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Category Archives: Managing Chronic Conditions
Scleroderma – symptoms, concerns and considerations for movement and exercise
Fri,Mar 19, 2021 at 01:52PM by Carla Mullins
Scleroderma, is rare and even more so in males, with the disease most commonly occurring in females between the ages of 35 and 55 years. About 30% of people with the disease will survive for 20 years or more after prognosis. However, males have a poorer prognosis for disease survivorship (Lofgren et al 2016).
Sinus problems- who nose what to do about them?
Wed,Oct 28, 2020 at 09:03AM by Carla Mullins
Sinus – Who nose what you can do about them? The puffy face, bags under the eyes and difficulty breathing is a classic sign of the sinus sufferer. I live with two sinus suffering males, and they joke that my nose is not big enough to have sinus problems. As I push my glasses…..
Hindsight is 2020
Sat,Oct 24, 2020 at 07:35PM by Carla Mullins
Hindsight is 2020, we often wish we also had foresight, but for many of us a functioning visual system would do. Sadly for many of us, our vision is not as it should be thanks to age, ill-health or too much screen time. Poor visual processing can have consequences in neck pain and strain, falls,…..
Chronic stress and its consequences for the immune system
Sat,Sep 12, 2020 at 01:18PM by Carla Mullins
What is stress? “Stress is defined as a process in which environmental demands strain an organism’s adaptive capacity resulting in both psychological demands as well as biological changes that could place it at risk for illness.”(Cohen, Kessler & Gordon, 1995) There are many different theories about stress and about how and why stress affects the…..
We are not Immune
Mon,Feb 10, 2020 at 07:11PM by Carla Mullins
It is often said we take our health for granted, but the reality is that it is our underlying immune system that is the forgotten hero. It is our immune system that is challenged the most in times of stress, particularly chronic stress. Chronic stress is apparent after large scale disasters such as cyclones, hurricanes,…..
Low Back Pain – causes, treatment and prevention
Thu,Jul 18, 2019 at 05:19PM by Body Organics
Low Back Pain – recognise the cause Be it acute or chronic, living with low back pain is an alarmingly common affliction. Despite the best efforts of health professionals worldwide, low back pain (LBP) is the number one cause for disability globally. Low back a pain has doubled in prevalence in the past 25 years,…..
MAKARLU LOTUS WINS AUSTRALIA’S COVETED GOOD DESIGN AWARD FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE.
Fri,Jul 12, 2019 at 05:43PM by Michael Schwarer
The winners of Australia’s peak industry design awards – the highest honour for design and innovation in the country – were announced at The Star on 11 July at the 61st annual Good Design Awards Ceremony. Makarlu Lotus received a prestigious Good Design Award Gold Accolade in the Product Design category in recognition for…..
Balance and falls prevention – Don’t be the fall guy!
Mon,Jun 24, 2019 at 04:00PM by Carla Mullins
“I had a fall” is something that no one wants to hear their older parents or clients say. Balance and falls Falls are sometimes thought of as ‘just one of those things’ that are part and parcel of getting older, with balance and falls issues being all too common. There is no dispute that balance…..
Can I claim a rebate for my Pilates classes after 1st April 2019?
Fri,Mar 29, 2019 at 08:04AM by Michael Schwarer
Private health insurance reforms effective 1st April 2019 As many would have recently seen in the media and also been notified by their private health fund, as of 1st April there are a number of changes to how your private health insurance operates. One change has resulted from the Department of Health conducting a review…..
A joint action on Rheumatoid Arthritis with Pilates
Wed,Mar 27, 2019 at 02:41PM by Carla Mullins
I have a distinct memory of a girl in my grade 4 class having Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and how this impacted her. At the time I did not appreciate the pain and the fear that she was experiencing – but I did understand what it was like to be different, and so we became friends……
Osteoarthritis causes and treatment options to consider
Sun,Mar 24, 2019 at 10:56AM by Body Organics
What is osteoarthritis? Most people have heard of osteoarthritis (OA). For those who haven’t, OA is the accelerated wear down of cartilage in joints of the body. In advanced stages where cartilage has worn through entirely, bony surfaces can be exposed which causes friction and damage to the bone when the joint moves. People often…..
