Adelaide West Physio + Pilates Headache Clinic

Our most popular blog by a country mile is 'What does it feel like to be shot?'! 💥

If you are a student of pain science, being shot can teach you some valuable lessons 🤓

If you are a student of life, being shot can teach you some valuable lessons. Maybe.

What Does It Feel Like To Be Shot? You might expect that being shot is always a painful experience. Read this article to find out truth and how that helps us to understand pain.

🎈A happy happy birthday to Maddie! Have a great evening after a big day at work on your b'day

Jacqui, Tobey and Lena will make sure you feel looked after, from your very first contact on the phone. Nothing is too much trouble.

Call us today on 8356 1000 to find out for yourself!

Be honest. Do you really know what a pelvic floor exercise is?

Can you picture how a pelvic floor contraction works?

Working your biceps has a big advantage - you can see it happen. You can see your elbow bend, you can see biceps bulge in the mirror as you take that selfie.

No so for pelvic floor muscles.

And that is what makes them more challenging - how do you know if you are doing them right?

Read this: https://www.adelaidewestphysio.com.au/pelvic-floor-exercises/

In this article that Lisa has written, she shares some of the different exercises that she has heard people describe thinking that they are pelvic floor exercises - but they are not.

Don't be doing an exercise and wasting your time.

And guys, you’re not off the hook!

You knew we have pelvic floor muscles too, right?

It is worth reading this article to find out if you are in the ballpark with pelvic floor exercises.

It still doesn’t solve the problem that you can’t see them work though.

However, there is a way around it using some nifty technology.

Not AI, it’s RTUS ie Real TIme Ultrasound Imaging, which allows both you and the therapist to SEE the pelvic floor lift and relax, with no un******ng at all.

It is all done via the tummy.

If you need a hand, just book in with Lisa! Call us on 8356 1000 or book online via this link bit.ly/AdelaideWestOnline

The Ins And Outs Of Pelvic Floor Exercises Pelvic floor exercises are not possible to see, so how do you know when you are doing them right? This article explains.

Here's Kimberley's nugget from the last 15 years. This idea of balance is cool, because you do have to accept some limitations in life.

If you are shorter than average, you might not be a pace bowler for Australia (despite inspirational quotes telling you that you can do anything you put your mind to).

But it is good to push your limits, and not accept limitations that are imposed on you. You might be a great fast bowler in indoor cricket.

Emma Kreig was our guest for professional development yesterday. Emma is a dietician who does consulting online with a particular interest in Women's Health and hormone health. Clearly very knowledgeable and easy to talk to, she has a very balanced point of view (as opposed to the nutritionist fads online).

You can contact Emma Krieg Nutrition at https://www.instagram.com/emmakriegnutrition/, I'm sure she would love to help out if she can.

You can get a sense of her balanced approach on her Instagram page too 👏

🎈 Happy birthday to Lachy! We hope you have had a great day!

Ever been told that your hip is 'out'? This is what it looks like when your hip is actually 'out'. It doesn't happen easily, it usually takes trauma like a car accident. Just so you know!

ROTATOR CUFF PAIN - Physiotherapy should ALWAYS be the first line treatment for rotator cuff pain and impingement conditions. Before you even consider surgery and injections, you deserve a trial of effective physio treatment.

Having troubles with:
- reaching up high?
- putting on your seatbelt?
- doing up your bra?
- sleeping on your side?
or some other shoulder task?

Not sure about what to do next, or if physio can even help your problem?

Call us on 8356 1000 or book a time online to talk to a physio FREE!

You can book online here: http://bit.ly/AdelaideWestOnline

Find out about how we help, and let us answer any questions you have.

Welcoming Lena to our team, and welcome to our new uniform - broad brimmed hats and braids with ribbons. And Jacqui is that a dead animal on the top of your head?

It could be a coincidence, but Henry seems to support Port Adelaide. Good luck tonight 🍐

Leonie W shared this with us, it's great!: 'I have always said that "I can't" was not in my vocabulary.

I never say "I can't do" any task without really trying, until I have tried.

Then it's only after being repeatedly unsuccessfully that I may be "unable to ".

I have heard friends over the years say "I can't" without even trying, and I find this can be very sad, because it's amazing what one can achieve when you try.'

That's great Leonie, thanks for that!

Do you have something you have learnt over the last 15 years? Please share it with us!

If you have hayfever, spring can be a challenging time 🤧

Even more challenging if you have stress incontinence too. Y'know ...those little leaks that can happen when coughing or sneezing.

It’s cruel really - the coughs of winter are replaced by the sneezes of spring.

But there are good solutions. Drug-free, non-surgical solutions.

It can actually be solved in a lot of people. Sometimes it is simpler than you think.

Lisa has spent all winter helping her Women’s Health patients, many of whom are troubled by stress incontinence with coughing.

She is ready to help all through spring as well!

Organise a time to have a freequiet chat with her to find out more, or just bite the bullet and book in for an initial consultation.

Ring us on 8356 1000 or book online: bit.ly/AdelaideWestOnline

You’ll be glad you did.

REMEDIAL MASSAGE is not a luxury. For many, it is an essential part of maintaining physical and psychological health. You don't have to worry about any of the following:

• A massage that isn’t safe for you and your condition
✅ Matthew has the qualifications and experience to make sure that what he provides is, above all, safe

• A massage that isn’t satisfying or effective for helping your pain, tightness or stiffness
✅ Matthew will make sure it meets your needs using his communication and massage skills

• Being stuck with someone constantly talking when that ISN’T what YOU want
✅ Matthew will follow your lead. If you want to talk, he’ll talk. If you want quiet, he’ll give you peace

• The massage being too painful or too light for you
✅ Matthew will communicate with you to make sure that it is a depth that suits YOU

Call us today on 8356 1000 to organise an appointment with Matt or book online here https://bit.ly/AdelaideWestOnline

Make your body feel great again!

