PhysioVee

Post Hemi Stroke Gait Retraining- Slow but steady.

We are often given conflicting information about rehab potential and time frames. Many of my clients are told about the "golden period" for rehab but information and management after this period is unclear or isn't even talked about. While yes, the 6 months post incident is often where you might get the quickest gains in your functional capacity, you can still get improvements after this period! It often takes a bit more time but the body adapts with training and you just need enough stimulus and time for neuroplasticity to kick in. Perserverence is key!

On the left (April 2020), the client has been walking with a rigid AFO+SPS post stroke 5 years and only tolerating 5-10m due to fear of falling, pain in the ankle and fatigue. They were hesitant to take the AFO off at first because it was believed that this was going to be forever.

Flash forward 9 months (Jan 2021) with weekly physio input+ daily home exercises and self management techniques (the most important part of it), the client is now able to walk with SPS in orthotic supported footwear without AFO, and outdoors, for 100m. There has been a significant reduction in pain, increase in cadence/speed, increase in ankle stability, increase in endurance, and most importantly increase in confidence and feeling good with mobility.

Your healthcare team is there to support your goals and work with you to achieve your highest potential. While at times certain goals may be difficult to achieve and unfortunately sometimes not achieveable due to the nature of the condition, there is always room to discuss ways to improve your function in different aspects such as pain, endurance, range, strength or even improving compensated movements. Worth having a chat to your health practitioner.



Music: Chill
Musician: LiQWYD
URL: http://www.soundcloud.com/liqwyd

Hitting the gym can be quite difficult at times especially after some time off. I'm lucky to have friends and around me to motivate and push me to do good for my body. Thank you for keeping tabs on me and keeping me accountable. 🙏 Absolute legends!

If you're struggling to keep up with your gym routine, give it a try. Get a buddy/coach/mentor who will keep you accountable and bug you if you miss a session with them. Doesn't even have to be the same workout sesh, just someone who knows if you're going to be there or not. Or even vice versa, motivate someone else to go gym by going with them. Win-win situation.


❤️

Upper/Middle Back Mobility (check out my IG for full videos): https://www.instagram.com/p/CFrpfwzh0nQ/?igshid=19ea5mpp7l9u

We often neglect the upper/middle back (aka. thoracic spine) when it comes to exercise and mobility. With the increase in prolonged desk sitting jobs nowadays, the thoracic spine becomes increasingly vulnerable to both stiffness and poor movement.

When there is poor movement in the thoracic spine, the connecting structures often have to compensate, which can expose these structures to higher risk of injury.

Make sure you address or rule out any thoracic mobility issues if you have any if the following:

•Forward head posture/ neck pain
•Shoulder issues
•Lower back pain
•Difficulty in deep breathing
•Twisting, reaching and bending difficulties

See if these exercises help. Make sure to check in with your physio to set up a telehealth consult (or if you can wait until restrictions ease, go see your physio/therapist) to discuss things such as, postural education, modifications to your work area or habits, and client specific exercises to self mobilise and strengthen the back to prevent that stiff upper back from returning.

Already repping the new colours. Featuring massage gun and heatable cozy plush.

Massage gun: good way to help you self massage without hurting your own hands or for those who struggle with a foam roller. Doesn't beat active exercises to stretch and move your muscles, but I do use this with some patients to help with short term myofascial release or even to help prep and loosen muscles prior to a functional activity or sport.

Warmies-heatable soft toy : great with the children (and adults like me 😁). Can heat up in microwave as a mini heat pack. Has different scents that can aide with calming/ sleep. This one in particular has a lavender scent.

Physiotherapy for Client with SCI

📌Patient Goals: Improve lower limb strength, prevent joint contractures, and maintain bone mineral density.

📌 Treatment: Here we have the patient complete simple exercises in standing. Please note here, that prep work is important to allow muscles/tissues to warm up and allow appropriate range of motion in the joints that are necessary for standing. We are using a ceiling hoist to adjust the amount of support he requires for both balance and weight through the lower limbs. As the lower leg strength and control improves, we can continue to work him through range for a full squat.

📌 Additional Benefits: patient reported improvement in parastalsis, deep breathing, reduction in abdominal spasms and lower back pain/stiffness, increase in lower limb muscles activation making them feel lighter, reduction in joint contractures/stiffness.

📌Keep the body moving, take advantage of upright postures and movement to help your muscles, joints as well as internal organs. Work together with your physio to set up measures that would help you reach your specific goals.

Feels like New Year's again!

Hey everyone! Gyms are back open again here in Melbourne! Remember there's still restrictions to follow!

Let's do our best to keep the cough, sneeze and hand hygeine in play in order to help our facilities stay open!

As a reminder, if you haven't been regular with your exercise routine during the lock down, make sure to GRADUALLY progress your frequency, duration and intensity of exercise! Manage the load you put on your body!

It's getting chilly here in Melbourne! Starting to see a lot more spasticity creep up again in my neuro patients...likely due to the colder temperatures!

In this video, I'm working with an incomplete SCI patient. I'm using the patients trigger responses to get him to activate his lower limb muscles and having him actively push down to stimulate the pushing muscles of the leg. Movement is a great way to get the blood circulation going and warm up the body as well as to help improve movement and lengthening of the muscles through range.

This in turn helps prepare him for mobility, cycling, as well as standing for joint loading as they can activate the muscles through range better.

* note, there are many ways to work with spasticity, discuss and work with your patient what works best for them.

Can check out what I wrote about spasticity on the website. Link in bio.

https://www.sustainhealth.com.au/blog/life-with-spasticity/

Day #7 and final day of 100reps push up challenge from .boxingphysio.

Pushed myself today to do 5x20reps of the push-ups within 10minutes. Having the reduced rest time really kills.

So happy to be done! What i learned:
-i still hate push-ups but its helped my arms tone up!
-the same thing everyday does get boring so change it up
-there's always room for improvement

Thanks to those who have been following or have been doing the 100 per day with me!

💪 #7/7


Music: Sugar Diabet
Musician: WATERCAT
URL: https://icons8.com/music

Day #5 of 100rep push-up challenge! 200 more reps to go! Keep going strong!

Daily push-ups do get boring so change it up! I'm going for a bit more depth and shoulders are building up on the lactic acid! Changed it to 10x10reps today+ foam rolling in between!

For those still at it, 2 more days to go! Don't give up!
Remember to do some recovery work! ie. rolling, massage gun, stretch.





Music: Temperatures Rising
Musician: Lovefine
URL: https://icons8.com/music

Day #4 Of 100 rep push up challenge.

Just a short clip of the push-ups today. Focus was to get a better depth on the push-ups. Will keep working on it!

We are just over halfway! 3 more days to go! Also repping the swag today! really miss hitting the bags!


💪



Music: Sakhir
Musician: The Other Side
URL: https://icons8.com/music

Day #3 of 100rep push-up challenge.

Push-ups are actually getting easier. Think it's time to challenge the depth of my push-ups now!

Keep it going my fellow push-up-ers! 400 more push ups to go!

If only i got coins for every push-up i did! ><






Background Music: Super Mario theme
Nintendo