“Hello my name is Magdalena Kment Flynn. I was born in Brisbane, Australia. When I was three years old my family and I moved to Seychelles.

I am the second child of four. My older brother Liam, who used to work at Pivotal Motion, and two younger sisters. I’m in an academic achievers class at Kelvin Grove State  College. My dad is Australian and my mum is Austrian. She speaks German which she passed onto us four kids; my whole family except for my dad speak fluent German.

Some of my hobbies are swimming, dancing and socialising. The sports I do are swimming and hip-hop (type of modern dance) which are out of school. I’ve made a lot of friends through sport so I get the best of both worlds—fitness and socialising.

Before I got this job I’d only been babysitting for a few friends of mine and done a bit of filing for my dad. I didn’t think I’d manage to get the receptionist job because my brother pushed the expectations higher that I thought I was capable of. When I first met Bobby-Jo Strong she was treating my tailbone (which I’d broken) and liked her a lot since then. Finding out that I had succeeded in receiving this job I was overwhelmed but my first day I was having second thoughts, it all seemed so much harder than I’d expected. Luckily it was only the computer program I struggled with, but I soon learned. Bobby-Jo has been a supporting boss who has taught me I would learn from my mistakes. I am truly honoured to work at Pivotal Motion.”

Make sure you say hello to Magdalena and make her feel welcome. She is a great new addition to the team!

We are very excited to be able to sponsor Bayden so that he can attend the 2012 European Padua Rugby tour. The tour will see the Padua College Rugby team playing matches and sightseeing within the UK and France from 29^th March – 18^th April.

Bayden came in to visit us this week to show us his jersey for the trip! We also had lots of questions to ask him about the tour, so Bayden sat down with us for an interview:

See our video interview here:

Read more of the interview below:

1. Where will you be heading on your trip? We are heading to France, Ireland and the UK. Specifically to Paris, Amiens, Rouen,  in France and then onto Ireland via a ferry overnight across the English Chanel. In Ireland we visit Athlone, Dublin and Drogheda and Belfast. We then fly to Bristol in England and onto Gloucester and Finally we finish off with a few days in London.
2. Where are you most excited about going on your trip? Everything is really exciting as I have never been overseas before. The Eiffel Tower should be pretty spectacular and I’m also looking forward to seeing London
3. What does this trip mean for you? It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see different parts of the world and play against different countries with various styles of rugby
4. Have you remained injury free leading up to the tour? As this is really the beginning of our season, we have only completed a few trail games and I have been injury free.
   
5. Are you nervous about anything on the tour? Yes quite nervous not knowing what to expect. The main concern is being billeted with people I don’t know in strange places.
6. How has Pivotal Motion assisted you in attending this trip? Pivotal Motion has been able to provide not only sponsorship assistance but has kept me injury free. They have also provided great equipment and advice to help me with my sporting achievements
   
7. Would you like to take your sporting achievements further? I really love participating in Rugby Union and Rugby League and would love to have the opportunity to take this further if possible.
8. What would you like to do after school is finished? I really like hands on work and am studying plumbing, construction and engineering through school. At this stage I think plumbing would be a great choice.
9. What is your top Union tip for younger players starting out? Don’t ever worry about your size. Just work on your technique and you will be fine. Learn how to tackle well.
   
10. Who is your favourite sporting player and why? I really like Chris Sandow, the rugby league player who is small like me but is a great player because of his technique and attitude.

We wish Bayden the best of luck on his Rugby tour and overseas adventure!

Poor breast support can inhibit sports performance, lead to poor posture, discomfort, headaches, neck, back and arm pain. Studies show that wearing a supportive bra with a correct fit can decrease breast movement significantly.

Read the full brochure here: sma.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/1082-SMA-BRABrochure_FA_Web.pdf

Pivotal Motion also wrote a blog on Posture Bras. In case you missed it, you can read more here: Posture Bras – Are you wearing the wrong bra?

