Depression is a common and disabling illness, affecting over 1 million Australian adults in any one year. Everyone at some point feels sad, moody or low, however, some people experience these feelings for longer periods of time - from weeks to years at higher intensity. Each person’s journey of depression can have variable symptoms and changes in behaviour resulting in multiple treatment options that are provided by a range of multidisciplinary health providers. Recently Harvey et al, 2017, concluded in a cohort study that undertaking exercise can be associated with [...]

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common problem for many people after middle age. Osteoarthritis is the type of arthritis that involves the cartilage of the joint. The main symptom of osteoarthritis of the knee are pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased activity level. Pain is usually worse with activity and better with rest. Commonly wasting of the thigh muscles ensues which in turn increases pain and cause symptoms of giving way. Symptoms of locking and catching are common. Episodic flare ups involving a course of sudden pain that settles over [...]

Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis is a condition characterised by both pain and decreased range of motion or stiffness. It is common in women between the ages of 40-60 but can also occur in men. The cause is still unknown despite much research but is often related to auto-immune or thyroid disease, cardiac disease and diabetes but researchers are unsure why there is an increased incidence of it in these patient groups. Frozen shoulder can also occur post-surgically and may be as a result of being protective of the [...]