By Ethan Farr, Sports Myotherapist & Exercise Scientist Plantar Fasciitis is a condition that has piqued my interest as I have also suffered from it and since I have had it I have grown a passion in treating it and fighting it off for good. But what is Plantar Fasciitis? Plantar Fasciitis is a musculoskeletal disorder characterised by heel pain that is exacerbated by weight-bearing activity and after extended periods of rest or sedentary behaviour - but what does this mean in english? Fundamentally Plantar Fasciitis is a long term (comes up repeatedly over a few months) pain at the bottom of the foot this can be heel or arch of the foot. It is worse after sitting or lying down, and it is most commonly felt first thing in the morning when you get up from bed but can be brought on after long periods of walking or standing.
Studies have shown that Plantar Fasciitis affects 10% of adults in their lifetime and is most common in individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 years old, but can affect a younger population of habitual runners or those that are just highly active. Where does it come from/ how do you get it? Plantar Fasciitis is multifactorial but has commonly been linked with; High impact exercise; Obesity; prolonged standing/sitting; flat feet; occupational use of equipment like heavy safety boots; and is highly prevalent in runners. Common practice for the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis includes stretching and exercises for the muscles around the ankle and sole of the foot, as well as using orthotics for the shoes you wear, and potentially using a glucocorticoid injection (Ouch). Did you know that there is another treatment option focusing on pain management making it much easier to do everything you need to do day to day without that constant ache in the feet nagging at you - but what is this miracle cure? Say hello to myofascial dry needling or MDN for short, MDN is a technique used by myotherapists and other healthcare professionals to treat myofascial pain and muscle tightness. It involves inserting acupuncture needles into trigger points (or “knots”) in a muscle to stimulate a healing response and release tension. Not to be confused with acupuncture, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on balancing energy flow, MDN targets muscular issues directly, aiming to alleviate pain, improve range of motion, and promote healing. Many studies have supported the notion that MDN can be used in the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis and some studies have found that the use of MDN on the gastrocnemius and soleus (muscles in the calves) had a statistically significant (≥95% of participants experienced improvement) reduction in plantar fascial pain moderate (2 weeks post treatment) to long term (4 weeks post treatment) for most subjects. What does this mean for you? With reduced pain you are able to do the exercise needed to help strengthen and support your ankle and heel meaning if you take an active role post treatment your Plantar Fasciitis may not come back. For others who may not be capable to be more active in their recovery the ability to be pain free for up to 4 weeks is enough and they can seek regular maintenance treatments monthly or bimonthly to control pain. Ready to take the first step towards relief from Plantar Fasciitis? Book your session at Simple Wellness Myotherapy today and experience the transformative benefits of myofascial dry needling. Take charge of your recovery and bid farewell to foot pain for good! Our Rowville clinic is open 9am-6pm every Sunday! We have two fantastic therapists who work on a Sunday: Ethan Farr - Sports Myotherapist & Exercise Scientist Ethan is an excellent rehabilitation focused therapist. He has a wealth of experience with exercise centred injury recovery, and is building a fantastic reputation for his hands on treatments. He loves to help people with non-surgical recovery of sporting injuries, including things like:
Duke Autret - Myotherapist Duke is a Myotherapist and Remedial Massage Therapist, with qualifications in Pilates. He is passionate about encouraging movement as medicine, and providing outstanding care to help people in pain to regain better mobility and live a more painfree life. He loves to help people with things like:
Book a Sunday AppointmentOnline booking for a Sunday appointment is easy - check our availability and book in advance, our Sunday sessions are popular!!
By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist Over the last week in particular there has been an increase in acute neck pain and cases of facet joint irritation. In this blog we will discuss the symptoms of an irritated facet joint and discuss available treatment options as well as some tips and tricks you can utilise at home. So, without further ado, let's dive into the wonderful world of facet joints! Have you ever woken up one morning with neck pain and stiffness that progresses quickly into very limited ability to move your neck and intense pain? Maybe you’ve found it difficult to head check to the left or to the right when driving in the car so you’ve had to use your whole body to turn to do so. Maybe you have been standing under the warm water of the shower for a while now or glued to your hot pack trying to get any form of relief from extremely stiff neck muscles. If you have or are currently experiencing any of the above scenarios you may have an irritated facet joint in your neck.
