Author Archives: Rhiannon.lewis@perthphysio.com.au

What is Active Ageing?

As we age, we can experience a physiological decline in both physical function and mental abilities. This can include loss of muscle mass, reduced memory, reduced balance, increased difficulty performing daily tasks and increase the risk of chronic conditions. However, we also know that exercise can help to reduce this decline, and in fact improve our physical functioning, reduce the risk of chronic conditions and improve memory.

We know that exercise and physical activity has a multifaceted benefit on our health and wellbeing. Being physically active as we age is imperative to maintaining function, independence, physical functioning during activities of daily living as well as psychological benefits.

In Australia, there is a large portion of the population who are not participating in the recommended level of physical activity. Physical activity incorporates and body movement via the skeletal muscles that results in the expenditure of energy. This includes housework, activities of daily living and structured exercise.

It is recommended that adults over the age of 65 participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every day of the week. Including a combination of aerobic fitness, weight training and balance. So what does this mean?

• Aerobic fitness or cardiorespiratory training may include walking, swimming or cycling
• Resistance training includes exercises where you have to move against a resistance with the aim to improve strength. Such as bicep curls, sit to stands, wall push-ups, step ups, shoulder press, etc. These can be performed with weights or using body weight as the resistance
• Balance training includes movements such as heel-toe walking, standing on one leg or standing on an uneven surface such as a cushion

For people with chronic or complex conditions or joint pain, it is important to seek an exercise professional who can create a tailored exercise program to optimise your health and function based on your health and personal goals.

Penny is our Remedial Massage Therapist!

Massage can help on different levels such as reducing muscle tension and anxiety, increasing range of motion, and improving blood circulation and sleeping and much more.

Penny likes to help people and when she see how much she can help improve movement or pain with her treatments it gives her great satisfaction to know she can make a difference. This makes her life full and gives her a great sense of well-being and achievement.

Penny has extensive experience in:

• Pregnancy massage
• Trigger point therapy
• Sport massage
• Swedish Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Myofascial release

Penny loves to travel. She enjoys learning about cultural diversity during traveling and meeting new people. She enjoys taking photographs to remember the places she’s been.

Graduated at Curtin University in 2019. “I am passionate about working with people. I was drawn to Physiotherapy as it provided me with the opportunity to treat people in pain and empower them to achieve their goals. I believe in a holistic approach and that pain can be improved.

In therapy, I use a combination of soft tissue techniques, dry needling, Pilates and education to speed my clients’ recovery along.”

Laura has extensive experience in

– Clinical Pilates classes
– Gym-based rehabilitation
– Neck and back pain
– Sporting injuries
– Post-operative rehabilitation
– Working with community sports teams including netball, rugby, football, soccer and basketball Laura plays racquet sport, hikes and cycles in her spare time.

With the right tools, pain can be managed better. I believe in providing my clients with those tools.

Rhiannon has been qualified over 15 years. Physiotherapy is a passion as well as her job and she gets great satisfaction from helping people.

Whether it’s in pain relief, moving better, running faster or sleeping better Rhi will work with you to achieve your goals and improve your quality of life

Rhiannon’s professional interest and experience include:

• workplace rehabilitation and ergonomics
• shoulder rehabilitation
• management of low back pain
• headaches

She uses a variety of tools and techniques including:

• Dry needling and electro acupuncture
• Shockwave therapy
• Clinical Pilates
• Hands on joint mobilisation, manipulation and more…

Rhi enjoys teaching and educating other physios within her team and her patients.She will regularly be seen running at her local parkrun and supporting the Wildcats and Fremantle Dockers.

If you are looking for a second opinion or other therapies have failed, Rhi will be happy to review you to see if she can help where others couldn’t.