Active Health and the North Canterbury Basketball Association have Partnered.
For 15 years Active Health has been providing professional, friendly, and excellent driven Physiotherapy and Podiatry services in Rangiora. Our clinical rooms within MainPower Stadium are uniquely and conveniently located to support the growing basketball community in the North Canterbury region. With the collective goal of developing and nurturing local sporting talent, we have partnered with the North Canterbury Basketball Association to assist players, coaches, and staff in being the best they can be, at North Canterbury’s home of Basketball.
North Canterbury Basketball player is 20% off our musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Podiatry services
What this means for you as a 2022 registered North Canterbury Basketball player is 20% off our musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Podiatry services, private or ACC, every consultation. Just present your registration card at the time of your appointment.
We also work closely with the trainers at the North Canterbury Sports and Recreation Trust. So, if you’re a gym member with a niggle be rest assured, that we can communicate and work with them to keep your goals in sight.
Should MainPower Stadium not be convenient, we also have locations within the Rangiora Fitness Centre, 345 Flaxton Road and within Durham Health GP practice, 15 Durham Street.
Severs is an acute condition that affects the back of the heel bone around the area where the Achilles tendon inserts. This condition occurs during growth spurts and is most common in children aged between 8 and 14 years old. It crops up mostly in children who play sports like football and soccer. Symptoms include a painful pressure in the heel that is particularly uncomfortable when running and jumping.
How is severs caused?
Overuse injury – overactive children, participating in multiple sports at a time, sudden increase in activity, lead up to school cross country or athletics day
Stress response – repeated impact and stretching of muscles causes tightness meaning calf muscles pull on calcaneal bone resulting in inflammation and increased sensitivity to growth plate.
External factors – soft flexible footwear, training on hard surfaces like wooden floors or concrete, hard ground i.e. preseason winter sport
Also seen in children with high arched or low arched feet, obesity and sometimes coincides with recent or current growth spurts.
How can I manage Severs?
There are a few ways to manage and treat the symptoms of severs disease. The aim is reducing the tension in the back of the heel where the growth plate. A podiatrist can help by assessing any biomechanical issues and check alignment to reduce any tension on the heels. Podiatrists can also assess footwear to make sure the feet are properly supported, especially through the heel cupping. They can also help prescribe stretches the release the tension down the back of the legs and exercises to help strengthen weak muscles and to stabilise the foot.
What now?
Seeing a podiatrist is the best way to help combat and treat this painful condition, they can create a personalised treatment plan to best suit your needs and aid your recovery.
Pilates was developed almost 100 years ago by Joseph Pilates. It is a total body exercise, it was designed to rehabilitate injured WW1 soldiers and then later used for the strength and conditioning of dancers. Pilates aims to restore balance and flexibility, while improving posture and core strength. Read on to learn about 3 reasons why you should try Pilates today.
Anyone can do it!
Pilates can be adapted to cater to everyone. If you are brand new to exercise, been training for years or even pregnant Pilates can be adjusted to suit you. Pilates is also great for injury rehabilitation and correcting muscle imbalances.
It promotes relaxation.
Pilates is combination of slow movement and deep breathing. It can help reduce stress and improve circulation, while releasing those feel-good endorphins.
It’s a great way to reduce injury.
In order to help reduce injury, it is important to know where you body is in space. Pilates teaches your body awareness by moving through various challenging positions. It is known to strengthen your core and back muscles, which are important in reducing musculoskeletal injuries.
Now that that you know some great reasons why you should be doing Pilates, let’s get you started. Book a class or one-on-one session today with our Pilates expert Kate Horton at our St Albans, Christchurch Clinic.
Not sure who to see about Carpal tunnel syndrome? Wondering if a Physio can help with carpal tunnel. This blog will introduce you to three things you need to know:
Do you have any of the following:
1. Wrist or forearm pain? 2. Pins and needles and/or numbness in your hand or fingers? 3. Weakness when gripping or lifting heavy things? 4. Or is any of the above bothering your sleep at night?
You may be experiencing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and the following blog may interest you.
The body is made up of many nerves that pass electrical signals to allow for movement and sensation. These nerves function similar to a road or motorway, passing their signals (the “cars”) between the brain and the rest of the body, and back again. Structurally, these resemble pieces of string that travel from the spinal cord out to the fingers and toes. These “pieces of string” must be able to stretch and move to adapt to different positions of the body to allow them to conduct signals effectively.
When the ability of a nerve to move becomes restricted in any way, a “neuropathy” may occur. The word neuropathy is derived from “neuro”, meaning nerve, and “pathy”, meaning suffering or disease. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common “neuropathies” and occurs where the median nerve, one of the main nerves in the arm, becomes irritated through the “carpal tunnel”, or bones of the wrist. For example, if the median nerve is not able to move its best through the carpal tunnel, this can bring on pain and nerve-related symptoms.
When faulty median nerve movement is suspected, the scientific literature supports exercises that can improve nerve movement as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy. In essence, it is supported that enabling a nerve to move better near joints like the wrist may help to ease symptoms of nerve pain, for example with carpal tunnel syndrome.
The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome research:
A recent Ultrasound study carried out by one of our Physiotherapists, David, out of Auckland University of Technology (AUT), with Associate Professor Richard Ellis (AUT), aimed to investigate the best way to encourage movement for the median nerve. This is one of the main nerves in the upper arm, and that in question during Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
The research showed that nerve movement exercises called “sliders” allowed the greatest movement of the median nerve to occur. This was found in a variety of different arm positions and looked at different locations for the median nerve at the wrist and further into the forearm. Importantly, these slider exercises also place the median nerve under the least “strain” (defined as relative length change), which is favourable when dealing with neuropathy such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
What that means for you:
If you have been struggling with the above symptoms of nerve-related pain, and believe you have carpal tunnel syndrome; organize an appointment with one of our physiotherapists so they can work with you and advise the best treatment options.
Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome may include nerve movement exercises, such as those studied in this research project. Your physiotherapist can show you how to include some nerve exercises into your daily life to improve your symptoms.
The research in this blog did not look at how often these exercises should be done. It is likely that maintaining regular activity and whole-body exercises, is key to improving your nerve function and helping you feel better.
Come and see us at Active Health. Let’s get you back on the right track!
Our Active Health Podiatrists do not provide cortisone injections. These can only be provided by a medical doctor or a podiatrist who has completed the appropriate doctorate degree.
Podiatrists in New Zealand can provide other services such as advice on lower limb injuries, gait analysis, orthotics, and foot care. Our team of Expert Podiatrists are dedicated to providing the best possible care for your feet.
If you have any questions or concerns about your feet and lower extremities, Iand wants advice to book an appointment with one of our highly qualified team members.
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