Whether you're chasing a ball on the pitch or just want to walk the dog without worrying about your knee, recovering from meniscus surgery takes the right approach.
A recent expert agreement between leading physios and surgeons from Europe and the US has laid out clear guidance on how to return safely to sport, work, or everyday life after meniscus surgery. Whether you’re in your 20s or your 60s, this is about getting you back to what matters most — with confidence.
Read MoreAnterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common and serious injuries in athletes and active individuals. As a physiotherapist, I frequently work with patients of all ages recovering from ACL tears, and one thing that stands out is how these injuries differ between age groups and genders. Understanding these differences can significantly influence prevention strategies, rehabilitation protocols, and return-to-sport timelines.
Read MoreBone stress injuries (BSIs) are a common and often misunderstood cause of pain—especially in runners, dancers, and active individuals who's sports and activities put impact through the bones. Although impact in general is good for your bones, when done incorrectly it can lead to a BSI.
Whether you're training for a marathon, city to surf, a couch to 5k or simply ramping up your walking routine, it’s important to understand the warning signs of a BSI and how to manage them early.
Read MoreIt seems like everyone I talk to lately is doing a Hyrox, and if you’re like me and had no idea what this is and what it involves, I’ve done the hard work to break it down so you don’t have to.
So let’s talk about what Hyrox is, what benefits it may have for you and what considerations you should have if you are think about or currently completing training for a Hyrox. Starting with the name, Hyrox stands for ‘Hybrid Rockstar’, which indicates a hybrid style of both strength and endurance training in somewhat of a HIIT style.
Read MoreIntroduction
The menstrual cycle plays a crucial role in female physiology, influencing energy levels, muscle recovery, and overall athletic performance. Understanding how hormonal fluctuations affect exercise can help women optimise their training, reduce injury risk, and enhance performance. This blog post outlines the menstrual cycle phases, their impact on exercise, and evidence-based strategies for training throughout the cycle.
The Menstrual Cycle: Phases and Hormonal Influence
The menstrual cycle consists of four key phases, each characterised by distinct hormonal changes that influence physical performance and recovery.
Read MoreWhen recovering from ACL reconstruction (ACLR), most athletes focus on regaining strength and stability. But one often overlooked piece of the puzzle is reactive strength — a quality that plays a major role in returning to sport safely and effectively.
Physiotherapist Konstantinos Defteraios, from Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Qatar, outlines just how important this quality is in modern ACL rehabilitation.
What Is Reactive Strength?
Reactive strength is your body’s ability to absorb and then quickly release force, much like a spring.
This ability is powered by the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC):
Stretch (Eccentric phase): The muscle lengthens under load (like when landing from a jump)
Store (Amortization phase): A brief transition where the energy is stored
Release (Concentric phase): The muscle contracts and releases that stored energy to jump or push off
In recent years, a bold comparison has made headlines: “Sitting is the new smoking.” This phrase, though provocative, has drawn attention to the health consequences of prolonged sedentary behaviour — particularly on our spines. As physiotherapists, we frequently see the effects of excessive sitting on low back health, and it's time to unpack what this phrase really means.
The Modern Sedentary Lifestyle
Most adults now spend more than half their waking hours seated — whether at desks, in cars, or on couches. This shift towards sedentary behavior is linked with numerous health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and musculoskeletal pain. Of all these, low back pain remains one of the most common complaints in clinical practice.
Read MoreIt has come to our attention at Total Physiotherapy that coming into the clinic can be a barrier for many to access the physio care they need. Not everyone can—or wants to—come into the practice for physiotherapy for a wide range of reasons. That’s why we offer community physiotherapy, a flexible and personalised service that brings expert care to you in your own environment, whether that’s your home, aged care facility, group home, or supported living setting.
But what exactly is community physiotherapy? Who is it for? And what can you expect if you're considering it for yourself or a friend/family member?
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