Have you ever felt tired, even after sleeping for nine or ten hours? Sleep is something we do spontaneously and instinctively. Most of us can sleep, but not all of us sleep efficiently.

I recently chatted with Lynette Pickersgill (Practice Principal here at Buderim Advanced Physiotherapy) about the role of Botox injections in treating Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD).

TMD is a common condition that may cause painful, stiff and sometimes clicky jaws along with many other associated problems. 

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are jaw disorders on one or both sides of the head. They may be caused by problems with the temporomandibular joint, the masticatory aka chewing muscles, and the associated head and neck muscles, joints and nerves. The result is usually pain in the jaw, problems opening the mouth, chewing and sometimes drinking. Quite often, headaches are experienced as part of the clinical presentation.

According to Seung-Hun Cho & Wang (2010) and Justo et al. (2017), acupuncture is an effective symptomatic treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction and from our experience is definitely with considering as a treatment option.

A runner's body is subject to much wear and tear: The longer and faster the runs, the greater the wear and tear over time.

Our muscles seem to deal with most of the wear and tear, which over time, can lead to muscle imbalance, pain and reduced running efficiency.

An example of muscle imbalance may start with a weak gluteus medius resulting in overactivity of the upper gluteus maximus, tensor fasciae latae, and lateral quadriceps muscles. Such muscle imbalance may lead to knee pain (patellofemoral pain syndrome) and possibly patellar tendinopathy. The overactive muscles themselves may also become painful due to the development of myofascial trigger points.

Last week I was lifting something heavy and awkward and felt a tweak just below my right elbow. Over the next few hours, I experienced pain and weakness on lifting and gripping activities involving my right hand as well as tenderness over the muscle which runs from just above the outer elbow to the back of the hand, the extensor carpi radialis longus.

What you eat has a massive impact on your brain’s health. Good dietary choices can protect you against severe neurological diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. But eating well doesn’t just help improve your long-term health – it can also make you sharper, more balanced and happier.

Author Max Lugavere has developed The Genius Plan, which starts with a 14-day period in which you focus on eliminating brain-toxic foods like sugar, processed oils and grain products. Reducing your consumption of these types of foods will reduce long-term brain inflammation.

Brain inflammation can cause all sorts of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s, ALS and Parkinson’s, anxiety, depression, lethargy and reduced cognitive functioning.

Did you know? By simply blocking light from your eyes and controlling your breath for a while, you can recharge yourself.

When we talk about the importance of rest, we’re not just talking about getting enough sleep. Rest is anything that helps you revitalize yourself. Regardless of how much sleep you get, you could probably use some more refreshment throughout the day.

• Fatigue
• Shortness of Breath (dyspnoea)
• Headaches, confusion, or seizures
• Reduced concentration or "brain fog."
• Joint or muscle pain
• Chest Pain or tightness
• Cough
• Loss of Smell (anosmia)

• Corrective breathing techniques and home exercises 
• Activity pacing 
• Cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility exercise programmes
• Diet and nutrition information and education resources
• Medical acupuncture to support the function and recovery of the immune system and help ease muscle and joint pain. For more information, please click here
• Manual therapy to help alleviate muscle tension and assist in improving joint mobility

Manual therapy is a term used to describe most techniques Chartered Physiotherapists do mainly with their hands. These are techniques physiotherapists learn at university and requires a lot of practice to perform correctly and effectively.