Tag Archives: exercise rehabilitation

The Upside of Injury

October 20, 2015Blogcoach, doctor, exercise, exercise rehabilitation, Injuries, injury management, injury prevention, Ironman, low back pain, meditation, Overuse Injury, pain, Physiotherapist, Physiotherapy, plantar fasciitis, pregnancy, safe, Shin Splints, sport, sports physician, strength and conditioning, stress fracture, surgery, Training, TriathlonFirst in Physio

Status Update: “Broken”.

Most athletes and a fair share of non-athletes have been there. The nature of our profession is that for the most part, we see people when they are down and out; our job is to diagnose the damage and to build them back not just to par, but to stronger than they were before the injury. My usual position as a Physiotherapist is to guide my patients from the tough day of diagnosis, through the often lengthy rehab process and safely back into their return to sport. We often get quite close to our patients and as athletes ourselves, ride the journey with them. In 2013 I was unlucky enough to flip the coin and be the one sitting in the sports physician’s office trying to swallow the gravity of my own injury situation: a stress fracture gone wrong following my latest Ironman triathlon. I think in this situation it’s arguably easier knowing less rather than more – I knew before the lovely Dr Chris Ball told me that I was looking down the barrel of major foot surgery, and a very long time away from my beloved sport.

What it looks like to finish an Ironman on a broken foot…it ain’t pretty!

Injury of any kind sucks, and I always advocate well-managed injury prevention program as “Plan A” but in reality, injuries happen – most athletes don’t have the most solid grasp on their self-preservation dial (and hey, I was beating my husband by 2 hours in that Ironman – there was no way I was pulling the pin so close to the end!). Jokes aside, there can be a silver lining. The team you have around you and your attitude are key to getting through the rough patch and flying out the other side as a more resilient and stronger athlete. As tough as injuries can be, I have learnt over the years from the process with countless patients as well as from my own experience post- foot surgery that there can indeed be a few upsides to injury:

Learning opportunities:
- First and foremost, immediate questions need to be asked: What is the best course of treatment for short and long term outcomes? What are my options? (often there are a few good ones, especially where surgery vs conservative treatments are involved). How long will I have off my sport? Will this affect work/school etc?
- Once a course of treatment has been set that you as well as your health care team are happy with, the less urgent but just as important questions need to be asked: What went wrong? What will I do differently next time? Where is the weak link in the chain? How do we (as in, you and your Physio +/- surgeon and sports physician) build the body back to a point where it’s stronger than before? How can I prevent this from happening again? Do we need to change things upon return to sport (training load, technique, footwear etc)? Knowledge is power, and I cannot reiterate enough that you need to ask and ask until you get the answers that you need; your sanity during your rehab and your ability to avoid injury in the future depends on it. If you aren’t happy with your physio/doctor/surgeon, then find another one – you need to find the best quality care at all costs to get the best results.

Respect for your body’s boundaries:
- So you found that mystical line in the sand, the actual safe limit of what your body can achieve; many never find it so you can take one thing away from the situation and that is that as an athlete, you are tough! But going forwards, if your injury was “overuse” in nature (ie stress fractures, tendinopathies etc) then you need to respect that boundary. Learn from it and take note of your body’s cues in future training and racing scenarios.
- If your injury was more traumatic in nature (eg broken tibia from a soccer clash or dislocated shoulder from a cycling accident), then there’s not a lot more you can do other than accept that playing sports involves risks. Given a choice, you’d still take those risks to sitting on the couch getting fat and unhealthy, right?!

An Attitude of Gratitude:
- There’s nothing better than that moment your surgeon (or doctor or physio) gives you the go-ahead to do some exercise. Even if it’s technically “rehab” – “I’ll take it!” you yell as you hug them (Ok exaggeration. Only slightly though.) Prior to a major injury you may be guilty of complaining when the alarm clock goes off at stupid o’clock, if it’s cold/hot/raining; if the session is too hard…or not hard enough….If your race didn’t go perfectly, and so on. Afterwards I can honestly say that every single step I take is done with an “attitude of gratitude” – my coach and husband will vouch for the fact that every run is a bonus, every race is a bonus, and I am thankful to be able to have a fit, strong and healthy body again. Hell, I’m even grateful to be able to do the housework these days – taking an independent person and attaching them to crutches for 3 months is enough to send anyone crazy! I have been guilty of treating my body somewhat like a rental car in the past, but I now appreciate it and treat it much more lovingly (Karma, my friends, Karma…).

