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Hey my name is Rachael and I'm the newest Myotherapist here at Simple Wellness. I have a background in Beauty as well as Remedial Massage, therefore I tend to be very versatile in what I can offer you in terms of pressure and type of massage during my treatments. I have always strived to give my clients my personal best and want to help in any way I can to be able to get back to everyday activities pain free.  I am known for being very smiley and friendly to others, and my terrible use of dad jokes in the company of clients who share the same kind of humour.
I come from a big Mauritian/Rodriguan family and so I love hearing about those old family stories as they tend to be the best memories. I am an animal lover of mostly dogs, with my beautiful boy Jack Russell being 16 years old this year. I definitely have a more of a hands on approach to Myotherapy, I use massage techniques most of the time because this seems to benefit my clients, and for the other times I can use needling and cupping if it's what's needed at the time. I will always check in with whatever it is I do; whether it be about the pressure, if you were wanting or not wanting me to use any other modalities, or just being that hands on. I will do whatever works best for you and your pain. I can be light or quite firm in my pressure, but it's not always true of “no pain no gain” meaning for those that go above their pain threshold. Sometimes a moderate amount is just enough to make that difference. Massage should always be in your comfort zone where it can be felt, but not to an extreme like over 8-9/10. My favourite regions to treat are the neck, shoulders, and back pain. You would be surprised how common these really are. But let me give a little information as to why these are so common: Neck and shoulder pain together come mostly (but not all) from those who are doing desk work, gamers, and any type activity that leads to a hunched over posture. But why does it hurt? Well when you are in a hunched over position your back is exposed with muscles over stretching to the point where your body is saying ‘ow’ to try and protect itself. Then the front of the body is doing the opposite with muscles being shortened and ‘tight’. So when this happens regularly your body starts to remember this position as its new ‘normal’, so when you straighten your back up it hurts to do so. Sounds familiar? Long held positions play a big part in being the cause of pain and it is important to take those regular breaks, and follow the advice your Myotherapist or Remedial therapist has given you, including using those exercises and stretches they've given to help reduce, and revert this. Back pain can be caused by several reasons: not lifting heavy things correctly at work, gardening, moving house, or even gaming. Maintaining an uneven position for a long time, like mentioned above, can cause back pain/hip pain. It may be caused by the muscles just in your back, but often there is involvement from your glutes or even your hips. You may feel it in your upper back/ middle back, just above your glutes, at your glutes, or at your spine. As your Myotherapists and Remedial Therapists it is our job to help you with your pain and to help find out why its happening so that we can help with your symptoms and also help with the cause. You'll find me in the clinic on Mondays and Tuesdays from 12.30-7, and every second Thursday from 12.30-7. Bookings with me are easy - call us on 03 8204 0970 or book a time online! Can't wait to meet you and begin helping you unravel your pain and feel better. Bursitis is a really common cause of persistent shoulder pain. It can cause significant discomfort and limit our ability to perform daily activities. This common condition, characterised by inflammation of the shoulder's bursa, often results from repetitive motions or injury. In this blog post, we will explore what shoulder bursitis entails, its symptoms, and how myotherapy can play a crucial role in its effective treatment.  The shoulder joint is surrounded by small, fluid-filled sacs called bursa, which act as cushions between bones, tendons, and muscles. With a normal, well-functioning bursa, shoulder movement is smooth, effortless and without pain.
When these bursae become inflamed, it leads to a condition known as bursitis, and it can cause a lot of highly sensitive pain. Repetitive overhead movements or a direct trauma like a fall onto your outstretched arm can cause irritation of the bursa and surrounding tissue, and this can result in pain, tenderness, and limited range of motion. Additionally, factors like muscle imbalances and spending a long time in a position that strains the shoulder can contribute to the development of bursitis. Bursitis typically feels worse at certain points in the day - the first thing in the morning is often a time of stiffness and increased pain, with that sensation easing somewhat as you begin moving. After a period of inactivity it can become sensitive again, or following overexertion or repetitive activities. Inflammation makes the area feel irritated, stiff, achey, and sore. Myotherapy is a form of manual therapy that targets the soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. As Myotherapists, we aim to relieve your pain, restore your mobility, and promote healing through a variety of techniques, tailored to your specific needs. In the case of shoulder bursitis, myotherapy can provide several benefits.