Facet joints are joints that connect the bones of your spine together allowing your spine to bend, twist and rotate. Whilst providing movement they also support the spine and prevent excess movement by providing structural support to the overall spinal column. These joints sit at the back of the spine and there are 4 facet joints for each vertebrae, 2 upper and 2 lower. Sometimes these joints can become inflamed due to certain conditions such as osteoarthritis, trauma from a car accident or sport injuries, or from more mundane daily activities like sleeping awkwardly or a rapid movement that twinges the neck. For the purpose of this blog we will be addressing neck related facet joint pain however it is important to note that facet joints can get inflamed along any point of the spinal column. How do we know that your current neck pain is facet joint related? There will be a few different things that we look for to identify that the root cause is a facet joint. The biggest clue that we get is which movements of the neck are impacted. In facet joint presentations it may be painful to move/look to one side however almost completely fine/very minimal pain when looking the other way. For example you may be able to head check to the left with no issues but have difficulty head checking to the right. You may also be experiencing discomfort when looking at the ceiling however not when looking down at the ground. This is due to the space between the joints narrowing/ closing off in these same side movements compared with the other side. Facet joints will usually affect one side and pain will often be one sided/ local to the region. Another big clue is your description of the type of pain you are experiencing. Patients will often describe their pain as a locking, jamming, pinching, tightness/stiffness or achy sensation. As Myotherapists we can assess your ability to move actively AND passively. Which means we will watch you do the movements first, but if that doesn’t confirm our suspicions we can then do the movements for you by getting you to lie down on your back and (try your best to) let us control your movements. When we do this we are taking the muscles out of the equation and all that's left is your joints, if you still experience pain while we do the movements for you this is most likely a facet joint. We will also palpate (feel/press on) the joints to check for tenderness at the joint itself, there are also a couple special orthopaedic tests that we can use to confirm that we are dealing with a facet joint. If all of that comes up positive for a facet joint pathology as well as the correct symptom profile for a facet joint pathology, then we have found the culprit of your pain! One of the main reasons facet joints are so painful is the muscular guarding that comes with the condition. The main thing to remember here is that the body is very VERY good at protecting itself when something isn’t quite right. Therefore if your joint gets inflamed your nervous system is going to send messages to all of the surrounding muscles to “guard” and protect the injury as best as possible. This is what causes the really tight muscles and very limited range/ability to move your neck. Another important thing to note is that your body will absolutely heal itself! Facet joints usually tend to be acutely painful for anywhere from 2-7 days, but usually do not hang around longer than 2 weeks. We call this a self limiting condition, which means it typically will resolve itself even without any intervention - however, most people like to speed up the process by getting it treated. Myotherapy is a great way to support the natural healing process and speed up your overall recovery from this condition. As Myotherapists we are trained in being able to safely treat joint pathologies and facet joint irritation as part of our scope of practice. This means that along with treating the muscular component we can also use techniques such as joint mobilisations and joint MET to promote healthy joint function and healing. Not sure what a joint mobilisation is? Its a slow, low grade movement that we use to allow an irritated joint to begin moving freely again. Its not a “Crack!” of your neck!! The “cracking” technique is called a Manipulation or Adjustment, which is a full force, high velocity movement that only a qualified chiropractor or osteopath is able to provide for you, if that is more your style. Facet joints also tend to respond well to dry needling on the affected side. We can needle the super tight muscles that are locking up around the joint to restore freedom of movement. This can help make the healing process quicker, and reduce the intensity of the pain while your facet joint recovers. In terms of home care for facet joints here are some things we like to suggest patients with a joint irritation do at home:
This exercise can be done by making a double chin! (We know, super flattering!) Keep your eyes on a fixed structure at eye level in front of you and pull your head back to create that double chin. Be careful not to drop your chin to your chest or have your head tilted upwards, we want that nice neutral position and a slide back to execute this exercise efficiently.
