We made it through the Pilates lockdown, and we're out the other side and super excited to still be standing! So, until the end of the month we're offering 20% off all our Pilates packs, to help you get out of iso and back moving!

Use the code

HAPPYBIRTHDAY20

at checkout for any of the class packs below!
(Valid until June 30th)
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To every person who has walked through our doors, booked a class, seen a physio or just wished us well we want to give you the biggest thank you! A small business is nothing without the community that supports them, and we can certainly say that ours is pretty amazing!!

For more info on any of the above, see below, visit us at www.articulatephysiotherapy.com.au, reply to this email or call 07 3706 3407.

We look forward to seeing you in the clinic soon!

Mauricio & PJ xx

Plus our amazing Articulate family Emily, Isabel, Pip & Sarah

 What made you decide to become a physiotherapist?
I wanted to do medicine actually, but after coming out of an interview I realised that I didn’t want to follow that path anymore – the thought of only spending 5 minutes with a patient and not being able to assist them to my fullest lead me to rethinking what I wanted to do. I still knew that I wanted to work within the health industry - I just needed to work out in what capacity that was. After a lot of thought I realised I wanted to be involved in the patient journey more from the rehabilitation perspective which ended up leading me to physiotherapy.
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What’s your favourite part of treating clients?
The moment when a client develops self-efficacy - a belief in themselves and what they can achieve! That light bulb moment is incredibly rewarding, when you see that they apply that not just to their rehabilitation but to other aspects of their own self and health. Having them accept and apply the tools that we have worked on in the rehabilitative journey in a way that is preventative and self-rewarding means that I have completed the mission.

Why did you develop your interest in Chronic pain, Headaches, Spinal and Orofacial?
I loved the complexity of the diagnosis involved the problem-solving aspect as well. Peeling back the complexity of the condition – considering the psycho-social aspects of the presentation and then using that to help shape the treatment journey in a way that is individualised and specific for that person.  I am a big picture person, this area of the body allows me to explore that with the client and the reward when understanding the development of their pain state/condition in a way that is more holistic.

What’s the biggest myth that people believe about physios, that you wish they didn’t?
That, all we do is massage! Coming in with preconceived expectations due to poor education or misunderstanding from other health and non-health professionals. My role is to be a facilitator in their recovery and journey.

If you could give one piece of advice to all of your patients, what would it be?
That they have to find meaning and purpose in getting better, that the biggest reward in the journey to recovery is the development of self efficacy. 

What made you decide to study physiotherapy?
Since leaving school I’ve always loved working with people and wanted to help people. I fell in love with Pilates in 2013, and after 2 years of attending classes I decided to get my certification to teach. After I began teaching I realised I loved the aspects of rehabbing and helping people which inspired me to go on to do my Masters in Physiotherapy. I like that every patient is so different and there’s no one recipe to treat someone. Treating someone as a whole person and finding their individual needs means that I have to think outside the box. I get to challenge and help each person, and love seeing when they reach and achieve their goals.

What’s your favourite part of teaching Pilates?
Having to find new ways to challenge clients is so much fun. Whether they’re injured or an elite athlete, seeing them progress each week to more and more complex exercises makes me so happy! People come in tired and walk out feeling energised and happy with a smile on their face. It’s a feel good job!

What’s the biggest myth that people believe about Pilates?
That it’s like yoga! While they share some similar movements, they’re actually quite different. People often think that it’s going to be a lovely gentle form of movement, but it can be a really intense workout if you want! Just let me know - I'm more than happy to give you the challenge you're looking for!

If you could give one piece of advice to all of your clients, what would it be?
Be patient, trust in the process and trust your body. If you put the work in you’ll be surprised how much you can actually achieve! Pilates is a series of very small exercises sometimes, but when we put them all together it can sometimes make huge differences to the way we move. 


Find out when Ellie is teaching on our Pilates Timetable and book in for a class by calling 07 3706 3407 or emailing info@articulatephysiotherapy.com.au!

Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or laying down. Good posture allows the body to stand, move, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments. Good posture helps us move and function with ease, and hopefully without aches and pains!

We all want good posture... but it can be incredibly difficult to achieve (a definite case of easier said than done!). If you have poor posture (and especially if you've had it for years!) acquiring good posture involves not only learning new movements and positions, but acknowledging that there is not one correct (good) posture. More importantly, good posture is achieved by having a variety of postural motor patterns to dip into - knowing that we have multiple different ways we can sit, stand and lay that will all achieve the same thing! It's a lot of learning, but it definitely IS possible!
 
How to Correct Your Posture
Just knowing how to correct your posture is not enough to achieve a change in your actual habit. Our body uses learned motor patterns to perform everyday activities. When we sit, stand, walk or move - our body follows previously learned motor patterns which have formed habits that are hard to break. Firstly you'll need to become aware of the postures you're using that are causing unnecessary strain, learn new postures, practice them and then repeat. 
 
