Winter sports is approaching and we've got to ask the question of what state your body is in and if is up to the task? The summer is time to relax and enjoy the sun, it is time to let the body recover after a long [...]
Knowing how to best manage strains, sprains, bumps and bruises is crucial but possibly even more important right now with our current world of regular lockdowns and restricted travel. Strains, sprains and other acute [...]
With lockdown and COVID19 restrictions upon us again, so too returns the need for our living spaces to morph into multi-use environments. As a result, getting out of the house or "office" for some physical activity has [...]
With winter upon us, sport such as rugby, soccer and snowsports are a big part of life here in Mid Canterbury. But these sports are not without risk. According to ACC Sport Smart approximately 35 000 Kiwi’s [...]
Headaches can range from debilitating and life-ruling conditions to a regular annoyance but it is important to know that the majority of them can be improved with the right headache treatment. Too often, the only [...]
Many women experience pain at some point during their pregnancy, often due to the changes in force and pressure through the body and the postures that come with it. Even though it is a very common thing, there is a [...]
What better way to get off the couch and spring forward into summer by starting a couch to 5k running program. Running improves our general physical fitness, improves our lung and heart health, and makes us feel good. [...]
Pain is a funny thing and is not at all straightforward. The first thing that complicates things is that everyone feels pain differently, Pain is felt not when the sharp pin pricks you (for example), but when that [...]
Running is one of the most popular sports in the world yet 79% of runners get a injury every year - with many of these being avoidable. We have 4 golden rules for you to help reduce your risk of getting a running [...]
It’s just a niggle, right? Just run it off and harden up… right? So often we see patients with calf or hamstrings strains, or even neck pain saying that they felt a bit of a niggle or “tightness” days or weeks [...]
Arthritis, it doesn’t have to be a life sentence Too often we see patients that have had an x-ray done and been told they have arthritis and will likely need a joint replacement now or in the future but don’t [...]
Before I start, I want to make it clear that I’m not a pharmacist or a GP and I’m not making recommendations but making sure YOU are fully informed of how non-steroid anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) can reduce healing [...]
Most of us like to be fitter and stronger right? Classically in order to improve strength we have had to really load up the resistance to challenge the muscles, but what if there was a way we could train with less [...]
Often our body’s resilience and ability to adapt is forgotten or ignored for the perceived quick-fix. This is particularly the case when it comes to knee injuries such as Meniscus injuries and Anterior Cruciate[...]
The man behind Pilates Pilates is a mind-body exercise designed to optimize physical fitness in people at every level of physical ability. It improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in [...]
Up to 80% of runners get injured every year so it is likely that you have had a niggle or injury recently right? So, as well as the team here at Physiosteps being here to help you with your injuries, we are here to help [...]
Headaches and Migraines are one of the most common issues in today's society but also one of the most under-treated, misunderstood, and mistreated conditions. Here at PhysioSteps, we started our Headache Clinic to put a [...]
Imaging, such as x-ray and MRI can be useful, but it can also be of no use and potentially harmful at times. Whether it be for the neck, back, knee, hip or some other part of the body, scans often do show up some [...]
You can make a big difference in the time it can take to rehab an injury. Having the right attitude and the right physio can make a huge difference. In this blog post, we cover the important aspects of a speedy [...]
Field Hockey is one of the world’s most exciting sports and is played by millions of people across the globe. It is fast-paced and requires a lot of skill no matter what level you watch or play. One of the most [...]
Headaches are incredibly common in the adult population and are often put down to a range of causes but in reality, around 80% of them are from your neck - and can be resolved. That is why the started the Headache clinic[...]
Tendon pain such as Achilles Tendinopathy, Tennis Elbow, and Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy often get a bad rap with poor improvements and outcomes. Luckily, we have done the research for you and have the answer to why [...]
Active rehabilitation ensures that your injury heals strong, with less risk of reinjury and a faster recovery time. Today's article is a brief explanation of how active rehab and mechanotherapy are the [...]
Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in sport and they also have a really high re-injury rate. Today we decided to show you the research around one of the best ways to prevent ankle sprain re-injury and [...]
We are thrilled to have our Senior physio, Rykie, writing this weeks blog post on helping build up for events gradually to ensure a conditioned body and fewer injuries! Happy New Year to all! The year is already [...]
Sciatica is a very common complaint but few people actually know what causes it, and what can be done to help it - even in those that have it. Today's post is to help clear that up. What is Sciatica The answer [...]
With back pain being so common, we all get all sorts of advice and ideas from friends, family and Dr google - but how do you know what really helps? Here at PhysioSteps we wanted to help you make good, informed choices, [...]
Pelvic and low back pain during pregnancy occurs in a massive 20% of women! Because of this huge number we thought we would write a blog to tell you a bit more about what is called Pelvic Girdle Pain and how it can be [...]
Runners have very, very high rates of injury - particularly when leading up to an event, so we thought we would put together a blog post on both how to both prevent running injuries and also the best management for [...]
Calf injuries are one of the most common muscle injuries that we see in clinic and, a bit like ankle sprains, are often brushed off as inconsequential but with the right rehab, you can get back to normal faster and [...]
Whether you ride competitively, for work, for the love of it or all of the above, injuries do happen and we're here to help you literally get back on the horse and back to your best. One thing that we have learnt [...]
A huge 50% of all skiers and boarders have had a previous injury on the slopes which makes it all the more important to prevent them when possible. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix as there are a lot of factors [...]
Foam rolling is one of those things that is either loved or hated but for the time put into using one, there is a huge amount of benefits. First off, don't think foam rollers are just for elite athletes or those that [...]
We see a lot of children and teenagers who are driven, talented and very busy with their sports. This is fantastic but can sometimes lead to pain, burnout and injuries. Here are some great tips to help prevent injury, [...]
The Rotary Club have initiated a fundraising project for the sale of the Save a Life Capsules. Their mission is for every adult in New Zealand to carry a capsule to allow you to be prepared if you or someone around you [...]
Unfortunately, with all good things, there is the equal and opposite. The Yin to my yang. And with the improvements and availability in technology, we now have a new syndrome; the iHunch. It may not sound serious but it[...]
Knee and ankle injuries are very common in both contact (rugby) and non-contact sport (football, hockey and netball) so we want to show coaches and players a quick test that helps pick out players that are at risk of [...]
Looking after your body the right way before and after having a baby can be quite confusing. There are a raft of opinions and recommendations coming at you from all directions and it is important to know which options [...]
Most people have either had an over-use injury or know someone that has had one and likely know how frustrating they can be to rehab back to normal. Luckily, Shaun is here to explain how these injuries are prevented [...]
Rotator cuff tears are very common due the physical nature of a lot of jobs and the large range of motion of the shoulder. The good thing is though is that if you have a rotator cuff tear, even a large one, effective [...]
The idea of using a massage ball is to reach specific spots in your muscles that are holding tension by trapping the massage ball in between another object and that spot – either the floor, the wall or any other hard [...]
Tennis Elbow? So how does a builder or receptionist get it without playing tennis? Luckily Kayla is here to clear that up and explain what "Tennis Elbow" really is. Lateral elbow tendinopathy (commonly known [...]
Pregnancy incontinence is something that is often mentioned or heard about when talking about pregnancy, however many people don't understand the real importance of the pelvic floor, and specifically why it is important [...]
Given that frozen shoulder affects 2-3% of the population at some time in their lives and a huge 20% of people with diabetes(2), so today we explain what it is and what can be done to help if this happens to you. [...]
Concussion is a very prevalent injury in Rugby Union, however, it is also common in many other sports around the world. There has been a large emphasis recently in NZ on concussion education and better management at a [...]