Mental Toughness:
- And by this I don’t mean your ability to push through and “eat the pain” as my husband would say – if you got injured in the first place by pushing too far you definitely don’t need to learn this. But in my experience it’s often the athletes who are able to blindly push through that are also in need of some mental “balance”. I am by no means exempt from this generalisation. I took the time after my surgery to finally learn how to slow down and meditate (I highly recommend it, you’ll never look back), as well as to focus on other things in my life other than training 20 hours a week and working full time. It was not the most fun I’ve ever had – by choice I would much rather be working and training! – but it has taught me a sense of balance which I had never had in my life before, and I think that this has benefitted both aspects of my life well after the initial injury period. For most athletes I would therefore consider the slowing down process as “building mental toughness”, even if it’s not the traditional sense of the phrase.

Absorption of training:
- A wise triathlete (Emma Snowsill) once said that if you don’t allow your body to rest, it will force you to via sickness or injury. I would put pregnancy in the same category here simply because the reduced training load while you’re growing a human has the same affect – time to let the body take stock. To absorb all the months/years of training it has done, and to build back a little stronger. As physios we educate patients on how a bone will actually be stronger where it broke after the healing has occurred, because extra bone is laid down in the healing process; this is a nice metaphor for the entire healing process of the body. Reassure yourself that you WILL come back from the injury, and that all the training you’ve done in the past will not be gone.

Sesamoid bone graft and 1st Metatarsal dorsiflexion osteotomy on my Right foot, done in 2013 by Dr Ben Forster

So there you have it, my version of what I’ve learnt through injury in a nutshell. I’ve kept many details of the injury and whole rehab process pretty close to my chest up to this point; as a physio it is not the easiest boat to be in. Physiotherapy may be my “day job” and I certainly love it, but I am first and foremost an “athlete” and in the past have certainly had trouble switching that part of my personality off, even if the Physio part of my brain is telling me something is a bad idea. As I get older and more experienced with both Physiotherapy and Ironman racing, I am learning how to strike the balance but it is always a work in progress. I am very fortunate to have two very patient and understanding men in my life in my husband Patrick Shannon and my coach Scott DeFilippis. Without them I would not be on track to be lining up again for Ironman NZ in 4 months’ time – 1 year post-baby and just over 2 years post foot surgery.

Hopefully this post will hit home with a few “broken” athletes out there and help to get you through and back to your passion. If you would like to follow my journey back to the Ironman start line you can find me on Instagram (@KRISTY_SHANNON), I’d love to have you along for the ride!

Kristy Shannon

B.Appl.Sc(HMS); B.PHTY(Hons)

Director and Principal Physiotherapist First In Physio

Kids and Sport: When to see a Physiotherapist

February 18, 2015Blogadolescent, adolescents, ankle pain, Ballet, Benefits, Clinical Pilates, Dance, dance physiotherapist, EP, Exercise Physiologist, Exercise Physiology, exercise rehabilitation, growth spurt, injured, Injuries, injury management, injury prevention, kids, KNEE PAIN, Osgood Schlatter's, Overuse Injury, pointe shoes, pre-pointe assessment, sever's, sport, teenagers, when to seeFirst in Physio

Often parents are unsure when to seek the opinion of a Physiotherapist in dealing with their active kids. Now more than ever, kids and adolescents are getting involved in organised sports, with a multitude of social and health benefits to be gained from their participation. It is not unusual to see kids that are actively competing in several different sports every week, often with once- or twice-daily training sessions and multiple weekend games or competitions. Combine this activity with the demands of growing on a young body and you find the balance is a delicate one: get it right, and the child thrives; push too hard, and it doesn’t take long before niggles and burnout can arise.

Research tells us that sport is the main cause of injury in adolescents (Brukner, 2008). The number of under-15’s seeking medical attention for sporting injuries increased by 60% between 2004 and 2010. This can be attributed to an increase in kids’ participation in organised sports, improved diligence by parents in seeking medical care for their children’s sporting injuries, and higher levels of competitiveness (or skill) in children of younger ages.