The above suggestions are just some of the things you can do at home to aid the recovery of an inflamed facet joint in the neck; however it is most beneficial to the healing process to be doing these in conjunction with physical therapy to get the best results. Myotherapy is a great form of physical therapy and we treat these cases and presentations frequently. Its important to know that while this kind of pain can feel really horrible in its most acute stage, it usually won’t last longer than a few weeks, and likely even less if you get it treated very early on. If you have any of these classic facet joint irritation symptoms don't hesitate to book an appointment and together we will create a treatment plan to get you and your facet joints healthy and happy again! By Ethan Farr, Sports Myotherapist & Exercise Scientist Calf tears are a common injury among footballers, often resulting from the intense physical demands of the sport. This injury can sideline players for weeks or even months, affecting not only their physical performance but also their mental state and career prospects. Understanding the mechanism of calf tears and the role of myotherapy in recovery can help players return to the field swiftly and safely. How does a calf tear happen?
The calf comprises two primary muscles: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. These muscles work together to facilitate movements such as running, jumping, and sudden changes in direction—actions frequently performed in football. Calf tears usually occur due to overstretching or excessive loading of these muscles, leading to a partial or complete rupture of the muscle fibers. Common scenarios leading to calf tears in football include:
How does it feel if you've torn your calf? Footballers and athletes experiencing a calf tear may notice:
While a Myotherapist can't provide a definitive diagnosis, your appointment with us will include physical examination, assessing pain, swelling, and muscle function. To officially diagnose a calf tear, imaging tests like ultrasound or MRI may be required to determine the severity of the tear - this can be ordered by your GP, and you can bring any imaging reports to us to help you with your recovery. Myotherapy can be instrumental in recovering from calf tears. Myotherapists employ various techniques to alleviate pain, promote healing, and restore function. Assessment: The myotherapist will perform a thorough assessment to understand the extent of the injury, considering factors like the player's history, the mechanism of injury, and any pre-existing conditions. Pain Management: Initial treatment focuses on reducing pain and inflammation. This may involve techniques such as ice therapy, compression, and elevation. Myotherapists may also use modalities like ultrasound and electrotherapy to manage pain and stimulate healing. Soft Tissue Treatment: Targeted massage and manual therapy techniques help reduce muscle tension, improve blood flow, promote tissue healing, and can aid with scar tissue and adhesions that may have formed. Exercises for Restoring Flexibility: Gentle stretching exercises increase the flexibility of the calf muscles, reducing the risk of re-injury. Myotherapists guide patients through a progressive stretching routine tailored to their recovery stage. Exercises for Strengthening: Strengthening exercises are crucial for rebuilding muscle strength and endurance after an injury. Myotherapists design specific exercises to target the calf muscles and surrounding areas to ensure balanced muscle development and prevent future injuries. Functional Training: As recovery progresses, functional training exercises that mimic the demands of football are introduced. These exercises focus on improving coordination, balance, and agility. As an Exercise Scientist, this is something I specialise in. Sport-Specific Drills: Incorporating sport-specific drills prepares you for a return to play. This includes running, jumping, and directional changes to ensure the calf muscles can withstand the sport's physical demands. Prevention and Long-Term Management Preventing calf tears involves a combination of proper training, adequate rest, and injury management strategies. Footballers should:
In conclusion, calf tears can be a significant setback for footballers, but with the right approach to treatment and rehabilitation, a full recovery is achievable. Myotherapy plays a crucial role in managing pain, promoting healing, and ensuring players return to the field stronger and more resilient. Book with me on a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday to get back on the field. By Ethan Farr, Sports Myotherapist & Exercise Scientist This is a bit of a loaded question. There are a lot of factors that contribute to when you are able to get back to exercise post injury; the severity of injury, what kind of injury, your strength/conditioning pre injury and the kind of training you do just to name a few. Strictly speaking you are able to get back into the gym while injured as long as you are training around said injury and finding no increase in pain or swelling the next day e.g. an injured leg you can still train upper body, however for training the injury there are 3 general phases of healing: the inflammatory phase, the proliferative phase and the remodelling phase.