Tania Huddart on pilates and the contractile field model
Fri,Jan 04, 2019 at 05:51PM by Tania Huddart
I am so excited to be sharing the Contractile Field model in the Pilates studio with you. It has so far been a five-year journey of discovery. Writing this article made me reflect anew on how much my approach to Pilates and my own body has changed. This way of thinking has even influenced my…..
Plantar fasciitis exercises using Makarlu Lotus
Fri,Jan 04, 2019 at 03:24PM by Carla Mullins
Those who suffer from plantar fasciitis well know that familiar, sharp pain in the heel and bottom of the foot. Taking those tentative first steps when you get out of bed each day can be a less than pleasant experience! Pain is also frequently brought on by bending the foot and toes up towards the shin, making walking painful…..
Pilates strategies for foot drop
Tue,Jan 01, 2019 at 03:28PM by Carla Mullins
Pilates strategies for preventing and treating foot drop This article was written in 2016 and has been updated in 2019 to include additional exercises and information. It is a topic covered in our online Anatomy Dimensions foot course, for those interested in learning more. What is Foot Drop? Foot drop is a simple way to…..
Massage therapy – what are the benefits?
Mon,Dec 03, 2018 at 05:28PM by Laura Kinmont
Massage therapy has been around for thousands of years The practice of massage therapy and the use of touch as a natural healing tool has records of use dating back thousands of years. Civilisations in the East and West found that massage and natural healing could help treat injuries and relieve pain as well as…..
Ankylosing spondylitis – treatments and pilates exercises
Sat,Aug 25, 2018 at 08:52PM by Carla Mullins
What is ankylosing spondylitis? Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune condition affecting the joints of the spine, particularly the sacroiliac joint (SIJ), but can affect all parts of the spine and other joints within the body. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms can include: // Stiffness. One client described the sensation that their back moved like a…..
Baker’s cysts and exercise
Sun,Jul 15, 2018 at 06:33AM by Carla Mullins
“Bury me standing because I have lived my life on my knees” (old Romany proverb) It is not unusual for a person to come into a movement class complaining of tightness or restriction behind the knee, with the pain increasing when they fully flex or bends the knee. The physiotherapist or doctor tells them it…..
Raynaud’s syndrome – ideas for working with movement
Wed,Jun 20, 2018 at 03:00PM by Carla Mullins
And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour. (William Blake – Auguries of Innocence) My father died from complications associated with systemic scleroderma in 2005. In the years before his death I would sometimes notice a blue tinge to his hands and feet,…..
Gluteal tendinopathy explained – symptoms, exercises and more
Tue,Jan 02, 2018 at 04:30PM by Carla Mullins
Gluteal tendinopathy and why it’s “Love me tendon…” Using an unashamed pun from Elvis and his classic song Love me Tender, our article Love me Tendon explains gluteal tendinopathy, its pathology and its symptoms. It also provides exercises and great ideas on programs for recovery and rehabilitation. And your clients will love the improvements to their glute med…..
Lateral ankle sprain – treatment and exercises
Tue,Sep 19, 2017 at 06:47PM by Douglas Wilson
Lateral ankle sprain and why you should promptly seek treatment Lateral ankle sprain or LAS is the most prevalent musculoskeletal injury in Australia with 70% of the population involved in both recreational and competitive sports reporting a prior history. This frequent occurrence can lead many people to assume that “it will be right – things…..
Ideas for peripheral neuropathy and exercise
Tue,Aug 29, 2017 at 04:51PM by Carla Mullins
Tingling and numbness in the peripheries – could it be peripheral neuropathy? Our hands and feet are essential for daily life, and so it is little wonder that peripheral neuropathy can be so devastating. It can impact daily activities and walking or even holding a cup can be extremely painful. There are many reasons why…..