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Looking for a trusted physio in Sydney near Bondi Junction? Physio K provides expert care for lasting relief and better well-being. Book today! All Insurance Providers Accepted All Health Funds Accepted

Looking for a trusted physio in Sydney near Bondi Junction? Physio K provides expert care for lasting relief and better well-being. Book today! Physiotherapy Injury Statistics & Recovery Data – Sydney, 2025 Source : Kenny Melverde, Senior Physiotherapist at Physio K, with over 13 years of experience as an independent practitioner across physiotherapy, manual therapy and sports rehabilitation. How Many More Injuries Occur in Summer? Injury cases rise by 20 to 30% as summer approaches . The warmer months bring more outdoor activity across Sydney, from running along coastal paths to social soccer, surfing, and gym training. This increase in movement leads to a higher rate of overuse and soft-tissue injuries, particularly ankle sprains, hamstring strains, and shoulder issues. A further 15% increase in neck and back pain is seen after major holiday periods such as January and mid-winter travel months (July–August). When Do Patients Start Seeing Improvement? Most patients notice an improvement after their first assessment, including reduced pain, better movement, or improved muscle activation. For acute back and neck pain, recovery usually occurs within 4 to 8 sessions. Chronic injuries take longer, depending on the individual’s age, healing rate, and condition severity. Monthly Treatment Volume at a Physio in Sydney Across three full-time physiotherapists at PhysioK, the clinic performs around 450 to 500 treatments each month , with 50 to 60 new clients beginning care during the same period. Most Common Injuries seen at a Physiotherapist in Sydney The most frequent issues are back and neck pain caused by poor posture, muscle tension, or long hours at a desk. With a structured physiotherapy plan, including manual therapy, targeted exercise, and ergonomic adjustments, most people experience noticeable improvement within 4 to 6 weeks and full recovery within 8 to 12 weeks . Without proper rehabilitation, symptoms may linger for months and often become chronic as muscle weakness and movement dysfunction remain uncorrected. When injuries are left untreated, people often begin compensating, which can lead to new problems elsewhere in the body. How Much Faster Do Consistent Patients Recover? Those who follow their prescribed exercise program consistently recover 30 to 50% faster than those who do not . On average, this means returning to pain-free activity 3 to 4 weeks earlier for common soft-tissue injuries. Consistency also reduces the chance of re-injury by improving strength, stability, and tissue resilience. Which sport sees the Most Injuries at a Sports Physio in Sydney? The majority of sports injuries stem from soccer and running, which demand frequent acceleration, deceleration, and sharp changes in direction. Rugby, skiing, and snowboarding also rank highly, producing more severe knee and ligament injuries such as ACL tears. Do Recovery Times Differ by Age or Gender? Younger athletes typically recover faster because of greater tissue regeneration and higher training tolerance. Older athletes often require longer rehabilitation to restore strength and mobility. Female athletes experience a higher rate of ACL injuries due to biomechanical and hormonal factors, but when physiotherapy programs are followed properly, recovery timelines are comparable across all groups. What can happen when you don’t complete your Sports Physio Rehabilitation? Stopping treatment early significantly increases the risk of recurrence. Acute injuries have a 50 to 60% chance of returning if not treated fully . For other conditions, roughly 1 in 4 patients will experience a repeat injury within 6 to 12 months . Completing rehabilitation until full strength and mobility are regained is essential for long-term results. Injury Prevention vs. Treatment Preventative physiotherapy is growing but still uncommon. Only 1 in 10 athletes attends proactively for injury prevention or performance improvement. Those who do typically experience fewer injuries, more consistent training, and longer athletic longevity. Average Return-to-Play Timelines with Sports Physio A hamstring strain generally takes 3 to 6 weeks to heal , or up to 12 weeks for a severe tear . An ankle sprain usually resolves in 2 to 6 weeks , depending on the grade and activity demands. For an ACL tear following surgery, full return to sport typically occurs between 9 and 12 months , guided by function rather than time alone.

Going beyond your symptoms with physiotherapy that is driven by results. BOOK AN APPOINTMENT Physiotherapist Bondi Junction OUR PHYSIO TREATMENTS PROCESS When you visit Physio K at our clinic in Bondi Junction, you are in safe hands. Our depth of expertise is matched by our ability to understand your pain. We take the time to assess your unique situation so that we can first get to the root cause of the pain and then tailor the treatment to suit your needs FIND THE PROBLEM We deep dive into the diagnosis of the problem and apply our anatomical knowledge, and clinical reasoning and experience to get to the root cause of the pain. TREAT THE CAUSE We treat the cause, not the symptom. Our thorough approach aims to set you on the path to recovery. We provide ongoing support plans to ensure you stay on track with your recovery. INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES We are highly skilled and experienced practitioners and use innovative techniques such as dry needling alongside traditional hands-on manual therapy. OUR SERVICES QUALITY TREATMENT At Physio K, we have a simple but fundamental philosophy; to provide you with the very best of care. The aim is to give you elite level treatment in a professional and welcoming environment. We tailor all treatments to your individual needs and pride ourselves on a high level of care, a wealth of knowledge and quality results without overtreatment. Read More SPORTS AND REMEDIAL MASSAGE Sports and remedial massage: Massage and fascia techniques are often used to release tight muscles and free up areas of the musculoskeletal system. When these are used in combination with other techniques in the movement system, they will almost always give better results than only massage. Read More MANUAL THERAPY The therapists at Physio K will use their extensive knowledge and expertise in the musculoskeletal system to get you pain free again. A combination of hands-on treatment with specific exercises will be used to get you back to the things you love. Read More HOLISTIC TREATMENT At Physio K, symptoms are never seen as isolated issues, but as a part of a dysfunction in a physiological chain. We believe in holistic physiotherapy and will identify and address the underlying cause of your pain rather than just treating the symptoms. Other aspects in health, such as diet , exercise, stress and habits will play a role and should be addressed in the treatment process. Read More DRY NEEDLING The management team at Physio K is teaching at GEMt (global education of manual therapists), where the skill of dry needling is taught to manual therapists across the globe. Read More POST-OPERATIVE REHABILITATION TREATMENT Post operative rehabilitation treatment: To regain