I was very fortunate last night to attend a lecture by the team from the Resilience Project.  The Resilience Project was formed to help combat the rise in mental health disorders in Australian society. They provide evidence based, practical strategies to help build resilience – or the ability to weather lifes’ inevitable challenges.  They do this through emotionally engaging programs at schools and workplaces and lectures such as the one last night at the Seymour Centre.

Through the daily practice of feeling gratitude, showing empathy to others, and practicing mindfulness, research has shown that depression and anxiety are significantly reduced.  Other important factors are a healthy diet (particularly one low in sugar), regular exercise and reducing use of devices.  By taking small, daily steps to care for our mental health as much as our physical health we can assist our own mental resilience, and set a good example for our children.

I found the talk of great benefit as it is very important for Restores health practitioners to look after their own welfare in order to be at our best to care for our patients each day.  If you think that your community, workplace or school would benefit from listening to a talk by the Resistance Project, just go to their website click here and find out more about what they do.  For more information on building resilience in children you can go to the Beyond Blue website page about this issue here.

Low back pain is the single biggest cause of years lived with disability worldwide.  It is therefore also a major challenge to international health systems. In 2018, the Lancet Low Back Pain Series Working Group identified a global problem of mismanagement of low back pain.  The group documented the phenomenon of unnecessary care whereby patients receive health services which don’t follow international guidelines.  There was strong evidence that this unnecessary care, including complex pain medications, spinal imaging tests, spinal injections, hospitalisation and surgical procedures, were hazardous for most patients with low back pain.  

The first intervention for what we call “simple” lower back pain (no neurological signs and symptoms) should be conservative.  At Restore this is osteopathic treatment, rest, anti-inflammatories if appropriate, and ergonomic and exercise advice.  At Restore we have always found that conservative management, lifestyle changes, improvement in strength and osteopathic care have a significant improvement in symptoms of lower back pain, and in the majority of patients will resolve it entirely.

If neurological signs are present e.g. burning, numbness, we will always refer patients 

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have been researching how to trigger new bone growth in people with osteoporosis.  They have been using liquid bone tissue created from material containing stem cells. The technique could be used to target specifically weak and fragile bones in those who suffer from osteoporosis.  This would in turn help to prevent fractures.

  A representative for the University of Nottingham’s team, Dr Ifty Ahmed said he and his team aimed to provide a preventative treatment for fractures associated with osteoporosis.  The experimental treatment is yet to be trialed on humans, but if successful would aim to find people at risk and strengthen their bones. Previous attempts at regenerating weak bones in sufferers of osteoporosis have failed due to the fragile nature of the stem cells required to do the job.

What an amazing step forward in the fight against osteoporosis.  To read more about this research click here.

Amanda is back at work after her trip to Scandinavia.

She is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

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