The average person will spend around 26 years of their life sleeping and an additional 7 years just trying to get to sleep! That is a third of your lifetime spent with your head resting on a pillow. Is there a “best” pillow for me? What should I look out for in a pillow?
Massage Guns are all the rage these days. With the everyday person wanting to be more autonomous in self management or self treatment for aches and pain, there are so many companies, styles and models to choose from. What does the massage gun do? Does it really help? We have a guest post from Hydragun talking about massage guns in general, what it can help with, and what to look out for if you are considering purchasing one.
Disclaimer We have not been paid, nor given any merchandise or product by Hydragun in the publishing of this article
What effect can probiotics have on the musculoskeletal system? Recent research has found that microbiota of the gut has key roles in bone metabolism, regulation of hormones and as we already know, development of the immune system. In bone metabolism, Vitamin D and Calcium are crucial nutrients for maintaining healthy and strong bones where deficiency in these can lead to osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and increased risk of bone fractures. Gut microbiota produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate and propionate, that increase absorption and activation of these nutrients which indirectly increases bone density and strength. Alternately, Vitamin D and Calcium help maintain the epithelial barrier and translocation of microbial metabolites to the person so without each other, homeostasis of the gut will be disturbed.
Glucosamine sulphate is a chemical sugar found naturally in the body that can help inhibit breakdown of cartilage and and potentially help build up cartilage in the joints. It functions as the primary building block for a large molecule in cartilage called a “proteoglycan” and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. Oral NSAIDs and paracetamol are common medications prescribed by doctors to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. In addition to this glucosamine sulphate is a supplement that may have positive effects on this condition as well. Coupled with regular exercise, other oral medications and a healthy diet, glucosamine may be the extra boost you need to finding relief from your osteoarthritis.
Omega 3s have roles in the body as components that form the structures of your cell membranes. In addition to this structural role in cell membranes, they provide energy for the body to form signaling molecules called eicosanoids that have wide range of functions in the body’s cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune and endocrine systems. These signaling molecules have been found to reduce inflammation in chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis due to anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes).
Massage Guns are all the rage these days. With the everyday person wanting to be more autonomous in self management or self treatment for aches and pain, there are so many companies, styles and models to choose from. What does the massage gun do? Does it really help? We have a guest post from Hydragun talking about massage guns in general, what it can help with, and what to look out for if you are considering purchasing one.
Disclaimer We have not been paid, nor given any merchandise or product by Hydragun in the publishing of this article
What effect can probiotics have on the musculoskeletal system? Recent research has found that microbiota of the gut has key roles in bone metabolism, regulation of hormones and as we already know, development of the immune system. In bone metabolism, Vitamin D and Calcium are crucial nutrients for maintaining healthy and strong bones where deficiency in these can lead to osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and increased risk of bone fractures. Gut microbiota produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate and propionate, that increase absorption and activation of these nutrients which indirectly increases bone density and strength. Alternately, Vitamin D and Calcium help maintain the epithelial barrier and translocation of microbial metabolites to the person so without each other, homeostasis of the gut will be disturbed.
Glucosamine sulphate is a chemical sugar found naturally in the body that can help inhibit breakdown of cartilage and and potentially help build up cartilage in the joints. It functions as the primary building block for a large molecule in cartilage called a “proteoglycan” and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. Oral NSAIDs and paracetamol are common medications prescribed by doctors to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. In addition to this glucosamine sulphate is a supplement that may have positive effects on this condition as well. Coupled with regular exercise, other oral medications and a healthy diet, glucosamine may be the extra boost you need to finding relief from your osteoarthritis.
Omega 3s have roles in the body as components that form the structures of your cell membranes. In addition to this structural role in cell membranes, they provide energy for the body to form signaling molecules called eicosanoids that have wide range of functions in the body’s cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune and endocrine systems. These signaling molecules have been found to reduce inflammation in chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis due to anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes).
Magnesium (Mg) is a highly abundant mineral that is essential to many functions in the human body. Unfortunately, Magnesium deficiency is becoming more and more common in New Zealand. Here we explore how Magnesium supplementation could be quite relevant in helping treat a lot of common health conditions such as Bone health, Muscle cramps, High Blood Pressure & Diabetes
Here at Focus Physio Dunedin, we talk about looking at the body as a whole, as a combination of movement patterns, rather than the individual body parts.
The body is an incredibly complex, finely tuned machine which consists of muscles working in unison to produce movement. Our muscles are governed by our intricate nervous system of trillions of nerves which communicate with our brain to create movement. If “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, and is applicable to the human body (which it is), then it should prompt us to look at whole movement instead of looking at a specific body part.
We have previously written an article on Nasal breathing vs Oral breathing. With a heightened level of stress in most people’s lives these days, there is a lot of talk on breathing, and how to do it “properly”, to mitigate some of the stresses. Breathing is an automated process that we don’t have to think about to do, but the body can often get in the habit of doing something incorrectly, especially if the conditions aren’t ideal.
In this article, we explore the concept of mouth taping and the possible benefits of how it can help in our day to day life.
Here at Focus Physio Dunedin, we commonly use the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) as the screening tool used to identify limitations or asymmetries. It measures seven fundamental movement patterns that are key to functional movement quality in individuals with no current pain or known musculoskeletal injury. In this article, we break down the 8 movements that make up the FMS
As has been our tradition, we have always written a course review to thank the course presenter, as well as reflect on our learnings for anyone who is looking to attend a similar course.
As part of the clinic’s professional development plan, our physio Alyssa went up to Auckland to partake in the FMS Level 1 & 2 certification, and here, she reflects on the course for anyone who might be interested in attending the course in future as well.
Breathing brings life. It’s a function of your body that’s critical to your survival, and after all, breathing is intuitive. Breathing dysfunction is frequently associated with common musculoskeletal problems and is present in approximately 60% of active, healthy adults. It is also a contributing factor in movement dysfunction and can lead to decreased pain thresholds and impaired motor control and balance. It is one of the most vital functions of the human body and over time, the breaths we take can have either a positive or negative effect on our bodies.
In Part 3 of our series, I ask Dr Eric Brukwinski, Chiropractor and founder of Moving For Performance in Perth, to share his thoughts on our current discussion. Eric is also one of the top SFMA instructors in Australia, the SFMA being a thorough diagnostic assessment and system we use in our clinic.
Amidst mobility and recovery and injury prevention, there is a place for talking about capacity and skill when it comes to sports and sporting performance. In this 2 part series, we explore the different aspects of sports and performance from a physiotherapy stand point here at Focus Physio Dunedin.
Recovery and healing time frames are never as they seem. Mechanical factors are often addressed when discussing recovery. However, there is another component that we seem to (conveniently) “brush under the carpet”. The Physiology of healing, as well as Lifestyle factors are some things that we need to take into account when considering a holistic approach to treatment.