your strength, flexibility and functional fitness after an orthopaedic surgery, it will be essential to get specific physiotherapy treatment. To ensure optimal recovery and to avoid compensation patterns in the future, a tailored treatment plan will be offered to you. At Physio K, we are experienced in post operative rehabilitation to get you back to what you love. Read More Did you know... Using our HICAPS system, we can swipe your health fund card at the time of your appointment. This means you only have to pay the gap and won't have to make any further claims to your health fund. Contact We’re here for you when you need us! Book in online, call us to schedule an appointment, or send us an email and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. All Health Funds Accepted Address: Suite 801 / 3 Waverley St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 Email: info@physiok.co m.au Phone: 02 7902 1408 Visit Our Bondi Junction Clinic from These Suburbs We welcome patients from all across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and inner city who are happy to travel to our Bondi Junction clinic for high-quality physiotherapy treatment. Alexandria Bellevue Hill Bondi Bondi Beach Bondi Junction Bronte Centennial Park Clovelly Coogee Darlinghurst Double Bay Dover Heights Edgecliff Kensington Kingsford Maroubra Mascot Matraville Moore Park North Bondi Paddington Pagewood Potts Point Queens Park Randwick Redfern Rose Bay Rosebery Rushcutters Bay South Coogee Surry Hills Sydney CBD Tamarama Vaucluse Waterloo Waverley Woollahra Zetland

Meet the expert team at Physio K, your trusted physio in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. We provide personalised physiotherapy care at Bondi Junction. About Physio K Proudly serving quality physiotherapy and sports physiotherapy in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, including Bondi Beach, Bellevue Hill, Rose Bay, Double Bay, Edgecliff, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Randwick, Bronte, Clovelly, Coogee and other surrounding suburbs. At Physio K , we have a simple but fundamental philosophy; that prevention is better than cure. As active people, we all love to feel good and enjoy a full life, but when injury occurs, the pain can be unbearable. Sometimes, pain may develop and the root cause is not immediately evident. This is when Physio K can help. Our mission is to get you back into action as soon as possible. We provide elite level treatment in a professional and welcoming environment. We tailor all physio treatments to your individual needs. To do this, we delve deep during the diagnosis phase to ensure we get to the root cause of the pain. We use clinical reasoning to assess the symptoms and diagnose the cause. We then adopt the most appropriate and innovative treatment to help you recover and get back into action as soon as possible. WE ARE DRIVEN BY RESULTS. Meet The Team Kenny Merlevede Senior Physiotherapist Kenny is a passionate, driven Physiotherapist with over 13 years’ experience as an independent Practitioner across Physiotherapy, Manual therapy and Sports Rehabilitation. He has worked in a number of private practices and has since concentrated on musculoskeletal problems and sport injuries. Kenny believes in holistic physiotherapy and is passionate about identifying and addressing the underlying cause of your pain rather than just treating the symptoms. Read More Josefina Canepa Bustos Physiotherapist Josefina is a passionate and dedicated Physiotherapist from Chile with a strong background in musculoskeletal and sports therapy. She has worked in private practice and sports clubs, treating athletes of all ages, with a strong focus on young athletes. Josefina has extensive expertise in managing overuse injuries and musculoskeletal conditions, helping athletes recover, prevent future injuries, and optimise their performance. Read More Josh Sharpe Physiotherapist Josh is a UK-trained Physiotherapist with a strong background in sports and exercise science, bringing a comprehensive understanding of both injury treatment and performance optimisation. He has a particular interest in sports injuries and previously gained valuable experience during an internship at Liverpool Football Club, working closely with academy players to support their rehabilitation and performance. Read More Radi Zinger Therapist Radi specialises in relieving musculoskeletal pain, improving mobility, and supporting recovery from injuries or chronic tension. Using deep tissue massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and assisted stretching, Radi helps address sports injuries, postural imbalances, stress-related tension, and everyday aches and pains. Read More

Find answers to common physio in Sydney questions with Physio K. Contact us for more information or personalised physiotherapy advice. Frequently Asked Questions How quickly should I get an appointment? Early intervention is always better than waiting until it’s worse. Early treatment will assist in recovery times as the right care and preventative measures can be put in place. If you hear some noise in your car while driving, you won’t wait until your car breaks down to visit the mechanic either (well, at least, you shouldn’t). If you ignore an injury, it is possible for it to become chronic. Chronic pain is harder to treat and will take longer to heal, so it is important to get treatment sooner rather than later. We will do our utmost best to give you an appointment as soon as possible! What can be treated with physiotherapy? All problems related to the movement system can be treated with physiotherapy, such as: Neck pain Headaches Dizziness and vertigo Jaw pain Mid back pain Low back pain Joint issues Sciatica and nerve irritations Posture and alignment problems Muscle and tendon problems Sports injuries or recurring pain when competing Shoulder, elbow and wrist pain Hip, knee and foot pain And much more How long does the session take? Treatments usually take about 30 minutes. Do you accept health insurance and Medicare plans? Yes, our clinic has a hicaps machine for on the spot private healthcare rebates. If you would have an EPC plan from your GP (Enhanced Primary Care Plan), you could get up to 5 sessions per calendar year to get a Medicare rebate. How many treatments will I need? This will vary greatly depending on several factors: the cause and severity of the issue, how long have you had the symptoms, your age, fitness level and lifestyle and how good you are with following the treatment plan. We will give you an estimation based on all these factors and will re-evaluate at every session to see where you are in the progress. Do I need a referral from a doctor (GP or specialist)? No, you don’t need a referral. However, if you would have one, please bring it with you. A specific GP referral (EPC = Enhanced Primary Care Plan), can give you a rebate for up to 5 sessions per calendar year. Will I get treatment in my first consultation? Yes, after some questions and an assessment, you will get treatment straight away. For greater detail on what to expect during your first session, please read “ what to expect ” Will I get exercises to do at home? Most likely, you’ll get some exercises to do in between visits to ensure recovery is optimized. We will show you and sometimes email you the specific ones tailored for your recovery.

