Exercise and physical activity

Artistic image of a foot walking away from the viewer, with an area of the heel in yellow to signal foot pain.
INMOTION 01 Sep, 2022

Making sense of plantar heel pain

RESEARCH FOCUS A recently completed study on chronic plantar heel pain has revealed that the causes are far from straightforward. 

Chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP) is the most common reason why people with musculoskeletal foot pain consult a healthcare practitioner and it encompasses a range of conditions, including plantar fasciitis.

The clinical causes underlying CPHP, however, are not well understood.

A man lifting a male child in the air and up to a basketball hoop on a pole.
INMOTION 01 Sep, 2022

Keeping sports physio in the family

Greg Craig is a recently retired sports physiotherapist who has worked extensively with a number of state and national sports teams. His son Jordan ‘Jordy’ Craig is also a sports physiotherapist. The two of them set up a practice together on the Sunshine Coast soon after Jordy graduated from university. Here, they discuss their shared experiences.

Tell me a little about yourself as a physiotherapist.

Greg: 'I’m a specialist sports physiotherapist and I’ve been involved in sports physiotherapy for quite a few years.

An illustration of a mouth saying the word Pitchfest.
INMOTION 01 Sep, 2022

Pitching products to improve physio

August InMotion featured the Judges’ Award and People’s Choice Award winners from PitchFest, held virtually in April. Here we meet the four other finalists whose projects once again show the breadth of ideas among the contestants. 

Mobilising shoulders after surgery

As a physiotherapist, Luke Mason APAM often observes slow progress in patients’ post-shoulder surgeries, including rotator cuff repairs and shoulder replacements.

‘Some people are still struggling with mobility and function six months post-operatively.

A woman wearing a backpack hikes through a forest.
INMOTION 22 Aug, 2022

The landscape of healing

Thomas Astell-Burt’s editorial in the latest issue of Journal of Physiotherapy discusses the evidence that supports physiotherapists prescribing exercise in natural settings to their patients and the wide range of benefits that patients might obtain if they engage with such prescriptions.

These prescriptions are sometimes called ‘green’ or ‘blue’ prescriptions. Can you define these terms?

Green or blue prescriptions are also known as nature prescriptions or nature-based social prescriptions.

An elderly man with a walking stick walks by a river.
INMOTION 22 Aug, 2022

Home-based and centre-based exercise after stroke

Lucas Nascimento and colleagues from Brazil recently conducted a systematic review to compare the effects of home-based and centre-based exercises after stroke.

Why did you decide to undertake this review? Had the topic been addressed in earlier reviews?

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, many patients who had a stroke could not maintain routine physiotherapy in rehabilitation centres.

Two physiotherapists work with patients in a clinic.
INMOTION 18 Aug, 2022

New website provides blueprint for cancer exercise prescription

A cancer exercise toolkit developed by La Trobe University researcher Amy Dennett provides education and resources to both clinicians and patients on exercise for cancer patients and survivors.

Exercise during and after cancer therapy is associated with a reduction in cancer-related deaths and may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

It also plays a role in treating side effects, including fatigue, depression and lymphoedema, as well as helping patients regain fitness and strength after treatment.

A physiotherapist examines a patient's knee.
INMOTION 21 Jul, 2022

Strategies for treating the lower limb

Effective assessment of lower limb injury and dysfunction and a tailored treatment strategy will enable patients to return to their previous level of activity, says Michael Vadiveloo, the presenter of an upcoming course on lower limb rehabilitation.

Tell us a bit about the course. Who would most benefit from attending ‘The art and science of lower limb rehabilitation’?

Woman with scarf around her head flexes biceps.
INMOTION 14 Jul, 2022

Physiotherapy and exercise rehabilitation in cancer care

Dr Amy Dennett, Jayne Grubits, Tara Redemski, Amy Bowman, Hildegard Reul-Hirche and Germaine Tan from the APA Cancer, Palliative Care and Lymphoedema national group present five discussion points about exercise prescription in cancer treatment and the role of physiotherapists.

Melissa McConaghy with her Hesta Impact Award.
INMOTION 01 Jun, 2022

PD Warrior founder has big impact

Sydney physiotherapist Melissa McConaghy has received a Hesta Impact Award for the PD Warrior program she developed for people living with Parkinson’s disease. A conversation with her about the program.

Premier’s Award for knee OA resources
INMOTION 09 May, 2022

Premier’s Award for knee OA resources


Physiotherapist Rachel Nelligan has won a Premier’s Award for her work developing digital resources to help people with knee osteoarthritis, writes Marina Williams.



Dr Rachel Nelligan’s curiosity and drive to improve patient outcomes has led to her winning the Clinical Researcher category in this year’s Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research.