Tag: Biokinetics online

Biokinetics

Biokinetics Services During Lock-down.

by Neil Hopkins Biokineticist, posted in Uncategorized

The purpose of the lock-down in South Africa is to promote social distancing by enforcing isolation. The lock-down is intended to limit the spread of the virus and to prepare the health system to cope with the increased demand on resources.

Biokineticists are registered medical professionals with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Registered HPCSA medical professionals fall into the “essential services” category during lock-down. As a result biokineticists may treat patients that are in need of assistance provided that i) the treatment is in the patient’s best interest, ii) the lack of treatment (withdrawal of treatment) would have a deleterious effect on the patient’s health and well-being, and iii) the treatment would not bring the health of the greater community into jeopardy.

Unfortunately there will never be a “business-as-usual” scenario. Biokineticists, however, are allowed to use their clinical judgement with regards to the patients they treat. Face-to-face consultations should be reserved for individuals who require essential treatment to assist with their condition / prevent their condition from getting worse. Other patients are encouraged to use telehealth wherever possible.

In the event that your condition warrants a face-to-face consultation then the biokineticist is required to adhere to strict principles that ensure your safety. Safety directives and protocols issued by the Minister of Health, the National and Provincial Departments of Health or any other South African healthcare authority will need to be followed.

In summary, there needs to be an assessment of the risk-benefit ratio during the COVID-19 lock-down. Only patients that would be negatively affected by the lack of direct supervision can be seen for face-to-face biokinetics sessions. Telehealth biokinetics sessions are recommended for all other scenarios.

Terms and conditions apply: COVID-19 Informed Consent Document

Pre-screening questions: Phone triage

Biokinetics

If you would like more information about biokinetics or would like to make a booking please fill in the contact form below.

Biokineticist Cape Town

Biokinetics Cape Town

by Neil Hopkins Biokineticist, posted in Uncategorized

Biokinetics training sessions following the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa.

Feel free to get in touch if you would like to book a biokinetics training session.

Trail Running Exercises

by Neil Hopkins Biokineticist, posted in Uncategorized

Neil Hopkins Biokineticist Trail Running Exercises

Trail running in Cape Town:

Cape Town has some of the most magnificent trail running routes, and trail runners in Cape Town are spoiled for choice. From Table Mountain and Tokai (Silvermine), to Somerset West, Franschoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch and further afield towards the Cederberg and Matroosberg regions. There are trails for all levels of ability (technical single track for advanced runners and jeep track for beginners) which is why the sport has boomed over the last few years. There is also healthy trail running competition with numerous trail running races on the calendar (check out www.trailrunning.co.za or www.runnersguide.co.za).

Trail running and your body:

Anecdotally trail running is often seen as kinder on your body when it comes to overuse injuries. It is believed that there is a greater risk of overuse injury (eg: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome) with road running and more acute injury (eg: Lateral Ankle Sprain) risk with trail running. However, not all trail runners sustain injuries and if they do they are not always acute injuries. A discussion on the detail surrounding the types of injuries and the mechanisms involved are not part of the scope of this post, but if you would like more information here are a few journal papers of interest:

Many trail runners actually present with overuse injuries as a result of overload. Overload has many guises: too much too soon, too far too soon, too fast too soon, too steep too soon, etc. The concept of “too much” can be manged with better planning, better conditioning and a bit of patience. It is seen as the “Goldilocks principle” you need to find balance (from the story of Goldilocks – not too hot, not too cold, it is just right) . As a trail runner you need to find the amount of volume and intensity that is “just right”. This is done through correct training and the proper planning of your training calendar.

Neil Hopkins Trail Running Biokinetics

Cross training for trail running:

Adding in some cross training in the gym, or at home, can compliment your trail running. Cross training is not meant to be a substitute for running but rather as a means of cross conditioning and balancing your body.  As a trail runner you can join a local gym to take advantage of the cardio and strength training equipment, as well as the pool for  your recovery days. The reality is that not many trail runners enjoy the confines of a gym but the reward can be worth it. From stronger legs for the hills, a more resilient back and knees for the downhills, and enhanced cardio for the endurance.

From a home routine perspective there can be some simple exercises that you can add to your trail running tool kit. These can easily be done at home as part of a daily routine. These five essential exercises can help improve your trail running and keep you more “balanced” as a trail runner:

  1. Quad stretch
  2. Adductor stretch
  3. Hamstring strength
  4. Single leg “dead lift”
  5. Ankle stability

Click on an image for a description of the exercise.

Neil Hopkins Biokineticist Adductor stretch for trail runners
Neil Hopkins Biokineticist Ankle stability for trail runners
Neil Hopkins Biokineticist: Quadriceps flexibility for trail runners
Neil Hopkins Biokineticist RDL for trail runners
Neil Hopkins Biokineticist: Hamstring strength for trail runners

 

If you would like to download a copy of these exercises as a PDF please click here: Trail Running Exercises

Biokinetics sports conditioning and injury management for trail running:

The exercises above are pretty generic and are not designed to make you invincible. They are a value-add to compliment your trail running programme. If you have an injury, or if you feel that you need a more comprehensive programme and a face-to-face consultation then you should reach out and make an appointment with a professional in your area. You can make an appointment with a physiotherapist or biokineticist in your area to discuss your injury concerns.

If you would like to make a booking or if you want to find out more information on biokinetics please feel free to complete the information below:

 

Neil Hopkins Biokineticist Cape Town Trail Running Exercises

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Online Biokinetics Consultations

by Neil Hopkins Biokineticist, posted in Uncategorized

Neil Hopkins Biokineticist Consultations Online Biokinetics

 

Telehealth and telerehabilitation for the COVID-19 lock-down.

South Africa went into a COVID-19 lock-down on 26 March 2020, following a directive from President Cyril Ramaphosa. The lock-down period prevents non-essential medical professionals from working with patients in a face-to-face context. However, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has modified the online consultation guidelines to allow practitioners to consult with new, and existing, patients using telehealth. Telehealth in this context includes “telerehabilitation” by means of end-to-end  encrypted video messaging. These digital consultations will only be allowed during the COVID-19 lock-down, and allegedly will revert to the pre-lock-down guidelines as soon as the Presidential directive ends.

If you are feeling confined during the lock-down and want to work on unresolved injuries, then a telehealth consultation followed by some telerehabilitation could be a solution for you. This lock-down period may actually provide you with an ideal opportunity to work on any unresolved injury issues or give you a chance to improve your physical health. Doing some exercise rehabilitation may also provide you with a means of killing boredom and maintaining your sanity.

If you are injured, or want to work on your physical health, you can contact a biokineticst or physiotherapist in your area. Otherwise reach out to a physiotherapist or biokineticist that you have a good working relationship with to see if they are offering online consultations. If you are not a suitable candidate for telehealth, or telerehabilitation, you will be asked to wait until after the lock-down has ended, or referred on for a face-to-face consultation if your condition is serious and warrants immediate care.

Stay healthy. Stay safe. Stay at home.

Neil Hopkins Biokineticist Cape Town Telerehabilitation

 

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