What do these stages mean for you and getting back to the gym? Realistically these stages are not quite set in stone as you may be able to tell as there is quite a large range in timeframe that these stages can occur in but these stages aid in creating a general guide to what kinds of exercise should be programmed into your rehabilitation pathway. Generally within those first 3-7 days you should be focusing on reducing inflammation and pain so exercise isn’t your main concern at this point. However if you must, the exercise you should be doing generally consists of non-weight bearing exercise going through the range of motion of the injured site without increase in pain. Between days 4-21 you are looking at introducing more weight bearing exercises for things like ankle sprains this could be a little as walking for shoulders you could be looking at light band work trying to use the full range of motion of the joint with some resistance. In this stage a VAS pain scale can be used to guide your movements and exercise programming a VAS pain scale in this case would be a pain rating from 0 being no pain at all to 10 being incredibly painful, if the exercise you’re doing increases pain to the 7-10 ranges then it is not suitable for rehabilitation and could be doing more damage than good (No pain no gain need not apply to the rehabilitation pathway in this sense). The last stage of healing is a long lasting stage most people may not even realise they’re still in the process of healing when they’re in this stage, it can present as something as small as having a reduced ability to balance on one leg compared to the other or even just being a little apprehensive in doing certain movements. At this stage you are looking to incorporate increased challenge to the exercises programmed you are looking at including your bigger compound movements or increasing instability during the exercises, in this stage exercises will generally be guided by your daily life activity needs e.g. working a trade vs office work will have very different needs and if you play sport your exercises can be tailored to your sports needs. Getting back to the gym feeling better then you felt pre-injury is what I love about myotherapy and fitness so if you find all of this too complicated to follow but still want to get back to top shape after an injury, I would love to have the chance to guide your rehabilitation pathway and get you back to peak performance. Book with me on a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday. By Ethan Farr, Sports Myotherapist & Exercise Scientist According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare an estimated 594,000 Australians over the age of 15 played netball throughout 2020–21. During this year there were 1,500 injury hospitalisations attributed to netball—1,380 female and 120 male. Just over half of these hospitalizations were due to soft tissue injuries and a little over a third were for fractures. According to Netball Australia “knees and ankles are the most commonly injured body parts for netballers” and they are most commonly injured during the landing phase when jumping or stopping. A few of the most common soft tissue injuries that occur within netball include: ankle sprains, shin splints, achilles tendinopathy, patella tendinopathy and ACL tears.
Now ankle sprains often dismissed as minor injuries, can prove far more nefarious than most believe. Beyond the immediate discomfort and inconvenience, untreated or improperly rehabilitated ankle sprains can lead to chronic instability, recurrent injuries, and even long-term joint damage not to mention decrease in sports performance and changes in walking and/or running mechanics increasing risk of many other injuries. The initial pain and swelling may subside, lulling individuals into a false sense of recovery, yet lurking beneath the surface are weakened ligaments and compromised proprioception, leaving the ankle vulnerable to further trauma. Myotherapy can play a crucial role in the treatment of ankle sprains by reducing pain and inflammation, improving blood circulation, and promoting tissue healing. Through targeted techniques, such as deep tissue massage and lymphatic drainage, we can help restore mobility, flexibility, and function to the injured ankle, facilitating a speedier and more complete recovery. Patellar tendinopathies and ACL tears are some of the other more common and more sinister injuries that occur in netballers. These injuries can decrease general stability around the knee and cause a lot of pain in all movements of the knee. Patellar tendonitis or “Jumper’s knee” is an inflammation of the patella tendon or the tendon just below the knee cap, it is an overuse injury caused by running or jumping especially on hard surfaces much like a netball court. It is associated with pain around the knee cap that gets worse with activity such as walking, running or jumping, and it can get worse with walking up stairs or uphill. Massage can help through improving circulation improving the healing process and by reducing tightness of muscles around or connecting to the patellar tendon reducing the pulling on the tendon. ACL tears are an injury I’m sure most have heard of but you may not know what it actually entails, The ACL or the anterior cruciate ligament is one of 4 ligaments in the knee holding and supporting the femur (thighbone), tibia (shin bone) and the patella (kneecap) creating stability in knee movements. The ACL runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur and provides rotational stability within