AOC Physiotherapists

Weekday locum required: Kuils River

An experienced, independent and hard-working locum physiotherapist is required for our busy out patient practice. A special interest in orthopaedic rehabilitation, chronic pain management and musculoskeletal physiotherapy is essential. OMT qualification preferred. Must be able to work independently and within a team setting. To start ASAP.

This post has the potential to become a permanent position.

Please send your CV to [email protected]

EMPLOYMENT OFFERED: KUILS RIVER
Permanent position available for an enthusiastic out-patient physiotherapist with a special interest in neuromusculoskeletal disorders, orthopaedic rehabilitation and chronic pain. Training and ongoing mentorship will be provided to the candidate who is keen to develop their skills and grow within this field of physiotherapy.
Requirements:
• 2 years experience in a similar role
• Ability to work independently and within a team setting
• HPCSA and SASP registration
• Valid Malpractice Insurance
Closing date: 1 June 2022. Please send CV’s to [email protected]

Join our physiotherapy team!!

An experienced, independent and hard-working physiotherapist is required for our busy out patient practice located in Kuils River. A special interest in orthopaedic rehabilitation, chronic pain management and musculoskeletal physiotherapy is essential. Must be able to work independently and within a team setting. To start July 2021.

Please send your CV to [email protected]

It’s a beautiful new day in a new week, in a new year.
We made it 2020!!

There were days that almost got the better of us, but we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all our patients, family and friends for all your support and love.

We know that we are still in the midst of battle, but we hope to continue to make a difference in the lives of our patients!!

Photo credit:

Levator Scapulae – An actual pain in the neck!!!

When it comes to pain and dysfunction in the neck and the shoulder, the Levator Scapular is usually one of the main culprits involved.

This muscle has many functions

In the shoulder:
It works together with other muscles to help us shrug our shoulders, scratch our backs and move our shoulder blades towards each other when sitting at a computer for too long.

In the neck:
It enables us to turn our heads from side to side and ear to shoulder, and allows us to tilt our heads backwards and admire the sky.

Prone to overuse and pain, the Levator Scapulae may be triggered by

👉🏽 Carrying a bag on one shoulder
👉🏽 Looking down/up at a computer for hours on end
👉🏽 Sleeping awkwardly in a chair or on a pillow
👉🏽 Looking upwards at a mounted TV/stage or even when cycling for prolonged periods

Debilitating at times, it may cause a stiff and painful neck or lead to cervical headaches or shoulder impingement syndromes.

Don’t fret, physiotherapists have many tools and techniques to manage and treat these symptoms. 👐🏽

Photo Credit:

Kuils River- Locum needed

26 October – 6 November 2020

Experienced, independent and hardworking physiotherapist required for our busy out-patient practice.

Must have a special interest in orthopaedic rehabilitation, chronic pain management and musculoskeletal physiotherapy. OMT preferable.

A minimum of 3 year’s experience is essential.

Please send your CV to [email protected]

It can be quite difficult to get moving after orthopaedic surgery. Even after weeks of exercise, you may not be able to move as you normally would.

However, it is this patient’s ultimate goal to be able to kneel comfortably for his daily prayers.

We have been working hard to improve his range of movement and his ability to load his knee joint at various ranges, which is necessary for him to be able to perform his job.

He is not there yet, but we are pretty impressed at his improved range of movement and determination to reach his goal.

You got this!!! 👏👏👏

Back Pain and the Quadratus Lumborum
Where there’s back pain, there’s usually a tightened Quadratus Lumborum (QL) muscle close by.

This deep seated muscle attaches to the 12th rib, spine and the pelvis, functioning mainly to stabilize the spine during movement and breathing. Its other job is to extend the spine backwards and sideways.

With overuse and strain, this muscle can tighten up, making these movements difficult and painful to do.

So if you are experiencing:
⚡Persistent deep aching pain
⚡Difficulty bending forward and sideways
⚡Pain with coughing or sneezing
⚡Pain when sitting too long or rising from a chair
Then chances are your QL muscles are one of the major contributors

These deep (and invigorating) stretches are a good way to help manage the stiffness and pain.

Disclaimer: Our passion is to educate and inform you, therefore if you are experiencing severe pain, we advise that you consult a physiotherapist for a more personalised treatment.

Xrays and MRI Scans are amazing pieces of technology, giving us the superhuman power to see inside of the human body, however it’s not always helpful in diagnosing lower back pain (LBP).

Most findings in LBP sufferers are usually due to the normal aging processes and are not linked to the actual back pain. 📸These “snapshots in time” do not even take the clinical signs and symptoms of the back pain into consideration.

At times, these scans can pick up too much information, revealing all sorts of structural dysfunction such as disc herniations, protrusions and degeneration where there is absolutely no pain.

With all the flashy medical terms used, it can even trigger unnecessary alarm and fear, which can lead to a fear of movement and ultimately a worsening pain picture.

According to clinical guidelines, imaging should only be used if there is a suspicion of red flags such as malignancy, infection in the spine, Cauda Equina and spinal fractures.

So whether you are considering getting a scan or are attempting to understand your report, it’s important to remember:

👉 About 40% of people with disc bulges on X-ray have NO lower back pain

👉 Discs are bigger in the morning and changes during the course of the day

👉 Scans can change over time e.g. previous disc prolapses can shrink

👉 Scans don’t predict your level of pain

👉 People with no LBP can have worse looking X-ray or MRI imaging than people with LBP

👉 Just like wrinkles on our aging faces, it is normal for spines to show degeneration and disc narrowing

BOTTOM LINE – Scans shouldn’t be our first point of reference when diagnosing lower back pain unless there are red flags.

September 7-11 is Back week!

Did you know that Lower Back Pain (LBP) is one of the major causes of disability in the world?

Persistent back pain can be debilitating and downright scary at times, but it is rarely dangerous.

In fact what aggravates our pain and drives our disability are unhelpful beliefs a myths about back pain. 😰

This week we will be busting those myths and share the facts about how you can manage and care for your lower back pain.