Shin splints are a very common overuse injury - especially in jumping sports or ones played on hard surfaces. Unfortunately, if not managed well you could end up in the dreaded moon boot so our physio, Kayla, has been [...]
This week, Kayla is talking feet - an area which is important not to ignore The foot is a complex area of your body, consisting of many joints (1/4 of the bones in your body!), muscles, ligaments and tendons. The foot[...]
Hamstring injuries are all too common in sports - particularly in football and hockey. So luckily Kayla (one of our brilliant physios) is here to give you a run down on hamstring strains so that you can keep running! [...]
For a long time the go-to initial treatment for acute injury has been RICE (That's Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), but that is all changing for the better and it is time to look after your injuries better with [...]
Slipped discs as you would imagine from the name, don't actually exist! This is a popular term for a common injury that has lead to a lot of misperceptions about back pain and sciatica - so let's clear it up and explain [...]
If you are a swimmer, then you will know that your shoulders are important! However, I find a lot of swimmers that come into the clinic suffer from an array of shoulder problems, and once getting down to the bones of it,[...]
Foot pain can be a very complex and uncomfortable problem, often arising for seemingly no cause at all. But luckily, at PhysioSteps, we are here to un-complicate things for you. Morton's Neuroma, or [...]
Stress fractures and stress reactions occur in a large amount of the athletic population and there are some very common training errors that cause them. Find out what a bone stress injury is, what causes them and some [...]
Getting actively involved with rehabbing your injury can have a huge impact on the how fast you recover and how well you heal following injury. Principal physio, Shaun explains the difference between active and [...]
Concussion is a brain injury and happens more often than is thought, and much more often than is reported in contact sport. Principal physio, Shaun, is going to explain what it is, what to look for and how to effectively[...]
As we all know, NZ is rugby mad, and for good reason! But what can we do to look after ourselves on and off the field, that can help prevent injuries and lead to more playing time? Luckily, 50% of injuries result in [...]
PhysioSteps is excited to announce that they will be opening on Saturday mornings, 8am-10am, as of Saturday 28th March! These times will be allocated to our sports strapping service only, and will be available for anyone[...]
Having a strong and stable core makes a huge difference to the risk of neck, back, shoulder and knee pain. But not only that, it increases your performance at the gym, on the court or out on the [...]
Physiotherapists and podiatrists have been prescribing orthotics for years, and for good reason. Here is a little write up about orthotics and how they can help you. The basic idea is that orthotics stabilize and [...]
Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), more commonly known as 'shin splints', is a common injury in athletes, with an incidence rate of up to 35% in athletic populations. Everyone knows someone who has had shin splints, [...]
Mechanotransduction is the basis behind why your physio keeps emphasizing that you need to do you exercises. And they are right, doing your exercises is so important - mechanotransduction is how the cells [...]
Achilles pain is a common injury and something that can be very debilitating and frustrating. Our principal physio, Caitlin, is here to tell you what it is, how it happens and most importantly what you can do to help it.[...]
Ankle sprains are one of the most common sporting injuries, with ACC reporting they take up 10-15% of all sporting injuries! And 20-40% of these go on to develop residual or long term symptoms, with a high chance of [...]
Shoulder pain is one of the most common things we treat for here at PhysioSteps. Commonly, there seems to be no obvious cause of injury, and even if there is, the pain has been left to build and build until it is so [...]
Tennis elbow is very common, affecting 1-3% of the population but the name can be very misleading.(1) Today we are aiming to clear that up by telling you what it really is, how it happens and why physio is a must. [...]
Treating a sprained ankle the RIGHT way early on means a stronger ankle, faster recovery and less chance of re-injury. In this post we will help you understand what a sprained ankle involves, what you can do to help it [...]
Ever had back pain, neck pain or a really annoying headache after sitting at your desk? Many people experience some sort of back, neck or head pain as a result of working in a sitting position, day in and day out. That [...]