Physiotherapists’ Tips for Christchurch

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Physiotherapists’ Tips for Christchurch

Physiotherapists advise that there are some things people can do to aid their own recovery and help their bodies deal with any heavy or repetitive work they are doing. However if pain persists or gets worse, see a health professional. Injured people can go straight to a physiotherapist without a doctor’s referral.

• If you’ve got an aching back from carrying or lifting heavy loads, keep moving. 2 stretches may help: Stand with hands on your hips and lean backwards. Or lie on your tummy supported by your elbows, lift your head and extend your back.

• Use a walking stick/broom handle to help you get around more comfortably if you’ve got a sore leg or foot. Use in the opposite hand to your injured leg.

• When you’re going up stairs put your uninjured leg up first. Going down, use your injured leg first.

• To keep a painful shoulder moving: while supporting yourself with your uninjured arm, lean forward against a table/bench/chair, and move your sore arm like a pendulum.

• If you’ve got a swollen ankle, sit down and put your leg on a stool/pillow/box. Moving the ankle backwards and forwards may help the swelling and prevent the ankle getting stiff.

• If you’ve got sore ribs take deep breaths every hour. Cough if you need to. Holding a towel tightly around your chest will help ease the pain.

If you are doing heavy lifting remember to:

• Use a wheelbarrow or an old pushchair to carry heavy loads.
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• Push rather than pull loads.
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• Avoid carrying heavy loads in one hand.
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• Keep loads close to your body.

“We want people to get the help they need as soon as possible and as easily as possible to assist with recovery,” said Gill Stotter, President of Physiotherapy New Zealand.

There are about 50 physiotherapy clinics open in the Christchurch area. A list of clinics with addresses and contact numbers is on the Physiotherapy New Zealand website www.physiotherapy.org.nz

ENDS

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