when you are ready, finding the time to exercise is important and will make you feel a lot better both physically and psychologically. 

 

This article will cover the following:

1. Benefits of exercise

2. When to start

3. Exercise and breastfeeding

4. Some tips to get you started

5. Exercise suggestions 

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest research on Frozen Shoulder: Effectiveness of conservative & surgical interventions

Article Review

Here is a summary of the authors' findings:

• Strong evidence for corticosteroid injections and laser therapy in short-term
• Moderate evidence for:
• Steroid injections in mid-term follow-up
• Mobilisation techniques in short and long-term
• Arthrographic distension +/- active physiotherapy in short-term
• Oral steroids in short-term
• Inconclusive evidence for:
• NSAIDs
• Acupuncture
• MUA
• Arthroscopic release

READ MORE on this article at www.physioquestions.com
For an overview on the condition of Frozen Shoulder, click here. 

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

What is it?

Frozen Shoulder is a common condition in the middle aged to older population, with reported incidence ~2-5% presenting to GP and affecting women more than men (70% women 40-60 yrs).

As the medical term 'Adhesive Capsulitis' implies, it is when the shoulder capsule (tissue surrounding the glenohumeral joint) becomes stiff (adhesive) and inflamed (capsulitis), leading to significant loss of range of motion (ROM) and pain.

This condition can last from 5-6 months to 2-3 years or more.

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Back Pain: Part II (Strengthening Exercises)

Continuing from Back Pain: Part I (Stretching/Mobility Exercises), this article will look at some strengthening exercises for the back. 

Much of the latest research on back pain have focused on the importance of two muscles: transverse abdominus and multifidus, and their roles in back pain. This is because both of these muscles lie deep in the spine, forming the functional core of the body. The multifidus muscle stabilises the joints at each segmental level of the spine. Hence you may have heard physiotherapists emphasising the importance of retraining your 'core' stability. 

Research has shown that in people with back pain, these two muscles are weakened, their recruitment patterns are altered and their ability to stabilise the spine is impaired. If these problems are not addressed, evidence suggests that the chances for recurrence of back pain would be increased. 

Strengthening these deep core muscles and retraining their activation patterns during functional activities are two essential components of all back rehabilitation. 

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Back Pain: Part I (Stretching/Mobility Exercises)

Back pain can be a frustrating condition to fight off as it seems to keep coming back without any warning. You may have been careful with posture, didn't do any heavy lifting or strenuous activity, however you wake up with a bit of a niggle that worsens on specific movements or particular activities.

What causes back pain?

There are many causes of back pain. The spine consists of nerves, discs, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments which can all produce pain. Without going into too much detail on the topic and theories of pain, back pain can be thought to be a result of a chemical or mechanical cause. Chemical pain could be a result of inflammation which irritates nerve endings and causes pain. Mechanical pain could be due to joints that are stiff or hypermobile, muscles that are strained or overactive (spasm), bulging disc with possible nerve impingement (which can also cause radiating pain down extremities), overused tendons/ligaments, etc. 

 

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Research findings on the reliability and accuracy of clinical tests to diagnose ACL tear

Q: With regards to the tests for ACL tear, which is most reliable and/or accurate?

A: The 3 main clinical tests that are usually performed by therapists to diagnose an ACL tear include the Anterior Drawer test, Lachman test and Pivot Shift test. However the reliability and accuracy of these tests have been questioned. Here are the findings from three studies (Ostrowski 2006; Benjaminse et al 2006; Peeler et al 2010) regarding the reliability and accuracy of these tests.

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Do musicians have different brains?

Does musical training reorganise the brain? What are the implications? 

An article published in Psychology Today, June 11, 2010

In the last twenty years, brain imaging studies have revealed that musical training has dramatic effects on the brain. Increases in gray matter (size and number of nerve cells) are seen, for example, in the auditory, motor, and visual spatial areas of the cerebral cortex of musicians.

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Do you get wrist pain from typing or writing?

QUESTION:

"I get pain in my right hand near my wrist after long periods of typing and sometimes the area around my wrist (palm side) gets a bit swollen too. What can I do to help the problem?"

ANSWER:

This sounds like a case of "Occupational Overuse Syndrome" (OOS), or more commonly known as "Repetitive Strain Injury" (RSI). There is usually no discrete pathological cause for RSI - it is rather related to the overuse (and/or improper use) of particular areas of the body resulting in pain and/or other symptom.

