Sever’s disease is a common and painful condition that presents typically growing, athletic children and young teens.
Don’t let the name fool you- this condition is not actually a ‘disease’ as such, but an irritation to the growth place of the calcaneus (heel bone).
Sever’s disease commonly affects children aged 8-14 years old and is caused by a combination of muscle overuse and growth spurt. Muscles, tendons and bones grow at different rates, and sometimes the bones can grow too fast for the muscles to keep up- this can cause tightness and pulling in the muscles, which place extra pressure on the joint.
Heel pain due to Sever’s disease often flares up after a major growth spurt or period of excessive load e.g. sports carnivals, starting a new sport/sporting season, or an increase in training.
Magnesium is a mineral found within the body which is necessary for the optimal function of many organs and tissues. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to several health conditions such as headaches, osteoporosis, diabetes, depression, chronic fatigue, premenstrual syndrome and more.
Magnesium can be obtained through dietary sources such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains. However, studies have found that a significant number of Australian adults fail to meet their daily magnesium intake through diet alone (around 380-420mg per day).
Magnesium Supplementation and Chronic Pain Management
A study by Tarelton et al. found that increasing magnesium intake decreased the odds of developing chronic pain by 7%. Magnesium has been proposed to have positive effects on many forms of pain including neuropathic (nerve) pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, headache, and fibromyalgia (Shin et al., 2020).
Further, magnesium plays a crucial role in the prevention of central sensitisation. Central sensitisation is described as an increased sensory response (pain, touch, pressure). Due to its antinociceptive effects (inhibiting pain response from nerves), magnesium has been used to reduce hypersensitivity to pain in patients with central sensitisation (Vink & Nechifor, 2011).
Magnesium Tablets or Powder?
Practitioners prefer to offer dissolvable powders for magnesium supplementation due to its readily absorbable formulation. Studies have shown a decreased absorption of magnesium in tablet form due to the process of metabolization reducing its bioavailability (the amount of active ingredient within the circulatory system) (Fine et al., 1991).
References
Fine, K. D., Santa Ana, C. A., Porter, J. L., & Fordtran, J. S. (1991). Intestinal absorption of magnesium from food and supplements. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 88(2), 396–402. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci115317
Tarleton, E. K., Kennedy, A. G., Rose, G. L., & Littenberg, B. (2020). Relationship between magnesium intake and chronic pain in U.S. adults. Nutrients, 12(7), 2104. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12072104
Vink, R., & Nechifor, M. (2011). Magnesium in the central nervous system. University of Adelaide Press.
Rotator cuff – most of us have heard of them, but how many of us know what they are?
The rotator cuff is a group of 4 muscles that stabilize and move the shoulder. The four muscles that make up the group are the supraspinatus, subscapularis, teres minor, and infraspinatus.
Tears to the rotator cuff can be extremely painful, restricting and debilitating depending on the case.
Tears are categorized into 3 groups:
Grade one tear (mild): muscle or tendon has been stretched/ pulled and less than 10% of the fibers have been affected.
Grade two (partial tear): between 10 and 90% of the fibers in the muscle or tendon have been torn.
Grade three (severe/ complete rupture/full thickness tear): more than 90% of the fibers have been torn
The most common tear is to the supraspinatus muscle (shown in the picture above). Tears can come about from trauma to the area or overuse/ progressive degeneration to the muscle or tendon.
Symptoms generally include
Pain at rest/ night time
Pain with lifting or lowering arm/ moving shoulder
Bursitis is one of the most common shoulder injuries and occurs when the ‘bursa’ (a sac of fluid in the joint) becomes irritated or injured, and further responds by producing more synovial fluid in an attempt to protect itself and the surrounding tissues which leads to inflammation.
Generally, it is identified by a constant, dull ache around the shoulder joint and/or a sharp, pinching pain when lifting the arm. In some cases, pain can radiate down the arm and cause weakness when lifting (even very light objects).
What Causes Shoulder Bursitis?
