City2Surf

Are YOU starting to prepare for the City2Surf on Sunday, 8th August 2021?

Book today for pre-event sessions with our qualified team members, to give you that extra edge  to beat Heartbreak Hill!

Keep an eye out for City2Surf news about the big day on the City2Surf website or on their FaceBook page.

And after the big day, book in for post-event sessions to aid your recovery.

Our qualified and professional therapists can address issues such as ACL injuries, foot pain, plantar fasciitis, sports injuries and personal fitness.

Qualified. Indemnified. Experienced.

Lisa Jason Nicki
Sports Massage X X
Remedial Massage X X X
Physiotherapy X
K-Taping X X X

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Minimum time requirement prior to booking

We do require online bookings to be made at least 10 hours before the desired appointment time. To make an appointment closer than that, please phone our Clinic.

SaveSave

Local woman helps Save the Rhinos

Cutting the anniversary cake
L to R: Councillor Nathan Tilbury, with Lisa Barnes, Hugo de Amorim, Steve Cooke, and Nicki Cooke, all of IC Sports Therapies, cutting Nicki’s 25th Anniversary cake.

Nicki Cooke, principal therapist at IC Sports Therapies in Hornsby, celebrated her 25th anniversary as a therapist in the Hornsby area with cake, and by donating $4515 to help Save the Rhinos.

Nicki first established her practice 25 years ago, working from her home clinic in Hornsby Heights. Since then, she has worked with athletes in many sports, from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, to Wheelchair Tennis and Blind Cricket, and to Masters Indoor and Outdoor Cricket. 5 years ago, she moved her home clinic into Hornsby and established her current practice, IC Sports Therapies.

Through treating the South African team at the Over 50s World Cup Cricket last year, she was introduced to the Mark Boucher Rhino Legacy. 

Headed up by ex-South African cricketer Mark Boucher, The Boucher Legacy was started in 2012 when Mark retired from international cricket and began to focus his passion and commitment on wildlife conservation. The Legacy aims to protect rhinos by prosecution of poachers, by conservation work including tracking rhino, and educating people about the false claims that are made about the properties of rhino horn. The Boucher Legacy has recently begun to broaden the scope of protecting to endangered mammals as the war on poaching moves across a variety of species.

Nicki announced the donation before a crowd of well-wishers during a live video hookup with Ally Hewitt of the Legacy fund. The amount was raised by pledging $5 each from the more than 900 treatments she had performed so far this year.

Further donations from the general public to Help Save the Rhinos would also be welcomed.

Hugo de Amorim

Head and shoulders photo of Hugo de Amorim

Hugo is no longer with IC Sports Therapies.

Hugo has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s research degree in Physiotherapy, with broad clinical experience in recovery and prevention programs for athletes in different sports.
Before coming to Australia from Brazil, Hugo worked for 6 years as a Head Physiotherapist in the regional Swimming Team with National and International athletes. Hugo also has experience with other sports such as triathlon, cycling, runners and rock climbers.
Hugo has experience improving athletes motor gesture and motor-control with biomechanics tests to help cycling, runners and swimmers have a safe return to the physical activity before chronic injuries.
As an athlete Hugo has participated in many different sports and distances, such as triathlons, half-Ironman, Ironman, Marathons, swimming open water etc.
With knowledge of both sides, Hugo has a deep understanding of the real needs of the athlete and how they want to achieve their goals and avoid injury.

Kerri-anne Burke, Massage Therapist

Life Affirming Remedial Treatment

What is it? What defines life affirmation? The definition given to the concept of ‘life affirming’, includes feeling positive about life, hopeful and lifted.
However, it can be challenging to feel hopeful, lifted and positive if we are experiencing physical discomfort, pain or restriction. When our physical self is not functioning optimally, it can quickly affect other aspects of our wellbeing and life.
Can you remember the last time your body was completely free of pain? When there was no crick in your neck to make you cringe each time you had to turn your head, or no pain in your lower back to stop you from playing soccer with your team, or no stiffness in your hip to prevent your walk along the beach with the family?
Physical pain is uncomfortable and sometimes difficult to endure, particularly when it is chronic and unrelenting. This can have a detrimental effect on our ability to live an active lifestyle, to mix socially with family and friends, to nurture ourselves with a healthy diet, and to stay engaged in our work and hobbies. Sometimes pain can cause disrupted sleep, leading to exhaustion and affecting our ability to cope with the everyday demands of life. All these roadblocks can lead to a general sense of despair and adversely affect our mental health, reducing quality of life not only for ourselves, but for the loved ones that surround us.
It is for this reason that, when performing treatments, I take a holistic view in supporting my clients achieve physiological alignment and balance. A well aligned and balanced body is more likely to function at optimal capacity, without discomfort or pain. When we are physically aligned and balanced, we are better able to function with optimisation, laying the foundations for a transferred state of wellbeing into all other areas of our life.
As an RMT (Remedial Massage Therapist), my focus is to assist my clients to live life without physical restriction and to function at their best, so they’re able to achieve all they desire and live their potential.
I’m ready to help you live your best life.

Kerri-anne is no longer with IC Sports Therapies. We wish her well with her future.

Welcome, Kerri-anne Burke

IC Sports Therapies welcomes Kerri-anne, who has many years experience in the modalities of wellbeing and body work, and is a diploma qualified Remedial Massage Therapist.

Kerri’s focus is on preventative care, restoring range of motion and function, and providing relief from pain and other restrictive issues.

