Functional Physio: Why Prehab?

Have you got an upcoming surgery or recent change in health that will require intensive treatment? Maybe you should strongly consider the concept of Prehab and how it could benefit your recovery.

What is prehab?

Prehab is rehabilitation performed before your surgery or to prevent injuries in high-risk activities. A regime of planned exercise ideally 6 weeks before the event has been academically proven to improve post-operative function, minimise time to return to normal activities and improve the recovery process. 

Your prehab professional can assess how much help you need currently and after surgery, set a plan for hospital discharge (a great way to manage any pre-op anxieties), improve strength and conditioning and help practise with any walking aids or movement restrictions.  

Conditions that benefit from prehab and following rehabilitation include joint replacements especially in the elderly, cardiac conditions, general surgical, cancer diagnosis and athletes or high level sports that carry a known risk of injuries during a game/ season.

My Mum’s knee prehab

After ongoing complaining about knee pain (and lack of family sympathy) I finally conceded that Mum should go for an MRI. 

As it turns out, she wasn’t making it up! Imaging revealed a meniscus tear with a cyst (associated with larger tears) but otherwise very healthy cartilage and ligaments (not bad for a sixty year old knee!). Small meniscus tears on the outer edges sometimes heal, but as they get larger and towards the centre the likelihood of this decreases due to poor blood supply. 

The next step is a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon, but first, let the prehab begin!

The main aim is to build quadriceps, hamstrings and glute strength, bulk and awareness. After surgery, pain and inflammation decreases your ability to contract surrounding muscles and leads to wasting and compromised control. In mum’s program we try and combine a mix of exercises that produce co-contraction or emphasise the three types of muscle contractions (isometric, eccentric and concentric). 

We have maintained overall strength and fitness with boxing and short runs on a straight track against a thick resistance band. Avoiding pivoting at the knee, bending the knee past 90 degrees especially with weights is essential to avoid aggravating the current injury. A tear with a cyst can compromise the cartilage of the knee joint with repetitive irritation so a professionally planned program is essential for prehab programs.  

To see more from Functional Physio please follow us on FB @functionalphysioqld or Instagram @functionalphysio.

Email courtneybuckley.massage@outlook.com or phone/text 0448131617

Accelerate Health and Performance: How to Write Your Own Successful Training Program for Weight Loss

How many people do you know that go to a gym with the idea that 'a little bit of everything' or 'just doing my own thing' will help them achieve their goals?

How many people do you know that go to a gym with that plan and ultimately end up disappointed with the fact they have not achieved as much as they hoped to?

Programming can be the most challenging aspect of being a Personal Trainer. There are times when it is really hard. The right combination of exercises can provide a client with an experience they will shout about from the roof tops. The wrong combination can practically leave you scratching your arse in the unemployment line at Centrelink wondering where it all went wrong.

It's tough and I'm educated in this shit. I'm continually educating myself in this shit. It's one component of Personal Training that does not necessarily get easier. But there are ways that you can make it easier on yourself. By understanding a few of the basic principles, you can very easily write or adapt a program to suit you. Your needs, your goals, your experience.

Things to understand...

What Role Will Nutrition Play? 

To lose weight you have to be a calorie deficit. YOU HAVE TO BE. It's physics - the law of thermodynamics. Energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. We are an isolated system. We consume energy (food) -  we either use it (action) or store it (love handles). If we consume more than we use we store the excess - not a calorie deficit.
One size does not fit all, but it's safe to say that a calorie deficit of up to 200 Calories per day is probably going to be easily sustainable and not overly aggressive for most. Add in some training on top of this and you're going to see the numbers on the scales start to shift and your pants are going to feel a bit looser within three or four weeks.

What is Progressive Overload and how do I Progressively Overload myself? 

Progressive Overload is a gradual increase of stress(work) placed upon the body. A slight increase in sets, reps and or load, potentially with a decrease in rest time. Hot Tip: Take 'Progressive' in a very literal sense - increase things gradually, don't try and be Mr or Mrs Olympia in Week One...you're probably going to fuck up your chances of success right up that way.
An increase of 1.25kg on either side of the barbell each week is nothing to be scoffed at! Over a year that's 130kg. If you can add 130kg to your Squat, Deadlift or Bench Press in that time you're an absolute freak and you need to start doing something more competitive A-Sap. Small steps forward are not steps backward.