Bursitis can be caused by many factors some including:
Repetitive strain/ friction
Fall on the shoulder/ frequent pressure applied eg sleeping on the same side every night
Poor shoulder posture/positioning – reduced sub acromial space
Underlying medical conditions eg arthritis or previous shoulder pathologies
Common Clinical Presentations
There are a number of different bursa around the shoulder that may be affected, but the most common type of shoulder bursitis is subacromial bursitis, which is pictured below.
If Left Untreated
When left untreated, symptoms gradually get worse and secondary problems can progress. If early intervention and treatment is applied it can prevent long term problems and risk of developing into chronic bursitis.
Here are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions.
WHAT IS MYOTHERAPY?
Myotherapy focuses on providing a thorough assessment to formulate a holistic diagnosis and treatment plan for a wide range of muscular, neural and joint conditions. Conditions that may arise from any sporting, overuse or workplace injuries. It also treats acute and chronic conditions such as migraines or sciatica. Myotherapist also work closely with athletes to help improve performance and any pre/post surgery rehabilitation.
A Myotherapist will use a wide range of treatment techniques including soft tissue manipulation, joint mobilisation, dry needling, cupping and exercise prescription, all outlined in your individual management plan.
Myotherapists love to work together with other practitioners as a team with the united goal of executing effective and efficient management plans, providing short-term pain relief, on the path to achieving your long-term health and lifestyle goals.
DO YOU NEED A REFERRAL TO SEE A MYOTHERAPIST?
No, you don’t need a referral to see a Myotherapist.
WHAT DO MYOTHERAPISTS TREAT?
Repetitive strain injuries
Headaches
Back pain
Neck pain and stiffness
Tennis elbow
Shoulder Pain
Knee pain
Shin splints
Sports injuries
Muscle aches
Pre and Post Surgery
Muscle Rehabilitation and Performance
Is there a difference between Myotherapy and Remedial Massage?
The short answer is yes. Remedial Therapy will mostly involve a full body overall treatment, to help you feel better and maintain your body. Myotherapy will dive a little deeper, treating more specifically to the condition you are presenting with and the area of the body with complaint.
Can I claim on my Private Health or Medicare?
If you have the appropriate level of cover with your private health fund you will be able to claim with any Myotherapist that has a valid provider number. We recommend ringing your health fund to check prior to your appointment if you are unsure.
Unfortunately Myotherapy is not yet accepted by Medicare.
Can I claim Workcover or TAC with Myotherapy?
Only if the Myotherapist has a valid Workcover number for the state they are working in or state that the Workcover is being claimed in. We recommend calling ahead to check if the practitioner has a valid provider number as this is an individual preference and not an industry requirement.
Is Myotherapy treatment safe during Pregnancy?
Yes, please see our ‘Myotherapy Benefits for Pregnancy’ Blog for a more detailed answer.
Should I bring scans or images to my appointment?
If you have any relevant reports from diagnostic imaging being taken on the area of concern. Feel free to bring them along or forward them through prior to your appointment to assist in your assessment.
Are you suffering from restless sleep? Finding it difficult to fall asleep due to discomfort? Or are you waking with a headache and stiff neck that stays with you all day?
Then maybe it’s time for a new pillow!
Just like proper footwear is a recommendation to correct incorrect ankle and lower limb alignment, correct pillows and pillow height are necessary to assist in decreasing/managing neck and shoulder pain or stiffness.
I personally have found that when a patient is experiencing pain or discomfort when they wake up – particularly the upper body region- how they are positioned during their sleep is a major contributor.
When we lie down to sleep the one thing we look for is what’s called a neutral spine. Your pillow and mattress are vital in achieving this, but let’s concentrate on the Pillow for now.
Here’s a quick tip!
When lying on your pillow in any which way, you don’t want the pillow to be too high that it causes your neck to be on stretch (which can sometimes be excessive) and alternatively, you don’t want the pillow to be too low either. Too low causes one side of the neck region to “squash” and also our shoulder will roll in (which is another kettle of fish altogether for another blog). Some people will also find the need to ‘bunch up’ their pillow underneath them to create more height and end up sleeping with their arm or hand underneath their head. This is where symptoms start to creep down to the arm and hands.