INJURY MANAGEMENT:

We often get asked when is an appropriate time to see a Physiotherapist with respect to a child’s injury or pain. Growing children who are active will often get transient aches and pains that are normal – when these last only a few days and are mild in nature, ie do not stop the child from participating in any activities, then these can be managed without significant interventions. Often rest or a few days off sport will help in these cases. If, however, a child has any of the following, you should seek out a Physiotherapist for diagnosis and treatment:

Pain that lasts longer than a few days;
Pain that is increasing or sharp in nature;
Pain that gets worse with activity – ie it does not “warm up”;
Pain that is stopping them from participating;
If they are limping/modifying their activity;
Pain that is affecting their sleep;
Pain that is mild but recurrent in nature;
Redness or swelling around the painful area.

A Physiotherapist will be able to diagnose the injury, develop a treatment plan, and work on prevention strategies so that the injury is less likely to reoccur. If scans are required to assist diagnosis, these can be ordered through the Physiotherapist. The earlier treatment is sought, the easier the injury will be to treat and as a general rule, the less treatment sessions that will be required. Don’t feel like your child needs to be in severe pain or unable to participate before you book an appointment – a good Physio will be able to find their diagnosis no matter how “mild” you may think their symptoms are. Keeping a child active and involved in their sports is always a priority and this is much more likely to happen if the injury is seen to at an earlier stage of its progression.

The wonderful thing about children and adolescents is that their bodies have a marvellous capacity to repair and respond to increased training loads (otherwise known as: “kids bounce”). Generally, we can use the same principle in treating injuries that arise: in the majority of cases, kids can continue participating in their chosen sport(s), albeit with a few modifications to unload the injured area and allow it to heal. They are a beautiful example of what we also see in adult athletes: that when we are able to keep the body active through injury, in a safe and supervised way, the body heals faster and is able to bounce back stronger than it was before the injury. Our bodies like to move, and they respond favourably to the increased circulation, muscle mass, and the hormonal response that comes with exercise.

INJURY PREVENTION:

Physios also play an important role in injury screening and prevention. This has been the case for a long time in sports such as ballet and swimming, where the unique demands of the sport (eg extra flexibility through the shoulders in swimmers, or characteristics of the feet in dancers) mean that the injury risk is higher if the child is not well-prepared and well-suited to the sport (Gamboa, 2008). Typically with these sports we do a Musculoskeletal Screening on young athletes at the start of every year, to flag any strength, growth or flexibility issues and to develop an exercise program to reduce the risk of injury. This process usually requires a one-off musculoskeletal assessment, followed by 1-2 sessions to supervise the implemented intervention and reassess any high-risk measures. Such programs have been shown to be effective in reducing injury risk (Eils, 2010), and as an added bonus these kids tend to see an improvement in technique and efficiency due to their improved preparedness. Of course, not all injuries can be avoided; traumatic injuries such as those typically seen in contact sports are difficult to prevent, while overuse or growth-related injuries tend to be decreased with the use of screening programs (Emery, 2003). Good candidates for musculoskeletal screening include:

Dancers, especially those about to go en pointe;
Children and adolescents swimming more than 3 x week;
Children who are going through an aggressive growth spurt, or who are likely to be particularly tall;
Children with a family history of growth- or overuse-injuries eg older siblings or parents had ongoing knee and ankle pain during growth spurts;
Children and Adolescents involved in more than 6 hours of organised sport/training per week;
Children and adolescents with a history of recurrent injuries or niggles.

WHEN NOT TO SEE A PHYSIO:

The following conditions require urgent medical attention and should be assessed by a doctor (usually at a hospital or via ambulance) immediately:

Concussion or head trauma;
Suspected acute fractures – eg the child has sustained a trauma and is unable to bear weight or move the affected limb;
Pains that also involve rashes, fevers, headaches and other systemic symptoms;
Traumatic joint injuries eg shoulder and knee dislocations (these will require Physio, however need to be assessed in the acute phase to clear fractures and to get an assessment from an orthopaedic specialist);
Pain that is causing vomiting or nausea.