the knee (if you would like to know more on this check in with some of our other blogs). Tears of the ACL are graded on a severity scale being graded 1-3: Grade 1: The injury stretched your ACL enough to damage it, but it’s still in one piece and holding your knee bones together. Grade 2: The injury stretched your ACL so much that it was partially torn and loosened. Grade 3: A complete tear through your ACL meaning the ACL is now in two pieces. So how can treatment help with ACL tears, in cases where surgery was required massage can help control swelling and improve circulation around the site as well as reduce tightness of muscles around the knee reducing perceived pain on your rehabilitation pathway for lower graded sprains and tears of the ACL massage can help reduce some guarding around the knees that can reduce mobility and cause pain but through the use of some exercise prescription we can help strengthen the muscles around the knee to improve stability and reduce risk of further injury of the ACL. Should netballers be receiving myotherapy? Absolutely! Prevention and "prehab" of injuries is a much better option then getting seriously injured in sport! Netballers, it's time to prioritise your well-being on and off the court. Don't let injuries sideline your passion for the game. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, understanding the risks and knowing how to address them is key to staying in top form. Don't wait until it's too late. Invest in your health, invest in your game. Schedule a treatment with me on a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday so I can help assess and plan a course of treatment for your knee issues, so you can keep playing strong. Your body will thank you for it! By Duke Autret, Myotherapist Chronic pain is a complex and persistent condition that significantly impacts an individual's quality of life. Managing it often requires a multi-pronged approach. Myotherapy, a specialised form of physical therapy, offers effective interventions for chronic pain, particularly ‘nociplastic’ pain, which lacks clear structural or inflammatory causes. This blog explores the management of chronic pain with myotherapy, including key interventions and techniques. Understanding Nociplastic Pain
Nociplastic pain is characterised by pain that arises from altered nociception despite no clear evidence of actual or threatened tissue damage or sometimes disproportionate to the level of tissue damage that may be there. This type of pain can be challenging to manage as it often involves central sensitization. Central sensitisation is where the central nervous system becomes hypersensitive to pain signals, which is in effect like the malfunctioning of the sensory system rather than the tissues themselves, perhaps like when your car has a sensor problem rather than actual part problem it is monitoring. Causes of Nociplastic Pain The exact causes of nociplastic pain are not well understood, but factors may include:
Symptoms of Nociplastic Pain Common symptoms can include:
Myotherapy offers a range of physical and educational interventions to manage nociplastic pain effectively. Physical Interventions: Movement and Exercise Therapy: Movement and exercise therapy, including graded activity and graded exposure, helps retrain the nervous system and reduce pain sensitivity. Adjunct Tools/Modalities: Techniques such as heat, cold, or electrical stimulation can alleviate symptoms by reducing muscle tension and pain. Manual Therapy: Manual therapy, including joint mobilisation and soft tissue techniques, can be beneficial when integrated with other treatments. Educational Interventions: Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE): Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) helps you understand the nature of pain and how to manage it better. Here are some key principles to keep in mind: 1. Pain is an Output from the Brain: Pain is not just a signal from damaged tissue. Your brain processes information from all over your body and creates the sensation of pain. This means pain is not only a physical sensation but also involves cognitive and emotional experiences. 2. Pain Does Not Always Indicate Harm: Understanding that pain is not always a sign of serious damage can help reduce fear and anxiety. Many factors, such as stress, emotions, and past experiences, can influence pain. 3. Changing Your Perspective on Pain: By seeing pain as a signal that your brain is sending to make you pay attention to your body, you can take steps to manage it more effectively. This can help reduce the intensity and frequency of pain. 4. Techniques to Manage Pain: Relaxation and stress reduction techniques like deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation can help manage pain by reducing muscle tension and anxiety. Regular practice of these techniques can make a significant difference in your pain levels. 5. Listen to Your Body: It's important to listen to your body and take care of yourself in ways that feel safe and comfortable. This includes practising good posture, engaging in regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR): PMR is a technique used to reduce muscle tension and anxiety, promoting relaxation and pain relief. Steps for Progressive Muscle Relaxation:
Graded Exposure Therapy: Graded exposure helps individuals gradually confront and overcome activities or movements they avoid due to fear or pain, reducing pain and improving function. Protocol for Graded Exposure:
