Tension type headaches occur on both sides of the head usually around the temple travelling around to the forehead. Patients commonly describe it as a tight hat or vice that winds up. Most will range between mild to moderate intensity. If the intensity is high enough it can cause difficulty in concentration and sensitivity to light and noises. They can develop into migraines and migraines can develop into tension-type headaches. In severe cases you can have tension-type headaches and migraines at the same time. Most routine activities do not flare it up however prolonged positions with poor head and neck posture can aggravate the presentation. ​

We run all our headache/migraine patients through a thorough checklist and refer on if the presentation is more severe than it seems. Here at Physiolabs, we address all the factors contributing to your headache presentation. These include sitting, sleeping and workstation posture combined with hand-on treatment and corrective exercises.  ​

If you would like to know more contact the clinic on 5610 1933. ​

#lowbackpain #physiotherapy #facts #education #rehabilitation #prevention

Athletes are not the only population to get muscle tears. In fact, muscle tears can occur at any point of the life spectrum. Tears occur when the activity puts more stress than the healthy muscle can handle or when the weak/unhealthy muscle cannot cope with activity.  
 
Our shoulders are extremely versatile to allow us to reach in all directions. Unfortunately, this increase in mobility means the muscles of the shoulder need to work quite hard to stabilise the joint. The stabilising role falls to a group of 4 muscles call the rotator cuff. It is not uncommon to find tears in one of these muscles after a bout of activity particularly if it is more than what you would normally do.  ​

If you thought tears in these muscles are painful, you would be correct most of the time. Factors like size of the tear, type of tear and age all play a role in the pain you might feel.  

​Whilst the severity of the tear can differ based on the size of the tear. The severity can also be determined by the type of tear.  

All the physios at Physiolabs use the latest evidence to guide diagnosis and treatment planning. We also work together to address your rehabiliation goals. For more information give us a call on 5610 1933 otherwise visit our website www.physiolabs.com.au. ​

The TMJ is a hinge like joint and comprises of the jaw and the skull. The connection of these two bones allows the joint to slide and move like a hinge. The primary role of the TMJ is to allow you to eat, talk and use facial expressions. This joint also contains an articular disc which is located between the jaw and the skull. The disc’s main function is to act as a shock absorber as well as assisting with a smooth sliding motion as the jaw moves.  ​

TMJ pain or dysfunction can be caused by a traumatic or non-traumatic event. Traumatic causes could be the result of an object hitting or coming into contact with the jaw. There are numerous causes of non-traumatic TMJ pain some of which include decreased muscle length, displacement of the disc or eating chewy foods. ​

​The interesting thing with osteoarthritis is not everyone that has it actually has pain or reduced function!  
​​

​Now here is some even better news 

• Around 2.2 million (9.3%) Australians have this condition. 
• But approximately 4 out of every 10 people without knee pain actually had osteoarthritis or cartilage defects in their knees.  

 
This suggests that just because you are diagnosed with Osteoarthritis does not mean that you are destined to feel pain. The chances are actually probably higher that you go your whole life without feeling any pain!  
​​

Now this is all great news!!  
If you are diagnosed with osteoarthritis, come down and see us at Physiolabs. We will set you up with a good exercise program for strength and movement, and if all things go to plan you should return to full function without pain in no time! ​

Stretching is commonly thought to be essential for flexibility and for preventing injury, however this is not always the case. Research has shown that stretching does not significantly improve performance or reduce the risk of injury. Stretching has its role if you solely want to improve flexibility, however if you’re looking for something to improve flexibility and more, try eccentric exercises.  ​

#stretching #eccentrics #performance #strength #flexibility #injuryprevention #physio #physiotherapy #exercises ​

When someone is describing their shoulder injury, you will most likely hear the words 'rotator cuff’ at some point. Perhaps you read some information about your shoulder pain and came across these words. But what actually is it and what does it do? ​

Did you know? 
Based on research, 1 in 5 people are currently living with a rotator cuff tear. The majority of these tears are minor in nature and less than half are symptomatic (painful). Like any muscle, the rotator cuff should be trained to maintain strength and prevent injury. Find out if your shoulder pain is caused by the rotator cuff here at Physio Labs and let us guide you on the road to recovery.  ​

#rotatorcuff #shoulder #physiolabs #physiotherapy #supraspinatus #infraspinatus #teres minor #subscapularis ​

Could just be bad luck. Or it could be due to an underlying condition with our bones – Osteoporosis.  Loosely translated it means ‘porous bone’. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) defines osteoporosis as “a condition where bones become thin, weak and fragile, such that even a minor bump or accident can cause a broken bone…”. ​

What can be done?  
Research has indicated a healthy diet including calcium, protein and Vitamin D can help with bone growth. Supplements/medication as prescribed by your GP may also be necessary. However, diet and supplements alone are not sufficient. The AIHW recommends “behaviour modification such as regular weight-bearing and resistance exercise” to help prevent osteoporosis. Regular weight bearing and strength exercises help maintain and promote bone mineral density.​

Looking to increase your muscle Strength? Has your strength plateaued and come to a standstill? Want to enjoy all the benefits of a strength program including increased bone strength, reduced risk of injury and enhanced ability to do everyday activities? Here at Physiolabs we believe in keeping things simple to achieve your goals. To do this we use 4 key training principles.  ​

Let Physiolabs help you reap the rewards of a strength program today!  ​

#physiolabs #physiotherapy #strength #training #trainingprinciples #overload ​

If you were spending 8 hours of your day in the kitchen would you want your kitchen bench to be too low and your cupboards out of reach? No! 
 
Having an appropriate workspace set up is key to not only making your workday comfortable, but avoiding musculoskeletal injuries. 
 
Sitting at a desk for 40 hours a week is inevitable for most. As a result of this, at Physiolabs we see far too many people showing the detriment of a poor workspace set up. The below graphic highlights key components of workspace set up. ​

At Physiolabs not only do we want to get you pain free and living your best life, we want to keep you pain free long after you leave us. Even better, we prefer to prevent injuries, before they happen. ​

 
#physiolabs #injuryprevention #workingfromhome #painfree #exercise ​