Remember, when using either a cane or crutches, make you home as user-friendly as possible to prevent any slips or falls…

• Remove throw rugs, electrical cords, food spills, and anything else that may cause you to fall.
• Arrange furniture so that you have a clear pathway between rooms.
• Keep stairs clear of packages, boxes, or clutter.
• Walk only in well-lit rooms and install a nightlight along the route between your bedroom and the bathroom.
• In the bathroom, use nonslip bath mats, grab bars, a raised toilet seat, and a shower tub seat.
• Simplify your household to keep the items you need within easy reach and everything else out of the way.
• Carry things hands-free by using a backpack, fanny pack, or an apron with pockets.

Some basic rules of use are…

CRUTCHES:

• Support your weight on your hands, not the underarm supports, and your elbows should be slightly bent
• Lean forward slightly and put your crutches about one foot in front of you
• Your injured leg should follow the crutch stride
• Begin your step as if you were going to use the injured foot or leg but, instead, shift your weight to the crutches
• Bring your body forward slowly between the crutches
• Finish the step normally with your good leg
• When your good leg is on the ground, move your crutches ahead in preparation for your next step. Always look forward, not down
• With STAIRS or inclines, hold your injured leg behind when going UP stairs, and hold it forwards when going DOWN stairs

CANE or SINGLE CRUTCH:

• Hold the cane or crutch on the OPPOSITE SIDE that needs support, and your injured leg should follow the cane/crutch
• To walk, set your cane about one small stride ahead of you
• Step off on your injured leg and finish the step with your good leg
• With STAIRS or inclines: when going UP stairs, step up with your good leg first, holding the injured leg behind, and when coming DOWN put your cane and your injured leg first, then your good leg
• Grasp the handrail with your free hand

Playing tennis with the correct grip size is crucial to performance, and the prevention of injury.     Selecting the most optimal size grip for your hand size will enable you to use your racquet more efficiently and effectively. The goal is to get optimal hand surface which allows you to grip the racquet with less effort.

Why? The right grip size enables your forearm and hand muscles to be at an optimal length/tension relationship and joint structures to be in a more neutral position, thus improving your tennis…well hopefully!  Incorrect grip size can cause arm, wrist and forearm injuries such as: tennis elbow, tendinitis/tenosynovitis, wrist sprain or pain and shoulder injuries.

With a grip too small, you will try to compensate for less contact area by squeezing harder than you should, which increases your risk of tennis elbow. You also need to avoid the premature muscle fatigue that results from having to hang on to the racquet with a tight grip. The grip should always feel comfortable.

Overgrips and overwraps can increase the overall size of the grip by sometimes as much as a full grip size. When purchasing your racquet, you may need to get a smaller grip size to accommodate using an overgrip in the future. Keep in mind that grip sizes can be made bigger, but it is near impossible to make a grip smaller than it’s original size.

When purchasing a racquet don’t guess or compromise – measure!          

Click HERE to print your information brochure “How to measure your tennis racquet grip size” 

What has happened since the launch event….

We opened the doors to appointments on Monday 25^th Jan, 2016 – only 2 short weeks ago – at PhysioFit Berwick. We have had a terrific response to the first few weeks of opening. Thanks to all who have supported the clinic in our infancy and opening weeks.

The launch event was a terrific success – thanks to all of those who attended – what a great start to PhysioFit Berwick. We had a crowd attend the launch, including including many children who seemed to enjoy the sausage sizzle and the helium balloons.

It is still very early days – if you are interested in just taking a walk through the premises and meeting Mark, please just drop by and our friendly receptionists Leanne and Cathy will anwer your questions and give you a quick tour. We look forward to providing a high quality physiotherapy service for Berwick-Beaconsfield-Officer in the coming years.

Mark Eibl, Physiotherapist