The key point to remember is that early treatment results in less time away from sport, and generally less treatment. Physiotherapists work very closely with other allied health professionals as well as doctors and specialists, ensuring that any patient that requires referral on will be obtaining the best possible care and follow-up.

For more information and advice, contact your local Physiotherapist.

Happy Training!

REFERENCES

Brukner, P., Kahn, K. Clinical Sports Medicine. Revised Second Edition. (2008). McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd.
Eils, E., Schroder, R., Schroder, M., Gerss, J., Rosenbaum, D. Multistation proprioceptive exercise program prevents ankle injuries in basketball. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2010; 42:2098-2105
Emery, C.A. Risk Factors for injury in child and adolescent sport: A systematic review of the literature. Clin J Sports Med 2003; 13:256-268
FIFA 11+ Webpage: http://f-marc.com/11plus/home /
Gamboa, J., Roberts, L., Maring, J., Fergus, A. Injury patterns in elite preprofessional ballet dancers and the utility of screening programs to identify risk characteristics. J of Ortho & Sports Phys Therapy 2008; 38(3) 126-136

Pregnancy and Exercise

September 3, 2014Blogathlete, Benefits, childbirth, exercise, exercise as medicine, Exercise Physiology, exercise program, exercise rehabilitation, injury prevention, low back pain, Physical Activity Guidelines, Physiotherapist, Physiotherapy, Pilates, postpartum, pregnancy, safe, TrainingFirst in Physio

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends the accumulation of 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week during a normal, healthy pregnancy. We now know that exercise – whether in the form of running, swimming, Pilates or anything in between – is hugely beneficial from pre-conception right through to the post-partum stages.

Benefits of Exercise to Mum and Bub include:

Significantly Reduced risk of Preeclampsia (hypertensive disorders during pregnancy)

Significantly Reduced risk of gestational diabetes;

Reduced incidence of Low Back Pain during pregnancy and post-partum

Improved tolerance of labour with increased fitness and strength levels, and faster recovery post-partum;

Improved bone density with weight-bearing and strength exercises;

Reduced incidence of pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome with water-based exercise programs;

Psychological benefits including reduced rates of pre- and post-natal depression;

Improved placenta development

Reduced morning sickness symptoms in some women;

Better circulation throughout the body and to the placenta

Less constipation and bloating;

More energy and better sleep;

Lower rates of incontinence;

Improved muscle support for the pelvis

An Exercise Physiologist can help with:

Prescription of a home exercise program for low-risk pregnancies, and supervised exercise sessions for higher-risk pregnancies;
Managing safe exercise around the many physiological changes occurring, such as increased joint laxity, weight gain and a changing body;
Prescribing appropriate exercises to minimise your risk of Rectus Diastasis (split abdominal muscles), a common condition affecting up to 67% of pregnant women;
Prescribing a balanced weekly exercise programme based on your individual fitness and health, and adjusting throughout the pregnancy;
Pelvic floor exercises to assist with prevention of incontinence and other bladder problems;
Answering any of your questions about exercise during pregnancy – from elite athletes through to previously sedentary mums-to-be. Common questions include: “how hard can I go?”, “Is it safe to run/ride/strength train while pregnant?”, “what precautions do I need to take while exercising?”, “what are the warning signs to stop exercising?”.

A Physiotherapist can help with:

Management of common pregnancy complaints such as pelvic and low back pain;
Advice regarding physiological changes occurring during pregnancy and how to help manage them;
Preventing neck and back pain during breastfeeding
Managing early return-to-exercise programs post-partum.
Retraining pelvic floor muscles after childbirth
Caesarean section recovery

Pregnancy is a wonderful time full of many changes both physiologically and emotionally. Always check with a health professional (your Doctor, Obstetrician, Exercise Physiologist or Physiotherapist) before starting any new exercise program.

Do I need a Referral?

No referral is needed to book in with an Exercise Physiologist or Physiotherapist. Our professional staff maintain constant communication with your doctor and Obstetrician, to ensure that everyone is up to date with your exercise and health plan throughout the pregnancy and beyond.

What is the Cost?