Topics covered in this article:

• Common causes of RSI (eg. repetitive movements, sustained/awkward postures, and more)
• Typical symptoms
• Treatment (including advice on exercises, ergonomics, computer & writing equipment, posture care, pain relief)

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Shoulder Complex (Part III) - Anterior/Posterior/Multidirectional Dislocations & Exercise Rehabilitation

Topics covered:

• Anterior Dislocation
• Posterior Dislocation
• Multidirectional Instability
• Exercise Rehabilitation

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Shoulder Complex (Part II) - The Unstable Shoulder

SHOULDER INSTABILITY

Glenohumeral instability is the inability to maintain the humeral head in the glenoid fossa.

• Dislocation = Complete loss of humeral articulation from the glenoid fossa
• Subluxation = Partial loss of humeral articulation within the glenoid
• Laxity = Generalised hypermobility of the glenohumeral joint and other joints; asymptomatic

Topics covered:

• Classification of dislocations (degree, frequency, etiology, direction)
• TUBS vs AMBRI
• Examination of the unstable shoulder

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Intro to the Shoulder (Part I): What makes your shoulder stable?

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. A normal shoulder precisely constrains the humeral head to the centre of the glenoid cavity throughout most of the arc of movement.  

Shoulder stability is the result of a complex interaction between static and dynamic restraints.

• Static stabilisers (capsule, ligaments, labrum) act as concave structures to deepen the glenoid fossa.
• Dynamic stabilisers include rotator cuff and surrounding larger muscles that provide scapular stability (serratus anterior, lat dorsi, rhomboids, trapezius, pectoralis)

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Review on LARS - An alternative for ligament reconstruction

I was asked about the efficacy of LARS as an alternative surgical option for ACL reconstruction. 

In recent years, the use of LARS ligaments have been increasing with promising clinical results. In fact, these ligaments have been in clinical use for over 15 years. LARS stands for Ligament Augmentation & Reconstruction System, and these artificial ligaments are intended for the intra or extra-articular reconstruction of ruptured ligaments.

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Knee Injury: ACL (Part II)

In follow-up to my previous article on "Knee injury: ACL (Part I)", here is the 2nd half of my discussion to provide an overview of ACL surgery and post-op rehabilitation. 

Who will benefit from surgery?

• Individuals with active lifestyles
• Individuals involved in high-level sporting activities (eg. soccer, basketball, netball, footy, skiing, etc)
• Those with recurrent knee instability due to ACL deficiency
• Those wishing to protect their knee joint and cartilage from future damage
• Individuals who have attempted and failed conservative management with recurrent knee pain and instability

Topics covered in this article: 

• Surgery: What graft is used? What does the procedure involve?
• Rehabilitation: Overview of the aims, goals and duration of each stage in rehab
• Prehabilitation (Preparations prior to surgery)
• Phase 1 - Acute Recovery (0-2 weeks)
• Phase 2 - Muscular Control (2-6 weeks)
• Phase 3 - Balance and Proprioception (6-12 weeks)
• Phase 4 - Sports-Specific Training (3-6 months)
• Phase 5 - Return to Sport (6 months +)

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Knee Injury: ACL (Part I)

My sister-in-law recently ruptured her ACL playing touch footy and will be undergoing surgery in a month. Hence it prompted me to write about the ACL - what it is, what happens with an ACL injury, and provide an overview of surgery and rehabilitation from a physiotherapist's perspective.

What is the ACL?

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the four major stabilising ligaments of the knee. 
The other three are: Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL). The term 'cruciate' is used as the ACL crosses the PCL in a crucifix position.

Topics covered:

• Anatomy including attachments
• Functional anatomy
• What happens in an ACL injury
• Signs and symptoms of a torn ACL
  
• What to do immediately post-injury
• Treatment options: conservative vs surgical
• Returning to sport

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Baby milestones: 7 to 12 months

Understanding the developmental milestones of a baby is a good way for parents to monitor their child's growth. It is of course important to mention that all babies are different and some may achieve certain milestones later than others, and this is nothing to be worried about (unless you notice this delay happening consistently).

Following on from my previous article "Baby milestones: 1 to 6 months", this latest post lists out the major milestones to look out for in your child between 7 to 12 months.

READ MORE on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Baby milestones: 1 to 6 months

Understanding the developmental milestones of a baby is a good way for parents to monitor their child's growth. It is of course important to mention that all babies are different and some may achieve certain milestones later than others, and this is nothing to be worried about (unless you notice this delay happening consistently).

Tummy time

In this article, I have listed out some of the major milestones to look out for in your child.

READ MORE at www.physioquestions.com 

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Exercises suitable for when sick with the cold/flu

QUESTION RECEIVED 31/8/10:

"What kind of stretches/exercise can you do when you are sick with the flu and a lot of your body hurts? How can you get your blood circulating well without exhausting yourself?"

Good on you for thinking about exercising even when you are sick. It is often so hard to motivate yourself to get up off the bed or couch, or sometimes you just physically are not able to stand up long enough before feeling dizzy or weak.

