peson sitting with their legs out straight having a brace put on their left knee by a professional

The ACL Cross Bracing Protocol healed my torn ligament. This is how it works

May 2024

A year ago today, I was told something I thought was impossible — after three months in a knee brace as part of a research program, my previously fully ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) had healed itself naturally.

I tore my ACL skiing overseas (yes, I became a walking/limping cliche), and once I got home my physio told me about a novel program called the Cross Bracing Protocol.

Arial view of students sitting around a table with books and other study devices

Why have we been excluded? the students left out of Labor’s promised placement payments

May 2024

Students in a range of degrees – including veterinary science, medicine, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology – are also set to miss out on Labor’s proposed allowance, which will be outlined further in next week’s budget. The proposed payment is equivalent to about $8 an hour.

Two older people walking along a path in a picturesque park with both facing away from us one using walking sticks

Older Australians are five times more likely to die from a fall than on the road

May 2024

Does the imbalance in funding for road safety and falls indicate that Australians don’t value the health of older women?

person holding two bars to assist with walking while medical professional stands to the left providing assistance

Johns courage to be recognised at national awards

April 2024

A Drysdale survivor of stroke who made it his mission to walk again in time to farewell his mother has been recognised for his courage.

During this difficult time, John turned his grief into motivation and set himself a goal to walk out of rehabilitation to attend his mother's funeral. To the surprise of doctors and physiotherapists, John achieved this after just only three weeks of rehabilitation.

Magnifying glass on a yellow speckled background with the text health care news

The Zap – from spinal surgery to scope of practice, a comprehensive update of the latest health and aged care news

April 2024

This week brings a new feature at The Zap, in response to reader feedback: a list of consultations that we hope will be helpful for Croakey readers. Please keep us updated of any new ones to add.

Charles Maskell-Knight also reviews concerns about spinal surgery and aged care reform, brings the latest data on food consumption trends, and reports that the Australian College of Nursing has been 'in the news for all the wrong reasons'.

view of the torso or a person sitting on a purple yoga mat holding the right side of their back

Exploring Alternatives for Chronic Back Pain Relief

April 2024

This week's ABC Four Corners episode Pain Factory highlighted that our health system is failing Australians with chronic pain. Patients are receiving costly, ineffective and risky care instead of effective, low-risk treatments for chronic pain.

children in sportswear in a team huddle

Bulldogs, ASICS team up to provide footwear to Ballarat’s junior football teams

The Western Bulldogs and their apparel partner, ASICS Oceania is pleased to announce they will be gifting underage football players in Ballarat with free ASICS footwear.  

Player with knee brace holding water bottle

Researchers take a step towards less invasive ACL injury therapy

Anyone who follows sport will know what the dreaded phase 'ACL tear' means.

Rugby players on the field

Football codes' lack of response to AIS concussion guidelines leaves players in limbo for 2024 season

It was party time for the NRL amid the glittering lights of Sin City, while just days earlier another sin was being laid bare by former star NRL players whose lives had been destroyed by repeated concussions. That sin was the cavalier disregard rugby league, indeed all s ports, showed when an athlete suffered a concussion.

women leaders discussing

Women leaders: Meet 38 of SA’s most impressive business minds

February 2024 

From concert pianists-turned regional farming moguls to fashion trailblazers, dentists, health service providers and vets, some of South Australia’s most impressive businesswomen are leading the charge across the state’s industries.