I saw a short video the other day that reminded me how completely brilliant physio and exercise can be. The video was of an older man setting up some makeshift weights in his back garden and shed and practising a squat and lift. Over the course of the video, which is set over a year, you watch his mobility improve, his posture becomes steady, and he becomes stronger. It culminated in this man walking into a house where his grandchildren were setting up the Christmas tree. He picks up his young granddaughter and lifts her to place the star on top of the tree while his daughter watches on with tears in her eyes. It was a perfect demonstration of why it is actually important to remain strong and mobile.

When we see someone for the first time we ask about goals - what you normally like to do and what you aspire to do. At Physique we like to go one step further and ask, why is that important? This is my absolute favourite question to ask. The answers we get really put into perspective why people are taking time and effort to get their pain, injuries or limitations seen to. It’s often met with emotional responses and often revolves around the desire to spend quality time with family in the way they want - to carry, lift, play and participate. Anyone who has been limited in this by their bodies will understand the heartache of watching on when you want to be involved.
By completely understanding what is important to our clients we can work together to achieve that. We understand that full, pain-free shoulder movement is important to go kayaking with your husband - your quality time together. We understand why it is important to deal with the knee that gives way that is stopping you from kicking the footy at the sports ground with your son and we understand why it so frustrating that a back that keeps niggling is stopping you from getting out into the garden and doing the projects you have been dreaming about.

As well as dealing with pain and limitation when it arises, physio is also fantastic at preventing future issues. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but regular exercise does prevent a lot of conditions that are more likely to occur the older we get. There are mountains of research that has shown that exercise helps prevent serious conditions like strokes, heart attacks and dementia and makes a difference to living with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, post-polio syndrome, dizziness, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
Even better than general exercise, like going for our regular walks, is exercise that is tailored to your body, it’s areas of stiffness and areas that need strengthening or conditioning. This is why we run our Pilates and Fit for Life classes. We combine what we find in an assessment with feedback from you in our classes to tweak and provide exercise that suits your body and goals. If you have been thinking about getting into exercise but not sure where to start or concerned about making an injury worse, I recommend checking in with one of the physios at Physique and getting yourself a plan. Not only is it a great way to work on your health goals, but it is also a great way to socialise and have some fun with others doing the same thing. 
Jess Stinson