Some children and their caregivers are not sure what to expect when they walk into a physiotherapy clinic to see a paediatric physiotherapist for the first time. Some even ask, “what can a physiotherapist even do to help my baby/child?!” 

Physiotherapists are experts in the human body and its movements, and this is no exception for paediatric physiotherapists. Paediatric physiotherapists are experts in the human body and the typical development and movement patterns in paediatric clients – ranging from infants to young adults. Children are not just little adults, and it can be important to see a specialised paediatric physiotherapist who is specifically trained to assess, manage and diagnose certain paediatric concerns and conditions – and who can also make physiotherapy fun! 

17th-23rd September

Have you ever felt unsteady when standing on one leg or walking on an uneven path? If yes, your body’s “postural balance” may be challenged. More often than not, we take our balance for granted, but this complex yet wonderful system is what keeps us steady when we stand, walk, run, and, for some, perform interesting balance tricks like the lady in the picture below.

We, as individuals, move through space without thinking much about how we can maintain an upright position or walk in a straight line. These movements are possible because of our ability to balance automatically.

Dance is a wonderful athletic activity that allows dancers to express themselves and stay active. Those dedicated to the craft reap a number of amazing health benefits, including developing and maintaining a healthy heart, strong lungs, muscles and bones. In saying this, due to the athletic nature of dance, it can also place intense physical demands on the body that can put one at greater risk of injury. 

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are becoming increasingly more common in Australia, particularly amongst younger populations. An Australian study conducted between 2000-2015 found an increase of 43% (54.0 to 77.4 per 100,000 population) for ACL injury rates, with 74% of all injuries among those aged under 25 years old. Peak ACL injury rates in 2014-15 for men were those between 20-24 years old, and for women between 15-19 years old. However, the most rapid increase was noted for boys and girls between 5-14 years old, exposing how early ACL injury might need to be considered.

What is Bipolar Affective Disorder?

Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) is a medical diagnosis characterized by wide mood alterations, with periods of both depression and mania that can last several weeks or even months at a time. A person experiencing depression or mania may have intense mood swings and changes in thinking and behaviour.

By definition, Bipolar means sharing two poles (high and low) and Affective Disorder means a disorder having to do with mood i.e. the way you think and feel. In most cases, the high pole is experienced as mania and the low pole experienced as depression.

‘Switching’ from depressive and manic periods can be unpredictable and occur in a short time frame.

If you were asked to look at this picture and decide which of these positions was classed as a “good” posture, chances are you would probably say the image on the right. The truth is it’s not that simple, and there is a lot of scientific evidence debunking the ideas of good and bad postures.

Common Myths:

1. Upright = Good and Slouching = Bad.

Let’s start by looking at this idea from an efficiency perspective. If someone is sitting at their desk on their chair which has a backrest, sitting perfectly upright is actually a less mechanically advantageous position to be in as it takes more energy to maintain that position. In contrast, adopting a slightly more slouched position with the back against the backrest is more beneficial as it utilizes less energy to maintain. So if you had to sit at your desk for 8 hours a day, which position sounds better – the one that requires more or less energy to sustain?

What is Assistive Technology?

The World Health Organisation describes Assistive Technology as products that help to maintain or improve an individual’s functioning and their independence (1).

Assistive Technology supports people to participate in activities that are meaningful and important to them, can improve the safety of the individual using the products and the safety of carers, reduce the need for formal health and support services and long-term care and can increase an individual’s ability to participate within education, work and communities.

Let’s face it…life is hectic! We all have a tendency to become creatures of habit…falling into a predictable routine, moving through the same motions, day in and day out. Don’t get us wrong, having a routine is fantastic! It keeps us organised, helps us form healthy habits and reduce stress! However…there are many benefits, physically and mentally to challenging ourselves to expand outside our norm.

We all know that regular exercise is imperative to promoting a healthy lifestyle and optimising our functioning every day. When it comes to exercise, there are many benefits to switching up your routine and trying different forms of movements. This may feel like it is outside of your comfort zone but rest assured not only your body, but your brain will absorb so many wonderful benefits from trying something new. 

At The Physio Clinic, we provide a fantastic space for all our clients to utilise our knowledge and clinical assessment to access and enjoy a tailored exercise program to reap all of the benefits in our Physio Exercise Classes (PEC). 

With the variety of equipment, individualised programs and Physiotherapist supervision in each class, there is no limit to what you can achieve and no shortage of opportunities to reach your goals, whether these be improvements in strength, endurance, rehabilitation, pain relief, balance, mobility…the list goes on and on!