How do I Choose Exercise and How Often Do I Train? 

Choose the ones that are fun. Done correctly, very few exercises are inherently bad for you. Try to hit each muscle group at least once every time you train. Train every two to three days.

'But when is Chest and Tri's Day?' NEVER. Virtually nobody (other than professional body builders) actually need a Chest and Tri's or Back and Bi's day.

'Do I have to do Cardio?' No. You can if you want to though. If you need to do cardio training because you have cardio goals then have at it. If you hate cardio and don't want to do it then don't do it.

The Basics of Programming...

Rep Ranges: 

1-5 Reps = Strength 

3-8 Reps = Strength Endurance

8-15 Reps = Hypertrophy

15+ = Conditioning.

* These are approximate and they cross over heaps. Sticking to 1-5 Reps will still result in Hypertrophy and sticking to 8-15 Reps will still result in some increased strength.

Sets: 3 to 6 Work Sets for any Rep Range will tick the box.

Load: As heavy as you can go with good technique and the ability to function in your daily life the next day. Using Warm Up Sets and Work Sets effectively will help this. If you're not sure, go light and have a trial run - if you don't feel like you exerted yourself much at all, go heavier.

Rest: As long as you need to do the same set again nearly as well as the last time. Nearly. You need to induce some fatigue or you're not overloading.

Programs: One program per week done well will get things moving, two programs per week will keep you entertained, three is our preferred sweet spot. The less you know and the more confidence you need to gain the less you should worry about variety and focus more on getting the basics locked and loaded.

  

Muscle Group	Synergist	Opposite
Quads, Calves and Glutes	Hamstrings and Glutes	Upper Body
Hamstrings and Glutes	Quads, Calves and Glutes	Upper Body
Chest, Triceps and Shoulder	Back, Biceps and Shoulder	Lower Body
Back, Biceps and Shoulders	Chest, Triceps and Shoulders	Lower Body

Program Structure...

1) Focus Muscle Group Compound Strength

2a) Same Muscle Group Compound Hypertrophy
2b) Accessory Muscle Group Hypertrophy

3a) Opposing Muscles Group Power
3b) Core/Glutes/Mobility or Opposing Muscle Group (One Program Per Week)

4) Synergist Hypertrophy/Conditioning

This structure can be used to write one, two, three or twelve day training programs. You just have to be mindful to give enough focus to your target muscle groups. If you just want to sort the whole rig out, spread the work load as evenly as possible.

One Program Per Week Program Example...

1) Goblet Squats (5x8)

2a) Alternate Lunges (4x10)
2b) Glute Bridge (4x15)

3a) Top Hold DB Chest Press (4x12)
3b) Lat Pulldown (4x15)

4) Seated Hamstring Curl (4x20)

Need some help with technique? Check these out. 

Goblet Squats: Instagram

Offset Walking Lunges: Instagram
Single Leg Glute Bridge: Instagram
Top Hold DB Press: Instagram
Lat Pulldown: YouTube - Instagram
Seated Hamstring Curl: YouTube - Instagram

If you have any doubts about your ability to train safely due to any health concerns you may have please seek medical advice prior to starting.

Mitchell Knight

Accelerate Health and Performance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acceleratehealthandperformance/

Instagram: @mitchellknightpt @acceleratehealthandperformance

Jamie Milne Training: Be Careful What You Say to Yourself (...Because You Are Listening): 4 Tips for More Positive Self-Talk and Less Limiting Self-Beliefs.

Author of ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ Robert Kiyosaki famously quotes, "It’s not what comes out of your mouth that determines your life, it's what you whisper to yourself that has the most power".

There is a little voice that pops up in your head from time to time, when you’re about to try something new or you’ve just gone through a breakup or you f$&ked up royally at work.

