School starts again here and packing that backpack with all the stuff they “just can’t live without” plus what their teachers’ need them to have . . . . it can suddenly be heavy bag. Style is everything A back pack is always the best style as they distribute the load across the strong back and shoulder muscles. If you can convince them to use a hip strap as well,…
Frozen shoulder, rotator cuff, bursitis, impingement . . . shoulder pain can come with a lot of different names and root causes. But there are some common themes – difficulty raising your arm overhead, difficulty working or doing your sport, problems sleeping and, of course, pain! But what happens when you’re not making progress? When the pain and difficulty moving continues? Pain Perception I’ve spoken before about chronic pain and…
With the Olympics just finished we have had plenty of chances to see “perfect” bodies. But did you know how many Olympic athletes past and present had scoliosis? Usain Bolt – Jamaican runner (you may have heard of him?!) Alexandra Marinescu – Romanian gymnast Jon Olsen – swimmer for the USA Jennifer Thompson – swimmer for the USA, one of the most decorated Olympians in history What is Scoliosis? Scoliosis is a term used…
As a fairly new convert to the iPhone I’m in awe of how easily kids pick up technology. Even toddlers can now work smartphones and tablets with amazing speed and dexterity. But as working adults we are all aware of the toll technology can take on our health: Migraines Tension headaches Carpal tunnel Tennis elbow Shoulder / Neck pain Tingling or loss of strength in your fingers or arms Breathing…
If you have pain in the knee or back you probably think something is wrong with your knee or back. You see your doctor, perhaps get an X-ray or MRI scan. But what if these investigations don’t show a problem? You still have pain in your knee but your doctor is saying there is nothing wrong. Or worse, you receive a lot of treatment (sometimes including surgery!) but make no…
Having children is such a wonderful experience right? Kisses, cuddles, being the absolute centre of someone’s universe . . . . . but it can take a toll on our bodies – for mums AND dads. The lifting and carrying of babies, wriggling toddlers, buggies, nappy bags, and all the paraphernalia. The sustained and repetitive postures as you feed, rock them to sleep or lie curled on the edge of…
Migraines – you never know when they will strike. It’s like a big, invisible lion following you around and you never know when it’s going to strike. So here are 5 tips to help you turn that lion into a pussy cat. Food and Drink Many migraine sufferers have a list of “trigger foods”. While these can be a factor it is much more important to focus on the bigger…
Airports Miles of walking, often pulling heavy luggage, juggling trollies and children and buggies . . . the endless standing in queues. Remind me at what point we thought this was going to be a good idea? If you’ve already got a bad knee, ankle, foot or arm the miles of walking, lifting and getting banged by someone’s suitcase won’t help. Wear a bandage or a sling or take a…
Your neck is a pretty critical part of the body – it is, after all, the main connection between your brain and every other part of you. As I’ve explained before neck pain can be a big part of Migraines and other Headaches TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) Tinnitus Carpal Tunnel Tennis or Golfers Elbow As well as a host of other symptoms. But it can also play a large part…
I’ve spoken before about iPain – how the use of technology, and the positions we use it in, can have an effect on our health. The neck pain caused as we hunch over smaller and smaller screens for longer and longer can cause headaches, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome and other issues. Is your mobile stopping you breathing properly? Recent studies have shown that smartphone users tend to report more pain…