Shoulder bursitis can be a debilitating condition, limiting our daily activities and causing persistent pain. While traditional treatments focus on symptom management, myotherapy offers a holistic approach to shoulder bursitis treatment. By addressing muscle imbalances, reducing pain and inflammation, and improving range of motion, myotherapy helps individuals regain functionality and prevent future complications. If you're experiencing shoulder bursitis, consulting with our qualified myotherapists can be a valuable step towards finding relief and embarking on the path to recovery. Remember, early intervention and consistent treatment are key to effectively managing shoulder bursitis and restoring your quality of life. Book a time with our wonderful myotherapists or phone our clinic on 03 8204 0970 for more information. By Duke Autret, Myotherapist Exercise has long been touted as a means of promoting physical health, but recent scientific findings suggest that it may also be one of the most effective therapies for mental health. For those of us who are frequently trapped in our chairs, offices, home office, cars, and then the ‘comfy’ chair in front of the tele, these recent findings will validate what we’ve known we need to do!  The Science..
A new research paper published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has provided compelling evidence for the benefits of exercise therapy for treating depression and anxiety, suggesting that it may be more effective than other commonly used interventions such as medication and psychotherapy. The study, which analysed data from over 1,000 individuals with depression and anxiety, found that exercise therapy was associated with significantly greater reductions in symptoms than other interventions, such as antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. Participants who engaged in regular exercise showed a 26% reduction in symptoms of depression and a 20% reduction in symptoms of anxiety, compared to those who received medication or psychotherapy alone. But why is exercise therapy so effective for treating depression and anxiety? Studies have shown that exercise promotes the release of endorphins, which are natural mood-boosters that help to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. In addition, exercise can help to reduce inflammation in the body, which has been linked to depression and other mental health conditions. Exercise also promotes the growth of new brain cells and improves connectivity between brain regions. Additionally, exercise can help individuals to develop a greater sense of control over their bodies and their lives, which can be empowering and boost self-esteem. A little for a lot And according to a recent article in ScienceAlert, another large-scale study of nearly 50,000 people showed that exercise is the most effective treatment for depression, with a 43% reduction in symptoms compared to other treatments such as medication and therapy. Exercise also has the added benefit of being a low-cost, low-risk intervention that can be easily integrated into most people's lives. Even small amounts of exercise, such as a 10-minute walk or a few minutes of stretching, have been shown to have benefits for mental health. And for those who are able to engage in more vigorous exercise, such as running or weightlifting, the benefits may be even greater. What does this all mean? Of course, exercise therapy should not be seen as a replacement for other treatments for mental health conditions, such as medication and therapy. However, it may be a valuable addition to a comprehensive treatment plan, and one that has the potential to improve outcomes for many individuals struggling with depression and anxiety. And the evidence is clear - exercise therapy is an effective and powerful intervention for promoting mental health. If you're struggling with depression or anxiety, consider incorporating regular exercise into your routine. Not only can it help to alleviate symptoms, but it may also improve your overall sense of well-being and quality of life. While the ideal amount of exercise is still a matter of debate, the authors suggest that individuals should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, such as brisk walking or cycling, in order to achieve the maximum mental health benefits. Working with people recovering from pain and injury, we know that even small amounts of physical activity can have significant benefits for mental health. So why not take a walk, go for a bike ride, or hit the beach, pool, or gym today? Your mental health will thank you! If you've ever had that one-sided sharp, catching pain in your neck or back that stops you moving even slightly towards that painful side, you've likely experienced a sprained facet joint. Facet joint sprains can be a source of intense back or neck pain, limiting our mobility and overall quality of life. This kind of injury is usually fairly short lived, but the first few days when its at its worst can be very highly sensitive and irritable. The acute phase usually doesn't last more than a week, and the pain usually subsides entirely within 2-3 weeks. These injuries can result from trauma (like a car accident), repetitive motions or rapid combination movements (like bending/twisting/lifting too quickly), or can be predisposed in degenerative conditions where the joint has been previously injured or where the joint isn't as healthy as it could be. Even though this condition is normally short-lived, it can be challenging to manage and exceptionally painful.  Facet joints are small joints located at the back of the spine, connecting the vertebrae. When they are happy they provide stability and allow for easy non-painful movement in the spine. When these joints become injured or strained, it can be a very painful experience. Turning your head to the impacted side is usually very restricted by a sharp, bony pain. Often turning to the opposite side is much easier and without the same sting of instant pain.