These private conversations you have with yourself can be either a powerful stepping stone or a major obstacle to reaching your goals.

Staying positive, thinking positive, ‘faking it till you make it’ is so much easier said than done, agree!

We all want to be happy, none of us want to bitch and moan about everything, and we sure as hell wish we didn't care what other people thought, or said about us.

“You see what "Emma" commented on your FB post this morning?”

“.....What! When? Sorry what she write?”

*Scroll, scroll, scroll. Swipe, swipe…*

And as your eyes read and marinade on the comment, the little voice of limiting self-worth, belief and esteem whispers sweet caress in your head...

"…Well what Emma wrote is true, you are an XYZ, and you are selfish, self-absorbed, a bad parent, terrible with money, or whatever the case maybe".

We get so used to hearing our own narrations that it’s easy to ignore the messages that we’re sending ourselves.

Every now and then take note of what you’re thinking about and recognise that just because you think something, doesn’t mean it’s true. 

Our thought processes are often exaggerated, blown out and well out of proportion.

Here's a challenge for a day, or even this coming week: 

Communicate with yourself how you would speak to your best friend, or a person of key influence you just met.

Be honest but also treat yourself equally as kind as you’d treat a friend or someone you just met. Why?

Because you’re worth it.

Treat yourself, just as you treat others.

4 TIPS FOR POSITIVE SELF TALK:

1. Force the f$&en rainbow:

Life isn't all rainbows unicorns and glitter, sometimes it's stormy, there's no glitter, and your late on your Telstra account!

‘Force the rainbow’, and make it an optimistic situation. It's all about perception, you can choose to be in the glitterless storm, or you can force a f$&en rainbow.

2. Turn off your F$&KEN Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Tinder, Grinder.

There is no other sure fire way to inject self-doubt into your head then being at the mercy of (notifications, dings, alerts, etc)

Have a break. The sun will rise still tomorrow whether you’re up to see it, or in bed scrolling!)

3. Shower Power!

My favourite! 

We would all agree we need to shower 1-3 times daily.

This is a perfect trigger to remind us it's mantra time.

As you lather that organic pomegranate and peach soap into those difficult to find spaces we can speak to ourselves with a powerful and profound "I am Statements":

I AM patient

I AM Positive 

1 AM Persistent 

I AM abundant 

1 AM Honest

4: Dial a friend.

Seriously make the call.

One of your friends whose not Switzerland, and their not the "devil’s advocate"

Their your true friend. They say good things behind your back, and bad things to your face.

Jamie

Jamie Milne Training

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiemilnetraining/

Instagram: @JamieMilneTraining 

Website: www.jamiemilnetraining.com 

Email: jamiemilnetrainng@gmail.com

Fusion Sport Performance: ‘Training’ or ‘Exercise’: What is more important?

The debate between training and exercise is one that I’ve heard many coaches and trainers discuss over many years. At the risk of over-simplifying the two concepts, ‘training’ requires purpose and a plan, exercise doesn’t.

So that begs the question, when we head to the gym are we training or exercising? 

In my experience, your time will be used far more effectively with a plan of attack. Some will argue that if you aren’t preparing for a sport or event, it’s simply exercise. 

I don’t believe that. I feel that if you are able to define a clear set of goals that you are working towards and you have a plan to get there, then you are training. Not to mention how hard it is to develop and maintain habits without a purpose and plan.

Our goal wall at Fusion Sports Performance, where we
can share our goals and keep each other accountable.

Here’s are a few tips to help plan effective training:

1. Work out what are you training for. You can go right down the rabbit hole on this question, and I have heard some amazing reasons for training from family through to specific events. In order to stay disciplined with your training program it needs to be something that means a lot to you or completely excites every time you think about it.
2. Have a plan. The only way to get to any goal in the most efficient way is to have a plan. Get a program and set up some habitual goals that will help you get to where you want to be.
3. Have a support network. Training partners, family, friends, the community. It’s a long road and you need good people with you to keep you on course.
4. ‘Just Do It’, like Nike – Stay disciplined in your actions (Notice I wrote discipline twice now?). Motivation is fleeting, it’s an emotion that comes and goes at the drop of a hat. Discipline is the best way to stay the course, discipline through consistency and effort will get you results. Not waiting for motivation.