Her intuitive use of developed skills and techniques, and a tailored approach to her clients individual needs, ensure they leave feeling balanced and moving with optimal function.

Kerri-anne is no longer with IC Sports Therapies, and we wish her well in her future.

Lipoedema – silent sufferers

Since 1940, Lipoedema has been recognised as a valid medical condition in women (Mayo Clinic), and yet still women with this condition are stigmatised and told to increase exercise, and lose weight.

Sadly, this advice comes, not only from friends and families, but often from medical professionals, personal trainers and gym staff. Little wonder then, that depression and eating disorders are commonly experienced by women with Lipoedema.

What is Lipoedema?

An inherited adipose ( fatty tissue ) disorder, mainly experienced by women, which usually manifests at puberty. It has metabolic, inflammatory and hormonal elements and is often associated with chronic venous and lymphatic insufficiency. Men are very rarely affected by Lipoedema.

The 4 stages of lipoedema
The 4 stages of lipoedema.
Photo: the Lipedema Project

It is often the case that these symptoms are initially treated as the primary issue, and only much later is the Lipoedema recognised as the primary disorder.

How is it diagnosed?

Most commonly, Lipoedema is diagnosed by its visual characteristics. It is often first noticed following significant hormonal changes such as the onset of puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

Signs and symptoms

Waist is small compared to much larger bottom, hips and thighs. In initial stages, the legs are only affected as far as the knees, but as the condition progresses, it impacts the lower half of the legs.

Symmetrical increase in fatty deposits usually from the waist to ankles. Feet are not affected, and the condition is typified by “fat rings” around the ankles ( and if arms are affected, the wrists) known as the bracelet effect.

Lipoedemic fat pads accumulate on the upper thighs, and around the knees, resulting in abnormal gait, and knee and hip pain.

Legs are often very sensitive to touch and pressure and exercise is painful both during and after participation.

Non pitting oedema occurs, especially after long periods of sitting or standing. Skin is soft to the touch, as is the underlying fatty tissue.

Skin temperature is often lower on affected limbs, and can have an orange peel like appearance.

Affected areas bruise more readily than surrounding areas.

Hyper mobility.

Generally diets and intense exercise have little effect on Lipoedema, though a healthy diet and moderate exercise is important in Lipoedema management.

Frequently Lipoedema is identified within families, ie, My Grandmother, mother, Aunts, had “heavy legs”, “childbearing hips” etc. Whilst these people might never have been identified as having had Lipoedema, it is more likely that this history implicates the current symptoms in a Lipoedema inheritance.

Remember not all women suffer all of these symptoms, each person will have a different array of these symptoms, and some will vary, daily and seasonally, but as the we age, more symptoms become an issue.

The important thing to do is to have plans in place to reduce the severity, to self manage, and to provide the best support for your body you are able to.

Implications of Lipoedema

In recent research, respondents to a lifestyle survey indicated the profound impact on how women with Lipoedema lived their lives.

  • 95% reported difficulty buying clothes
  • 87% a significant reduction on quality of life,
  • 86% low self esteem
  • 83% avoided having photos taken
  • 60% restricted social lives
  • 60% feelings of hopelessness
  • 47% self blame
  • 45% eating disorders

Other issues included, ridicule, financial pressures from discrimination, lack of exercise due to harassment, marriage breakdown, the hazards of yo-yo dieting.

In general a lack of freely available information, about treatments, self help, and management strategies among the general population, has lead to isolation and embarrassment for many.

However this is changing and awareness is growing.

Treatment options

The first step is to secure a diagnosis. This sounds simple, but as previously alluded to, it may be the most complicated step you have to take!

Pain Management

Improved lymphatic flow, compression, MLD (manual lymphatic drainage),  variable compression pumps,

Healthy eating and use of a low inflammatory diet

Low impact exercise, whole body vibration, weights, hydrotherapy and water based exercise, walking and Pilates  are all helpful

Decongestive therapy or wrapping can help to reduce the volume of affected limbs in later stages of the disorder.

Surgery to reduce bulk and specialised liposuction are also options in more advanced Lipoedema.

It is important to remember, you have a Medical Condition, and Lipoedema is not a choice.

You can help your body by healthy exercise and with good nutrition, but a diet will not reduce Lipoedema.

In Australia, you can contact Lipoedema Australia for support and assistance.

The best thing you can do is take care of yourself, and be proactive by consulting therapists who know how to treat you.

Come and be treated by our Principal Therapist, Nicki Cooke, who is trained in Lipodema treatment.

If you’d like more information, please give us a call, or make a booking with Nicki today.

Farewell Brigitte

Brigitte

Sadly we say goodbye to Brigitte, our superstar Chiro. We have loved having her with us and are sorry to see her go. We wish her every possible success in her career. We have no doubt that she will be successful wherever she goes and in whatever she choose to do. It has been an absolute pleasure having her as part of our team.

🎄Christmas 2018 – New Year 2019 Clinic Hours 🎄

Christmas 2018 graphic, a Stylised Tree with Star

Clinic Holiday Hours

For Christmas 2018 – New Year’s 2019 our Clinic hours will be as follows:

  • We will be closed from COB Friday December 21st 2018.
  • Nicki will be available by appointment only from Wednesday January 2nd to Friday January 4th.
  • Lisa will be available Friday 28th December 11-5 pm, Thursday 3rd Jan 12-5 pm, and Friday 4th 9-5 pm.

We will open for our normal hours of 7am-6pm from January 7th onwards. Book today to get in first for the best appointment times in January 😉

We wish all our clients a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.