New Year. New Goals? Avoid Those Aches & Pains!!

So by now, most of us are back into the work routine, kids (if applicable) back in school and the New Years resolutions hopefully still intact.

For those who have decided to get fitter & healthier in 2013, here are some tips to help you achieve your goals while maintaining a healthy body.

• Goals
• Stretch
• Hydration
• Pace
• Recovery

Growing Pains? or Maybe Not..

Juvenile Arthritis (or Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis) - is an umbrella bracket for various arthritis conditions in children. It is a common condition in Ireland and yet awareness of the condition is still quite low.

While arthritis can affect each child on different levels, most children with Juvenile Arthritis should expect to live a full life and are encouraged to enjoy activities in school & outside too.

September was Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, and I wanted to look more into the condition.  Please have a read on to find more about this condition.

"Sit up straight and stop slouching". Why Mums are always right!

As children we've all been told to 'sit up straight', 'stop slouching' or 'pull your shoulders back'. So, was this our parents nagging us for the sake of it or were they doing it for our own benefit? To be honest growing up I knew nothing about posture really, nor did I particularly care - I wasn't particularly aware of my own, or anybody else’s. Since studying Physical Therapy, however, I am now constantly looking at peoples' posture and how they 'carry' themselves!

So, what is Good Posture??

“Good Posture” is defined as the position in which the body can function most effectively, while under the least amount of strain.

Pregnancy Massage and its Benefits

As some of you know, I spent the first seven months of 2011 pregnant.  During this time, my husband treated me to a Pregnancy Massage.   I'd heard about this before as I had sent my sister to one a couple of years before at the Walmer Clinic, and she raved about it afterwards.

Mine was absolutely what I needed at the time.  Due to the nature of my work as a Physical Therapist; being on my feet most of the time, stretching and moving my patients around, the main objective for me was relaxation, rather than to treat any specific pregnancy related symptom.  Pregnancy massage can do both, so if you're simply looking for a relaxing massage to ease the strain, or have a specific problem that you need resolved, this treatment is suitable for either.