Sports Injuries INJURIES AND CONDITIONS WE CAN TREAT At Physio K , all problems of the movement system can be treated. Here are some of the most common injuries or conditions we are qualified to treat: Achilles Tendonitis Ankle Sprains Back Pain Bursitis Disc Bulges, Herniated Discs And Sciatica Dizziness Or Vertigo Elbow Pain Hamstring Injuries Headaches Jaw Problems Or TMJ Issues Lower Back Pain Meniscus Injury Neck Pain Osteoarthritis Plantar Fasciitis Post Operative Rehabilitation Posture And Alignment Problems Shoulder Pain Sports Injuries Sprains, Strains And Tears Sports Injuries Sports physiotherapy specialises in the treatment, rehabilitation and further prevention of injuries and niggles sustained during sporting activities. Our sports physiotherapists at Physio K have a wide range of experience in the assessment and treatment of sports injuries to allow you to return to your chosen sport without recurring issues. "We will create a rehabilitation program, tailored to your needs, enabling you to get back to your peak performance quickly and safely" Common sports injuries we treat frequently at Physio K Muscle strains and tears Tendon strains Ligament sprains (e.g. ankle sprains) Back pain Hamstring issues Plantar fasciosis Knee pain ITB problems Hip and groin injuries Neck pain Shoulder problems Tennis elbow Golfers elbow Wrist issues Post surgery rehabilitation Bursitis What our treatment comprises Injury assessment, treatment and rehabilitation program Our trained physiotherapists have the experience and knowledge to assess, diagnose and treat your injury. We will tailor the treatment to your needs and allow you to return to your chosen sport without recurring setbacks. Movement assessment This will be necessary to determine the cause of the problem. Our physiotherapists will look at posture, asymmetry, strength and flexibility. Pain is only a symptom; correcting the biomechanics or your movement pattern will treat the cause of the pain. Sport physiotherapy treatment modalities We will use our clinical reasoning to determine what treatment is the most effective for your recovery. Techniques we often use for the treatment of sports injuries are: sports taping (kinesiotape), dry needling, exercise prescription, movement and posture assessment, education, various types of soft tissue work and joint rehab. Why is it important to be proactive in sports injuries? A small ache or pain can quickly turn into a bigger problem and an injury which will stop you from doing what you love. It is best to get advice and start with treatment sooner rather than later. This is particularly important if you have just started in the season of your sport or if you are training for an event. Early treatment usually results in a quicker recovery. Our practice provides sports physio in our clinic, located in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney. Our studio is located in Bondi Junction. Physio K services the surrounding suburbs as well, such as Bondi Beach, Waverley, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Randwick, Woollahra, Paddington, Darlinghurst, Bellevue Hill, Double Bay, Rose Bay, Dover Heights and Vaucluse.

Ankle Sprains INJURIES AND CONDITIONS WE CAN TREAT At Physio K , all problems of the movement system can be treated. Here are some of the most common injuries or conditions we are qualified to treat: Achilles Tendonitis Ankle Sprains Back Pain Bursitis Disc Bulges, Herniated Discs And Sciatica Dizziness Or Vertigo Elbow Pain Hamstring Injuries Headaches Jaw Problems Or TMJ Issues Lower Back Pain Meniscus Injury Neck Pain Osteoarthritis Plantar Fasciitis Post Operative Rehabilitation Posture And Alignment Problems Shoulder Pain Sports Injuries Sprains, Strains And Tears Ankle Sprains A sprained ankle is one of the most common sporting injuries, often recurring regularly if not treated and rehabilitated correctly. In most cases the foot is rolled inwards, resulting in stretching or tearing of the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. Occasionally, there is associated muscle, bone or cartilage damage involved too. Stepping or running onto an unstable surface or landing unbalanced can cause your ankle to ‘roll’ and sprain your ankle. Pain, swelling and bruising may follow. Depending on the severity of your sprain, you may have trouble standing on your foot or walking. In these cases, a walking boot, crutches or strapping might be advisable. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR AN ANKLE SPRAIN TO HEAL? This can vary greatly depending on the grade of your ankle sprain. Grade 1 will most likely heal within 2 to 3 weeks, although it can take up to 6 weeks for full scar tissue maturation. Untreated mild ankle sprains quite often result in joint stiffness, ligament laxity, muscle weakness or reduced proprioception (balance and joint awareness). This can lead to compensations in other parts of the body, which can lead to other injuries at a later time. Grade 2 sprains have more severe ligament stretch and need 4 to 6 weeks recovery time. Grade 3 ligament injuries are when the ligament is completely ruptured. The rehabilitation of a Grade 3 ankle sprain normally takes 6 to 12 weeks but is quite variable depending on your specific injury. TREATMENT OF ANKLE SPRAINS Depending on the grade or severity of your injury, treatment will be tailored to your individual needs. "A sprained ankle can increase your risk of re-injury as much as 40-70%, but the correct post-injury rehabilitation exercises significantly decrease the risk." Pain relief, regaining full range of motion, strengthening of calf and ankle muscles, restoring proprioception, normalising gait patterns and returning to sports are goals that will be addressed to get you the best rehabilitation and get you back to doing what you love. DRY NEEDLING ANKLE SPRAIN Dry needling is often a technique that is not commonly used with an ankle sprain, but it can have significant benefits. The peroneal group is a muscle group on the outside of your lower leg, which plays an important role in the stability of your foot and ankle. We’ve seen chronic ankle instability and pain due to the overactivity and trigger points in this muscle group. It is important that this is addressed and dry needling can be an effective way to treat this. To learn more about dry needling, click here . In the video bellow, Kenny from Physio K runs you through a stability exercise program for your ankle and your foot. These are particularly handy after you sprained (or rolled) your ankle or if you have ankle instability. You really should master these ones after an ankle sprain, otherwise you could have an instability for a long time. This exercise program will start off easy and will progress to more difficult exercises. Please always check with your physio to know which exercises will be helpful for you. These videos are here as a guide and will contribute to your rehab, in addition to some specific manual treatment. Sometimes you'll need a different approach, so always contact your health practitioner to get the best recommendation for you. Watch the video about ankle and foot stability exercises 1. Standing on one foot That's a very easy exercise. You can do that anytime: when you wait for traffic lights or when you're cooking, just stand on one foot. You can make it a little bit harder if you close your eyes. Doing that will eliminate a part of your balance system, so that will be a little bit harder. Try to do that for a minute or longer, if possible. 2. Standing single leg with movement Bending through your knee, up and down while standing on 1 leg is a very good progression from the first exercise. Next, moving the free leg in different directions can be used to challenge your balance system. Try to do this for a minute each time. 3. Lunges steps (forward and sideways) Take big steps forward and then sideways: lunges. Keep your bodyweight on top of the front foot and try to keep your balance for 3 seconds before switching to the other leg. Try to do 10 repetitions each side, 3 sets. 4. Jumping lunges Big jumps forward and sideways. This is very similar to the previous exercise, only now it requires jumps instead of steps. Start with jumping from 1 leg to the other, then switch to continuously jumping with the same leg. Try to make your foot and leg tired to improve your balance and your stability in your ankle. These exercises are paramount to increase the stability of your foot and ankle. Really try to do them as much as you can, you should do them at least for a few weeks to a few months.

