Back to Blog

Shin Splints

The term “Shin Splints” is probably something you’ve heard thrown around the footy club whenever someone complains of pain in the shins/calves, especially during preseason. "Shin Splints" is an umbrella term for pain in the shin, particularly along the border of the tibia.  This type of pain can come from several different issues and without getting on top of it quickly, can progress into something more serious, like a stress fracture. It can be incredibly frustrating, especially if y...

Acupuncture Vs Dry Needling

Although appearing very similar, there is actually a vast difference between traditional Chinese Acupuncture and Westernised Dry Needling. They may use a similar needle, however the similarities stop there. Dry Needling gets its name as no fluid is being inserted or removed and is based more on Western Medicine. It specifically targets musculoskeletal and myofascial pain through the insertion of needles into tight bands of muscle or trigger points. When the needle is inserted into the trigger po...

Should I get scans for my lower back pain?

So, you've been written a referral to get imaging done on your low back. You’re probably wondering if it's worth the cost and if it will show anything at all.  The TRUTH is, most MRI’s in people over the age of 30 will show some form of abnormality or “degenerative change”. This may be a disc bulge, nerve root impingement, bony spurs or other forms of degeneration. It all sounds a bit concerning, BUT, this doesn’t always have a direct correlation with the pain you may be experienc...

Your guide - pre to post operation

We’ve written before about the importance of making sure anyone that has a Total Hip or a Total Knee replacement approaching should be investing time and effort in Physio leading up to their joint replacement. You can read the full blog HERE. We’ve all heard some pretty worrying stories about someone who’s had a joint replacement that hasn’t gone well… "I wish I had never got it done!" is something that NO-ONE wants to have to say after they’ve had a joint replacement. After all...

Crossfit Mobility & Movement Prep Video Series

Swan Physiotherapy and CrossFit Artax in Midland paired up for the 2019 CrossFit Open. These videos are PERFECT for keeping yourself as mobile and limber as you need to be come business time. The videos are DETAILED and take you through how to do the exercises EXACTLY, so that you can get the best bang for your buck in the time you spend doing this kind of recovery/prep work. In fact, the videos are useful for anyone who participates in any high impact or fast paced sport (Cross...

Mid Season Injury Prevention Tips

If you’re one of the many people halfway through the sporting season, now is the perfect time to take stock of how your body is feeling.  If you find that you’ve got a little niggle, here are some great tips for keeping them at bay. By addressing them before they become a serious injury you should be able to play pain free through the business end of the season AND beyond....

Meet Jack - our physiotherapist

Swan Physio welcomed Jack Hawkins on board last month so we thought we'd tell you a bit about him. Jack is a qualified physiotherapist that has been striving to further his professional knowledge since he graduated from Curtin University. He has spent his time working in private practice, gym settings and sporting clubs and has extensive experience in treating all things musculoskeletal. From paediatric, to geriatrics, top level athlete care, to chronic injuries, Jack enjoys shaping a personalis...

Common injuries - how they happen & what you can do

As physiotherapists, we see plenty of the same injuries again and again. This means we can quickly identify what's wrong and provide you with a treatment plan to help you recover. However, I think something more valuable is to help you understand what these common injuries are, and how they happen, so you can prevent them in the first place. Because as they say "prevention is better than a cure".In this series of common injuries that physiotherapists see we will be talking about what the co...

Preventing falls - a guide to improve balance at any age

Falling is something we do a lot of as kids, and you might assume that with age you fall less and less, but it isn’t the case. And as we age, the consequences of falling get a lot worse. Falling over as a kid - no biggie. There’s a bit of a cry, maybe a trip to the hospital and if you’re really unlucky, a few weeks in some plaster.Falling as a teenager - you might not cry, but are probably 10 times more embarrassed. Still you get the trip to the hospital, but likely you’ll make a fu...

If you only have 5 mins to warm down, do this.

We're all busy. We're all guilty of skipping a warm down after a run or other exercise. Maybe you don't have time, maybe you want to eat, maybe you just can't be bothered. But without a doubt you will find yourself regretting that decision once the calves start aching. The thing is, stretching is actually a part of the workout. Without it you're pretty much just cheating yourself. I want you help you make the most of your workouts, by including a quick (and effective) warm down program that will...

Why physio is a must have before joint replacement

Joint replacements are a great way to increase mobility as a last resort. But the level of function you regain afterwards is directly related to your efforts to take care of your joint both before and afterwards.  The best way to get the most out of your joint replacement is to be proactive, and get some guidance before your joint is replaced. There are many things you can be doing to ensure the best possible outcomes, or even to postpone the joint replacement for a while if ...