Exercises Exercises Exercises!

At least weekly I see a new client who says to me: “I’ve never had this type of treatment before”, despite having seen one or more Physios previously.


My treatment always involves manual therapy of various methods, principally aimed at increasing the range of movement of the body joint involved with the problem.


Almost all musclolo-skeletal pain is because something (a joint) doesn't move properly. When you ask a stiff joint to move and it can't, it hurts.


That's why manual therapy is generally very effective. It is making the joint move. Then the joint goes where you ask it to and subsequently it doesn't hurt.


Why so many Physios, especially of more recently trained Physiotherapists, concentrate their efforts (and treatment time) on demonstrating and instructing exercises to their clients without physically addressing the joint with restricted movement is very strange in my view!


Now I agree exercises have great value in assisting people to improve and maintain a condition, but when a joint is not moving properly manual therapy is the first and best choice in addressing the problem in my view. 



If your treatment involves lots of exercises and you’re struggling to get better maybe you should call!

SIDE HIP PAIN

July 1, 2025
Pain on the side of the hip from bursitis or gluteal tendon inflammation is an annoying problem often more so at night because lying on it frequently disturbs people’s sleep. It is a reasonably common problem for me to see. Tendons and bursae degenerate as we age and weakness in hip musculature can be a cause. But it can happen to anyone. Guided steroid injections can help, but most people respond well to soft tissue manipulation. The lower back should definitely be assessed and (usually) treated manually as related spinal joint stiffness frequently contributes to the issue. The hip joint should also be assessed and treated if necessary. Exercises can be helpful but need to match the pathology so an Ultrasound image might be needed give a diagnosis.

IRONMAN

June 1, 2025
Interstate visitor Client D came in two days before the Melbourne Ironman. Despite treatment interstate he had persisting leg soreness which had stopped him running for a week and had serious doubts on finishing, let alone doing well enough to earn him what he entered for: a qualifying position in the Hawaiian Ironman. He had some back joint stiffness and lateral hamstring trigger point muscle spasm and after loosening these up he felt better. However running a full marathon after the 3.8 kilometre swim and 180 kilometre cycle would be a massive test! The news post race was that he had got though the event and even with a puncture on the cycle grabbed a spot in Hawaii!  Well done to him! (And a bit to me too!)