Physiotherapist Anouska Edwards joins The Pedaler team.

I've known Anouska for around 10 years initially as a rider on the Pensar Race team where my mates Hads and Terry were racing and also through the early incarnations of Twittersphere under the Fittoride handle (correct use of handle?).  There is still an unanswered direct twitter message from Anouska to the Cobra9 twitter feed from 2011 that I promise I'll get around to responding to at some point.

Early on, I knew Anouska was a good physio.  Good physiotherapists have a way of finding themselves in ever increasingly important and interesting roles.  Anouska always seemed to be working with a National team of some description.  When Anouska moved to the UK a few years ago, we touched on the idea of some mutual work for the UK team whereby Anouska's physiotherapy expertise could work in conjunction with my Podiatry skillset.  We have both worked amongst cyclists for a huge period of time and simply there are still not a whole lot of practitioners in our field where this is the case.  Given how highly I regard Anouska's skillset, the notion that she would like to work with me on occasion is a huge compliment, or at least I'm taking it as such.  I'll press Anouska on this point when we have coffee next.

Now that Anouska has returned to Brisbane, Australia, we finally have the opportunity to work together.  I for one, am pretty excited by the prospect.  When we were looking for a Physio to complete our team of health practitioners at The Pedaler, getting a professional of Anouska's quality was the highest priority, and her return from overseas is extremely serendipitous.  

Initially Anouska will be treating once a week from our rooms starting on the 19th of February.  You can book online or call us to schedule. Where required, Anouska and myself may consult together to ensure we have the best possible treatment outcomes going forward for previous and future clients.

Anouska is the physiotherapist of choice to ensure you can ride pain free and with improved function.  Her twitter handle says it all - Fittoride.  I can't put it more eloquently then that.

Anouska Edwards - Physiotherapist

Massage and Myotherapy now at The Pedaler

We are excited to announce the arrival at The Pedaler of Eve Conyers, a well respected and experienced Myotherapist.  We have been searching for the correct fit at The Pedaler for some time and Eve ticks every box (and then some).  

Eve is trained in Myotherapy, Trigger Point and Deep Tissue Release.  As a dedicated cyclist, Eve also understands the common issues that effect cyclists, and the best methods of dealing with these problems.  

Alongside our Allied Health Serices, Eve will be available weekly via phone bookings, or through our online booking system.  

An initial consultation with Eve takes just over an hour and allows time for a comprehensive assessment prior to a very hands on session.

If you have any queries with regards to Eve's services, please contact us and we can provide further information.  

The Pedaler also has HICAPS available onsite to claim against your Health Fund whether you are using our Myotherapy, Podiatry, Exercise Physiology or Physiotherapy services.  We are building what we hope will become the eminent sports focused, cycling sympathetic Practice in Brisbane.

How to make foam rolling count - David Gruhl

There is no doubt that an incredibly effective way to improve musculoskeletal health is myofascial release or as it is more commonly known, foam rolling.  It may generate a number of changes including; reducing pain, improving flexibility and consequently increasing performance. It is easy to understand why it is a common recommendation from many health practitioners.

One of the underlying reasons why foam rolling is often avoided is because it is very painful to do. This is true.  Myofascial release can be very uncomfortable.  So do we just put on our pain face, grit our teeth and get on with the job?  Nope.  And this is why you shouldn't.

So do we just put on our pain face, grit our teeth and get on with the job?

If you are doing myofascial release and you are in significant pain, you will often tense your muscles.  By doing so, you are bracing against the pain and making the exercise pointless.  When there is excessive pain we lose control of our breathing and begin to pant.  We start sweating, we wince, moan and tense our muscles to brace against the pain. This is stimulating of our sympathetic nervous system known as our fight or flight response.  Once triggered, it is difficult to relax when so much adrenaline is pumping around your body.  

The correct amount of pressure is uncomfortable but tolerable. The goal should be to increase the pressure as you progress through the exercise.   You should always be able to take deep breaths and relax onto the ball or foam roller.

The correct amount of pressure is uncomfortable but tolerable.

The role of myofascial release is to improve our soft tissue (muscles) movement. This occurs by de-activating the trigger points (knots) in muscles and by improving the ability of our muscles slide and glide past each other.

I have an array of different tools that I use for my own personal myofascial release therapy including; cricket balls, soft balls, golf balls, Alpha balls and soccer balls.  On any given day I will be able to tolerate a different level of intensity. Your muscles will be able to tolerate different levels of pressure depending your current training load, hydration, frequency of myofascial release, and even your emotional state and stress levels.

You can purchase some of these tools online from our shop here.

Drop in today and have a chat about how to make your personal conditioning regime effective.

David Gruhl

B.Hth Sc (Pod), Hons