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This occurs when there is tearing of some or all of the adductor muscle group. These muscles are responsible for stabilising the pelvis and moving the leg towards the midline of the body. These muscles are activated during running (changing direction) and kicking. This injury usually occurs in sports such as soccer, football, skiing, gymnastics, […]

The Achilles tendon is the common tendon of the gastrocs and soleus muscles. The tendon twists as it descends, rotating laterally. The twisting produces a concentration of stress in the tendon above the insertion where rotating is most pronounced. The Achilles tendon is subject to various forces which may compound stress through the twisting tendon […]

Scoliosis is a word we use to describe the most common type of spinal curvature. When a scoliosis develops the spine bends sideways and rotates along its vertical axis. These changes have cosmetic and physiological effects with long-term consequences which may result in significant health problems with severe curves. Idiopathic scoliosis is a condition not […]

Headaches are a common ailment which varies in intensity, pain and location. Although the majority of headaches are a temporary nuisance some can be more serious, concerning and disruptive. One common patient complaint is occipital headaches which can signify an underlying condition that can be treated with massage and bodywork techniques. Occipital headaches also known […]

Whip lash: Whiplash is a common term for sudden acceleration-deceleration forces on the neck thus stretching and placing compressive forces on the joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves predominantly in the front and back of the neck. This can cause damage on these structures as the tissues are pushed beyond their limits. Causes:  Usually whiplash is […]

As our population ages, families are more likely to know someone they care about who is suffering from a condition that causes them worry and concern. ‘They very often feel powerless, but it makes a huge difference if they can see their loved ones get some relief,’ said Malcolm Calcutt from the Perth Massage & Injury […]

Importance of screening for functional movement “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” But when it comes to the human body what defines broken? Pain? Injury? Dysfunctional movement patterns? All of these qualify. So why do we generally only act on the first two (sometimes when its too late)? Probably because we aren’t always aware […]

Last week I wrote about the importance of having good ankle mobility and how poor ankle mobility can negatively affect your performance. So, what if you have really poor ankle mobility (like me), what can you do to fix it? As I alluded to last week, ankle mobility becomes restricted because the surrounding tissue is […]

It is an inflammatory condition that causes chronic heel pain. Symptoms: The common symptom is pain on the underside of the heel which is persistent during the first few steps of getting out in the morning. Sharp stabbing pain which affects both the front and the back of the heel bone. Heel pain is worse […]

Anterior cruciate ligament Injury: The most disabling knee injury for a sportsperson involved in pivoting and turning activities e.g. basketball, netball, football, hockey. Structure: The ACL is intracapsular, covered by synovium and positioned within the intercondylar notch attaching proximally on the posterolateral femur with an oval-shaped 2cm attachment and fans out in three bands to […]

A cervicogenic headache is simply another name for a headache which originates from the neck and is one of the most common types of headache. During certain neck movements or sustained postures, stretching or compression force is placed on the joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves of the neck. This may cause damage to these structures […]

Core Stability – Activating Transversus Abdominus The transversus abdominus (TA) muscle is the deepest layer of the abdominal wall. It wraps around you similar to a brace or corset and attaches at the back to your spine. When it contracts it “stiffens” and supports the spine and is therefore vital to spinal stability and control. Core […]