We all take our posture for granted and rarely think about how our activities affect our posture and how our posture affects our health.  Many of us don’t even know what good posture looks like.  Here are a few tips from our friendly physiotherapist.
 
Poor posture can lead to pain, discomfort and loss of function.  For example: 
 

• standing with uneven weight distribution may cause lower back pain
• rounded shoulders with a chin poking out may cause neck and upper back problems.

 
Good posture is the position of the body puts the least strain on the muscles and joints.  Your posture is good when the shoulders are down and the back and the three natural curves of the spine are maintained while standing, sitting, lying down or being active. 
 
What does good posture look like?  From a side view if you were to put a straight line from your ears it should pass through the middle of your shoulders, knees and ankles.
 
Hints on maintaining good posture:

Check your posture using the reflections of shop windows or mirrors and correct if needed.

• Walk and stand tall, chin in, shoulders back and tummy tucked in (not sucked in).
• Wear well-supported shoes with a low cushioned heel (high heels though elegant are bad for your posture).
• Avoid standing or sitting in one position for too long.
• Have a firm mattress and pillows positioned so the curves of your spine are in line.
• Ensure your seats support your spine with your feet comfortably on the ground.  A lumbar roll may help keep your posture upright and avoid slumping.
• Plan your work areas to avoid unnecessary bending and twisting.
• When lifting loads - keep the load close and balanced, use your legs and don't twist.
• Exercise regularly.

 
If you want any help to improve your posture our friendly physiotherapist can help,
just contact Therapy Professionals Ltd 
 
Ph:      (03) 377 5280                         Email:            [email protected]
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​As we age our bodies don’t function with the same ease they once did. This can be a slow and insidious process or a sudden shock after an accident or illness.  Over time we start finding some things aren’t as easy to do as they used to be, like: 
 

• turning on taps 
• getting out of chairs or cars
• pulling plugs out of the wall 
• lifting jugs and opening cans
• getting out and about
• showering and dressing
• cooking or swallowing
• gardening and cleaning
• hearing the phone or doorbell

 
Many of us stop doing things because it’s too hard and having to ask others to do or help with these tasks can be frustrating, inconvenient and embarrassing. 
 
Many of us don’t want to ask for help as we ‘don’t want to be a bother’ and we leave seeking help until we get into difficulty. We may struggle alone at home with little knowledge of the help available to assist our independence.
 
Feeling as if you are relying on family can make you feel like a burden and we want time with family to be precious and enjoyable, not a chore. You don’t have to struggle alone professional advice is available to help you maintain your freedom and avoid an unnecessary crisis. 

​If you, or anyone you know, is struggling to maintain their independence and confidence Therapy Professionals friendly therapists can help to make life easier.  They will suggest adapting your home or lifestyle, recommending alternative ways of doing things or giving tips on useful gadgets and equipment. 
 
You don’t have to struggle alone, we can help, we come to you.
 
Just contact us at 
 
            Therapy Professionals Ltd
            PO Box 7807, Christchurch
            
            Phone:           03 377 5280               Email: [email protected]
            
            Website:        www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz

What is it?
 
Osteoporosis (porous bone) is a loss of bone mass or density.  It is a silent thief that starts when you are younger and manifests itself when you are older.  It is a condition by which the pores of bone gradually become enlarged (holey bones), thus weakening the structure, until one day, a fracture occurs from some trivial incident, such as a good sneeze or hug or a minor fall.  An x-ray confirms the fracture, but osteoporosis cannot be detected unless 30 to 35% of bone density is already lost.   Osteoporotic bone differs in no way from normal bone, there is just less of it.
 
Males are usually affected at a later age simply because they have a greater bone density to start with.  Normal loss of bone density for males occurs at a slower and steadier rate than for females.  During the first five years of menopause in women, studies show that the rate of bone loss can be six times that of men.  Around the age of 65 to 70, it slows down again to a rate more equal to that of men.
 
Did you know that:

• some degree of osteoporosis occurs in about two-thirds of women over 65 years of age, but only about one fifth of men.

• with the normal ageing process, bone mass decreases faster than it can replace itself, resulting in a gradual loss of bone density.

 
How do I get it?
 
If you fit into one or more of these categories, you are at higher risk of having osteoporosis.

• you are a post-menopausal female
• you are of North European or Asian descent
• you are small framed
• you are light boned
• you have a slim figure
• you lack calcium in your diet
• you lead an inactive (sedentary lifestyle)
• your family has a history of osteoporosis
• you smoke, drink or use drugs excessively
• your doctor has determined that you have hormone deficiency
• you have been diagnosed as having hyperparathyroidism
• your ovaries have been surgically removed
• you have never been pregnant

 
How does it affect me?
 
It may cause joint pain.
 
In osteoporosis, the vertebrae become brittle and in severe cases can collapse from the body’s weight.

This may cause:

• a deformed spine or humped back (dowager’s hump)
• chronic back pain
• loss of several inches in height

In severe cases, it may cause bones to fracture easily for no apparent reason, even when turning in bed.
 
Reference: Healthy happy ageing:  a positive approach to active living
Yvonne Wagorn, Sonia Théberge, Dr William R Orba 

Everyone will feel puffed and out of breath after a burst of physical activity. But if you experience breathlessness while you are resting, it may be due to an underlying health condition.
 
Symptoms of breathlessness can range from mild shortness of breath to very fast gasping breaths that may cause:
 

• dizziness
• chest discomfort and/or tightness
• anxiety or fear.

 
Breathlessness may:
 

• happen suddenly and last a short or long time
• be frequent or rare
• pass quickly or be long term
• happen with exercise or at rest
• get worse if you lying flat or have a fever
• be accompanied by coughing, mucus and a tightness chest

 
There are a number of health conditions that may cause breathlessness, the common ones are:
 

• lung conditions such as asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD
• heart condition – atrial fibrillation, heart failure
• anxiety 
• being unfit
• obesity

 
If you experience breathlessness that’s not due to physical exertion see your doctor. Your Doctor will investigate the cause of your breathlessness and recommend a course of treatment which may include medication, breathing techniques and postures.
 
For some common lung conditions eg asthma, COPD, physiotherapists can help you manage your breathlessness by:
 

• controlled breathing including diaphragmatic breathing
• pursed lip breathing
• relaxed positions for breathing
• gentle exercise for posture and fitness
• clear mucus

 

Physiotherapists know how the lungs work and how illness and anxiety affect your breathing. They can help you:

• improve your breathing pattern
• ease your shortness of breath 
• relax and manage stress
• improve your fitness
• manage everyday activities better
• recognise and respond to changing symptoms 

 
To reduce the likelihood having a health condition that may cause breathlessness:

• don’t smoke
• maintain a healthy weight
• exercise regularly 
• manage stres

 
Our friendly physiotherapists can help improve your breathing and fitness. Just contact Therapy Professionals. 
 
                                     Ph       03 3775280  
                                     Email [email protected]
                                    Web    therapyprofessionals.co.nz