If you have private health cover you will be able to claim on these services. For more information on prices and to make a booking, please call our friendly reception staff on (07) 4783 7284

References:

O’Toole, M., Artal, R. (2003). Guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. British Journal of Sports Medicine 37:6-12

Pinto, Kristina.; Kramer, Rachel. Fit and Healthy Pregnancy: How to stay strong and in shape for you and your baby. VeloPress books, 2013, Boulder, Colorado.

Pivarnik, J., Chambliss, H., Clapp, J., Dugan, S., Hatch, M et al (2006). Impact of Physical Activity during Pregnancy and Postpartum on Chronic Disease Risk. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise – Roundtable Consensus Statement 0195-9131

Are you an “Active Couch Potato”?

March 28, 2014Blog, UncategorizedBenefits, ESSA, exercise, exercise as medicine, Exercise Physiologist, Exercise Physiology, exercise program, exercise rehabilitation, healthy ageing, injury prevention, obesity, Physical Activity Guidelines, sedentary behaviour guidelines, weightFirst in Physio

Fun runs are a great way to stay active and motivated

Recently we have seen the establishment of new “Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines”, doubling the recommended amount of daily exercise to 60 minutes every day and for the first time, addressing our nation of couch potatoes. “Sedentary behaviour” includes sitting or lying down, not including sleeping time during the night.

The New Guidelines: How Do You Stack Up?

– Doing any physical activity is better than doing none. If you currently do no physical activity, start by doing some, and gradually build up to the recommended amount.

– Accumulate 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities each week.

– Be active on most, preferably all, days every week.

– Do muscle strengthening activities on at least two days each week (gym/Pilates/weights etc)

– Minimise the amount of time spent in prolonged sitting. Break up long periods of sitting as often as possible.

“Active Couch Potatoes”

Frightening statistics show that Australians are sedentary on average for 7 to 10 hours a day, and this does not include sleeping. The highest health risks exist for those people who are sedentary at work, at home, and who do not do any other formal exercise. However, there does exist another group who accumulate their 60 minutes of exercise a day, but sit for the rest of the day at work. It has become apparent that the health benefits of their exercise bout do not completely override their globally sedentary behaviour, and these “active couch potatoes” would benefit from being more active during their work day as well.

I have a sitting job, help!

We can actually take away a lot of positives from the new guidelines, most notably that simply being more active throughout your day can start to give you some of the health benefits that those weekend warriors are getting with their 3-hour, one-off bike rides. If you hate exercise, this is good news for you. By being creative and adding activity into your day, you can be doing your body a lot of good. Walking or cycling to work; parking at the far end of the car park or a few blocks from work; going for a short walk to get your lunch; scheduling a “walking meeting” with a colleague; installing a standing desk in your workplace; and drinking more water so that you have to get up to go to the toilet more often are all easy ideas. If you want to get even more creative, you can get in the habit of walking every time you answer the phone; doing 20 air squats every morning tea and lunch break; or setting yourself a task of 20 push ups and a 1 minute plank every time you watch the news at night. Keeping the body moving and the engine revving is the key point. And the best part is, we are creatures of habit: before long, it will be second nature to be moving more (and your body will be thanking you for it). If you haven’t been very active in the past, it’s a good idea to start with small daily habits and then build in more structured exercise as you feel more comfortable to do so. The key is to find things that you can make fit into your work and home life, and ideally that you enjoy as well.

Where’s the Incentive?

Increasing amounts of studies are finding links between sedentary behaviour and weight gain, type 2 diabetes, poor muscle tone, heart disease and early death. From a Physiotherapy perspective, we are seeing more and more overweight patients coming in with pain and disability from osteoarthritis through the hips, spine and knees. The gold standard of treatment for these patients is to increase the supporting muscle strength around the joints, and to advise the patient to lose weight: even losing 10% of their body mass results in significant reductions in pain scores. It is argued that many of these conditions could be largely prevented by keeping a healthy body weight and staying active in the first place. After all, these are weight-bearing joints, and if you are overweight you are asking a lot of your joints every time you move. Similarly, from an Exercise Physiology perspective, we see many patients giving us highly creative “barriers” to exercise – reasons why they can’t or won’t prioritise physical activity in their lives, even when they are in pain and significantly overweight. It is not uncommon to have patients say they would rather have surgery to “fix” their problem, than to increase their activity and allow their body to become stronger and lighter. I am certain that a large part of this mindset comes from how “normal” it has become to be sedentary and overweight. But does that make it OK? Do you want to be “average”, if that’s what “average” has become? Do you want to live to a ripe old age, only to be overweight and in pain for the majority of that time? I certainly don’t!

