Annika Lydiate Occupational Therapist in Perth, Western Australia | Medical and health

Annika Lydiate Occupational Therapist

Locality: Perth, Western Australia

Phone: +61 459 219 816

Address: 378 Oxford st, Mt Hawthorn 6016 Perth, WA, Australia

Website: http://www.healthcentral.com.au/

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22.01.2022 DIET & PAIN How does what we eat effect our pain? Great piece of research showing how diet can affect chronic pain. This study explains---- Foods high in refined carbohydrate and Omega-6 fatty acids cause an inflammatory response This inflammatory response hypersensitises the bodies nociceptors (pain receptors)- Meaning you feel more pain with less stimulus Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, Selenium, Magnesium, Zina, Curcumin and Flavanoids can improve the p...ain reducing effect of treatment. It is important to look at all factors effecting pain, particularly when working with clients in chronic pain. Simple diet and lifestyle changes can make a world of difference in the treatment of chronic pain. Let me know your thoughts https://www.sciencedirect.com//a/abs/pii/S0899900719300516

21.01.2022 When 80% of people in pain arent receiving access to effective treatment we know there is something wrong with the health system. Much of this has been put down to... * A lack of health professionals understanding how to manage chronic pain * Patients feeling like they havent been listened to ... * A lack of individualised treatment (probably because health professionals arent listening ) * Poor access to effective treatment- geographically, economically and availability. We know poorly managed chronic conditions lead to lowered productivity, increased rates of depression and anxiety, poor self- esteem, poor physical and emotional conditioning, break down of social relationships and increased economic costs. THAT IS NOT OKAY! The goal is, and should have always been to help bridge this gap, provide effective, patient centred, empowering and accessible care for people in pain.

21.01.2022 It’s not a coincidence pain worsens in times of stress. Chronic stress plays havoc on our system by both reducing our bodies ability to heal and hypersensitizing our central nervous system, worsening our pain experience. Psychological, emotional and physical stress all effect our body in this way. When managing chronic pain we must address all the factors which add stress to the body. These can include... Work life, family stress, exercise load, diet, lack of sleep and many many more

20.01.2022 Long term pain stories way too often include a long list of health professionals, procedures and complicated explanations usually with little success and lots of frustration. What I hear a lot from clients is that they havent been listened to. I think this is one of the biggest down falls of the medical and health industry in the management of chronic pain conditions. Lots of health professionals know lots of things about how the body works, biomechanics, injuries ect ect....... but none of them know YOUR pain experience. When I see clients in persistent pain my first questions are always revolved around 1. What is important to you? 2. What do you think is going on? 3. What do you think has/ hasnt helped? 4. What are your goals? Understanding the clients perspective is so important in understanding where their barriers lie, where their fears or anxiety might lie and how I can create an individualised plan to best help them. There is never one size fits all when it comes to chronic pain.

20.01.2022 Core stability exercises are so commonly used to treat persistent lower back pain. Interestingly, a recent review revealed general exercise (eg. walking) provided equivalent benefits to core stability exercise long term for persistent back pain management. The authors also stated recommending stability exercise may increase fear avoidance by reinforcing the belief that our back is fragile. ... The take home: * Exercise is great for improving persistent back pain long term but the type is not necessarily important. * Exercise which is enjoyable and meaningful will increase adherence, efficacy and long term benefits. * The explanation behind exercise prescription is important to prevent fear and avoidance of movement. Smith BE, Littlewood C, May S. An update of stabilisation exercises for low back pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;15:416. Published 2014 Dec 9. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-416

20.01.2022 **Get moving at work!** Most of us work at in a desk-based job where we might be sitting all-day every-day. This put us at risk of many common injuries such as... lower back pain, shoulder pain and headaches- sound familiar? One very simple way to help remedy this is to GET MOVING at work- it is recommended to take movement breaks every 20 minutes. This can sound a bit much once you get in the zone at work- so heres a few tricks you can use to get yourself moving at work. 1. Hyrdate- Buy a small water bottle and sip it all day. Every time it needs filling up you get a mini movement break. 2. No calls sitting down- Walk around the office whilst on the phone rather than sitting at your desk. 3. Lunch breaks- Use your lunch break to go for a walk- find a nice park to sit-in or venture a bit further to a new café---who doesnt love a good coffee? 4. Desk stretches- There are so many stretches which you can do at your desk especially to help with shoulder and neck painsend me a message for a few ideas! If you experience any of these symptoms or for more ideas about how to alleviate these pains send a message See more

19.01.2022 Psychologically informed pain management doesnt ignore biological causes of pain! The biggest push back to the biopsychosocial model of pain management is patients feeling dismissed or like they are being told its all in their head. I think there is some what of a misunderstanding for a lot of people when it comes to this view on pain. I dont think its all or nothing. ... No one is saying biology, tissues and physiological damage doesnt happen or arent contributing to pain. Its just NOT ALWAYS the case or the ONLY factor. We need to look at all the factors. This is a prime example of why communication between client and practitioner is so important. My advice? If you feel like your health professional is dismissing your pain, tell them and question this. This is a hard topic for both parties to discuss so open communication is so important! If you have any questions or want to learn more about how you can better manage your pain DM me