Here are some gentle exercises that I would recommend for you to do to keep the blood circulating and prevent your body getting stiff (without causing too much exhaustion). Just select a few that you like and try to do them 3 x a day. I have also written down the sets/reps that I would recommend. Of course, the key is not to over-do, so do what your body can handle!

READ MORE on this article at www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Exercise and Pregnancy

Considering I just had a baby, this topic is quite relevant and fresh in my mind. As a physio, exercise is second nature to me. I found it rather enjoyable to exercise during my entire pregnancy, and as my body changed throughout the different trimesters, I just simply modified the type of activity I did to suit. (In fact, I exercised even up to the day of giving birth - going for a nice 90min walk in the middle of the day during my early labour contractions, and made me feel so much better!).

Simply put, it is important to exercise during pregnancy. It brings many benefits for the mother's physical, emotional and social health. Although physical activity is beneficial for most people, I must state that under some circumstances, physical activity is not recommended for the health of the mother and baby, and the obstetrician's instructions must be carefully adhered to. 

Topics covered:

• Body changes during pregnancy
• Benefits of exercise
• Exercise suggestions
• Exercise to avoid
• Contact a physio

Read the FULL ARTICLE on www.physioquestions.com

Album Artwork on "A Time & Place"

A big shout out to my good friend and graphics design genius Vee (Virginia Choy - www.veechoy.com) for her brilliant work on Lara's album design and artwork. BRILLIANT!
For all our mutual friends out there, that's another reason to grab a copy of the CD! ;)

Album Review: Lara Goudie, "A Time & Place"

Following the success of her debut album, "Out of the Depths", Lara Goudie (www.laragoudie.com) delivers yet another brilliant masterpiece with her latest release, "A Time & Place". With a distinctive freshness and creativity in her songwriting, this album captures her ability to combine fun-loving, upbeat numbers with deep, meaningful songs.

The album opens with two infectious and upbeat tracks, "This Is Who I Am" and "Help Me Remember You", which shows off the diversity of her voice and singing style together with lyrics reflecting her life and dependence on Christ. Tracks 3 ("You're All I Need") and 8 ("Wrapped Around Your Finger") are two piano-driven ballads that are beautifully written with deeply heart-felt lyrics. The album's title track, "A Time & Place", is a contemplative song which prompts the listener to reflect upon Christ and the cross, "Give me a time, give me a place; where I can stop and seek Your face".

This album is a true testament to Lara's musical gifts and her passion and love for God. Don't miss out! Make sure you grab yourselves (and friends) a copy and be blessed by the experience! Available from: www.laragoudie.com/store

(FYI, I play piano on Track 8 of this album! :)

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Neck and shoulder tightness

QUESTION RECEIVED 23/8/10:

"How do you treat neck and shoulder tightness that has gone to the point of the muscles being almost as hard as rock?"

Interesting question.
I think the problem here is a postural issue leading to muscular symptoms.
If you work requires you to be always at a computer/laptop and hunched over for the majority of the day, then it is very common to develop neck and shoulder tightness and pain.

Read more on www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Flat Feet (or Pes Planus)

Lately I have had quite a few people ask me about flat feet.

Flat feet (or pes planus), is a condition where the arch of the foot is collapsed. This results in the sole of the foot being in partial or complete contact with the ground surface. Flat feet may occur unilaterally (one side) or bilaterally (both sides).

It can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Faulty lower limb biomechanics
• Incorrect walking/running/sporting techniques
• Poor footwear (regular use of flat ballet type shoes, high heels, shoes with no arch or improper sole)
• Prolonged stress/pressure to the foot
• Injury
• Pregnancy

READ MORE on this article at www.physioquestions.com

Latest post on physioquestions.com | Are you worried about your child's headshape or torticollis?

Read up about common paediatric conditions such as headshape abnormalities (plagiocephaly, brachiocephaly and scaphocephaly) and torticollis on www.physioquestions.com. Some general tips are also given on how to manage these conditions. If you have any specific questions or would like further advice, please feel free to comment on the post or contact me.

READ MORE on this article at www.physioquestions.com

www.physioquestions.com

My new online physiotherapy consultation website www.physioquestions.com is currently under construction and will be ready soon.

In the meantime, if you have a physio question that you would like to post up, please click on Contact and enter your enquiry. I will answer them as soon as I can.

Welcome

Welcome to my new webpage and blog. On here you can keep up to date with what I am up to on Latest News, and find out all about my music and physiotherapy specialisations. A full list of my music teaching/performing/accompanying services, as well as my latest online physiotherapy consultation service (www.physioquestions.com) can be found on Services. For all enquiries, please go to Contact page.

Enjoy browsing!