Do you fear your foam roller?
BeachLife Physio • 1 June 2020
Foam Roller Strengthening Exercises

1. The Romanian Deadlift
- Place one flat end of your foam roller on your right foot and place your right hand on the other end, near your hip
- Slightly flex the left knee and then with your right foot off the ground, hinge forward at the hips
- Use your left gluteal muscles to stabilise the left leg and hinge as far forward as comfortable
- Repeat 10 times, and then repeat the process on the left side
- AIM FOR: 2 sets of 10 reps (each side)
2. The Bird-Dog: Roller Edition
- Place a towel over your roller to protect if from your knees
- Knell with your hands underneath your shoulders and both knees on the roller
- While engaging your core, slowly straighten your right arm and left leg, while ensuring you stay balanced on the roller
- Return to the kneeling position slowly, and then repeat with the left arm and right leg
- AIM FOR: 3 sets of 12 (6 each side)
3. Tabletop Heel Taps
- Lay down on your foam roller with the roller running along your spine
- Lift both feet from the floor and have both your hips and knees bent to 90 deg (I.e. tabletop)
- Ensuring your back stays flat on the roller, touch the ground slowly with one heel then return to the tabletop position and repeat with the opposite leg
- AIM FOR: 2 sets of 20 (10 each leg)
4. Scapula Control: Roller Edition
- Place your foam roller horizontally against the wall at approx. chest height
- Rest both of your forearms against the roller and stabilise your shoulder blades by slightly squeezing them together
- Roll the roller up and down with your forearms, ensuring your shoulder blades stay steady and slightly squeezed together
- AIM FOR: 2 sets of 12
5. Single Leg Squat: Roller Edition
- Place one end of your foam roller against the wall at hip height
- Press your hip into the other end of the roller and life the foot closest to the wall up from the ground
- While actively pressing the roller into the wall, perform a shallow single leg squat ensuring that your knee stays over your toes as you do
- Mirror the position and perform on opposite sides
- AIM FOR: 2 sets of 10 (each side)

Consistency is key when it comes to building strength, improving movement and seeing real results. Doing 2-3 exercise sessions a week, rather than just one, helps reinforce good technique, boost fitness and maintain motivation. Group sessions can add accountability, support and fun to keep you on track. Consistency creates change 1. Regular exposure helps your body your body adapt and get stronger 2. Better reinforces movement patterns and technique 3. "Dose matters" - more frequent training leads to better strength and rehab outcomes (PTJ, 2017) The sweet spot, 2-3 times per week 1. Promotes steady gains in strength, endurance and confidence 2. Reinforces skills and movement quality 3. Linked to better pain, function and quality-of-life outcomes Why group sessions work 1. Social support boosts commitment and accountability 2. Guided sessions improve technique and consistency 3. More fun and motivating with group energy Ready to get started? 1. Head to our website via the link in our bio 2. Explore our class options and session times 3. Read more about how we can help you move and feel better 4. Get in touch if you're interested

Want to stay injury-free? Focus on the three biggest predictors: Previous injuries, sudden spikes in training load and movement quality. Strengthen your body, train smart and move well to keep performing at your best! Previous injury The #1 factor for getting hurt again 1. Fully rehab before returning to play 2. Fix old weaknesses and movement issues 3. Report pain early - don't "train through it" Spikes in training load Sudden jumps in training or activity = big risk 1. Increase training volume by no more than 10% per week 2. Track your load (time, distance, RPE, weight) 3. Prioritize recovery and sleep (7-9 hours) Poor movement quality 1. Strengthen your core and stabilizers 2. Practice balance and coordination 3. Get feedback to refine technique 4. Quality beats quantity Other risk factors Poor sleep, high stress and muscle imbalances can also raise injury risk Prevention formula: Smart load + Strong movement + Full recovery= Fewer injuries and better performance

If you're experiencing recurrent ankle instability or have a history of multiple sprains, you may be dealing with chronic ankle stability. This condition often arises when the ankle joint becomes weakened and unstable, frequently due to incomplete healing following a previous injury. Fortunately, research indicates that targeted exercises can be highly beneficial! A 2025 study demonstrated that specific strengthening and balance training regimens effectively enhance ankle strength and stability, potentially mitigating the risk of recurring injuries. Therefore, even if your ankle feels improved after an injury, check in with your physio to develop a tailored exercise plan, promoting long-term ankle health!

We see it all the time - people push through a small injury, only for it to return months or years later. Here's how to heal the right way so your niggle doesn't become a lifelong setback. Tip 1: See a professional early Don't sit at home guessing the problem. Early diagnosis is crucial to a smooth recovery. Tip 2: Do your homework from the physio Physio's may only see you for 30 mins - 1 hour a week. True recovery happens outside of this time with your rehabilitation program. So make sure you do it! Tip 3: Finish your treatment plan Treatment doesn't stop when pain is gone. The next phase is the most important to prevent ongoing pain/weakness and unfortunately is when most people stop treatment.

