Morgan Pratt joins the team at PhysioFlex

MORGAN PRATT

Interests: Bushwalking, swimming, canoeing, rugby & other spectator sports

Focus: neck & low back pain, headaches, shoulder problems and sporting injuries

Experience:

• Australian Rugby Union Academy – Ballymore
• Gold Coast Cyclones, South QLD and Country rugby teams
• Tonga Rugby Development Squad
• Coomera Magpies AFL Club & other local clubs

Having moved from Sydney, Morgan has enjoyed living on the Gold Coast since 2006 with his family. Over the past 2yrs he has been working at Adjust in Coomera, honing his clinical skills in acupuncture & dry needling, manual therapy and exercises prescription.

Morgan also has an interest in DVA & EPC cliental; Pre-employment assessments and hydrotherapy. Being a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association allows Morgan to be up to date with the latest news, techniques and research.

For enquires please contact me at Physioflex, we look forward to hearing from you. 

Physical Activity Improves Strength

Physical Activity Improves Strength

We were always intrigued at PhysioFlex Sports and Health Centre Southport, as to whether strengthening, balance and endurance exercises included into our rehabilitation programs were really helping our middle aged clients. That’s when we stumbled across this fantastic review in the Journal of Physiotherapy Australia.

The review addresses an issue that the public health system has struggled with for decades: the prevention of falls and mobility disability among older people. The study took place in community environments and workplaces, involving twenty-three trials assessing muscle strength, balance and endurance. Results of the experiment conducted revealed significant improvements in strength; however, the correlation between increased strength and mobility was not assessed extensively. Overall, the findings indicate the great benefits of resistance, strength and balance routines in middle aged patients. The full article can be viewed here. 

At PhysioFlex Southport Gold Coast, we incorporate strength and balance programs into a majority of a nursing home routines and management of most patients. It is reassuring to know that these exercises do have positive and beneficial effects for our clients.

 

The Secret to Improving Knee Osteoarthritis

            The Secret to Improving Knee Osteoarthritis

At PhysioFlex, our trained professionals are dedicated to finding the most effective, innovative treatment for all types of chronic pain. Each week our Gold Coast Physiotherapist Ben Mack travels to Gold Coast Nursing Homes for treatment of patients with osteoarthritis and other muscular skeletal problems.

Ben often incorporates the use of a single point stick to help reduce pain from an osteoarthritic knee, hip, or ankle. He finds this arthritic treatment very effective and has seen impressive results were patients have been able to mobilize more comfortably.

Recent studies by the Australian Physiotherapy Association investigated the treatment and improvement of knee osteoarthritis. One specific study examined the improvement of knee osteoarthritis when using a cane.

The experiment required participants to walk with cane assistance for the period of two months. Results of the study revealed improvement in pain levels of patients with knee osteoarthritis. 

Commentary and further results, including specific details and certain limitations can be found in Volume 58 of the Journal of Physiotherapy. For more information, view the full article online here.

Exercise Training Improves Sleep Quality!

Exercise training improves sleep quality in middle-aged 
and older adults with sleep problems: a systematic review

The prevalence of insomnia in adults has been reported to range from 10% to 40% in Western countries and to exceed 25% in Taiwan. Epidemiological surveys have concluded that the prevalence of insomnia, which is characterised by persistent inability to fall asleep or maintain sleep, increases with age. Sleep problems have a significant negative impact on mental and physical health, impair quality of life, and increase healthcare costs. Lack of sleep can lead to increased fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. It can also impair the metabolic, endocrine, and immune systems, among other deleterious effects. However, fewer than 15% of patients with chronic insomnia receive treatment or consult a healthcare provider.

Exercise programs are also recommended to help prevent and treat sleep disorders as well as the depression associated with these disorders among the elderly. Having infrequent adverse effects and a low cost, participation in a community-based exercise program may be a favourable and easily accessible means of preventing and treating sleep problems among middle-aged and elderly populations. However, several meta-analyses examining the effect of exercise training on sleep yielded equivocal findings due to the small number of trials examined and the limited number of participants in those trials. Since those studies were published, new evidence from additional randomised trials has become available. Therefore, the research question for this systematic review was:

Does an aerobic or resistance exercise training program improve sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults with sleep problems?

158 Journal of Physiotherapy 2012 Vol. 58 – © Australian Physiotherapy Association 2012

Read the full article here 

Pilates Group Sesions and Reformer Pilates at PHYSIOFLEX

Brand new group Pilates classes have began! 

These Pilates classes cater for all ages and levels of activity and for patients with previous injuries, the Reformer Pilates exercise machine is perfect for fast recovery. The classes will be supervised by the Physio, Ben Mack, who will be able to answer any questions and assist in information and eduction during each class.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to get your body toned and terrific, ready for summer!!!! 



Weekly classes
Tuesday 7.00am-8.00am
Thursday 5.30pm-6.30pm
Saturday 8.30am-9.30am

Medicare members receive discounted prices and health fund rebates apply on all classes offered. 

Call us to book into a class today!!! 

55 91 18 16