Neck Pain INJURIES AND CONDITIONS WE CAN TREAT At Physio K , all problems of the movement system can be treated. Here are some of the most common injuries or conditions we are qualified to treat: Achilles Tendonitis Ankle Sprains Back Pain Bursitis Disc Bulges, Herniated Discs And Sciatica Dizziness Or Vertigo Elbow Pain Hamstring Injuries Headaches Jaw Problems Or TMJ Issues Lower Back Pain Meniscus Injury Neck Pain Osteoarthritis Plantar Fasciitis Post Operative Rehabilitation Posture And Alignment Problems Shoulder Pain Sports Injuries Sprains, Strains And Tears Neck Pain Physio K offers treatment for many different types of neck pain. Problems in this part of the body can present in many different ways. Some common presentations of neck pain include: Reduced range of motion Pain when turning the head Muscle tightness, either constant or with movements of the head Pain radiating in the shoulders or arms from the neck Pain at the top of the neck, often combined with headaches CAUSE OF NECK PAIN: BAD POSTURE: Poor posture during the day can cause the weight of the head to shift forward and away from the center of the body (forward head posture), forcing the neck muscles to work harder to support the head. Prolonged computer work or looking down at a phone not only moves the head forward but also forces the neck to bend with it. This bending can overextend the muscles in the back of the neck, resulting in pain and inflammation. SLEEPING POSITION: Sleeping with the head turned or twisted can result in neck pain (e.g. with sleeping on the tummy or on a pillow that is too thick or too thin). Short term symptoms could be stiffness and muscle pain. Sleeping with the head rotated to 1 side can result in disc problems in the long run. The intervertebral discs are supposed to recover during the night and that’s not possible when the neck and head are rotated during the entire night. . Cold also has a big impact on the neck muscles. Air Conditioning or sleeping next to a window with a breeze can make the muscle tense up and result in a stiff neck in the morning. TEETH GRINDING: Bruxism is a condition in which people grind or clench their teeth while they sleep. Grinding or clenching the teeth puts pressure on the muscles in the jaw and neck, which can cause neck tension, pain or headaches. WHIPLASH: Whiplash is caused by an injury to the neck when the head moves forward and backwards in a rapid motion that ends up placing strain on the surrounding muscles and ligaments and usually occurs in a motor vehicle accident. Symptoms of whiplash include: Neck pain and stiffness Reduced mobility of the neck Headaches Disc issues (bulges or herniated discs) Nerve issues with referring pain in the shoulders or arms Neck pain caused by whiplash can become chronic if left untreated. STRESS: Stress has a huge impact on the entire human body. It affects some parts more often than others; the neck being one of the most frequent areas. Stress is the body’s natural reaction to a dangerous situation. When we feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in our body that allows us to act in a way to prevent injury (‘fight-or-flight reaction’). When a person experiences stress regularly, their muscles remain tense and contracted for longer periods, which can result in neck and shoulder tension. "Most neck pain is a result of bad posture combined with stress and asymmetric movements." It normally builds up over time, but people usually don’t realise it. It’s like slowly filling up a bucket with water; and most people only remember the last drop that makes the bucket overflow: the last wrong movement or the bad position we slept in, which results in a stiff neck. NECK PAIN TREATMENT: Neck pain is treated in our clinic after determining the cause of your pain. We perform a thorough examination after taking a health history. Once we know the cause of your problems, we can treat you with a broad range of techniques. Manual therapy, exercise treatment, education and dry needling can all be used to help get you back moving well and feeling great. Watch the following exercises videos for neck pain: Please always check with your physio to know which exercises will be helpful for you. These videos are here as a guide and will contribute to your rehab, in addition to some specific manual treatment. Sometimes you'll need a different approach, so always contact your health practitioner to get the best recommendation for you. Neck pain treatment In the above video, Anthony from Physio K runs you through a neck mobility program, targeted at increasing your movement during the early stages of neck pain. 1. Gentle range of motion exercises. Standing up or sitting down, bringing your chin down towards your chest, then coming back up looking up towards the roof and then coming back down to eye level. Then, try to rotate across to the right and to the left. The last one is side bending or lateral flexion of the neck: taking your ear down towards the shoulder on the right hand side and then coming back again towards the other side. When you're performing these exercises we generally get you to do it for about 10 times per day and you really can't get enough of these; especially during those early stages of neck pain. 2. Upper trap stretch For this one here, we have you sitting right on top of your right hand, reaching over your head with your left hand and gently pulling your left ear down towards that shoulder. Now as you're doing this exercise, you'll get a nice stretch through your upper trap muscle, that's exactly what we're looking for. You're going to hold this stretch for 30 seconds and repeat that three times. Best neck exercises In the above video, Kenny from Physio K is showing a combination of 2 of the best exercises to do when you’re having neck pain. The first one is great when you are doing computer work or are sitting for prolonged periods. The second one is the best strengthening exercise for the neck. 1. Shoulder rolls You can do this one sitting or standing up. Just relax your arms in your lap and rotate the shoulder girdle backwards, making big circles backwards. Try not to use your arms, relax them in your lap and make big circles backwards. Do this for a full minute, if possible 10 times per day. Your muscles are under constant stretch when you’re sitting all day so we would like to get some blood flow in your upper trapezius muscles. 2. Deep neck flexor strengthening Almost everyone could benefit from this exercise. It’s good to improve your strength and also to improve your posture! Start with laying on your back on a mat on the floor and try to make a double chin and hold this for 12 seconds. Keeping your head on the floor. If this is easy, you can go to the next step which is basically the same but after making a double chin, then try to lift up your head just slightly, for 1 centimeter off the floor and hold this position for 12 seconds. This is a tough exercise, try not to compensate and keep the double chin position at all times!

