It is widely recognised that to manage acute or chronic musculoskeletal injuries (such as Osteoarthritis, Tendinopathy etc), resistance training is the ideal form of rehabilitation. Through resistance training, we can learn how to activate and strengthen the muscles that have been deconditioned via injury. Through building muscle mass and improving the signals from the brain…
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children, with one in twenty children in Australia diagnosed with the condition. ADHD also affects many adults, however, is often identified in school-aged children as a result of disruption in the classroom, or inability to complete schoolwork. ADHD more common among boy than…
Maximising athletic potential is essential for sporting success. Beyond the weeks and weeks spent in the gym to develop an individual’s fitness, strength and power, Neuromuscular Priming can provide additional short-term improvements to athletic potential. Firstly, what is neuromuscular priming, and how does it work? Neuromuscular Priming or NMP involves individuals performing low…
When we think of running (short or long distance), we often don’t think of the biomechanics within the body which are producing the movement. Rather it can be easier to think of it as placing one foot in front of the other, with a little bit of propulsion to get us moving. And this at…
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition in which there is excess fat stored in the liver, not because of heavy alcohol use. There are two forms of NAFLD: non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). People will generally be diagnosed with one form or the other, however, it is possible for someone to…
Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a general term that encompasses many disorders that involve damage to the body’s peripheral nervous system. This is the communication network between the central nervous system (brain & spinal cord) and the rest of the body. PN occurs when nerves are damaged or destroyed and cannot effectively send messages from the…
Mobility is often defined as the joint’s ability to move through its full range of motion without interference. For everyday tasks, our joints are designed to move in a large range of motion and in different directions to allow us to complete a variety of movements. Having sufficient mobility ensures that the joints are efficient…
For years pregnant women were viewed as needing to be confined to rest for their entire pregnancy to avoid complications. However, only up until recently, 2002 in fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist (AGOG) published new recommendations regarding the benefits of exercise during pregnancy and stipulated specific guidelines regarding exercise prescription and…
Some people may think that health professionals do not struggle with the same health concerns that everyone else does or struggle with motivation to exercise. We are trained in health and how to manage illnesses and rehabilitate injuries but in no way are we above or exempt from getting them. We hit the same crossroads…
The Kinetic Chain: What it is and how understanding it can improve our training The kinetic chain was first termed in 1875 by Franze Reuleaux, a mechanical engineer. He proposed that rigid, overlapping segments were connected via joints and this created a system whereby movement at one joint produced or affected movement at another…