Common causes include sudden trauma or whiplash type injuries, quick repetitive motions, or lifting and twisting at the same time. We'll often hear people say "I slept funny and now I can't turn my neck that way", this can be from sleeping in a weird or awkward position with the neck jammed up overnight. Symptoms of facet joint sprains include localised pain which is usually one sided, stiffness, reduced range of motion due to intense pain, and muscle spasms. The muscles around the impacted facet joint can go into a protective spasm to prevent you from moving, but the spasm itself can be very painful and can cause referral of pain to other areas. If the sprained facet joint is in your neck, its common to get a headache referred from the surrounding muscles. If the sprained facet is in your back, the referral patterns from an upper back facet is usually to the shoulders, or from a lower back facet to your hips. These sprains can significantly impact daily activities, especially things that need you to be able to move easily and safely, like doing headchecks in the car, getting in and out of bed, or going to the gym. When it comes to facet joint sprains, our myotherapists offer several benefits: Pain Relief: Myotherapists utilise a range of techniques, including deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, and joint mobilisation, to alleviate pain associated with facet joint sprains. By targeting the affected area and surrounding muscles, our myotherapists help reduce muscle tension, release endorphins, and improve blood circulation, resulting in pain relief. Techniques that can be used in acute stages include things like dry needling which can resolve muscle spasm without applying broad pressure over the area. Muscle Relaxation and Joint Mobility: Facet joint sprains often lead to muscle spasms and restricted joint mobility. Myotherapy techniques such as gentle stretching, soft tissue mobilisation, and joint mobilisation help relax the muscles, increase flexibility, and restore normal joint motion. These interventions promote healing, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall range of motion. Gentle mobilisations encourage the correct glide of the facet joints to return, and using techniques like Muscle Energy Technique we can often reduce the protective spasm and improve the amount of movement and the irritability of the joint fairly quickly. Muscle Imbalance: Musculoskeletal imbalances can contribute to facet joint sprains. Myotherapists assess and correct muscle imbalances through targeted exercises, ergonomic modifications, and postural retraining. By addressing these underlying issues, your myotherapist helps improve your alignment, reduce stress on the facet joints, and prevent further injury. Strength and Stability: Myotherapy focuses not only on treating the immediate pain but also on building strength and stability to prevent future sprains, once the pain intensity allows us to do so. Myotherapists develop customised exercise programs to strengthen the muscles supporting the spine, enhancing overall spinal stability and reducing the risk of recurrent facet joint sprains. For a facet joint sprain, we usually expect this part of your treatment plan to begin about 2 weeks into your program, once the pain has settled and you have regained mobility. Education and Self-Care: Myotherapists play an essential role in educating our patients about facet joint sprains and self-care techniques. We provide guidance on proper body mechanics, ergonomics, and exercises to maintain a healthy spine and prevent further injuries. Empowering individuals with the knowledge to take control of their own well-being is a fundamental aspect of myotherapy. Facet joint sprains can significantly impact our daily lives, causing pain and limiting our mobility. Myotherapy offers a comprehensive approach to treating facet joint sprains by addressing pain, muscle tension, joint mobility, and underlying imbalances. Through techniques such as pain relief, muscle relaxation, joint movement correction, and strength training, myotherapy aims to provide lasting relief and prevent future sprains. If you're struggling with facet joint sprains, seeking the expertise of our qualified myotherapists can be a valuable step towards finding relief and regaining functionality. Book online with any of our great Myos, or call us on 03 8204 0970 for more information. |
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Simple Wellness Myotherapy & Osteopathy
Shop 12B/150 Kelletts Rd, Rowville VIC 3178 |
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