ACL ruptures have gained significant media attention of late due to the amount of time missed in sport, particularly among elite AFL, soccer and rugby players. This blog will explore what an ACL is, how it is important for knee stability as well as explore the surgical and physiotherapy treatments for them. What is an ACL? The knee joint does not have a large range of motion but instead possesses a high amount of stability to keep the joint together.…
Are you experiencing hip pain? Is it located on the outside of your hip? Is there pain when lying on that side? Or do you experience pain when standing on one leg? You may be experiencing greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). GTPS is the umbrella term to describe pain on the outside of the hip. This can be caused by tendon irritation of the gluteal muscles or inflammation of the bursa around the hip. Why does hip pain occur? Hip pain…
As we age our body will change and many people tend to slow down or significantly reduce their activity levels. For some people their health conditions prevent them from exercising causing further deterioration in their health. For example, the incidence of osteoporosis, or decreased bone density, tends to increase as people age and move less. There are many risk factors to osteoporosis including: Women in menopause due to lower levels of oestrogen that cause calcium loss from the bones and…
Rehabilitation from injuries can be a long-term process. For certain conditions, factors such as pain, strength, range of motion, reduced aerobic fitness and other medical conditions can hinder your progressions in rehab with your physiotherapist. If this situation sounds similar for you, then you may be an ideal candidate for trying hydrotherapy! What is Hydrotherapy? Hydrotherapy is basically a water-based therapeutic exercise program that is conducted under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The physiology and physics behind hydrotherapy can offer…
After injuries to the joints of the body, a sports doctor or physiotherapist might recommend that you require bracing or taping for returning to sport. This is to help prevent further injury to those areas until your rehabilitation is complete. Common areas for bracing and taping are fingers, thumbs, knees, ankles and shoulders. It is usually heavily dependent on the intensity and type of sport you are playing. For some contact sports, such as rugby and AFL bracing it is against the rules due to injury risk from…
Cervical Headaches Headaches are a very common and debilitating condition. Whilst there are many forms of headaches with numerous causes, your neck is a very common source. This is not surprising considering our work commitments and the length of time we spend faced with the computer. It’s our prolonged posture in sitting that eventually leads to potential problems over time. Experimental studies show that the upper 3 vertebrae are intimately related to the same nerves that supply our face and…
At Hoppers Physio, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality individual care. We are fortunate to have a fully equipped gym, with reformers, trapeze, barrel, bike, treadmill, fit balls, and more. Our staff assess all our clients individually and tailor programs to suit their needs. If you are considering pilates, our clinical programs are a great place to start. You will have an initial assessment with one of our physiotherapists, involving a real-time ultrasound of your abdominals to gain…
As preseason for the 2021 soccer season as well as the return of the A-League, it is important to ensure our bodies are capable of the load that will be required when the season commences. Soccer players are the most at risk of developing adductors strains that can result in leg and groin pain. This type of injury is one of the most commonly seen in soccer players due to the nature of the game which requires both repetitive forward and lateral movements such…
In female sport there is a medical term called the ‘Female Athlete Triad’. This refers to the combination of energy deficiency and absent menstrual cycles which ultimately leads to a disruption to hormone function resulting in reduced bone mineral density. Typically, weight-bearing and resistance exercise would improve bone health as the load through the bones promotes increased bone density. For women who do not have menstrual cycles due to energy deficiencies, they will not get the same effect. This is due to reduced hormonal levels which ultimately leads to a high risk of stress fractures. …
Some good news amidst 2020, gyms have reopened! This means that is finally time to get back to the daily grind. Although it's good to be back, we must remember that it may have been more than several months for some people since last getting in a good workout. The result is that the body will have gone through a long detraining phase in which you feel like you may have lost a lot of muscular strength and endurance. This…