Graded exposure gradually helps people confront their fears or anxieties. By slowly exposing you to things that make you anxious, your brain learns these things are not as dangerous as initially thought. This builds tolerance and reduces anxiety over time, helping you regain control over your life. Comprehensive Pain Management When structural or biomechanical explanations fall short, pain often results from central sensitisation, neuroplastic changes, psychological factors, lifestyle influences, and environmental factors. Effective management involves a multidisciplinary approach, combining physical and cognitive interventions tailored to individual needs. Common Explanations in the Pain Process:
Chronic pain, particularly nociplastic pain, requires a comprehensive approach to management. Myotherapy offers effective interventions, including physical techniques and educational strategies, to manage pain and improve quality of life. By integrating myotherapy into your treatment plan, you can address the multifactorial nature of chronic pain and take proactive steps toward relief and improved well-being. You can book online to start the process now! By Megan Cornish, Pre/Post Natal Myotherapist I would like to first and foremost start this blog by talking about the idea of pregnancy related musculoskeletal aches and pains being “a normal and common part of pregnancy”. And while that may be so for the majority of pregnant women, my biggest pet peeve is when prenatal ladies are told that their back and/or hip pain is “normal” and to basically deal with it til the baby comes out. No further pain management strategies or options are discussed, and mama's are left concerned and in pain without a plan, and that in my opinion is a disservice to all women! I am writing this blog to solidify that just because these types of muscular aches and pains are frequent occurrences during pregnancy, you absolutely do not have to just ‘put up’ with the pain. Pain management strategies are definitely out there if needed - myotherapy being one of them - and I want ALL women to feel empowered to utilise these strategies as needed to feel the absolute best they can for the duration of their pregnancy. Please never feel that you need to just power on through pain. For the purpose of this blog we will learn why muscle and joint pain is common during pregnancy particularly in the lower back and hip regions. We will also look into how myotherapy works to reduce and manage pain as well as other alternatives and options available to you.
So why is it that the soft tissues of the lower back and hips get so sore? The most common regions to get affected by musculoskeletal aches during pregnancy are hip joints and surrounding muscles and the lower back. An element of the reason why this happens is going to be due to the growth of your baby throughout pregnancy and the pressure/added weight that this brings to the joints themselves. Wherever there is excess strain or pressure on our joints our muscles automatically guard to protect that joint - this will be the source of the pain. Another element to why you might experience pain in these regions is going to be because muscle relaxant hormones become involved, these hormones - relaxin and progesterone - cause a softening of tendons and ligaments surrounding the pelvis/lower back to prepare your body for the physical act of giving birth. As a result of the increasing laxity of these joint stabilisers muscles again begin to guard to compensate and protect the joints. How does myotherapy help to reduce and manage my pain? If you’ve had a massage or myotherapy treatment before you probably already know how amazing your body feels during and after the treatment. Its a very safe and effective way to manage and treat pain during pregnancy and works in a few ways to ease your discomfort. Massage releases muscular tension During your massage a few biomechanic functions are stimulated which is what is going to make the physical change to the musculoskeletal tissue as well as rewire the way your brain is processing the pain you are experiencing . Massage will release muscular tension by stimulating blood flow and increasing circulation to the muscle tissue. Endogenous opioids which are your “feel good” hormones also get released and therefore interrupt the pain cycle. The inflammatory response is our body’s healing response which is also triggered during the massage. Advanced Pain Relief Techniques Advanced techniques like dry needling and cupping are mighty helpful during pregnancy, and when they are used by a Myotherapists who are well educated on pre natal care they can provide a great amount of relief. We can use techniques like dry needling for reaching deeper into your glute muscles without needing to be heavy handed, and this can be incredible when you have sciatic pain or that build up of pressure around your pelvis and sacrum. Calm the CNS (Central Nervous System) Our central nervous system consists of our brain and spinal cord, this is how our body receives, responds and processes sensory information. During the massage sensory receptors carrying messages of sensation to the brain are calmed and therefore relaxing muscle tissue and reducing pain. Safely lay on your tummy! We have excellent pregnancy therapy cushions that allow you to safely lay on your tummy and protect your growing bump and sensitive breasts. All our mama’s simply love to be able to spend some time supported and face down, plus its a great position for us to really effectively manage back, neck, shoulder and hip pain. Taping your pelvis Pressure and instability in the joints of the pelvis