In the hustle and bustle of modern life, repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) have become increasingly common. RSIs, also known as overuse injuries, develop gradually and can affect anyone, from office workers who spend long hours typing, to athletes who perform repetitive motions.  Understanding Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) Repetitive stress injuries are a group of musculoskeletal conditions caused by the overuse of specific muscles, tendons, and joints. They can result from repetitive and forceful movements, improper posture, and prolonged stress on certain body parts. Common examples ..read more

Breathing techniques have become a popular, simple and effective way to make stress management accessible in the everyday tool kit for many people. Stress can impact our breathing by increasing the respiratory rate which leads to shallow breathing. When this happens, changes occur in our blood and nervous system that lower our thresholds and make us feel more ‘on edge’. Shallow breathing also impacts our musculoskeletal functioning and can lead to restriction through the muscles and joints including those around the spine, ribs, neck and shoulders. If we can recognise these sensations, pausing ..read more

If you’re someone who spends most of the week sitting in front of a computer for work there’s a good chance you’ve experienced some sort of neck, back or general office related pain. Since COVID, many of us have moved away from the office to our home-based setups which quite often aren’t set up appropriately. We’re going to share some tips that will help you set up your workstation for optimal comfort and minimize the risk of developing chronic pains and poor posture. 1. The chair A good chair should provide a full backrest that supports the whole spine. The back rest should be slightly recli ..read more

Allergies are extremely common in Melbourne, we have been called the allergy capital of the world! A large percentage of us will suffer from symptoms affecting the nose, eyes, throat and ears.  The warmer months can be a terrible time for those unlucky enough to be affected, especially if you have allergies to grasses and to our plane trees which is very common. You will undoubtedly know all of the over the counter medicines available.  However, you might be surprised to learn that osteopathic treatment can help with hay fever and allergy symptoms, and for some sufferers, it may redu ..read more

Neck pain is a common problem that affects many people, and it can have a significant impact on your daily life. Whilst there can be various causes of neck pain, one factor that is often overlooked is the type of pillow you use. If you’ve ever come into Blackburn Allied Health Group with neck issues, we have most likely asked you about your pillow and sleeping position. The importance of selecting the right pillow for your sleeping needs The right pillow for your sleeping needs is crucial in preventing and alleviating neck pain. Your pillow plays a significant role in supporting your neck and ..read more

Throughout life, the density of our bones naturally fluctuate. During childhood we experience rapid growth. I’m sure if you have children in and around your life, you will have experienced their love of jumping, climbing and running! To them it’s fun and games, but the impact of these activities actually help their bones develop and to what degree. Moving on through the teenage years, adolescence and early adulthood, bone density is still increasing up to the age of around 30 years, where you will reach your peak bone mass. Up until this age you can still influence the rate of which bone densi ..read more

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles surrounding the shoulder joint which play a crucial role in the function and stability of the shoulder. Muscle tears and tendon inflammation are two common injuries of the rotator cuff which can occur through a variety of causes including sporting incidents, falls, repetitive overhead activity or lifting heavy objects. Whilst they can become increasingly prevalent as we age, there are many exercises we can do to prevent the risk of sustaining a rotator cuff injury.  One simple but effective strategy to strengthen the rotator cuff is through resi ..read more

One of the key areas of focus in osteopathy is the diaphragm, a muscle often associated with breathing but with far-reaching implications for overall health and well-being. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the ribcage, separating the chest from the abdominal cavity. Its primary function is in the process of breathing. When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts and flattens, creating more space in the chest cavity and allowing the lungs to fill with air. Exhalation causes the diaphragm to relax and return to its dome shape, pushing air out of the lungs. Inefficient or r ..read more

Here we explore a common condition that prompts people to seek care and advice from our team at Blackburn Allied Health. Frozen shoulder (aka. Adhesive Capsulitis) is a painful condition that causes restriction of the shoulder joint. It commonly presents among ages ranging 40-60 years and can affect daily living activities. What does it feel like? Aching pain in the shoulders and down the upper arm. The pain might be more noticeable trying to do overhead activities. You might not be able to move your shoulder as far as you used to. Symptoms can be worse at night What causes frozen shoulder ..read more

I’m sure many of you with lower back pain have been told to “strengthen your core” to fix your lower back pain. Whilst this is a helpful strategy, it’s not that simple. Having a toned six-pack doesn’t guarantee a pain free lower back. The truth is, strengthening our deeper core muscles (the ones you may not see) are more important and as they will ultimately provide the most stability to our lumbar spine. Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions experienced by 80% of our population at some point in their life. It can be caused by various factors, such as poor postur ..read more