What About my Kids?

It is more important than ever to keep our kids active, healthy and happy. Structured exercise is not only crucial for developing little minds and bodies, it is also important for social and health reasons too. Getting into the habit of being active early on can set you up for a lifetime of good habits, which is a gift that you can give your children for life. For kids 5-17 years of age, aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily; and up to several hours daily to achieve even greater health benefits. Ideally this activity will be a mixture of strength and aerobic activity, which is where structured sports like soccer and netball, and active family time like cycling and walking the dog all come into the mix. Of most importance is the new recommendations to limit use of electronic media (TV,computers, ipads etc) to less than 2 hours a day. With childhood obesity on the rise, it is more challenging and hence more important than ever to aim for these goals.

Everyone is unique with their daily lifestyle, job requirements, and previous injury and health history. If you need help fitting these guidelines into your lifestyle, or have concerns about previous health issues or injuries, a few sessions with an Exercise Physiologist will help you to work out a program that you can do on a daily basis, without pain, and ideally with ease. Research has shown us time and time again that the most successful activity programs are achieved when the whole family gets involved and supports one another. Our children model themselves off our behaviours – from food to exercise to language, and they are facing the most sedentary generation in history: let’s teach them from a young age how to be anything but “average”!

More information about healthy living, including references to other Australian Government guidelines concerning healthy weight and healthy eating, can be found at www.health.gov.au

REFERENCE LIST

http://www.health.gov.au/paguidelines

Healy, G.N., Dunstan, D.W., Salmon, J., Shaw, J.E., Zimmet, P.Z., Owen, N. (2008) Television time and continuous metabolic risk in physically active adults. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 40(4) 639-645.

Sugiyama, T., Healy, G.N., Dunstan, D.W., Salmon, J., Owen, N. (2008) Joint associations of multiple leisure-time sedentary behaviours and physical activity with obesity in Australian adults. Int J Behav Nutr and Phys Act 5(35) 5868-5-35

Nelson, M.C., Gordon-Larson, P., Adair, L.S., Popkin, B.M. (2005) Adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour: patterning and long-term maintenance. American J of Prevent Med. 28(3) 259-266

Patrick, K., Norman, G.J., Calfas, K.J., Sallis, J.F., Zabinski, M.F., Rupp, J., Cella, J. (2004) Diet, Physical activity, and sedentary behaviours as risk factors for overweight in adolescence. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 158: 385-390

More than half of all Australian adultsare not active enough. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2013. Australian Health Survey: Physical Activity, 2011-12. ABS Cat. No. 4364.0.55.004. Cnaberra: ABS

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Exercise Physiologists

October 9, 2013Blogdifference between, EP, ESSA, exercise as medicine, Exercise Physiologist, exercise rehabilitation, personal trainer, specialty areas, What is an exercise physiologistFirst in Physio

1. The qualification matters.

Exercise Physiologists (EPs) are not just glorified personal trainers. At the moment in Australia, it takes a minimum of 4 years of University training to earn a degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology, which includes over 400 hours of practical clinical experience. This then permits the individual to apply for accreditation as an Exercise Physiologist with ESSA, the Australian body for Exercise Science. This allows the EP to have the relevant insurance, professional contacts and medical referrals such as Medicare. To maintain their accreditation, they much invest a significant amount of time and money annually into professional development courses around the country.

2. There are Different Specialty Areas within Exercise Physiology.

Just like within Physiotherapy and medicine, an EP by law must graduate with qualifications and competency in all areas of Exercise Physiology, but will generally choose one or two specialty areas to base their career on.

