Pre-season training is well under way and fields across the country are about to get busy on weeknights and weekends, with the winter season kicking off. However, there are some important principles when returning to training, to ensure we do it safely and avoid injuries. Soccer (or Football) is the most popular sport in the world. It is played by all genders and across a huge age spectrum. Participation starts for those as young as 4 officially (but Kickaroo programs start even younger), and then into Masters or over 35’s without any real restrictions. It is a sport that requires speed, agili ..read more

Your voice is made up of so many facets to make it sound like you.  You may never have considered the importance of pitch, quality, resonance, articulation and prosody. If you are transgender, transitioning or wanting to alter the way you sound, you may be thinking about your voice A LOT. There are anatomical variations in everyone’s vocal tract that mean the voice is produced at different frequencies and thus your voice will vary between high and low sounds. When transitioning from a higher to lower voice, hormone therapy makes the vocal cords larger and thus change the frequency at whic ..read more

In recent years adult gymnastics has gained a lot of traction and limelight due to its impact on physical and mental wellbeing. Not only does it combine athleticism, but it allows artistic expression. Tired of not feeling motivated at a conventional gym? Excited by the thought of being upside down or walking on your hands?   Here are 3 top tips hot off the press, to help keep your injury risk down.  The Importance of a Warm Up Before diving into any gymnastics routine, dedicating time to prepare the body for the movements ahead is essential. The aim is to activate and mobilize t ..read more

Ever wondered why your therapist always ends with “Make sure you drink lots of water!” ? Maintaining adequate fluid levels in the body offers several benefits for both the client and the massage therapist. Here are some key advantages: Improved Tissue Function: Hydration enhances the elasticity and suppleness of muscles and connective tissues. This can make the massage more effective as the therapist can work with tissues that are more responsive and less prone to stiffness. Enhanced Detoxification: During a massage, metabolic waste products and toxins may be released from tissues. Stay ..read more

The Vocal Physical Therapy courses are back for 2024! Do you have patients who lose their voice, complain of throat pain, or have swallowing issues? Do you understand the relationship between the larynx, neck and TMJ and how this can impact the voice and throat? Are any of your patients singers who are reporting vocal fatigue or discomfort? Discover how Vocal Physical Therapy can assist you to assess and manage laryngeal dysfunction – the missing link. Vocal Physical Therapy consists of three practical Modules Module 1: Foundations of Voice Module 2: The Challenging Larynx (pathological voic ..read more

With the weather heating up, it means that open water swimming season is just around the corner. While you may be raring to slide back into your wetsuit and straight into those waves, it is essential to consider some of the different muscle groups that are necessary to help you swim those long distances and reduce your risk of injury.   The ‘rotator cuff’ is a collection of 4 muscles, subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor, that are integral in providing the majority of the active support to your shoulder joint. Swimming involves repetitive movement through many ..read more

Which private health extras policy is best for me and is it worth it? This is a question I get asked often as a physio. The truth is there is no policy that is better than any other overall, but if you can understand how to interpret the policy, then you can find out what will give you the most benefit and work best for your needs and situation. Extra’s (or also referred to as Ancillary) cover can be as cheap as a cup of coffee for the lowest/basic tier, but spending more on the top tier will give you cover for more services, higher rebates per session and higher annual limits. Waiting Periods ..read more

If you’re anything like me, you love to indulge in festive and sweet treats over the Christmas period. I love making, sharing and eating desserts that I wouldn’t otherwise have during the year. Rum balls (without the rum) and chocolate ripple cake are definitely my favourites! I also love the various savoury treats on offer. I don’t drink much alcohol, but many people overindulge here too (hopefully responsibly!). If you haven’t already noticed, the whole Christmas season can be an extended period (about one month for many) of increased energy consumption as a result of frequent celebrations a ..read more

Using VALD Force Plates in Physiotherapy: A Game-Changer for assessing Strength, Control, and Performance At Performance Medicine, we pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of technological advancements. One such innovation that is progressing our approach to assessment and treatment is the VALD force plate system. But what exactly is a force plate, and how can it assist both therapist and you in reaching your goals? Let’s explore! What is a VALD force plate? A VALD force plate is a piece of equipment used to measure the forces exerted by an individual when they perform specific movements ..read more

At Performance Medicine, we take health care very seriously in all genders. Men’s health is also a crucial part of that, which we find can be difficult to talk about. We want you to feel comfortable to talk about anything and our pelvic health service is available to you at any time. Pelvic health in men includes, but is not limited to, pelvic pain, bladder and bowel changes. November is men’s health awareness month and we want to make sure that men are getting the help that they need at all times.  Here, our Pelvic physio Zeba Haroon has answered some common (but not asked often enough ..read more