Step 1: Posture Assessment
The first step to discovering how to correct your posture is to have your posture assessed. Your physiotherapist is an expert at posture assessment, and will be able to break down the areas in which you can improve. In order to achieve good posture you'll need to have:

• Good Spatial Awareness. You'll need to know where your body (and body parts) are in space. If you are unsure "how you should feel" with good posture, what hope have you got for achieving it? This is where your physiotherapist can provide you with verbal and visual feedback. They'll then provide cues to assist your learning and help you achieve a variety of postures. Ask them to write these down for you - they're great to come back to time and again!
• Normal Joint Range of Motion. If you have stiff joints they will need to be exposed to greater movement in order to allow you to achieve good posture and alignment. We LOVE Pilates for this, but there are lots of amazing ways you can help improve your movement, including simple exercises you can do at home!
• Normal Muscle Length. If your muscles are too tight you won't be able to attain a normal posture. You may need to work out why your muscles are tight (and again find exercises to help improve this!).
• Good Muscle Strength. Your muscles need to be able to pull you into the correct posture. Should we mention Pilates one more time? ;)
• Excellent Muscle Endurance. Your muscles need to be able to work for hours on end. Poor endurance is a major factor in habitual poor posture.
• Finally - Normal Nerve Extensibility.  Your neural tissue needs enough length to allow for normal posture. 

There's a big to-do list here which can certainly feel a little overwhelming, but remember it's one step at a time!

Step 2: Formulate a Plan
Once you've assessed where your posture can be improved, your physiotherapist will help you to formulate a plan. They'll provide you with hands-on treatment, posture correction exercises and helpful home products for you to achieve great posture again! And… you're never too old to start! It just gets harder to change your old ways, so why not start now! After all, today is the youngest you'll ever be!
 
If you're interested in posture correction advice, why not get in touch! Call us on 07 3706 3407 or email info@articulatephysiotherapy.com.au to book an appointment. Your back, neck, shoulders and will thank you (we promise!).

The conditions treated with Pilates included nonspecific low back pain, peripheral joint osteoarthritis and a range of postsurgical conditions. Highly reported benefits included an increased ability to achieve an active lifestyle, psychosocial benefits, and the ability for patients to manage their own condition more effectively.

In summary, the net result was a holistic improvement in physical and mental health and a positive influence for social aspects of the patients’ lives.

Co-author Lynne Gaskell, of the University of Salford, in the UK stated: "The study was unique in that it investigated individual perceptions of the impact of Pilates on the daily lives of people with a myriad of chronic musculoskeletal conditions. The Pilates based exercise programme was a facilitator to enable the participants to function better and manage their condition more effectively and independently."

"Improving function in meaningful daily activities produced psychological and social benefits that increased motivation to adhere to the program and promote a healthier lifestyle."
Our Physiotherapist and Exercise Physiologist led Pilates classes are suitable for a range of conditions and injuries. To find out if these may be right for you, pop us an email to info@articulatephysiotherapy.com.au or call us on 07 3706 3407.

The women took part in a supervised aerobic training session three times per week for a month, followed by unsupervised exercise at home for another six months. Their results were compared to a control group who did not change their exercise habits.

At the end of the study, it was found that the women who took part in the exercise program experienced 6% less pain in the first month, and 22% less pain after the additional six months. They were also found to have significantly improved daily functioning and quality of life.
Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Dr Leica Claydon-Mueller, said:

“Women who have painful periods often take steps to actively avoid exercise - after all when you are in pain it is often the last thing that you want to partake in.

However, this trial demonstrated that exercise significantly reduced pain for those people taking part in the program, and they also reported reduced pain levels after four and seven months."

If you experience painful periods and would like to find an exercise program that works for you, our experienced Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists can help! Email info@articulatephysiotherapy.com.au or call us on 07 3706 3407.
 

"We know that in extreme environments, such as total bed rest, bone loss is very high," said the institute's Professor Neville Owen.
"In everyday life, long periods of immobility such as this are rare however, sedentary lifestyles are commonplace in modern society, through transport, work and leisure.

"If the proof of concept study identifies a significant effect of sedentary behaviour on bone metabolism, promoting frequent breaks from sitting could be a possible, and simple, preventative intervention for osteoporosis in later life."

The study will utilise  blood samples and data that have already  been collected from previous sedentary behaviour studies. This information has yet to be analysed.

According to the institute approximately 1.2 million Australians are estimated to have osteoporosis while 6.3 million have low bone density. According to Osteoporosis Australia exercises recommended by physiotherapists and exercise physiologists can improve general health, muscle strength, balance and posture to prevent falls and reduce the risk of further fractures.

If you're worried about bone density and would like to book an appointment please give us a call on 07 3706 3407 or email info@articulatephysiotherapy.com.au to make an appointment!