Plantar Fasciitis INJURIES AND CONDITIONS WE CAN TREAT At Physio K , all problems of the movement system can be treated. Here are some of the most common injuries or conditions we are qualified to treat: Achilles Tendonitis Ankle Sprains Back Pain Bursitis Disc Bulges, Herniated Discs And Sciatica Dizziness Or Vertigo Elbow Pain Hamstring Injuries Headaches Jaw Problems Or TMJ Issues Lower Back Pain Meniscus Injury Neck Pain Osteoarthritis Plantar Fasciitis Post Operative Rehabilitation Posture And Alignment Problems Shoulder Pain Sports Injuries Sprains, Strains And Tears Plantar Fasciitis Technically, plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a thick sheet of connective tissue at the bottom of the foot. However, this diagnosis is frequently given to any number of conditions causing pain around the heel or at the foot sole. This pain is often concentrated near the heel and is often worse when getting up in the morning and at night. "The conventional view of plantar fasciitis is that it is caused by tightness in the foot as a result of overuse or sometimes due to tight calves." Stretching of these muscles and some foot exercises were traditionally given as a treatment, but this is a very simplistic view. In reality, there are many causes of this condition. Tight calves or stiffness in the achilles tendon could be one of them, but many times the root cause can be a lot higher in the body. Successful treatment of plantar fasciitis must involve a comprehensive biomechanical analysis to determine which factors are contributing to the condition. COMMON PLANTAR FASCIITIS SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS Many times, the reason for this issue is fascia tightness somewhere in the body. There are sheets of fascia (connective tissue) covering, running through, over, under, and around every muscle of the body. There are some sheets that connect various muscles together in series. These are sometimes known as myofascial lines or myofascial meridians. Through these lines, all muscles in the body are connected and a pull in one part of the body can affect other parts as well. One of these lines is intimately involved in plantar fasciitis. It is commonly known as the superficial back line. This line starts at the tips of your toes, runs under your feet, up your calves and hamstrings, up the pelvis and spine, over your neck and head and eventually stops at your eyebrows. Tension or imbalance of this line and its structures can all be transmitted to the bottom of the feet, right through the plantar fascia. Many times, tightness of the lower back is contributing to your plantar fasciitis. Re-balancing and possibly releasing this superficial back line can often resolve plantar fasciitis. Various movement restrictions of the big toe or scar tissue at the bottom of the foot is also a common cause of plantar fasciitis. This is caused by excessive stresses being placed on these tissues. Like most other musculoskeletal problems in the body, plantar fasciitis doesn’t have a single solution that works for everyone. However, using a comprehensive assessment of the body followed by specific soft-tissue release, movement assessment and re-education, some corrective exercises and sometimes orthotics, most cases can be permanently resolved in short order. If you experience pain at the foot sole, don’t endure the pain and definitely don’t let it build up until you have a bigger problem. Sometimes it can be helpful to get insoles by the help of a podiatrist . DOES DRY NEEDLING HELP WITH PLANTAR FASCIITIS? The short answer is, yes. The long answer is, yes, but it depends what is causing your symptoms. Many times, people are diagnosed with plantar fasciitis whenever there is some pain or tightness around the heel or at the bottom of the foot. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have plantar fasciitis. Many times, there is tightness in one of the deeper muscles that bend the toes or is attaching in the foot. As a result, the tendon pulls on the bone and will either cause inflammation or just pain. Releasing the stiffness in the muscles will result in less pressure in the tendon and thus reduce or eliminate your symptoms. Dry needling is an excellent method for releasing the increased tightness in those muscles. To learn more about dry needling, click here . In the video bellow, Kenny from Physio K runs you through a stability exercise program for your ankle and your foot. These are particularly handy after you sprained (or rolled) your ankle or if you have ankle instability. You really should master these ones after an ankle sprain, otherwise you could have an instability for a long time. This exercise program will start off easy and will progress to more difficult exercises. Please always check with your physio to know which exercises will be helpful for you. These videos are here as a guide and will contribute to your rehab, in addition to some specific manual treatment. Sometimes you'll need a different approach, so always contact your health practitioner to get the best recommendation for you. Watch a video on how to get better flexibility in your feet. 1. Standing on one foot That's a very easy exercise. You can do that anytime: when you wait for traffic lights or when you're cooking, just stand on one foot. You can make it a little bit harder if you close your eyes. Doing that will eliminate a part of your balance system, so that will be a little bit harder. Try to do that for a minute or longer, if possible. 2. Standing single leg with movement Bending through your knee, up and down while standing on 1 leg is a very good progression from the first exercise. Next, moving the free leg in different directions can be used to challenge your balance system. Try to do this for a minute each time. 3. Lunges steps (forward and sideways) Take big steps forward and then sideways: lunges. Keep your bodyweight on top of the front foot and try to keep your balance for 3 seconds before switching to the other leg. Try to do 10 repetitions each side, 3 sets. 4. Jumping lunges Big jumps forward and sideways. This is very similar to the previous exercise, only now it requires jumps instead of steps. Start with jumping from 1 leg to the other, then switch to continuously jumping with the same leg. Try to make your foot and leg tired to improve your balance and your stability in your ankle. These exercises are paramount to increase the stability of your foot and ankle. Really try to do them as much as you can, you should do them at least for a few weeks to a few months.

