Men’s Health and Exercise

There’s no better time than Men’s Health Week (14-20th June) to focus on some of the ways in which exercise can be used to improve the health and wellbeing of men in our community. Less than half of adult aged men in Australia engage in the minimum recommenced guidelines for exercise and less than ¼ engage in the recommenced levels of strength training, and levels of engagement decrease as men age. 


Physical Activity Guidelines:

• At least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per week
• At least 2 strength training sessions per week 

Coronary artery disease (CAD), suicide/self-harm, and chronic back pain are the three leading causes of disability/disease in Australian men. Exercise is a well-known therapy for both CAD and chronic pain, however exercise also has enormous benefits when it comes to mental health which we will focus on here. 

Improvements in mental health resulting from regular exercise are very encouraging given the levels of mental illness in Australian men are so high, particularly in rural and regional areas. These improvements are related to both physiological and psychological changes that occur with exercise.

Most people are aware of exercise related increases in neurotransmitters called endorphins, which relieve pain and stress leading to better mood. Regular exercise also stimulates the growth of new neural connections in the brain which is key for brain health across the lifespan. Group exercise or team sports increase levels of social interaction which is beneficial for mental health, and exercise can also provide a sense of accomplishment when working towards and achieving a goal. 


Another area where exercise can have a major impact is in the workplace.

• Most severe workplace injuries in Australian workers result from body stressing injuries and falls/trips/slips in the workplace, and these are most commonly sustained by males, although the following applies to anybody, particularly those working in physically demanding roles such as those we see in many industries around the Lithgow region. 
• Many people in these roles feel that their work alone is enough exercise for them, and sometimes this may be the case, however in most cases more specific training can vastly improve your physical capacity to complete a specific work role, as well as reducing the mental stress related to work that so many experience.
• Reducing workplace injuries helps reduce the psychological and economic burden on individuals, families and our community resulting from time lost at work due to injury.  

Building towards at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise, and at least two days per week of some form of strength training is a great first line of defence for combating the most common causes of disease and disability in Australian men, and Men’s health week is a great time to start making changes. 

If you are unsure where to start, you can contact an Exercise Physiologist here at Tablelands Physio in Lithgow to receive a comprehensive assessment of your health status, and we can help plan and implement an effective exercise program that will set you up for success. Alternatively, you can drop in or call for some basic advice and guidance to get you started.  


Adam Brogan
Accredited Exercise Physiologist
M.Clin.Ex.Phys, B.Sp.&Ex.Sci. AEP, AES, ESSAM

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6352 3131
info@tablelandsphysio.com.au
www.tablelandsphysio.com.au

Book Online HERE

Winter is finally upon us, and the forecast of snow has people either excited or dreading it. The one thing that I see with a big change in weather is the reduction in people’s activity levels and the correlation with an increase in their back and neck pain.

People often report it’s due to the cold weather – there is some research to suggest it’s the change in barometric pressure that is related to reported pain, but many times it may be that we have sat at the desk or snuggled up on the lounge to watch an extra episode or 2 on Netflix!! – the combination of an increase in static activity and less exercise is often the real culprit.

So go on, get your winter woollies on and if there is a break in the weather, a quick walk or
even a session of some body-weighted exercises can be good; Think lunges, squats and even maybe some pushups.

•  This, month the Tablelands Team is pulling (or rather pushing) together to undertake 3,318 push-ups to raise awareness for suicide and mental health. If anyone has seen my efforts at push-ups, they would know we need some help. So, if you are keen to help, we would love you on our team. Remember you can do a different exercise like squats or sit to stand exercises or a mixture! 

Follow the link here to join and the code word is “tablelands". We are a little behind so we need to get going!

• The Healthy Hearts walking group is going gangbusters and we have had quite a good roll up for the 30min walk on a Monday and Wednesday. Everyone is welcome to join us - just sign up through the Heart Foundation and meet us at the practice at 12pm. All levels are encouraged to join us.  Sign up here

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As we continue to grow and service more of the local community, we are again on the lookout for our next fabulous Physiotherapist and other allied health professionals; So if you know of someone who would be great fit for our team send them our way!

Our Tablelands Physio Family are our best source to find awesome people to join us, as you know how we work, our culture and generalised fun and craziness. We thank you in advance for all your help!!. 
Don’t forget if you are having trouble getting out and about to do the things you love and playing your best sport, we have many health professionals from different areas to help you achieve your health goals. 
 
Stay warm and keep moving!

Yours,
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Sally 
Director, Tablelands Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy  ​

Loss of Proprioception, sounds scary? Not really…
 
Proprioception is the ability for your body to sense where a joint is in space. Proprioception is what makes it possible for you to put a spoon in your mouth with your eyes closed. It is also the reason we don’t roll our ankle every time we step awkwardly on a small rock or fall over going to the loo in the dark.
 