Neck pain from poor posture at your desk? You're not alone! Whether it's from long hours at your work desk or scrolling on your phone, postural neck pain is super common - but totally treatable. TOP TIPS TO EASE THE ACHE: 1. Keep moving - Avoid long periods of sitting still. Take regular breaks when you can. Getting up every 30-60mins reduces stiffness and muscle tension. Just 1-2 mins of stretching or walking can improve circulation and prevent pain. 2. Chin tucks exercise - Realign your neck & improve posture. These exercises help strengthen deep neck muscles - Gently draw your chin straight back (like making a double chin) without tilting your head. Hold for 5 seconds. This relieved neck strain from forward head posture. 3. Strengthen your upper back - Support better posture for the long haul. Strong upper back muscles = better posture & less neck pain. Try: 1. Scapular squeezes (pinch shoulder blades) 2. Wall angels 3. Resistance band rows Do these 3-4x/week for best results! 4. Stretch it out - Release tight neck & chest muscles. Tight chest & neck muscles pull posture forward and strain your neck. Stretch daily! 1. Chest (doorway stretch) 2. Upper traps (side neck stretch) 3. Levator scap (look to armpit stretch) Start small, stay consistent and your neck will thank you!

When you're injured or in pain, the first instinct is often to stop moving completely. But in most cases, too much rest can actually slow your recovery. Here's why: Movement boosts healing Gentle movement increases blood flow, stimulates muscle and tissue regrowth & promotes healing of the injured area. Maintains strength, mobility & overall fitness Total rest can lead to stiffness and weakness, making it harder to get back to your normal activities. Pain doesn't always mean damage Often, moving in the right way is safe and helps reduce inflammation & pain over time. Guided activity speeds recovery A physio can help you find the balance between rest and the right type of movement. Remember - It's not always about stopping, but about moving smarter

Are you managing your osteoporosis? Medication is not the only way to help your bone density! Resistance exercise has been shown to have comparable bone density gains in just 8 months of regular training. Check out our osteoporosis program for evidence based exercise therapy lead by our first class physiotherapy team. Treatment options for improving bone density MEDICATION: BONE DRUGS 1. Bisphosphonates - Anti-resorptive agents 2. Anabolic agents - Stimulate new bone formation HORMONE OPTIONS Selective to specific patients Medications also come with side effects such as gastrointestinal disruption, musculoskeletal pain, hypocalcemia and fractures LIFESTYLE: NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT Calcium/Vitamin D diet +/- supplementation EXERCISE Not all exercise is beneficial ** and must be purposefully prescribed and dosed NOT ALL EXERCISE IS BENEFICIAL FOR IMPROVING BONE DENSITY We offer an osteoporosis program that supports you in learning how to perform safe resistance training and best manage your condition What's included? A detailed assessment to understand your history and determine your current exercise capacity Education resources on osteoporosis management 2 x weekly small group exercise sessions tailored to meet your individual needs Minimum 12-week commitment, 12-months recommended for the best outcomes

After a 12-week training intervention comparing seated (long muscle length) and prone (shorter length) leg curls, the seated group showed significantly more hypertrophy in the hamstring muscles - especially the biceps femoris long head. Maeo, S., Huang, M., Wu, Y., Sakurai, R., Sugiyama, Y., Kanehisa, H., & Miyamoto, N. (2021) Greater hamstrings muscle hypertrophy but similar damage protection after training at long versus short muscle lengths.

Tip 1. To strengthen bones, weight training must be heavy, low-rep and focused on compound lifts like squats, deadlifts and overhead presses. These load the spine, hips and shoulders - areas most at risk of bone loss. Tip 2. Light jumping or skipping is a good start, but for real bone benefits, impact must be progressed. Short sharp movements like bounding or drop jumps provide the stimulus bones need to adapt. Tip 3. Bones need fuel to grow. Prioritise calcium, vitamin D and protein from whole foods like dairy, leafy greens and fish. A balanced diet supports bone repair and prevents breakdown. Osteoporosis often goes unnoticed until a fracture happens - but with the right approach, osteoporosis is manageable, preventable and even reversible. Building stronger bones takes more than walking or supplements. It requires targeted strength and impact training, along with sodium and nutrition. Weight training must be heavy, low-rep and focused on compound lifts like squats, deadlifts and overhead presses to stimulate bone growth where it's needed most - in the spine, hips and shoulders. Impact training is also key. Light hopping and skipping are a good start, but bones respond best to short, sharp forces. Progressions like bounding or drop jumps deliver the load bones need to adapt. Nutrition underpins it all. Calcium, vitamin D and protein are essential, but overall fuelling and whole-food intake support bone repair and growth, especially as we age. At BeachLife Physiotherapy we run a dedicated Osteoporosis Program for people who need to build and protect their bone strength.

Before the growth plates in a growing skeleton are closed a child may develop a condition called apophysitis. This is an overuse injury where the growth plate becomes inflamed and painful due to high loading. This can occur at any growth plate in the body, upper and lower limb, but is most common at: - Achilles (Severs disease) - Patella tendon at the shin (Osgood-Schlatter disease) - Patella tendon on the patella (Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease) - Tendons on the inside of the elbow (Little League Elbow) As the skeleton of a female matures earlier than the male, males experience growth plate injuries 1-2 years later than females. Is your child complaining of re-occuring pain after playing sport? Book in and get them checked out so their sport's participating isn't affected!




