Back Pain INJURIES AND CONDITIONS WE CAN TREAT At Physio K , all problems of the movement system can be treated. Here are some of the most common injuries or conditions we are qualified to treat: Achilles Tendonitis Ankle Sprains Back Pain Bursitis Disc Bulges, Herniated Discs And Sciatica Dizziness Or Vertigo Elbow Pain Hamstring Injuries Headaches Jaw Problems Or TMJ Issues Lower Back Pain Meniscus Injury Neck Pain Osteoarthritis Plantar Fasciitis Post Operative Rehabilitation Posture And Alignment Problems Shoulder Pain Sports Injuries Sprains, Strains And Tears Back Pain The spine is usually described by dividing it into 3 major sections: the cervical spine (the neck), the thoracic spine (the mid or upper back), and the lumbar spine (the lower back). Below the lumbar spine, we can find the pelvis. This complex structure is an interconnected complex of bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia, and all of these can become damaged and cause pain, neurological symptoms or cause a loss of mobility. Check the links below to find more information about: lower back and lower back pain You can also find more detailed information regarding disc bulges and sciatica Or more information about neck pain In this section, we’ll talk about the middle of the back, or the thoracic spine. UPPER BACK PAIN TREATMENT "Most problems in the middle part of the back are caused by repetitive movements." Many times it’s a classic example of small things that build up and generate problems over time. Heavy labour or lifting together with a rotation can cause pain or stiffness locally. Sometimes the pain can refer to the side of the chest or to the front, around the sternum or chest bone. Many people confuse rib stiffness with a heart issue. When the joint between the rib and the vertebrae gets stiff, it can cause local and referred pain until the chest, hence the thought of heart problems. At Physio K, we deal with these problems on a weekly basis and most of the time, we can get you up and running within a few sessions. We first make an accurate diagnosis and based on that, we’ll combine hands on manual treatment with specific home exercises to get your back functioning again asap. Dry needling can be helpful if the deep thoracic muscles are tight or stiff. We made a few interesting videos, 3 of these 4 videos will focus on increasing the mobility of the mid back, as this is often a rigid and stiffer area with many people. The more mobility you have in the mid back, the better for the neck and shoulders. Many shoulder problems occur because of rigidity in this area, so these exercises can help as prevention for shoulder problems as well. Please always check with your physio to know which exercises will be helpful for you. These videos are here as a guide and will contribute to your rehab, in addition to some specific manual treatment. Sometimes you'll need a different approach, so always contact your health practitioner to get the best recommendation for you. Watch them: Middle back mobility exercises In the above video, Kenny from Physio K runs you through some exercises to improve your thoracic spine mobility, which is the mobility of your mid back. They are good to increase the movement in that area but also to prevent issues in your neck and your shoulders down the track. 1. Cat-cow exercise Starting on all fours position. You can do this on the floor on a mat. Make sure your hips are above your knees and your hands are under your shoulders. Start with tilting the pelvis. The pelvis is the part that's just below your lower back, so you can tilt this forward and backwards. Focus on the middle back, so when you tilt your pelvis forward, you'll push the middle of your back down and you look up towards the ceiling.Then you’ll change the direction, tilting your pelvis backwards and push the midpoint of your mid back up towards the ceiling and you'll look down. Do this for about a minute: 20 to 30 times and if possible multiple times a day. 2. Threading the needle or thoracic rotations In the same position as exercise 1, try to rotate your arm as far as you can and look at your hand while you do this, then come back to the beginning position and switch sides. Do this for about a minute: 20 to 30 times and if possible multiple times a day. Try not to force this exercise. These two exercises are the best ones to increase your thoracic mobility. Try to do them as much as you can, frequently during the day. Thoracic kyphosis exercises: strengthening and mobility for the mid back In the above video, Kenny from Physio K shows you some exercises to improve thoracic mobility, which is the mobility in the middle of your back. These are especially good if you have a big thoracic kyphosis, which is a big forward bend in the middle of your back, and also if you have stiffness in that area. These exercises will improve your mobility and will also be good for strengthening. 1. Cat cow exercise On your hands and knees, in all four position, making sure that your hips are above your knees and your hands are underneath your shoulders. Try to tilt your pelvis forward and backwards. We're going to focus on the middle back, so when you tilt your pelvis forward, you'll push the middle of your back down and you look up towards the ceiling.Then you’ll change the direction, tilting your pelvis backwards and push the midpoint of your mid back up towards the ceiling and you'll look down. Do this for about a minute: 20 to 30 times and if possible multiple times a day. 2. Prone lateral raise Lay on your tummy and have your arms at 90˚ abduction. Try to lift your arms up and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Hold for about 10 seconds and then go down again and you can rest your arms on the floor. Try to do this for about 20 times and if possible 3 sets. If this is too easy without any weights, you can use small weights in each hand, you can go from 1 kilo, I wouldn't go too high, we're focusing on endurance. Make sure you focus on squeezing your shoulder blades. 3. Front raise thumbs up Laying on your tummy on a mat, keep your forehead on a small towel and raise your arms forward. Make sure that your thumbs are up towards the ceiling. Lift up your arms without bending your elbows. Hold that for five seconds and then go down again. This is a tough one. Do this one about 10 to 15 times and if possible 3 sets. If it would be too easy, you can use some weights as well, about one to three kilograms in each hand. Mid Back mobility: progression In the above video, Anthony from Physio K runs you through a couple of exercises that are great for improving your mid-back mobility. 1. Bow and arrow Laying on your back, you're going to have both of your arms in front of you and both of your knees bent. Your hands are going to be together out in front of you. Now, just as if you were drawing a bow and arrow, you're going to pull one arm back, bending your elbow all the way across your body. Now the goal of this exercise is to touch the ground. But if you can't get there at the start, don't worry about it, bit by bit as you start to improve you'll notice that you can make it further and further closer towards the ground. For these exercises, we generally recommend that you do 10 each side and you repeat them three times a day. 2. Book opener In the exact same position as the previous exercise with knees bent and hands together, you're going to open up, keeping your elbow straight this time, opening up all the way, reaching for the roof and coming straight back down again. Like the previous one, the goal is to touch the floor on both sides at the same time. But if you don't get there at the start, don't worry about it. We're going to go for 3 sets of 10 for those exercises. 3. Windmill In the same starting position, try to reach up above your head, trying to drag your hand all the way across. Try to keep your hand in contact with the ground as you do this. It's important to remember for all of these exercises that your head follows your hand everywhere it goes. 4. Variation of the world's greatest stretch. For this one, you're going to be up on your hands and knees. The goal for this to start off, is having your hips and your shoulders square with your body then reaching with your right hand, you're going to come underneath your body, going as far as you can, and then opening straight up towards the roof and coming down again. For this one here, we're looking at doing three sets of ten on both sides. Foam rolling for the mid back In the above video, Kenny from Physio K shows you a few things to increase the mobility of your mid-back , which is your thoracic spine. They will both include a foam roller. 1. Foam rolling your upper back (mid back) For the first one, try to just lay on your back, with your upper back on a foam roller. Try to cross your arms over your chest, lift up your hips and gently roll up and down on the foam roller. Don't go too fast, you won't have any benefits if you go too fast. Try to do that for about two to three minutes. 2. Breathing on the foam roller We are laying on the foam roller in a very similar position as exercise 1. Just try and relax your hips down on the floor and then put your arms over your head, and just try to relax in this position and just try to breathe. Take a few deep breaths in and out, and after that, you can try and move a little bit up or down on the foam roller. These two are really good to increase your mobility in your upper back.

