Have you been recently diagnosed with Gluteal Tendinopathy or do you find yourself experiencing pain in the outside of your hip after exercise or sitting for a long time?

Gluteal Tendinopathy is a form of lateral hip pain that affects the gluteal tendons attached to the side of the hip joint, causing pain or dysfunction. These tendons connect to the gluteal muscles and facilitate movement of the hip in multiple directions, as well as controlling the hip and pelvis motion during weight-bearing activities such as walking or running.

Pain in the area can occur in anyone at all ages, but it seems to be most common in women aged 40-60 years old. This is likely due to pelvis shape and structure, hormone fluctuations and body composition. Furthermore, most tendinopathies occur due to a sudden change in loading, such as an increase in exercise or activity.

Common symptoms of Gluteal Tendinopathy include localised pain at the side of the hip, pain in the morning or after lying on your side, and pain when sitting crossed-legs or walking upstairs.

The management of Gluteal Tendinopathy involves initially reducing aggravating factors, such as avoiding sitting with legs crossing the midline and using pillows to support sleeping position. This reduces the compression on the tendon and thus it’s sensitivity.

Furthermore, research has shown that strengthening the gluteal muscles is the best way to reduce and manage most sources of lateral hip pain. Physiotherapy can assist with guiding exercise selection and ensuring you’re working at the right level.

By strengthening targeted muscles, this reduces load on the tendon itself. Ideally the load should be heavy and challenging but should not aggravate your pain. Further to this, your physiotherapist will assess the surrounding muscles that make up the kinetic chain. This may include other hip muscles and abdominal muscles. Weakness in these areas can contribute to poor movement patterns which can perpetuate lateral hip pain.

Contact our experienced physiotherapists for more information or book in for a targeted assessment and management program that suits your individual needs. At Complete Balance Physiotherapy, we ensure the individual is treated with elite level care that ensures they return to full function and activity pain-free.

Many people suffer from headaches, sometimes on a daily basis, and can often notice pain referring down into their upper neck and shoulders.

The muscles and nerves supporting the upper neck can become sensitised, either through an acute injury such as whiplash, or over a period of time due to prolonged tension in the area and inefficient movement patterns.

These sensitised nerves send information up to the brain causing headache-like symptoms such as pressure in the front of the head, difficulty looking at bright lights and even nausea or dizziness. They can also result in pain or difficulty with certain movements, such as turning your head to look over your shoulder. You may even find a particular ‘pressure point’ where your neck joins the base of your skull which can sometimes reproduce and refer pain around your head.

Research has also shown us that there is an increase in cranial and upper neck muscle activity in migraine sufferers compared to non-migraine sufferers, indicating a possible link between the role of these muscles and headache onset.

Physiotherapy can help reduced the severity of these headache symptoms and associated neck pain through a combined approach of manual therapy to treat the sensitised area and exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscle systems – particularly around the neck, as well as the shoulders and upper back.

In addition, we advise taking regular breaks from stationary positions when working at a desk or sitting behind a computer. These set ups can be ergonomically adjusted to optimise your seated position. Despite this, the best remedy is movement, and it is advised to regularly change position throughout the day. Physiotherapy can also help by prescribing stretches and exercises to assist with this daily preventative management.

Research has also indicated a possible link between migraine prevention and the supplementation of magnesium. The body best absorbs water-soluble supplements, and so it’s best to look for magnesium paired with asparate, citrate, lactate or chloride. Magnesium supplements can be taken on a daily basis, but always best to consult your GP or pharmacist to ensure it’s individual suitability.

If you find yourself suffering for neck pain and headaches or would like to know more, please contact Complete Balance Physiotherapy to book an appointment.

Patella Tendinitis is a troublesome knee musculoskeletal injury, known as ‘jumper’s knee’. This injury is often a result of increased loading around the tendon of the anterior (front) knee. 

Presentations are found amongst high performing athletes competing in high knee loading (eg. jumping or landing) sports such as; football, basketball, tennis and dancing. Similarly, it can present in recreational athletes who have recently started or increased activity. 

The patella tendon can have multiple factors contributing including but not limited to:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is often a debilitating condition leaving people feeling very lost with in the medical system to how best to manage this condition.

It was once believed the only way to manage osteoarthritis was through surgery. More recent evidence shows us that a combination of exercise, education and weight management can be more beneficial than surgery and should be the first line treatment option for OA!

Even with this knowledge only 50% of people are offered this approach to manage their OA which is not good enough.

Are YOU getting the BEST management options for you and your osteoarthritis?

The GLA:D program is an evidenced-based, small group program consisting of 12 neuromuscular exercise training sessions and 2 education sessions delivered over 6-8 weeks. This program incorporates what is known to be the best first line care for OA and is delivered in one easy package.

Participants who have completed a GLA:D program show a reduction in pain by an average of 36% and an improvement in joint related quality of life by 25% after just 3 months of the GLA:D the program.

At 12 months post the program, 75% of participants report a meaningful improvement in pain and quality of life!

Make sure YOU don’t miss out on the best care possible. Discuss how the GLA:D program can assist you with your Physiotherapist at Complete Balance Physio or your local GP, and ensure you put yourself in the best position to manage your osteoarthritis!

Groin pain is common in kicking and evasion sports such as Australian football, Soccer and rugby. Previously known as ‘osteitis pubis’ it can be a challenging injury for both athletes and medical teams to manage.

A thorough understanding of the anatomy, biomechanics and function is required to manage these injuries effectively.