NORTH SYDNEY WELLBEING
Benefiting from physiotherapy By Living To Thrive’s Chuck Anderson I am pretty sure that anyone over the age of 30 has experienced some sort of injury that required them to see a physiotherapist. During the first lockdown, I broke my ankle after falling down a set of stairs at Town Hall station. During the third lockdown I tore the meniscus in my right knee while doing high intensity training at home. It was a year full of doctor visits and becoming close friends with physiotherapists. Having a physiotherapist that is supportive, knowledgeable and empathetic can make all the difference in our recovery as all injuries have a psychological impact that each of us must work through as well. In this article I interviewed Bill Kagaras who is the owner and head physiotherapist of the Physio Inq. in McMahons Point on Blues Point Road. I have been treated by both Bill and his associate physiotherapist James Cooper and they both do fantastic work! Sun: If you could be one superhero, which superhero would you be? Bill: Superman, so our clinic wouldn’t need to refer people for imaging. Xrays on us! Sun: What is physiotherapy and what are its top two benefits? Bill: Physiotherapy comes under the umbrella term of “allied health”. As physiotherapists we focus mostly on the musculoskeletal system, and any disorders or injuries that may arise in all types of people. We help to diagnose and treat these issues, although our boundaries are blurring more and more over the years beyond helping your average sprained ankle, to cardiovascular physiotherapists in hospitals, and even specialised physiotherapists that only treat jaws!
Bill: Walking, walking, walking. Most people don’t realise there is shockingly little difference in calories burnt between a jog and walk when you cover the same distance. Calories aside though, consistent, outdoor and unplugged walks are one of the best exercise options for mental health. No matter how you get your steps up, aim for 10,000! The other is resistance training. Notice how it isn’t weights. Our muscles are blind. They don’t care whether you’re in a platinum membership gym, or at home on a yoga mat with no equipment. As long as you’re working relatively hard 2-3 times a week, your body will reward you for it (you can thank us later when you live longer). Sun: What is the top most avoidable injury that clients get treated for? Bill: Repeated ankle sprains. Rolling your ankle is often more serious than most people realise, not because of the injury itself, but because of your increased risk of doing it again. And again. Undoing it just takes a little diligence after that first sprain, building up balance and strength. If you can’t balance on one leg with your eyes closed for 30 seconds, you might need to work on it. Sun: What advice do you have for someone with a chronic pain condition due to injury, but struggles to find the right treatment? Bill: If you were to see a specialist physician for a health condition, and you didn’t like their answer, wouldn’t
Bill Kagaras you seek a different opinion? For some strange reason, people often don’t do this with physiotherapy, and instead either give up or try a different, more passive style of healthcare. Sometimes it just isn’t the right match of physio to patient, although we all do try our best to fit the needs of our clients. Back yourself, and tell a professional exactly what you want, and you’re much more likely to see the results you came to them for in the first place. Sun: What piece of advice you would give to someone that feels hopeless about recovering from chronic pain? Bill: Focus on the positives. You don’t have to make leaps and bounds every day, and there will be setbacks, but never lose sight of those 1% improvements made every now and then. Fighting chronic pain is always a marathon, not a sprint, regardless of if you have a physiotherapist on your side or not.
Sun: How is our physical health related to our mental health? Bill: Physical health is the manifestation of our mental health. We don’t need scientific papers (although we have plenty) to prove that people that are happier and calmer exercise more, and vice versa. All forms of exercise including Pilates, weightlifting, cardio and even stretching have been proven to reliably improve mental health, as well as help people prevent and recover from injuries. Sun: What are two simple activities we can do to reduce the potential for injuries? North Sydney Sun | July/August 2022 | Page 10
James Cooper Sun: Tell us about Physio Inq. and the services that you provide. Bill: Physio Inq. McMahons Point is a clinic right in the heart of McMahons Point. We pride ourselves in being community members and would hope by now with our first birthday coming up that you’ve seen either myself or James grabbing coffee at one of the local cafes! We treat all ages, activity levels and lifestyles with a smile and expertise. We provide physiotherapy, dry needling, massage, workers compensation, telehealth sessions, cardiorespiratory services and more. Injury or not, pop on into the clinic, either to meet the team or to have a free functional assessment performed, on us! Head on over to Physio Inq. McMahons Point to get a free functional assessment and book a refreshing massage as well. I guarantee that you will enjoy it!