Lower Back Pain INJURIES AND CONDITIONS WE CAN TREAT At Physio K , all problems of the movement system can be treated. Here are some of the most common injuries or conditions we are qualified to treat: Achilles Tendonitis Ankle Sprains Back Pain Bursitis Disc Bulges, Herniated Discs And Sciatica Dizziness Or Vertigo Elbow Pain Hamstring Injuries Headaches Jaw Problems Or TMJ Issues Lower Back Pain Meniscus Injury Neck Pain Osteoarthritis Plantar Fasciitis Post Operative Rehabilitation Posture And Alignment Problems Shoulder Pain Sports Injuries Sprains, Strains And Tears Lower Back Pain CAUSES OF LOWER BACK PAIN A lot has been said about low back pain already and it is, together with neck problems, the most common problem or issue we see at Physio K. The low back is a complex structure consisting of vertebrae, intervertebral joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves and discs. Most people with low back pain will have an issue with a few different structures together (e.g. tight muscle and a joint not moving well, or a disc issue with a muscle spasm). In younger people, it is more common to have a joint that’s ‘stuck’ (meaning, not moving anymore) and muscle or fascia tightness. More progressed back issues will involve the discs and sometimes some nerve irritation as well. Check the link to know more about disc issues in the lower back or sciatica. "Physiotherapy can help with movement related issues in the low back. It can help reduce your pain and get you back to normal mobility. " LOWER BACK PAIN TREATMENT Early intervention will significantly reduce the length of treatment necessary to relieve your symptoms. If your problem is chronic: don’t worry, physiotherapy can still help. You will just require longer and different treatment. In most cases, you do not need surgery! A combination of manual therapy, exercise prescription, dry needling and or visceral manipulation can ease your back pain and can get you back to your normal activities. Watch a series of exercises made for lower back pain: Please always check with your physio to know which exercises will be helpful for you. These videos are here as a guide and will contribute to your rehab, in addition to some specific manual treatment. Sometimes you'll need a different approach, so always contact your health practitioner to get the best recommendation for you. Lower back exercises In the above video, Kenny from Physio K is showing an exercise program for people with lower back pain, tailored for people who have disc issues or sciatic nerve problems. Numbness in the bum or further down the leg or the feeling of pins and needles could be an indication of this problem. 1. Cat cow exercise. On your hands and knees, in all four position, making sure that your hips are above your knees and your hands are underneath your shoulders. Try to tilt your pelvis forward and backwards. We're going to focus on the lower back, imagining tucking a tail in between your legs and then putting your tail up in the air. The curved up position is a bit like how a cat is rounding its back and the opposite, curved down position, is similar to the position of a cow. Make sure you stay mid range, don’t push all the way up or down if you have disc issues or sciatic nerve irritation. Do this for about a minute: 20 to 30 times and if possible multiple times a day. 2. McKenzie extension exercise Laying on your tummy on a mat on the floor and putting your elbows underneath your shoulders (sphinx pose). Try to extend your lower back and look up with your head. You'll have a little bit of compression in the lower back which is great for your disc and you can also feel a little bit of stretch in the front so that's why you have to look up to have the maximum amount of stretch in the front. Stay in that position for 20 - 25 seconds and go down again. Do that four to five times in a row. If this is too easy for you then you can go to the next step, which is trying to extend your elbows. Put your hands underneath your shoulders, extend your elbows totally and try to relax in your back and look up. 3. Stretch of the Piriformis Laying on your back on a mat, pull up one leg and grab your knee with one hand and grab your heel with your other hand. The purpose is to try and pull your knee towards your opposite shoulder and make sure you leave your head relaxed on the table. You should feel a deep stretch under your glutes. The piriformis is a muscle that's laying in the pelvis, underneath your glutes. That's a very important muscle for your nerve health. If you have any kind of nerve issues make sure you do that stretch. Hold this position for 20 to 25 seconds, relax, do that four or five times in a row. Make sure you have a straight angle in your knee which is 90 degrees and pull across 4. Nerve glider Laying on your back on a mat with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. If the problem is on the right side, then you'll do the exercise with your right leg. Put your right knee on top of your left knee and then, in this position, relax your foot and try to extend your right knee up and down. Don't hold, don't try to stretch, we're trying to get a glide in the nerve. This is a good stand alone exercise, or could be used as a warm up. The next step is the same thing but at the same time, pull your toes towards your nose while you extend the knee and then go down again, leaving your knee on top of the other one. Try to do 20 to 30 repetitions each, a few times per day. Lower back mobility exercises In the above video, Anthony from Physio K runs you through a couple of exercises to improve your lower back pain. 1. Lumbar rocking Laying on your back, preferably on a mat, you're going to gently bring your knees up towards your chest, wrapping your hands around and grabbing onto the front of your knees. Now gently pulling those up closer towards your chest and letting them back out again. When you're doing this exercise, it's important to remember to relax your chest, relax your core and relax your legs. The only thing that should be doing the movement is your arms. Do this for about two minutes and three times a day. 2. Lumbar rotations Laying on your back, you're just going to rock your knees gently from side to side, keeping your shoulders firmly pressed against the ground as you do so. It's important to remember with these ones to do them for two minutes and three times a day. 3. Cobra into child's pose stretch You start off on your hands and knees and start by rocking your hips down towards the floor, holding for about five to ten seconds and then coming back up again and going down into child's pose, holding for 30 seconds. We recommend repeating these three times for each one of these exercises and we're looking at doing them three times a day. Lower back exercises | Progression In the above video, Anthony from Physio K runs you through a couple of lower back exercises that are really good if you're having pain or stiffness in that area. They are a progression of the previous exercise video, which you can find here 1. The crucifix Laying down on a mat on the floor, you're going to start off with both of your hands out towards your side, and straighten your left leg to start off with. Bring your right one straight across, and then rock back doing the same thing the other way, straightening that outside leg and going straight over the other side. Try to do this one about 10 times each side. 2. Glute bridge Laying on your back on a mat on the floor, you're going to have both of your knees bent; roughly your feet are going to be placed about shoulder width apart and then you're going to push down through your heels lifting your hips up off the ground making one straight line from your knees all the way through to your shoulders, and then coming back down again. If this exercise is too easy for you to start off with, you can do it single leg, so you're going to go up with both of your legs, straighten out your left one and hold straight up and slowly bring your hips back down again. If that again is too easy for you, we're going to have you hold 1 leg up pushing down through the heels again, lifting your hips straight up, remembering to make a straight line from your knees all the way through to your shoulders the entire time. For this exercise, we generally recommend about three sets of ten, as it is a really good strengthening exercise for the glutes, but also a really good lower back mobilisation exercise. 3. Dead bug Laying on a mat on the floor, you’ll start off with both of your knees bent up about 90 degrees, and raise both of your hands straight up pointing directly towards the roof. As you do this exercise, you're going to lower one hand and the opposite leg at the same time and then coming back up towards the top, interchanging them, so it's important to remember whilst you're doing this exercise: you always want to have your legs at a 90 degree angle or a perpendicular angle with the body 4. The bird dog On your hands and knees, you're going to raise your right hand with your left leg at the same time. Now when you're doing this, it's important to remain stable through the hips and through the core, and try to avoid any rotational movement. Try to maintain a straight line straight through the back and pelvis. For both of these last exercises, we're going to have you do them for about three sets of 10 reps.

