“Disc bulge” is a term that may have done more harm than the injury itself. How many people hear that word and think, “I’ll never get better” or “my back will never be the same”? As physiotherapists, one of the hardest things we have to do is help people who have hurt their backs get […]
Early in the 20th century, the SI joint was the subject of several scientific studies since it was believed to be the primary cause of low back discomfort. This research soon shifted course once Mixter and Barr’s work on intervertebral disc rupture was published in 1934. The SIJ was largely disregarded throughout the next four […]
Over time, we have discovered that the circumstances that makeup LBP are not all the same. We now know that although some people’s pain is caused by particular patho-anatomical or structural factors, others are not. We’ve discovered that sometimes, but not always, our deep-stabilizing muscles start to function differently. We’ve also that certain movement patterns […]
Subacromial shoulder pain is a common reason why many individuals seek physiotherapy treatment. However, difficulties arise in managing this condition due to conflicting explanations about the causes of shoulder pain and patients’ lack of adherence to exercise programs. An updated approach to discussing shoulder pain suggests moving away from the previous subacromial “impingement” model based […]
Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), commonly referred to as Total Knee Replacement (TKR), is one procedure that, until recently, went unnoticed by the media. One of the most common disorders I’ve treated patients for in my career is TKAs. I’ve seen many of my patients recover well, and the research is typically in favour of them. […]
Motivating our patients can be challenging. Let’s admit it. Their motivation fluctuates. Helping our patients maintain their motivation is essential for their success in reaching their objectives. Consider the all-too-common scenario: When a patient is in agony, they are highly motivated to seek treatment. As the discomfort subsides, their motivation begins to fade. The problem […]
When unstable, the shoulder is the most movable joint in the body, making rehabilitation difficult. The first step in unstable shoulder rehabilitation is identifying the kind of instability and any structural or muscle limitations. Exercise is also crucial to healing, but it may be hard to know where to start when prescribing exercises with such […]
The question “Is it Time to Normalise Scapular Dyskinesis?” is posed in a recent study (Salahm 2023). The evidence that “abnormal” scapular mobility may result in shoulder discomfort is examined in a comprehensive review. It makes me think of a study by McQuade from a few years ago titled “Critical and Theoretical Perspective on Scapular […]
What tools do you provide your patients to manage stress, whether it’s caused by their injuries or psychological factors? Have you ever wondered whether you could do more with patients who are lying on a heat pack (or other modality) at the start or finish of treatment? ⇒ Can we do more in 15 minutes? […]
Exercise for health. It is a mainstay in the toolkit of a physiotherapist. There is no other intervention that is as well supported by research. As movement specialists, we are aware of this. Because of this, we’re always looking for new workouts to try out or new methods to do the activities we already know […]