are some of the most common complaints, especially when baby is becoming big! Taping can help to offload some of the pressure around your pelvis, or to support it if you’re starting to feel a bit wobbly, pinchy or unstable. Are there any other available strategies that I can utilise? There are also other ways that pain in pregnancy can be managed as well, this could be any or a combination of the following. Yoga and Exercise Recent studies of the benefits of movement throughout pregnancy show positive effects on reducing and managing pain while pregnant as well as improved general overall health and wellbeing. Yoga and gentle stretching are great ways to ease muscular discomfort and exercise will work to increase blood flow and support healthy muscle tissue. Thermotherapy (Heat Therapy) This is an easy and accessible way to get relief from pain at home, warm baths and warm wheat bags are able to be utilised to address muscle pain as this allows for opening of blood vessels to increase blood flow to the soft tissues. However with this management strategy please note we want WARM but not HOT. It can be potentially dangerous for bubs if a mothers internal body raises too much which is why hot tubs and spas are not advised. If you are ever unsure about this strategy consult your treating practitioner before use. Mindfulness and Meditation Mindfulness and Meditation exercises along with breath work are great techniques and strategies to use to manage pain. The body and mind are intertwined, especially when it comes to experiencing pain and discomfort. Studies have shown that a heightened nervous system can influence a person's overall experience of pain. By practising mindfulness and/or meditation your nervous system will relax and muscle tissue will follow, therefore decreasing pain. Pain management strategies are out there and available to be used to treat and manage pain experienced during pregnancy. Ladies! Please NEVER feel ashamed or hesitate when seeking these out. As I mentioned earlier the biggest thing I would like you to take away from this blog is just because pain is a common and usual part of pregnancy, this does not mean you have to just power on through! Do you need help from a Myotherapist who has a great understanding about pre and post natal bodies? Thats me!! Book a time to see me for pregnancy care, I'm here 5 days a week. By Megan Cornish, Pre/Post Natal Myotherapist Calling all my pregnant ladies! Have you found yourself at some point during your pregnancy rubbing your hand over sore muscles and/or joints? Or maybe you find yourself asking your partner for a back rub? Anything to get some relief, right!? Have you ever longed for a relaxing pregnancy massage but then right after caught yourself wondering if it's even safe for you and bubba? In my experience this is the biggest concern holding women back from experiencing rest and relief from musculoskeletal symptoms associated with pregnancy. And that’s what this blog aims to change! My goal is to educate expecting mama's on pregnancy massage and the industry secrets so that by the end of this blog any worry or anxieties about whether or not pregnancy massage is right for you are gone. So let's dive in! When is pregnancy massage safe and when is it not safe?
Pregnancy massage is a relaxing and safe way to effectively loosen muscles and ease discomfort that may present itself at some point throughout your pregnancy. And it is safe for the majority of pregnant women. In saying that, there are certain conditions your treating practitioner must be aware of and take the appropriate precautions to ensure your safety. What conditions would need to be treated with caution? ‘High risk pregnancies’ are definitely treated with caution and would usually require a medical clearance from your obstetrician or GP before commencing hands on treatment. For example, if you are pregnant and have diabetes or high blood pressure, if you have a heart condition, if you’re pregnant with twins or triplets or if you are in a certain age bracket (over 35 or younger than 17) ect you may fall into the criteria for a high risk pregnancy which just means that there could be a higher than normal chance of encountering potential complications. There may also be medical conditions or pregnancy symptoms unrelated to high risk pregnancies that your therapist will discuss with you prior to your treatment or massage to clear you for safe treatment. This could be morning sickness through to fatigue which are generally considered “normal” pregnancy experiences and it would be considered a precautionary “yellow flag” and safe to proceed with treatment. If you were pregnant and already had a medical condition such as Asthma or IBS this would also be considered a yellow flag and treatment would again be able to continue safely. Is there ever a situation where it would be unsafe to proceed with treatment? There are not many cases where treatment would be completely unsafe to go ahead, but in saying that there are certain concerning symptoms that your therapist may consider a complete contraindication and treatment would not be safe to proceed with. This could be if you were experiencing abdominal pain or bleeding this would be a “red flag” and treatment would not be safe until you have been medically cleared and immediate medical attention is advised. What precautions will my practitioner take to ensure Mumma and Bubs stay safe throughout the treatment? Are there certain regions my therapist can’t treat while I'm pregnant? All regions are safe to be treated while pregnant