The Physio Diary

Imagine this: You’re a soldier on the war front. In the middle of intense shooting, you accidentally step on something that clicks. Your friend’s face goes pale. “You move, you die, Noah.” “We’re already dead,” you mutter, seeing little hope. “No,” he says, “we’re only dead if you move. You just stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).” That’s when it hits you—lifting your foot would be instant death for you and everyone nearby. But as long as you stay still, you might survive—unless you’re hit by a bullet. Our war front… This scenario feels all too real because, in one way or another, each of us has faced a similar situation in life. Okay, maybe we haven’t been in an actual war, but we have all had our own battles—maybe not with guns, but with pain.  Think about the times we heard a “snap” during a fall, or felt pain that made us dread moving a single muscle. Sprained ankle? Fractured bone? Severe back pain? Stroke? Pain, no matter the type, convinces us that moving is the...

Guess what? Baby Jo' has officially arrived! Now, while Aunt Jo' is free from the extra load she’s been hauling for nine months, we can’t shift our focus just yet. Yes, Baby Jo' is adorable and needs all the attention, but Aunt Jo's body just did a whole lot of work, and she deserves some TLC too! Postpartum Health – Let’s Talk About It Here’s the thing: new moms usually don’t have to show up for postnatal classes until six weeks later. Why? To avoid infections (because Baby Jo’s immune system is still trying to figure out how to deal with germs solo). But, what about Aunt Jo's body, which has been through its own version of the Olympics? We'll delve into the complications that could arise following delivery:  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) If Aunt Jo’s hands (wrists) are feeling numb, painful or tingly, it’s likely thanks to carpal tunnel syndrome. This happens because pregnancy can cause swelling, putting pressure on the nerves in the wrist. Luckily, this usuall...

Many of us are still wondering, "What’s the deal with Aunt Jo'?" Well, like we mentioned last time, there’s way more happening with a pregnant woman than we can imagine. It’s like having a circus inside our body while trying to act like everything’s normal. Let’s jump into today’s episode… Aunt Jo’s a few weeks (or months) into her pregnancy, and suddenly, she starts complaining of low back pain (LBP). Yeah, it’s one of those things; but here’s the twist—not every Aunt Jo' experiences back pain. Some stats show that only a fraction of pregnant women experience LBP. Lucky them, right? But whether Aunt Jo' is dealing with LBP or not, today’s post is for every Aunt Jo'. We're talking about five key positions that will not only help our pregnant superhero but might also benefit the rest of us mere mortals! How should Aunt Jo' sit, stand, sleep, drive, and handle house chores? It's easy! Remember our post, 'You Are Royalty, Act Like One...

For readers who stuck around after last week’s post – nice!  We hope you have been showering Aunt Jo' with all the love and care she deserves. And for the new readers, you might want to catch up by reading Part 1 . It has got all the juicy details! So, let’s dive in: When a woman finds out she’s pregnant, reactions can vary. Some go into full-on celebration mode after waiting for ages, while others might be thinking - Oh great, another mouth to feed! Either way, one thing is for sure—Aunt Jo' is about to go through some wild body changes. What Actually Happens to Aunt Jo' During Pregnancy? Hold on, let us not rush it! Let us start from beginning… The ‘Before Pregnancy' Phase Most Aunt Jo's have no clue what pregnancy really involves until they are in the thick of it. Totally fair, right? But how about we help future Aunt Jo's out by cluing them in beforehand? This phase is all about education. Sounds basic, we know, but what Aunt Jo' knows about ...

We are tempted to briefly ask if we adhered to last week's neck exercises, but the urgency of today's topic seems to be getting to us. What exactly are we expected to do or know now that Aunt Jo' is pregnant? Many questions are raging through our minds as we learn about Aunt Jo's pregnancy, but we ask again - what next? First of all, who is Aunt Jo'? Aunt Jo' could be anyone we know who is pregnant - our wives, sisters, fiancées, child, or that neighbor who gives an ‘’I don't care attitude’’. Regardless of our relationship, Aunt Jo’ is a pregnant woman. Being pregnant is a thing of joy for many ladies/women. While some are miserable because of the hormonal changes that would take place during the nine months or the negative occurrences that led to the pregnancy, a fact remains that there is more to being pregnant than simply carrying a fetus for nine months.  Do we need to delve into the details of pregnancy? I don't think so. Instead, check ...