So if you want to train and get the most out of it, set some goals, write a plan, get some good people around you and then get to work. Repeat these steps and reassess regularly. Training can be a long hard road sometimes so stay consistent and stay disciplined.

“Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.” – Vince Lombardi

Matt Noonan

Fusion Sports and Performance

Web - www.fusionperformance.com.au

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fusionsportsandperformance/

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/fusionperformance/

Jessica Leigh Yoga: How Strengthening Through Yoga Can Reflect Positively on Your Life

Have you ever noticed how capable you feel after a good workout? Admittedly, there may be a little touch of ‘jelly legs’ or the shakes (or inability to sit down or stand up without groaning). But there is also this sense of achievement and being capable. This sense only grows stronger with consistency of practice too. I’m convinced this is about more than just endorphins.

In yoga, I feel like it’s important sometimes to remind students of the big, fat giant metaphor our practice of yoga really is. How we show up on the mat reflects directly on how we handle ourselves in the ‘real world’. 

During our yoga practice, if we are able to approach each pose, stretch or transition with compassion towards where our body is at and capable of in any given moment, that automatically starts to form a neural pattern of how we treat ourselves at any point in the day.
It’s literally a matter of practice.

If you use your yoga practice as a way to flow through a series of strengthening poses with the breath, eventually your body will experience more strength and expression in your practice. When you have that gradual feeling of the body becoming stronger in a grounded way that comes through a yoga practice, you find yourself walking through your day feeling capable of more. Your ability to believe in yourself grows exponentially, as your confidence in your body’s strength grows. When we believe in ourselves from this sense of embodiment rather than outside image, our mental health takes leaps and bounds for the better.

Not only that, the practice of this strengthening and breathing helps us more easily counter situations we perceive as stressful. If you practice the ability to still breathe during a challenging pose or while you’ve come to complete stillness frequently enough, even if the mind is going all over the place, eventually your body will more easily remember how to breathe when you encounter stressful situations in your life, whether it’s at work, at home, or otherwise. This allows us to get through those stressful moments without taking on board as much of the stuff that weighs us down and keeps us feeling heavy and negative. It allows us to respond to things instead of react, which has an unsurprising carry on effect of positively influencing those closest to us. 

What we practice in our time on the mat in yoga, we carry our lessons with us into our lives. We get the chance to feel what it’s like to live with more confidence and compassion, and share the feelings that come along with that with others in our homes and communities.

Jess Jasch
Jessica Leigh Yoga
f: https://www.facebook.com/jessicaleighyoga/
i: @jessicaleighyoga
w: www.jlyoga.com.au/blog

GUEST BLOG: Running, Running… Running out of Iron

As an obsessed runner, I know first hand that the effects of iron deficiency can hit hard… Particularly if you’re busting your guts to achieve health and fitness goals!

With iron deficiency, simple everyday activities like ascending a flight of stairs can feel like a gruelling climb to the peak of Mt Everest, (lack of oxygen and all!).

Not to mention the negative impacts on training!

Speed training feels more like lumbering through an atmosphere made of viscous honey, with no improvements to be seen in time trials; while long runs are followed by hours in a semi-comatose state on the couch.

This makes sense when we think about the roles of iron in the body, which include (but are not limited to) oxygen transport, red blood cell production and involvement in energy production systems.

The effects of iron deficiency are compounded by fitness training.

This is because training causes:

1. Increased iron requirements: Red cell production is increased, with increased blood use by the tissues.
2. Increased iron losses through sweat, blood, urine and the digestive tract. As a runner, red blood cells are lost through “haemolysis” as blood cells break apart with every foot strike.

So – what can you do to boost iron levels?

One answer (and my favourite reply) is FOOD!

There are two types of iron found in food:

-          Haem iron - found in animal foods such as red meat, poultry and seafood. Haem iron has far better absorption (around 15-18%).