Posture And Alignment Problems INJURIES AND CONDITIONS WE CAN TREAT At Physio K , all problems of the movement system can be treated. Here are some of the most common injuries or conditions we are qualified to treat: Achilles Tendonitis Ankle Sprains Back Pain Bursitis Disc Bulges, Herniated Discs And Sciatica Dizziness Or Vertigo Elbow Pain Hamstring Injuries Headaches Jaw Problems Or TMJ Issues Lower Back Pain Meniscus Injury Neck Pain Osteoarthritis Plantar Fasciitis Post Operative Rehabilitation Posture And Alignment Problems Shoulder Pain Sports Injuries Sprains, Strains And Tears Posture And Alignment Problems "PERFECT POSTURE DOES NOT EXIST" Let’s start with giving a bit of context around a common misbelief: ‘we should all sit / stand in a certain way’. Everyone is shaped slightly differently due to genetic or anatomic variations. Different forces to our bodies due to sports, hobbies, or jobs that require specific movements or positions that are advantageous to that task will contribute to differences in our individual alignments. This is normal and no one has ‘perfect alignment’ or posture because it doesn’t exist! It is impossible to objectively measure ‘perfect’ posture because there is a lot of normal variation among different individuals. "Posture is the current position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting" If you don't move for a while, the nervous system will eventually remind you (through some discomfort) that you need to change positions or get moving. Biomechanically speaking, you will probably be able to tolerate certain positions for longer, as the sustained load to specific tissues of the body will be greater in some postures and less in others. But, some tissues may be loaded more in what you might think of as "poor" posture while others may be loaded more in what you think of as "good" posture. Listening to your body and spending more time moving around and switching positions rather than staying in one position for long periods is key to a healthy movement system. Even slight changes make a big difference! Desk neck or tech neck: These terms describe a position where the chin is forward and the upper back is hunched over at a desk, working at a computer. This posture can still occur whether sitting or standing, although it is more common in sitting. This position in itself isn't bad, but sustaining the posture for long periods (such as working at a desk for 9 hours) may load parts of the neck in a way that become irritated as the day goes on. Once the position is changed such as a lunch break or the end of the day, the discomfort usually goes away. However, postures that are repeatedly sustained, say working at a desk for 9 hours a day for 6 months, can actually cause changes in the function of the muscles of the neck. Muscles that are chronically held in a shortened position will become tight and progressively weak, and muscles that are chronically lengthened can also become weak. Slumped positions: Most people will have the slumped sitting or standing position in mind when thinking of ‘bad posture’: Slouched through the lower back, a curved upper back and a forward head posture to try to see what’s ahead of us. To get into a better sitting position, we should start with the base of the spine, which is the pelvis. An anterior tilt of the pelvis will help a lot with correcting everything atop of it. At Physio K, we can teach you how small changes make a big difference! Activity assessment and activity modification Activity assessment and activity modification play crucial roles in helping individuals with pain related to poor posture. Activity assessment involves evaluating a person's daily activities, movement patterns, and postural habits to identify any factors that contribute to their pain. It allows healthcare professionals to pinpoint specific activities or positions that exacerbate the pain and determine the underlying postural imbalances. Based on this assessment, activity modification aims to implement targeted strategies to alleviate pain and improve posture. This may involve teaching proper body mechanics, recommending ergonomic adjustments, suggesting postural exercises, or providing guidance on lifestyle changes. By addressing the root causes of pain and encouraging healthier postural habits, activity assessment and modification can effectively relieve discomfort, enhance overall posture, and promote long-term pain management. In the video below, Anthony from Physio K runs you through a thoracic strengthening program, which is really good for improving your posture. Please always check with your physio to know which exercises will be helpful for you. These videos are here as a guide and will contribute to your rehab, in addition to some specific manual treatment. Sometimes you'll need a different approach, so always contact your health practitioner to get the best recommendation for you. Watch the video about posture correction exercises . 1. Straight arm pull backs For this exercise you'll need to stand up and hold a theraband in either hand and have it attached to something in front of you; ideally a doorknob is really good for this. With both of your elbows extended, keeping them nice and straight. You're going to pull your arms just behind your hips and then slowly come back to the starting position. For this exercise, we recommend that you perform 10 reps and you repeat that for 3 sets. It's also important to make sure that you're squeezing your shoulder blades together really tight, imagining that you're gripping a pencil between them. 2. Vertical row This exercise will be in a similar position, having a theraband attached to a doorknob or something in front of you. You're just going to have your elbows bent and then pull straight back. As you're doing this, remember to squeeze your shoulder blades together nice and tight as if you were gripping a pencil. For this exercise we're looking at repeating 10 times and doing three sets of that. 3. Band pull-aparts Standing up, holding a theraband in your hands, you're going to keep them roughly shoulder width apart and you're going to keep your elbows fully extended. As you do this, you're going to pull them all the way apart, squeezing your shoulder blades together nicely as you do that. For this one, we're looking at performing 10 repetitions and you're going to do three sets. These exercises are great for mid-back strengthening, if you have any other questions please feel free to contact us or come into the clinic for a visit.