Now if you’re sitting there nodding your head and thinking to yourself, yes that’s me! It doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a brand new expensive pillow, the pillow you have may be right but your posture may just need fine tuning. However, having a pillow at the correct height can take all the hard work out of retraining the posture.
Not sure where to start with your pillow?
Fear not! The practitioners at MyoSports offer a complimentary pillow assessment to help check over the pillow you have and also point you in the right direction with options that may be more suited for you and achieve that neutral spine.
Check out our Complimentary Tab on the website for more information.
Don’t suffer one more night of restless sleep, let us know how we can help you get the sleep you’ve been searching for.
By definition Myofascial cupping is a soft tissue therapy that involves the application of decompressed cups on the skin, creating a vacuum effect that lifts up underlying tissues such as the fascia ( connective tissue ) and muscles, blood and other fluid, close to the surface of the skin. By lifting up these tissues, it allows space to increase fluid and hydrate the muscles and fascia.
There are a few techniques that can be used when applying cups
Myofascial release cupping– This is where the cups are applied and moved around the skin in a gliding motion to help break up any fascial adhesions and help move any stagnant fluid.
Static cupping/ trigger point cupping – this is where the cup is applied directly onto the trigger point to draw more fluid (blood and lymph) using direct negative pressure.
Functional cupping– here the cups are applied to specific muscles or fascial chains. The client is then asked to perform certain functional movements to affect a positive change in movement restrictions. This is a newer concept of cupping that has proven very effective for people with limited range of motion.
What do the red/purple circles mean?
No doubt you would have noticed the big red/purple bruise looking circles on some of the athletes in the most recent Tokyo Olympic Games…Well this is the result of a cupping session, and trust me, they look worse than they feel.
Where there is dead, static blood, lymph, cellular debris, pathogenic factors, and toxins present in the body, cupping can leave marks which indicate that the stagnation has been moved from the deeper tissue layers to the surface.
Benefits of cupping:
➔ Increased circulation and promotion of fresh oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood and lymph to the skin and muscles.
➔ Encourages tissues to release toxins and encourages blood flow to help ‘flush’ build up toxins through the lymph system
➔ Reduces inflammation
➔ Rapidly facilitates rigid soft tissue release
➔ Increase range of motion and flexibility
➔ Release muscle spasms
Specific conditions cupping can directly help with:
➔ Scar tissue post-surgical
➔ Plantar fascia or plantar foot pain
➔ Stiffness or tightness in any muscular area’s
➔ Back Pain
➔ Headaches
➔ Neck Pain
➔ Chronic Pain
➔ Jaw Pain (TMJ)
Cupping is done within our standard Myotherapy treatment, if you would like it specifically let us know when you book your appointment and you will be directed to the most appropriate practitioner for your needs.
Pregnancy can be one of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life, that natural glow that emanates from her as a miracle is being made. Whilst pregnancy can be this way, with the changes that occur, for many there are other things that may come from this time in their life, such as general fatigue, back pain, cramps and pelvic pain to name a few. The great thing about Myotherapy is that the assessment and treatment we can perform can be beneficial for someone experiencing the pain and discomfort that may arise because of pregnancy.
So, what specifically can a Myotherapist assist with:
– Pelvic girdle pain
– Back pain
– Nerve Pain
– Generalised overall pain from low back to the neck region (as the posture changes with the growing baby)
– Exercise advice pre & post natal
– Cramping
MyoSports also offers complimentary fitting of pregnancy garments to ease discomfort and increase your strength awareness whilst you continue to get about your day. Check our Complimentary Tab here on the website for more information.
With all this in mind the effects or benefits that Myotherapy may produce for you are improved rest, reduced pain, improved movement, promotion of relaxation and better quality sleep which allows you to function optimally throughout this time, essential for creating your bundle of joy!
Scoliosis is a curvature / curvature of the spine to the right or left. Most people with scoliosis will have mild symptoms that can be managed by staying active and using therapies to manage symptoms.
Structural vs non-structural scoliosis
Structural scoliosis is when the patient’s spine actually has a physical curve.