These specialties include:

– Cardiac Testing (eg ECG stress testing in hospitals);

– Cardiac Rehabilitation (eg in-hospital following a heart attack);

– Clinical Pilates;

– Coaching (from kids through to elite level);

– Neurological Rehabilitation (eg following a stroke or Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis)

– Mental Health;

– Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (eg strengthening after acute sports injuries, or for injury prevention);

– Chronic Pain Management (eg Low Back Pain);

– Research (typically university-based); and

– Public Health (eg weight management and disease prevention, education).

3. They are the future of our Health System.

In the last 5 years doctors globally have started to recognise the key role of exercise and weight management in prevention of increasingly common chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression & anxiety, osteoporosis, cancers and so on. With a health system that is currently in crisis (in terms of both costs and resources), EPs will be at the forefront of health care in the coming decades. Take home message: don’t be surprised next time you see your GP and they prescribe 60 minutes of physical activity a day and 5 visits to an Exercise Physiologist instead of medication and a handful of tests!

4. A good training program may seem easy at first.

The Commando off The Biggest Loser will scream at you until you finish 50 chin-ups in your first session. A “Bootcamp” instructor may demand you flip ridiculously huge tyres, regardless of your injury history. An EP will not. Every person has a unique set of challenges to work with, and it is imperative that both the EP and the client have clear and common goals established from the first session so that an individual program can be developed that will work for the long term. The research tells us over and over that the quick-fix programs not only do not work, but tend to make the problem (whether it be weight, injuries or pain) worse in the long term. Be patient, trust in the fact that you are in the best and most qualified hands, and acknowledge the relationship with your EP as the worthwhile investment into your health that it is. Think of it like this: you can put in the time and money to be healthy now, or you can put in the time and money being sick later. Both are hard. You choose.

5. The best trainer in the world cannot make up for a shitty diet.

In this day and age I would find it hard to believe that anyone genuinely does not know that being sedentary, eating processed foods, and smoking are bad for your health. But we still have the issue of increasing obesity and chronic disease. Hence, we know that simply educating people is not the whole picture, and that is where an EP comes into the equation by helping you to create the best possible health and lifestyle plan for you and your family.

But here’s the catch: simply “buying into your health” by seeing an EP for exercise sessions and an eating plan won’t make you healthier – you have to actually put in the hard yards and stick to it. If you are not meeting your weight loss goals and are working out every single day with your trainer while eating cereal, sandwiches, candy, soda, and other crap – don’t blame the trainer. Your weight, the way your body looks and your health are predominantly a function of what you put in your mouth. Exercise can positively alter what your body does with the food that you eat, in addition to the phenomenal emotional, physical, and mental benefits it offers.

The human body is an amazing machine and the knowledge that you can gain from working with an EP is an incredibly powerful tool; embrace it, and discover how good life can be when you achieve optimal health.

6. I am yet to meet a person who cannot benefit from a few sessions with an Exercise Physiologist.

Where most other health professionals are limited to fairly specific areas, an EP is truly is the “jack of all trades”. They work with clients of every age, from healthy to sick, from elite athlete to chronically ill, from families to individuals. They can: make you fitter; stronger; more injury proof; reduce your pain; improve your posture; improve your flexibility; make your spine stronger; rehabilitate your body (from toe injuries to hip replacements to heart attacks!); assist with weight loss – or weight gain; muscle sculpting; power; help to reverse chronic diseases (from depression to diabetes); even keep you fit during pregnancy and immediately after. If you have ever wanted to improve any aspect of your body, health or happiness, then you could benefit from seeing an EP.

Exercise Physiology sessions can be expensive for many people, so to get the most out of your sessions, do some prep work beforehand. Spend some time thinking about your goals, your main limitations, your strengths and weaknesses. Write them down, along with any questions you may have. Turn up on time, and listen to every word, and don’t be afraid to write notes!

What are you waiting for?!

– Kristy Shannon

B.Appl.Sc(HMS); M.PHTY

Kristy has a degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Queensland and a Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy from Griffith University.

An accredited EP can assist with safe rehabilitation from injury through to full fitness

Tag Archives: exercise rehabilitation

The Upside of Injury

Kids and Sport: When to see a Physiotherapist

Pregnancy and Exercise

Are you an “Active Couch Potato”?

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Exercise Physiologists

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