Every joint in the body contributes to proprioception, and if this area is injured it can make it harder to work out where your body is in space, what it is doing, and how to prevent further injury. The most common areas we see this problem is in the ankles, knees, hips, spine, shoulders and hands.
 
Proprioception in our lower limb and spine plays a huge role in our sense of balance. This is what makes it possible for us to correct our footing to prevent slips, trips and things like ankle rolling. This sense of proprioception comes from nerves within the skin, ligaments and muscles and is often disrupted after an injury to ligaments, tendons and muscles, or after prolonged periods of immobilisation (such as casts and braces).
 
Loss of proprioception in the knees or ankles can leave you feeling more unbalanced, or less stable than before. You may find yourself stumbling more frequently, rolling your ankle or having difficulty standing on 1 leg while putting your pants on – that may present a problem …. :)
 
When our proprioception is reduced we are more likely to re-injure the area or cause other problems.
Improving your proprioception after injury is an important part of rehab and allows you to get back to doing the sport you love or work you need to do.
 
Treatment may include balance exercises, hands on techniques, taping, and always targeted exercises specific to you and your injury.
 
Talk to us today about how we can help you regain your proprioception and prevent future injury!
 
☎️ 6352 3131
✉️ info@tablelandsphysio.com.au
ℹ️ www.tablelandsphysio.com.au

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If the home exercises we have previously discussed are not improving your headaches it may be time to pop in to see a physio for a consultation.
This will involve an assessment and manual therapy where necessary. Your physio will prescribe you with an individualised exercise and stretch program, and possible lifestyle modifications to help manage and prevent your headaches.
Please don't hesitate to get in contact with us for more information or to book a consultation.
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6352 3131
info@tablelandsphysio.com.au
www.tablelandsphysio.com.au

Regular exercise is highly beneficial for people living with diabetes. Exercise can address many complications associated with Diabetes AND improve health, well being and physical function.

There are three main types of Diabetes Mellitus; Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.
1)Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) Is caused by an autoimmune condition in which the pancreas does not produce insulin in levels required to maintain optimal blood glucose levels. This  is usually diagnosed in childhood.

2) Type 2 diabetes  (NIDDM)  generally develops later in life, and accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases.

3) Gestational diabetes refers to a condition of high levels of blood glucose when pregnant. This also increases a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

All three refer to a condition in which the body cannot adequately control the levels of glucose in the blood. Ongoing high levels of blood glucose increases the risk of many chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease.
Exercise, along with dietary intervention, is among the most potent therapy for the management and prevention of type two and gestational diabetes, and the management of type 1 diabetes.

Exercise will improve insulin sensitivity which results in improved glucose control. An Increase in muscle mass will allow for higher levels of glucose storage in the body and keeps the glucose out of the blood, reduces blood pressure, and aids with fat loss. 

The two main types of exercise to consider are aerobic and strength training.
Aerobic exercise -  build towards 210 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week (walking, running, swimming, cycling etc).
This is higher than the normal recommendation of 150 minutes per week.  This higher volume of exercise has been shown to produce significant benefits for people with diabetic complications.

Strength training will increase muscle size and strength and  allows for increased glucose storage in the muscles. Higher muscle strength will also help to increase a person’s capacity to carry out activities of daily living, improve bone density and joint health.
Strength training – undertake at least 2x/week in order to achieve significant adaptations.
 
Different intensities of exercise will change the level of glucose in the blood. For example,

• Low level aerobic exercise will lower blood glucose levels
• High level exercise can release glucose .

This is an important factor to consider if an individual has poor glucose control.  It becomes especially important to measure blood glucose levels when exercising (often before, during and after) to ensure they are not risking  hypoglycaemia (low sugars).
When first diagnosed or starting to exercise, it is important that the diabetic person has the support of a team of health professionals to design and monitor the exercise program and monitor the use of medication as required.
In the long term, regular exercise will lead to a reduction in blood glucose levels, and allow for better glucose control in their day to day life.

For more information, or to book a consultation, please call 02 6352 3131.

Adam Brogan
Accredited Exercise Physiologist
M.Clin.Ex.Phys, B.Sp.&Ex.Sci, AEP, AES, ESSAM

We are back this week with varied hours, but back to normal hours next week.

A lot of people have been a little confused with the Covid-19 restrictions, and where exactly Lithgow falls under these restrictions. 🦠 Where the Blue Mountains is referenced as being The Greater Sydney Area, the Lithgow GA does NOT fall under the Blue Mountains Area 🦠

Stay safe, happy and well over this holiday period 🎉

#tablelandsphysio​ #covidsafe​ #holidays​ #restrictions​ #lithgow​