Functional scoliosis is when the spine appears to be curved, but the apparent curvature is actually the result of an irregularity elsewhere in the body that could be compensatory, postural, and transient. This curve is the body naturally trying to compensate for an underlying problem. Ranging from leg length discrepancy to inflammation, correcting the problem effectively treats the scoliosis.
Myotherapy is not a cure for scoliosis, but it can help manage the pain and muscle fatigue/ muscular tension.
People suffering from scoliosis tend to suffer and experience more muscular tension and pain than the average person. Manual therapy including Myotherapy can help alleviate and decrease the pain.
While Myotherapy won’t correct a scoliosis, it can help reduce pain, increase mobility and movement in people suffering.
Not all people that have scoliosis suffer from pain, but scoliosis can result in back pain, neck pain, muscular spasms, abdominal pain and rib pain.
Pain management for people suffering a scoliosis can include but not limited to:
Physical therapy / Myotherapy: techniques including soft tissue, trigger point therapy, cupping to get a quick change in muscular tightness and reduce the fascial tension.
Hydrotherapy- At MyoSports we offer hydro, it can be a great way to help manage postural dysfunctions that are causing pain but can be great for people suffering from scoliosis. The temperature of the water helps, but water also gives you buoyancy which helps decrease the effect of gravity of your body, taking the pressure of sore areas!!! Hydro also improves blood circulation and helps your body to de-stress.
Exercise prescription/ Pilates – Moving your body!! Not just any exercise, Targeted exercises specifically for your needs. Most exercises to help scoliosis is strengthening the core muscles and help alleviate the pressure and help stabilisation. Other exercises involve the goal of promoting symmetry within the spine and helping alignment.
Myotherapy helps to stimulate the over-tired muscles supporting the spine. This can help reduce the muscle tension and fatigue, and allow those high-pressure areas get some relief.
By now you may be back to work and the kids back to school, finally after a crazy 2020, things seem somewhat normal again. Getting back to routine and normality means trying to establish good habits and get things set up how we want them to be, to get the year going on the right foot. Having happy kids makes it that much easier to allow the process to go smoothly. So here are some of the measures we can take to make sure the kids stay that way all year long.
Good School shoes- These are essential. Most kids are super active and they need good cushioning and support to keep their feet happy all day long. School shoes, whether they be runners or a more formal school shoe need to be correctly fitting and comfortable to make sure things like blisters and pain do not set in unnecessarily. It is wise to get their shoes fitted, and if your child complains of any pain that does not settle in a week or two, something is not right. If this is the case and there are no signs of the good old “new shoe blisters” occurring, it may be worthwhile checking their socks (making sure they are long enough or in good condition) as well as their shoe. If the foot pain persists, it is worth while getting the feet assessed to see if your child needs some innersoles or any adjustments made to the shoe, to help reduce the pain or issue that is occurring. Shoes today are so much more advanced with technology and if your child has innersoles/orthotics, take them with you to make sure they fit within the shoe and give the correct support as soon as they walk out the door!
Backpacks- The good old school bag. Most kids like to pick something trendy but here’s a few things to try and keep in mind along the way. Try and buy one with a waist strap. The waist strap when done up, re-distributes the weight of the bag to the pelvic region. The pelvis and hips contain the largest muscles of the body around them, so it makes perfect sense to make these muscles take the bulk of the weight. Secondly, we want the bag to sit in the centre of the back to prevent the hunching over of the upper body. Keep the weight of the bag minimal, with the recommended amount being 10-15% of the child’s body weight at maximum. As kids are still growing, we want to promote the best posture we can and not over-strain those growing muscles and joints. Utilising school lockers for heavy books or laptops where possible, is also a way to keep their bags that little bit lighter.
Last of all, the study space: The space to do homework or study should be set up as close to an office scenario as possible. The earlier we can introduce good ergonomics into a child or teen’s study space, the better off they will be long term, when it comes to posture and the possible development of pain down the track. This is going to be significant for those who may go into office work once they finish their studies/schooling. See the pictures below for some examples of backpack and office/study space ergonomics.