We also recommend checking out this fantastic Australian company located in Brisbane Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore for a great range of sexy AND supportive bras. The also have an online shop if you aren’t local.

However, when I ask my female patients if they do their pelvic floor exercises, most have heard that they should be doing them, but they are unsure whether they are doing them correctly or would like more information how to do them.

When I ask my male patients, they are far less informed about the pelvic floor, even though it is very important for them too.

So what is the pelvic floor and what does it do?

The pelvic floor is a muscle that forms a broad sling in your pelvis.

The function of the pelvic floor muscles are:

· To support the pelvic organs (eg. Bladder, uterus, rectum)

· To control the outlets ie. Urethra, vagina, anus.

· Sexual function

Our pelvic floor muscles can become weaker due to lack of exercise, the menopause, as a result of chronic constipation or a chronic cough, being overweight, persistent heavy lifting, pregnancy and childbirth.

Weak muscles give you less control and you may leak urine (urinary incontinence) especially with exercise or when you cough, sneeze or laugh. It can also give you reduced sensitivity during sex or may contribute to difficulty controlling wind and bowel function.

Pelvic floor exercises can improve this condition. Like any other muscles in the body, the more you use and exercise them, the stronger the pelvic floor will be.

A physiotherapist can teach you how to activate your pelvic floor correctly, and teach you a program that builds endurance of the muscle and helps them react more quickly when, for example, you sneeze or cough. They can also provide tips and advice on lifestyle changes that will help with the condition.

So, women AND men – you don’t have to accept problems arising from the issues with weakened pelvic floor muscles!!

Sites worth checking out:

http://www.holditsister.com/

http://www.continence.org.au/

http://www.womhealth.org.au/factsheets/urinaryincontinence.htm

Image 1 from: Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image 2 from: Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image 3 from: Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About World Physical Therapy Day

World Physical Therapy Day falls on 8th September every year, and is an opportunity for physiotherapists from all over the world to raise awareness about the crucial role their profession plays in making and keeping people well, mobile and independent. The day was established in 1996, by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy – the profession’s global body representing over 300,000 physiotherapists in 101 countries.

This September, the United Nations will also hold its first ever summit on non-communicable disease – only the second such meeting to focus on global disease. The summit is an official recognition that non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer) are an increasing global health challenge. Our profession helps millions of people every year to prevent these conditions. This summit provides an opportunity for physiotherapists around the world to use World Physical Therapy Day on 8th September to demonstrate the enormous contribution of physiotherapy in countering non-communicable disease (NCDs).

What do physiotherapists do?

Physiotherapists are experts in developing and maintaining people’s ability to move and function throughout their lives. With an advanced understanding of how the body moves and what keeps it from moving well, they promote wellness, mobility and independence. They treat and prevent many problems caused by pain, illness, disability and disease, sport and work related injuries, ageing and long periods of inactivity.

Physiotherapists work with people affected by a wide range of conditions and symptoms, for example:

• painful conditions such as arthritis, repetitive strain injury, neck and back pain
• cancer
• strokes, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury
• heart problems
• cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy
• trauma, such as road traffic accidents and landmines
• incontinence

They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, health centres, sports centres, education and research centres, hospices and nursing homes, rural and community settings.

Here are some examples of how physiotherapists make a difference. They:

• use their skills to treat the underlying causes of pain and limitations in movement and function
• use many treatment approaches to help individuals regain their mobility and maximise their potential
• promote healthy lifestyles and exercise
• treat each patient/client as an individual and thoroughly assess them to identify their needs
• treat sports injuries and promote safe and healthy activities
• work with children with coordination, balance and other movement problems to improve and maximise their independence.

To achieve all this, physiotherapists are educated over several years, giving them a full knowledge of the body’s systems and the skills to treat a wide range of problems. This education is usually university-based and at a level that provides full professional recognition and allows them to practise independently. Continuing education ensures that they keep up to date with the latest advances in research and practice. Many physiotherapists are engaged in research themselves.