-          Non-haem iron - found in legumes, some green veggies, dried fruits, nuts and fortified breakfast cereals. Non-haem iron is less well absorbed (<5%)

Image: Absorption of haem iron vs. non-haem iron

Becoming an “Iron”-Man/Woman: Top 4 Tips!

1. Be a Mindful Meat-Eater
   Eating lean red meat 3-4 times a week is a great way to meet your iron requirements. Good options include kangaroo, beef, veal and lamb.
   
   OR….
   
   
2. Be a Vigilant Vegetarian
   If vegetarian (or prefer a plant based diet) – make an extra effort to eat iron-rich plant foods regularly. Experiment with legumes and nuts, and choose fortified breakfast cereals
   
   
3. Avoid drinking tea or coffee within 30 minutes of meals.
   The tannins in these drinks can inhibit iron absorption.
   
   
4. Add vitamin C-rich foods to meals.
   This can increase iron absorption by up to four-fold! Examples include citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables and chilli.
   
   

Talk to your doctor and dietitian for more advice. Supplements may be recommended for some individuals.

Dominique is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD), medically diagnosed coeliac, avid trail runner, and self-confessed peanut butter addict. You can follow her story on Instagram: @free.dom02

Courtney Buckley Massage (Physiotherapist): Training for Balance

What is balance and why it’s important 

Balance is our ability to maintain a posture without coming a buster on the ground, while standing still or moving. This can be broken down into static (in a stationary position) or dynamic balance (whilst moving). This is probably the most under-rated skill ever and rarely a training focus! 

It is vital for the recreational to elite athlete and for activities of daily living from infancy through to our 90’s. As a physio who has worked in sporting and aged care industries I can guarantee this skill is the difference between independent living or nursing home, national team selection or states, minor ankle sprain or reconstructive surgery. 

Sport specific balance training for ball sport athletes.

Sport specific balance training for ball sport athletes.

Someone who has good balance can generate optimum speed, strength and precision because they are exerting their muscles from a stable platform as opposed to a wobbly one. Most importantly they can also do this quickly and unexpectedly. For example on the Sunny Coast we have many trail runs available, ranging from well maintained flat tracks to mountain goat territory. A balanced runner will without thinking be using tiny ankle muscles to adjust to every change in the roads surface as it gets rocky and more unpredictable. They may catch their foot but readjust with little change to their stride. A poorly balanced counterpart may trip and sprain their ankle for the 5th time in the last 12 months attributing this injury to bad luck….. and honestly no one is this unlucky, you should definitely add balance training to your regime and take note of how fewer times you’ll hit the dirt! 

Balance training ideas

Working on hamstring length and strength 

also applicable for touch football players for 

ball to ground manoeuvres

To improve your balance it is important to have a well rounded program including strength, proprioception, coordination and reaction time. For the purpose of this blog we will focus on generic balance exercises to help your own training!:
Working on hamstring length and strength also applicable for touch football players for ball to ground manoeuvres

• Hopping: all sorts of hopping such as single leg for distance, bounding from leg to leg, hop scotch or triple jump type patterns. In all cases try pausing every time you land to make sure you do not wobble before taking off again. 
• Skills on an unstable surface: a great opportunity to be sports specific. Use a half BOSU ball to stand on whilst you use battle ropes, throw and catch, punch, squat or stand on one leg.
• Skills standing on one leg: strengthen core leg muscle groups whilst practising good balance by placing a theraband just below your knees and extend or abduct the leg. Or place four markers at 12o’clock, 3, 6 and 9 clock positions and try stretching to tap each with one foot. 

Balance challenges don’t always have to occur in standing as pictured on the left. Try incorporating a cardio or external force with a battle rope or punching with a partner or on a bag.

Courtney owns and operate Courtney Buckley Massage within the Noosa Box Office Gym. She's a physiotherapist bringing together a 'full body hands on treatment' using different massage, manual therapy stretching and exercise techniques to benefit your recovery and performance. 
Website: www.courtneybuckleymassage.com.au 
Facebook: Courtney Buckley Massage 
Instagram: courtneybuckley.massage