however there are certain regions your therapist must treat carefully. Although your abdomen and legs are able to be treated, deep pressure is avoided around these regions so your therapist would use light massage techniques to ensure you stay safe and comfortable throughout the treatment. There are also certain pressure points on the feet that your therapist will avoid using deep pressure on or around - this is due to an eastern medicine theory (reflexology) that these points can potentially induce labor however there are actually no definitive studies to prove this theory as of yet. Regardless, your therapist will keep this in mind to make sure that you and bubs stay as safe as possible! What about positions throughout the treatment? Are there certain ways I shouldn't be lying? Please do not worry about crushing bubba! Pregnancy pillows are fantastic at allowing you to safely lie on your front whilst making sure that baby is also comfortable! Obviously as you progress through your pregnancy and as the baby grows bigger the pregnancy pillow may not be able to provide optimal comfort anymore so this is when we like to treat you on your side. Being on your side is very safe at any stage of pregnancy. We understand that its often recommended by doctors to lay primarily on the left side for optimal bloodflow, but want to reassure you that spending time on your right side throughout your treatment is safe. It may even be possible to have you lay for a short time on your back, if that is needed to treat the areas that you're experiencing pain. We will always safely position you to make sure we can target those painful spots without making you or bub uncomfortable. I’m 38 weeks +, Is it too late to get treated? It's never too late! It is generally still safe to treat you even if you are past your due date or above that 38 week mark. If you are overdue or above 38 weeks and are considered a high risk pregnancy your therapist might ask you for medical clearance prior to treatment however as long as your therapist is looking out for those red flags/ yellow flags as mentioned above and is taking into account any medical conditions then you are in good hands! And once you reach that 38+ week mark, we know you're going to be feeling in need of some TLC! Pregnancy massage is a low risk and safe way to effectively manage those pesky muscle aches and joint pains that come with creating a life. But just because musculoskeletal aches and pains are considered a ‘normal’ experience of many women throughout their pregnancy doesn't mean you have to just ‘put up with it’. I hope that this blog clears up a few things and you are now armed with the information you need to make an informed decision about whether or not pregnancy massage is safe for you. If you are still unsure or have any doubts you can always check in with your doctor or OBGYN to get that confidence you need to book in for a massage and start receiving that pain relief that you deserve! By Duke Autret, Myotherapist Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) present unique challenges for individuals due to their impact on connective tissues, resulting in increased flexibility and susceptibility to joint pain and instability. While HSD is considered less severe than EDS, it still significantly affects the quality of life for those affected. Myotherapy emerges as a valuable approach to managing the symptoms of both conditions, offering relief and improved functionality. Understanding the Connections between HSD and EDS
The broad umbrella encompassing both of these conditions is called Hereditary Connective Tissue Disorders (HCTD). Both HSD and EDS share numerous symptoms, but they also exhibit critical distinctions. HSD encompasses individuals with hypermobility who don't meet the criteria for an EDS diagnosis. EDS, on the other hand, is a genetic connective tissue disorder with the possibility of also affecting the skin, joints, and blood vessels and even heart. Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) present unique challenges for individuals due to their impact on connective tissues, resulting in increased flexibility and susceptibility to joint pain and instability. The exact causation of these conditions remains elusive, though it's believed to stem from a blend of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. While some may inherit a susceptibility from genetics, others may develop it due to joint injury or overuse. HCTD manifests primarily with joint pain, stiffness, and instability. Additional symptoms include fatigue, digestive issues, headaches, and challenges with balance and coordination. Myotherapy Interventions for Managing HSD Myotherapy serves as an effective approach in alleviating the symptoms of HSD, offering tailored techniques to address joint pain, muscle stiffness, and fatigue while promoting overall well-being.
Embracing Relief through Myotherapy Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder poses a myriad of musculoskeletal challenges, impacting joint stability, and inducing pain and discomfort. Myotherapy can be a helpful treatment avenue, offering a range of techniques tailored to manage symptoms effectively and support long term stability through exercise. If you're grappling with HSD, consider integrating myotherapy into your treatment regimen to embark on a journey toward an improved quality of life. All of our therapists can help you with hypermobility related symptoms, and booking online is quick and easy to begin your treatment. |
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