The Summer of Tennis is a busy time of year for Physioworks Health Group Physiotherapist Amy Shipperd, who regularly works as an onsite physiotherapist at national and international tennis tournaments held at Melbourne Park.

Amy Shipperd has a keen focus on sports physiotherapy, including tennis physiotherapy, developed from her long term involvement and understanding of tennis, which she has played for 20+ years, including two years on scholarship playing US College Tennis in America.

Recently, Amy worked as the onsite physiotherapist at the Australian National Wheelchair Tennis Championships, held in Melbourne in November.

Amy worked with Paralympian Gold Medallist Heath Davidson during the event, and reports no major injuries to the athletes, however numerous wrist/elbow/shoulder overload injuries and blisters from the racquet and wheelchairs.

Go here for more information on the Australian National Wheelchair Tennis Championships

For a tennis injury consult, please contact Physiotherapist Amy Shipperd at our Camberwell or Mulgrave clinics.

The Victorian Netball League (VNL) is the premier netball competition in Victoria, and Physioworks Health Group will in the thick of the action as the physiotherapy, allied health care and community partner to the Casey Demons Netball Club.

Casey Demons are one of 10 clubs selected to be part of the new BUPA VNL, with the season commencing in early 2019.

Physioworks Health Group Director and Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist* David Francis (FACP) will oversee the Casey Demons Netball program for the inaugural season, with Physiotherapist Amanda Robertson and Soft Tissue Massage Therapist Karyn Wheeler already busy supporting the Casey Demons squad during pre-season training and practice matches.

“It is an exciting time for the Casey Demons and the development & participation of netball in Casey region. Physioworks Health Group are delighted to support the club as community partner; and work together with all the Casey Demons athletes in their inaugural season, and beyond, to help the squad achieve optimum performance and success.” said David Francis.

*As awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapy in 2009.

Three of the Physioworks Health Group physiotherapy team recently spent three days at the MCG – not watching sport but in-fact learning from world renowned speakers on pain sciences and chronic back pain.

Physioworks Director Andrew Dalwood, APA Sports Physiotherapist Scott Williams & Physiotherapist Jack Manson attended the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute “Explain Pain” course.

Keynote presenter was Dr. Lorimer Moseley, Professor of Clinical Neurosciences & Chair in Physiotherapy at the University of SA, who has world leading expertise in pain management with over 25 years of clinical experience working with people in chronic pain, and has contributed to extensive research with publications in international journals.

Physioworks Health Group is committed to further education of our team to ensure latest clinical and research learnings can be applied in patient assessment and management.

The Physioworks team attended to further their clinical understanding in assisting people experiencing acute and chronic pain, particularly chronic back pain. The aim of the course was to advance thinking, understanding and treatment of pain with a blend of lectures, interaction and practical workshops.

Key learnings and outcomes for the team from “Explain Pain” course include:

• Latest biological understanding of chronic pain and how different body systems can influence the amount of pain a person has; including

– The role of the individuals thoughts or beliefs about their condition
– The impact of scan findings can have on a person’s pain
– The important role of quality sleep, impacts of the immune system and its health on the individuals pain level.

• Management of persistent back pain was discussed; including questioning beliefs about the correct postures to adopt and methods on lifting, all of which enhances our management of patients with long standing back pain.

Please contact your preferred Physioworks Health Group clinic for assistance with chronic back pain or the assessment and management of other long standing pain issues.

Physioworks Health Group Physiotherapist Millie Berkhout, who is the current team physiotherapist for Collingwood AFLW and VFLW teams (since 2017), discusses why a high level of injuries are occurring in woman’s football.

Over the last two-three years there has been a large increase in participation in elite and community women’s football at both junior and senior level.

Health care professionals working in the female football environment are focusing on injury rates, including conducting research and reporting looking at aspects unique to females and how we can work to reduce or avoid injury.

The AFLW 2018 Injury Report showed that the two most common injuries leading to missed time in women’s football at the AFLW level are Concussion and ACL rupture – a pattern that is echoed in other contact sports involving women. The Report stated:

• Concussion: There is 3.2 injuries per 1000 player hours in AFLW compared to just 1.5 injuries per 1000 hours in AFL (men)
• ACL rupture: The rates are even more alarming; with 4.31 injuries per 1000 player hours in the AFLW compared to 0.7 per 1000 hours in the AFL (men)

There are many factors that lead to these injury differences; including:

• Concussion: One of the key differences is neck strength
• ACL rupture: Females are more susceptible due to a wide range of factors including differences in hormones, anatomy, strength, biomechanics.

As physios we are working with the athletes (and the clubs) to try to change the factors which we have control over, including strength and biomechanics (in particular jump and land technique).

As a physiotherapist working in an AFLW environment, I am contributing to a research study with Latrobe University called “Developing an optimised knee injury risk reduction training program for elite female Australian Rules Football players”.

New guidelines are being developed though this study to show a group of exercises that any females taking part in football should follow as a preventative for ACL rupture. These types of exercise programs should then be put in place all the way down to the community female football level.

If you are a female playing football, or any other contact sport (as many of these injury factors are similar across various codes) a basic screening by a physiotherapist at Physioworks Health Group can help develop and tailor a program to help you reduce your risk of injury, while also improving your strength and your performance.

Contact your preferred Physioworks Health Group clinic.

Optimum performance in 2019 in your chosen winter sport – AFL, AFLW, Soccer, Netball, Athletics – starts now with your pre-season program.

Clinical Strength & Conditioning at Physioworks Health Group provides athletes with comprehensive coaching & guidance on strength training.

Participants will receive one-on-one coaching, with an individually tailored program designed by Irwin Kim, an APA accredited Physiotherapist and Strength & Conditioning (S&C) coach.

David Francis, Physioworks Director and Senior Physiotherapist at the Collingwood Football Club (AFL) says building strength, particularly in young, dynamic bodies, is a key to performance output.  “The Physioworks S&C program is targeted at addressing movement control & strength deficits of the athlete and improving on-field performance. In Irwin Kim we provide an assurance that your program will be supervised by a coach & health care professional highly qualified to address any current or previous injuries’’ said David.

Clinical S&C is suitable for anyone who is looking to perform at their optimum level regardless of your training history or sporting field/arena.

Irwin Kim has assisted players from the South East Football Netball League (SEFNL), the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (MPNFL), the Australian Volleyball League & numerous other athletes from a range of sports

Where and when is the S&C program available?

Clinical S&C assessments are available at Physioworks Cranbourne, Pakenham and Berwick clinics.

• One-on-one Assessments: $80.00
• One-on-one Sessions: $80.00
• Group class (60 mins): $55.00
• Every Wednesday (8-9pm) at Physioworks Cranbourne.

For further details or any inquiries about the Clinical S&C Programs with Irwin Kim please contact our reception team at Physioworks Health Group Cranbourne on (03) 5995 1111.