The BOSU® Balance Trainer was developed in 2000 and has since become extremely popular in exercise and rehabilitation because it integrates several training aspects:

1)      Core Stabilization and Neutral Spinal Posture http://www.bosu.com/images/CoreStabilizationan%20NeutralPosture.pdf

2)      Functional Training http://www.bosu.com/images/UnderstandingandDefiningFunctionalTraining.pdf

3)      Balance Training

 http://www.bosu.com/images/TheScienceBehindBalanceTraining.pdf

This makes the BOSU a perfect tool for injury prevention and management.

Joe showed us how versatile, fun and challenging (!) the BOSU ball can be. He took us through a series of exercises, each set focusing of different aspects of the body. These included:

1)      Legs

2)      Chest/arms

3)      Back

4)      Balance

5)      Core/trunk

6)      Abdominals

7)      Flexibility 

Each exercise has the option of new challenges for continued progression.

The session taught us that the BOSU ball can be used in hundreds of different ways and is suitable for everyone – no matter what age or ability.

Bobbie- Jo and I are looking forward to using the BOSU more with our clients and seeing fantastic results! 

Check out Joe’s website…

http://www.inspiretrainers.com/

Ankle sprains, ankle sprains, how common they are!
As common as having a Toyota Rav car!

Football pitch, netball court or falling down stairs,
There is no avoiding those terrible tears!

Swelling, bruising, unable to walk,
it can be so painful that you can’t even talk. 

Well, there is a solution to help you along,
It’s called physio, so your symptoms don’t prolong.

Shown to improve outcomes and speed up recovery,
We will get you back to action, on the road of discovery!

Best seen in the first week, this is the key,
To ensure that the result is a ‘whooopee’!

So remember one thing, the next time you fall,
Whilst playing soccer or on a pub crawl,

There is only one possible notion,
The best thing to do is come to Pivotal Motion!

The Reading Centre Newmarket , situated on the corner of Enoggera Road and Newmarket Road, is a fantastic shopping centre which opened in 2005. The centre contains around 40 stores, including a Coles Supermarket, post office, bank, coffee shops, eateries and several specialty shops. There is a large car park downstairs which is free and always has spaces, so there is no need to worry about where to park like there is in the city! Pivotal Motion Physiotherapy is on the 1^st floor of the centre, above Vinnie’s coffee shop, with easy access either by stairs of lift.

There are several methods of transport you can use to reach us.

Via Train: Newmarket Railway Station and Wilston station provide access to regular Citytrain services on the Ferny Grove railway line arranging travel to the Brisbane CBD, Beenleigh and Ferny Grove.

Via Bus: Newmarket is serviced by Brisbane Transport buses to Chermside, Mitchelton and to The City.

Here are some of the main bus routes:

• Bus 390, stopping at 15/14, Enoggera Rd far side of Newmarket Rd,
• Bus 345 – Cultural Centre Buz Via City 345 stopping at 15/14, Enoggera Rd far side of Newmarket Rd
• Bus 325 – Cityxpress 325 stopping at Newmarket Station
• Bus 353 – City Via Mcdowall 353 Abuklea Street stopping at 19, Lamont Rd approaching Newmarket Rd
• Bus 360 stopping at 20, Enoggera Rd (approaching Newmarket Rd)
• Bus 373 stopping at 57 Enoggera Rd far side of Edmonstone St
• Bus 372 stopping at 15/14, Enoggera Rd far side of Newmarket Rd

Via Road: Newmarket’s main arterials are Enoggera Road which is the main corridor for motorists travelling to The City and Alderley, as well as Newmarket Road which is the main corridor for motorists travelling to Lutwyche.

Via Bike: If you have been inspired by my recent blog on cycling to work then there are several bike routes. Enoggera Creek, which forms the southern boundary of Newmarket, contains a linear park and bikeway off the roads. Click on this link for a map of the bike routes:

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/bccwr/facilities/documents/bike_map_5.pdf

Pivotal Motion is the perfect place to get to for your next physiotherapy appointment!