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  1. How can physiotherapy help?

What does all sport have in common?

Although injuries are never completely avoidable due to the physically demanding nature of sport, there are certainly ways to reduce the risk.  Regardless of what sport you or your family is participating in, there are several sport specific movement patterns common in all sports. Our physiotherapist Sarah Yule breaks down these movement patterns and the role that each movement plays in preventing injury.

The importance of each of these specific skills is described in further detail below.

Jump/ land: Jumping and landing mechanics are a common requirement in many sports such as netball, football, basketball etc. and performing these skills correctly allows athletes to safely absorb more force through their muscles rather than their joints. Having the ability to  land softly and well balanced ensures the muscles are absorbing most of the load and therefore reducing excessive loads through your joints. Furthermore, it is well evidenced that a valgus knee collapse pattern (knee moving inwards) upon landing is a risk factor for ACL injury and therefore teaching improved landing biomechanics can reduce this risk.

Acceleration/ deceleration: The skill of acceleration and deceleration is often overlooked as it is commonly  assumed that everyone knows how to accelerate, decelerate and stop. Acceleration is a predominantly concentric muscle action and relies heavily on the strength of the quadriceps, gluteals and calves. Large forces are produced during acceleration movements and thus improving deceleration biomechanics are particularly important for reducing injury incidence. Studies show that by improving technique and practicing the art of slowing down, stopping and landing can reduce injury incidence by up to 80%. Deceleration technique is designed at reducing force, therefore placing less strain on the body and joints. Those who can decelerate quickly and efficiently are also seen to be faster and perform better on the sporting field.

Agility/ change of direction: Agility and change of direction are commonly viewed as the same thing, however there is one very distinct and important difference between them, with both being an important element of most sports. Change of direction refers to the pre-planned nature of directional change (for example, a netballer performing a dodge to evade their defender), whereas agility involves a reaction to an external stimulus and requiring an element of decision making (for example, a netball player defending and reacting to their opponents movements). Both agility and change of direction movements are shown to be one of the most common causes of non contact injuries with the ankle and knee being the most commonly injured areas. Improving both pre-planned and reactive change of direction movement control can help to reduce these injury risks.

Strength: Resistance training helps to strengthen both muscles and tendons and helps to stabilise our joints, therefore resulting in reduced risk of straining a muscle, developing a tendon injury or straining a ligament. Improving strength also plays a role in improving all of the aforementioned skills and assists in enhancing sporting performance. Furthermore, research has  shown that implementing neuromuscular in combination with strength training at a young age shows the greatest promise in reducing ACL injuries.

How can physiotherapy help?

It is common knowledge that it takes more effort to change a learned bad technique than it is to teach and insist on proper technique. Physiotherapists are well placed to assess and teach the correct technique from the outset. It is crucial to learn these common movement patterns at a young age to assist in all future sporting endeavours.

At Malvern East Physiotherapy, we have developed our Family Fit program. Family Fit is a circuit based exercise program designed to enhance movement efficiency and prevent injury associated with the demands of playing sport. Each 40 minute exercise session is structured to specifically address common elements of sport required to assist in both injury risk reduction and enhanced performance. The main skills commonly utilised in sport and addressed in our family fit exercise sessions include jump and land technique, acceleration and deceleration, agility/change of direction as well as full body strengthening exercises.

To learn more about Family Fit or to book your assessment with your physiotherapist, book online or call us today.


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Last week, we had the pleasure of chatting with the lovely residents at Hyson Apartments, right next to our new Caulfield South location! Our expert physio, Jason, shared some great tips on building strength and balance to help everyone stay active, independent and safe from falls. 

With the right exercises, you can feel healthier, happier, and stronger every day! From standing up with ease to walking confidently, these small steps lead to a life-changing impact. 
 
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#MEphysio #theperfectplaceforME #happinessisahealthierandstrongerME #physio #physiotherapy #malverneast #malverneastphysiotherapy From the clinic to the kitchen! 🍝 Our team at ME Physio traded their work attire for aprons this long weekend, cooking up some pasta magic for a work function. Team bonding with alot of delicious fun! 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳 

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#MEphysio #theperfectplaceforME #happinessisahealthierandstrongerME #physio #physiotherapy #malverneast #malverneastphysiotherapy Your bone mineral density is an important area to address as you age. 

In these videos Lizzie and Matt run us through some basic exercises that you can do at home to start building up the strength in your bones and muscles. 

There are multiple variations for each exercise so that you can choose the exercise that best fits your current strength / fitness level.

Here we have our variations of a push up 
1) push ups against the wall
2) push ups on knees 
3) push ups elevated on a surface (can use a bench or table)
4) push ups in plank position

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#MEphysio #theperfectplaceforME #happinessisahealthierandstrongerME #physio #physiotherapy #malverneast #malverneastphysiotherapy Under the care of Lella and our team, Peta has worked extremely hard to get back to playing soccer after an ankle injury. 
Through a thorough and guided rehabilitation program, getting stronger is getting back on the pitch and finishing off the season with a few goals 
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#MEphysio #theperfectplaceforME #happinessisahealthierandstrongerME #physio #physiotherapy #malverneast #malverneastphysiotherapy Under the care of Matthew and our team, Cailin has worked tirelessly to reduce her back pain and restore her strength.
Through a thorough and guided rehabilitation program, getting stronger is getting back on the ice and competiting at Nationals. 
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#MEphysio #theperfectplaceforME #happinessisahealthierandstrongerME #physio #physiotherapy #malverneast #malverneastphysiotherapy At ME Physio, we’re focused on helping you get stronger and recover so you can keep doing the things you love. 

For Rachel, healthier and stronger is getting back on the slopes in New Zealand following ACL reconstructive surgery 
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#lovetoseeit #MEphysio #theperfectplaceforME #happinessisahealthierandstrongerME #physio #physiotherapy #malverneast #malverneastphysiotherapy Exciting news from our NEW site in Caulfield South! 🧡🩶

Our physiotherapists, Lizzie and Matthew, recently performed strength and balance assessments for the friendly and caring residents at Calvary Hyson Apartments. 

These assessments help us understand your balance, strength, and current fitness levels, allowing our physiotherapists to create a tailored plan to keep you healthier, happier, and stronger.

#MEphysio #theperfectplaceforME #happinessisahealthierandstrongerME #physio #physiotherapy #malverneast #malverneastphysiotherapy Back to school 🔙📚

Last week we were fortunate enough to head back to uni and refresh our anatomy knowledge at @latrobeuni in the anatomy labs. 

Thank you to the Latrobe School of Physiotherapy for inviting us! Last week our team celebrated another great year. 

Whilst Melbourne’s weather had its own plans, we were still determined to keep with the theme of ‘Italian Summer’. We let our hair down to master the art of mixology 🍸🍹followed by an Italian feast. Friday morning Run Club with the team. Practicing what we preach!

Staying stronger, healthier and happier. This time last week, our team was nervously completing their final preparations for @melbmara . 

Congratulations to our physiotherapists and ME community who ran on the day.

Dilen and Michael completed their first marathons. Abbey and Lizzie smashed out their first half.

You Deserve to Feel Good.

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