Let's say, hypothetically, you have a painful problem. What do you want to know? There are generally 5 questions:

1. What is wrong? It isn't always as obvious as this 🤣
2. How long will it take to get better?
3. What do you propose to do, as the health care professional, to help me get better?
4. What can I do as the patient to help myself?
5. How many visits do you think it will require?

We provide a written plan for EVERY new patient or new problem, so that each of these questions is answered right from the start.

Nothing is worse than being in the dark if you have pain.

If you would like to speak on the phone with a physio, call us on 8356 1000, message us or book online at https://bit.ly/AdelaideWestOnline

No strings attached.

This is a cautionary tale. Remember the Eken Power Bands that were going to revolutionise 'wellness' in 2009? They are back, but in patch form!

I am hesitant to put a link in this post, because they will get traffic, but you kind of need to hear the tripe they are advertising.

Check this s**t out: https://www.superpatch.com/

These 'Super Patches' are advertised as being able to do everything short of cure cancer: pain relief, improve balance and stability, support your immune system, improve your sleep, enhance your energy flow, balance, stamina and strength etc etc.

It's the 'future of wellness in a patch'!

But how does it work?

You can watch a wonderfully sciencey explainer video here: https://youtu.be/WXX2-7iFUsk?si=BvixQoXmkkpqZbFw

'The technology inside the Super Patch has uniquely arranged ridges that look like a QR code, when these ridges touch our skin, our cells transmit unique signals that interact with our body's nervous system.

The inventor of these patches discovered the different signals that work with the body’s physical, mental and emotional functions, each different Super Patch has a unique ridged pattern (QR Codes) that helps with a wide array of wellness and performance benefits'

They have a Scientific Advisory Board with people with doctorates and PhDs, which sounds very impressive.

However, this is nothing but pseudoscience. it sounds very sciencey and impressive (take a look at their stats) but I can't work out how their 'scientific advisory board' can go along with such a vacuous explanation.

As they say on their website: 'time and time again, Super Patch products have been studied and put to the test, and each time the results are incredible.'

But then they actually put a disclaimer on their website (if you look for it):

'This product does not have a medical purpose but is intended to improve general wellness. The effect has not yet been scienctically proven but is based on a non-randomised and non-placebo-controlled study, user reports and experience.'

In other words, it is an accessory. Much like the Eken Power Bands were in 2009.

Ann H shared with us: 'Although I have always been fairly active throughout my life, my motto since I commenced my program with you is:

"Move it or Lose it”.

I believe this means keeping active by moving all tissues, muscles and joints through frequent and consistent exercise.'

It's a simple concept that speaks volumes, because if you don't it will become stiffer, weaker, deconditioned and less tolerant.

Guaranteed.

Do you have something you have learnt over the last 15 years? Please share it with us!

We are not 'YouTubers'. We have just shy of 500 subscribers. However, we have had 36 000 views and 285 hours of time watching our videos in the last month.

We have over 250 videos on our channel, covering topics like back pain, pain physiology, headaches and migraines and Pilates. There is plenty to help educate our patients and the wider community.

There is also a very cool video of a young orangutan practicing making a nest on the ground from when Tobey and I went to Borneo in 2003. If you have ever wondered where our orangutan 'thing' came from, this will help explain it!

Check out our channel here: http://youtube.com/

There are new treatment options! Based on the latest neuroscience, virtual reality is the new frontier for treating persistent pain. It offers an enjoyable way to learn about your pain and to get you moving without pain.

Call us on 8356 1000 to find out how it can help you!

One of the most important questions that every patient has is 'how long will it take to get better?'

From listening to patients, we know that it is super frustrating when it seems like there is no plan, and instead you feel like you are meandering from appointment to appointment.

For this reason, we provide a written plan to every new patient or patient with a new problem. This answers the key questions:

1. what is wrong (even if it is a provisional diagnosis at the beginning)?
2. how long will it take to get better?
3. what can we, as the physio, do to help?
4. what can you, as the patient, do to help too?
5. how many sessions do we expect it will take?

If you would like to have these questions answered by experienced physiotherapists, call us on 8356 1000 or message us.

If you aren't sure what you need, ask to speak to a physio for a free chat on the phone!

Anita B writes: 'One of the things that strikes me about my journey with chronic pain after my back injury and surgery is:

'What was a fact a few years ago, may no longer be true.

You need to have health professionals who keep up with the latest research findings and the science behind them, so you aren't held back by outdated beliefs and treatment methods.'

Great point Anita, and I can think of plenty of 'facts' from 10 years ago or 5 years ago that no longer hold true. Science and knowledge evolves and you can't rest on your laurels as a health care practitioner.

That also means that as a patient with a problem, keep learning!

Do you have something you have learnt over the last 15 years? Please share it with us!

I was lucky to be given a copy of this book by a patient! It comes highly recommended as a pragmatic way of managing health. If anyone is interested, I'm happy to loan it out (after I finish it 😁). Just let me know!

Whether it is headache or migraine treatment using the Watson Headache Approach, tendon pain, spinal pain or sports injuries, Lachlan Sutherland gets results for his patients.

He is empathetic, friendly, a great listener - the components of a great physio.

Book online at https://bit.ly/AdelaideWestOnline to organise a free opportunity to speak with him about your problem. No strings attached!