Proper Cycling with the Aid of a Physiotherapist

As a very active person, I tend to put my body under a lot of strain while exercising or doing sport. Beyond that, I am always at a risk of injuries especially when I go out biking, my favourite activity. Living in a country where there are many beautiful destinations to see by bicycle, I take every chance I get to go riding. However, my weekly cycling trips have eventually led to some pain in my knees and my back.

The best way to deal with the pain and figure out its root cause is to consult with a physiotherapist in Werribee. It got to a point where my mobility was affected, so it was necessary to go for therapy to strengthen my body again. Doing so will also allow me to take part in my favourite activities again but hopefully, avoiding the errors that have led to my injuries. 

When looking for an expert to handle your therapy, it is always an advantage to work with someone who has extensive knowledge and experience in sports injuries. Russell Thompson, an experienced physio in Werribee area, has handled similar cases in his many years of practice. More than that, he himself is an avid cyclist who has also travelled around Europe on his bicycle. During our first meeting, we spent some time talking about our passion and I knew immediately that he was the perfect person to get me back to cycling.

In our first consultation, I described the pain I was feeling and what activities I have been taking part in. A full assessment was conducted, checking parts of my body that were too strained because of biking. Beyond that, I also demonstrated my techniques so that he could diagnose my mistakes. After all, I have not been professionally trained nor do I work with a coach that can direct me in my cycling technique so I knew the chances were high that I was not doing it properly.

I also came to understand the normal injuries that cyclists endure and how physiotherapists like Russell Thompson help treat them. As he explained them to me, I realized that I may have had more signs of bad cycling practices, ones I have completely been ignoring.

1. Leg Cramps

Almost everyone who spends a few hours on the bicycle will come to expect this injury afterward. Because of the work the leg muscles have to do, they contract and become stiff. This can really lead to some serious pain later on. While it may be normal, experiencing it regularly and too intense aching that keeps you from biking is not a good sign.

Your physiotherapist can greatly provide relief to your aching legs through deep tissue massage therapy and passive stretching. He may also be able to give advice on how to prevent cramps in the future.

2. Knee Pain

When biking steep elevations, cyclists who use the wrong gears or even have the inappropriate bicycles can certainly feel some pain in their knees. If not careful and when done repeatedly, there is a real risk of causing long-term damage to their knees.

This is why consulting with an expert in cycling is very helpful. First of all, he can help choose the right kind of bicycle, depending on the activity you engage in. He will then be able to look at how the bicycle is set up, how high the seat is and if the handles are at the right level. Even the position of the pedals and the pedalling technique matters, so a full assessment should be done to correct these mistakes and lessen the strain on the knees. Your physiotherapist may also introduce the right warm-up and stretching exercises to prime you for a gruelling ride.

Despite this, cyclists can still expect a bit of knee pain especially when they are frequently climbing steep hills. Visiting your physio clinic can help address these symptoms and help you strengthen this part of your body to prevent recurring injuries.

3. Back Injuries

Hunching over for hours while biking can certainly take its toll. Worse, when the road is not as smooth, any bump will affect your back. Even if you have the best posture, you will still benefit from visiting your physiotherapist to deal with your back pain, especially since this is an issue you can expect to have regularly as a cyclist.

Working with your physio clinic can help reduce the pain through soft tissue massage, joint mobilization, and passive muscle stretching. Improper posture can also be corrected, and core strengthening programs can be done to avoid future injuries.

Your qualified and experienced physiotherapist can be your partner in making sure that you are biking properly and safely. After all, there is a huge difference between cycling in the city for 10 minutes to go to work and doing it for hours, climbing steep hills. It can be very strenuous and dangerous to your body if not done with the guidance of an expert. Lastly, they may also help you with pain and strain that it causes, helping you get stronger and fitter to continue doing your favourite activity.

Up to the Minute 2017 Haircut in Melbourne

A haircut is definitely a big deal for working women like me especially because it is a statement by itself. For example, short hair may imply a more active and adventurous personality whereas a long and well maintained hair suggests a more demure aura fit for a lady. I personally differentiate haircut from hair trim. The former is a rather radical change in the styling of the hair whether from a straight cut into layers while the latter is more maintaining the current look and concerns the removal of split ends of the hair. I do not usually get a haircut but the haircut trend 2017 has convinced me just recently. The trends include but not limited to the following styles: short or medium beach waves, shoulder-length layers, medium length highlights and wavy bob. As my aesthetics change as the trends do, I wanted to have my haircut. Besides, I have noticed numerous split ends on the tips on my hair.

Before I decided to search for the best hairdressers in Melbourne CBD area, I took time to search for images of hairstyles through the internet. It was a rather hard task to find a haircut than to decide whether to have my hair cut or not. I have attempted several times before I finally chose one. Because my workload does not permit a more flexible schedule, I chose a salon near where I lived. It was a good thing there were a lot of experienced stylists in that area. You can even check out their Instagram page for more details about their great hairstyle creations. 

Though I prioritized the stylists, I also looked into the salon package offers to be able to choose the most promising yet affordable services. I decided to go the salon with the package which included the haircut, keratin treatment and basic hair colouring. As mentioned, I’ve looked for a specific cut I wanted to have. And this is what I showed the stylist. The stylist then recommended modifications of the hairstyle I showed to better fit the size of my face. She also suggested that I have my hair coloured with hazelnut brown base and a lighter shade for some highlights.

The anxiousness brought about by having my hair styled did not disappear although my stylist has assured me that she will be delivering only the best haircut based on the photo I showed her. The fear of having a bad haircut disturbs me more than not meeting a deadline in the office.

Well, this is because a bad haircut needs 5 months or so to look better. I felt relaxed when the assistant called me up to shampoo my hair before my cut. But, after the washing I saw trimmings of hair on the floor and once again thought of having a bad haircut. This led me to be more nervous when my stylist began chopping my hair into medium length. I can’t stop looking down to check the pieces of cut hair on the floor.

I immediately felt regret. Those lengthy hair on the floor costs around a year or so in growth and in a span of a few minutes they’re gone. I wanted to back off yet that is not such a good thing to do you know. I had half my hair already cut so might as well have it all styled. Thus, I took a deep breath and read a magazine offered to me by the assistant as I wait for the cutting and colouring to finish.

To avoid disappointment, my stylists constantly asks me to check on the length that will be cut. It only took revisions before she delivered the style I wanted to see after the session. The cutting lasted for roughly thirty to forty-five minutes. After this, my stylist immediately used a mirror to show me the back portion of my hair. I was delighted to see the sharp layers she has done. The highlights indeed complemented the cut and the style. I cannot help touching my newly styled hair. It looked way better that I expected it to be when I booked and entered the salon. It was a total reinvention of my hair from the cut and style to the colour.

The day after i had my hair chopped was a working day. As I predicted, my co-workers approached me to ask when I got it styled, where I got my haircut and why I cut it. Of these surrounding questions, the compliments were the ones I remembered. Most of my co-workers commented that I looked awesome with my new hair. The most flattering statement I could recall would probably be: “You look younger and more chic than ever!” It was a good thing this change a ventured into was a positive one.

Though having a haircut is a constant risk to be faced, I am usually motivated by the fact that it will grow back. It may take months to grow it but a highly possible haircut is just minutes away. I recommend others do the same as I did. Think before you cut your hair. Search the internet for trends and then ask experts for opinions to better achieve suitable for your lifestyle and personality. In this way, there are the least chances of regrets.