Concussion is mentioned in daily news cycles, athletes are being medically retired on the basis of repeated concussions and community sport has adopted strict return-to-play protocols.
So why all the fanfare now about a condition that has been around for as long as blokes have had testosterone and the desire to strike each other’s heads? The simple answer is: medicine.
Growing up in the Western suburbs of Sydney, Indigenous man, Scott Willis’ ambition was discouraged by schoolteachers, who told him he’d never reach his goal of becoming a physiotherapist.
A goal born of a childhood knee injury, which opened his eyes to the unique importance of the profession.
“It really opened my eyes into what the physiotherapy profession looks like, how it intersects in so many different areas, and how rewarding it would be to be part of a health profession.”
An alliance of consumers, unions, health professionals and providers in the aged care sector will be watching closely as the May federal budget draws near to ensure the federal government acts on the recommendations in the Royal Commission final report.
At the beginning of April, the National Aged Care Alliance (the Alliance) wrote to the government and identified a list of recommendations it believes need to be actioned immediately as part of the government’s aged care reform commitment, to be announced in the Budget.
Parents have been urged to make sure their children get outdoors for plenty of active playtime and to let them take risks to help support their physical and cognitive development. After spending far more time indoors, sedentary and on screens during the months of COVID lockdown last year, summer holidays are even more important than normal for children and adults.
Recommendations made to the royal commission on allied health go a long way to supporting physiotherapy in aged care and improving the quality of life of residents, an allied health peak body has told Australian Ageing Agenda.
Breast cancer patient Kimmie Jonceski was given a pamphlet and a brief consultation with a physiotherapist, who advised her to keep her arms and shoulders moving after her initial mastectomy surgery, but with no follow-up. Breast cancer researcher Deirdre McGhee, APAM, said Ms Jonceski's experience was a common one throughout Australia, and that women who had had a major breast cancer surgery needed comprehensive and ongoing physiotherapy rehabilitation after their operation.
Who wants to exercise when your muscles ache, you're short of breath and extremely tired? Head to the 15 minute mark to listen to Cardiorespiratory Group National Chair Meredith King, APAM, chat through what people who've had COVID-19 are reporting, months down the track. And it's making it hard to get back a level of physical strength and function that lets them get on with their lives again.
Cycling is great exercise and a wonderful way to explore your local area and bike trails. But too much enthusiasm and not enough preparation can lead to a soft tissue injury known as 'spring knee' .
Kelly Athanasopoulos says she was feeling "lethargic and blobby" after a few months of staying home due to COVID-19 restrictions.
She miraculously healed ballet megastar David Hallberg’s achilles. Now Dr Sue Mayes AM is onto her next challenge — keeping our top dancers conditioned in lockdown.