18.01.2022 "The strength of the team is in each individual member... the strength of each member is in the team." || We are thrilled to announce that over the next few wee...ks our wonderful team will be growing. ... a huge welcome to Annika, Taylor and Jordan, we just know that you are all going to be amazing!!! See more

17.01.2022 There are so many myths around chronic back pain (and chronic pains in general) that have just become common knowledge. These myths have created unnecessary fear, acceptance of pain and a long term reliance on passive therapies and inactivity Please do not just accept chronic lower back pain or let pain stop you from doing the things you love. If you have been told any of these myths , know that they are not backed by the evidence and usually instilling unnecessary fear. ...Find yourself a therapist who empowers you and advocates for continued engagement in activity & active self management or DM me for more help O'Sullivan PB, Caneiro J, O'Sullivan K, et al Back to basics: 10 facts every person should know about back pain British Journal of Sports Medicine 2020;54:698-699. @ Health Central WA

16.01.2022 We cant expect our pain recovery to be linear. Flare ups are unfortunately a part of the process and will happen. BUT, it doesnt always mean your injury is worse or you are doing damage. There are many reasons pain flare ups occur Our tissues can become more sensitised to pain when the body perceives an increase in potential for damage as a result of a release in stress hormones and inflammatory chemicals Stressors cause our body to perceive damage and induce pain flare u...ps, these stressors can include a range of things: * Increased activity * new activity * Feelings of anxiety/ worry/ fatigue * Feeling rushed or overworked * Fear around activity or re-injury And many more... Although pain flare ups can be distressing and frustrating its important to remember they are a part of the process and dont always mean increased tissue damage. Accepting pain flare ups and creating positive coping strategies can actually help to reduce pain flare ups from happening

16.01.2022 **Chronic Pain** Are you constantly injured or in pain? If you are the kind of person who always has a niggle or has un-explained injuries popping up all over the place Im looking at you! Chronic pain and dysfunction usually comes down to something more than muscular tension theres a reason you have lots of muscle tension!! Whilst stretching, exercise and hands- on treatment are great, your never going to be pain free unless we address the reason behind your pain. Th...is could be a number of things including Occupational stress (do you sit at a desk all day, every day?) Psychological stress Burn-out (over training and over working!!) Chronic systemic inflammation Micronutrient deficiencies Beliefs about own pain and injury Poor sleep quality or quantity . Or a combination of these and many other factors To find out more about how I can help you with chronic pain send me a message See more

16.01.2022 Current EBP shows keeping Rotator Cuff muscles functional is more effective than surgical intervention in treating Shoulder pain https://www.youtube.com/watch

16.01.2022 We can’t expect our pain recovery to be linear. Flare ups are unfortunately a part of the process and will happen. BUT, it doesn’t always mean your injury is worse or you are doing damage. There are many reasons pain flare ups occur Our tissues can become more sensitised to pain when the body perceives an increase in potential for damage as a result of a release in stress hormones and inflammatory chemicals Stressors cause our body to perceive damage and induce pain flare u...ps, these stressors can include a range of things: * Increased activity * new activity * Feelings of anxiety/ worry/ fatigue * Feeling rushed or overworked * Fear around activity or re-injury And many more... Although pain flare ups can be distressing and frustrating it’s important to remember they are a part of the process and don’t always mean increased tissue damage. Accepting pain flare ups and creating positive coping strategies can actually help to reduce pain flare ups from happening

16.01.2022 Whilst active recovery (stretching, myofascial release, mobiliy ect.) is essential in muscle health it's also important to optomize our bodies ability to recover. An interesting read on the role of protein and probiotics in the immune and inflammatory response for anyone interested in improving muscle recovery and decreasing fatigue https://nutrirejournal.biomedcentral.com//s41110-018-0084-z

15.01.2022 When 80% of people in pain aren’t receiving access to effective treatment we know there is something wrong with the health system. Much of this has been put down to... * A lack of health professionals understanding how to manage chronic pain * Patients feeling like they haven’t been listened to ... * A lack of individualised treatment (probably because health professionals aren’t listening ) * Poor access to effective treatment- geographically, economically and availability. We know poorly managed chronic conditions lead to lowered productivity, increased rates of depression and anxiety, poor self- esteem, poor physical and emotional conditioning, break down of social relationships and increased economic costs. THAT IS NOT OKAY! The goal is, and should have always been to help bridge this gap, provide effective, patient centred, empowering and accessible care for people in pain.

14.01.2022 **Carpal Tunnel Syndrome** CTS is caused by excessive pressure on the median nerve (the nerve running into your wrist). Common symptoms of CTS include numbness, tingling and feeling of weakness in the hand and wrist. CTS is usually caused by over-use or repetitive strain and can be easily fixed with proper treatment and occupational modifications. Symptoms of CTS can be similar to that of other conditions, so it is important to have a proper assessment before starting treat...ment- Theres no point in treating the wrong condition! If you experience any of these symptoms send me a message to discuss how we can resolve your pain and dysfunction

14.01.2022 Treating pain without addressing lifestyle habits, sleep, movement, stress, diet, beliefs and much more is an oxymoron and ends up involving bandaid fixes By... addressing all the underlying factors impacting my clients pain, injury and ability to function I empower them to manage their pain long term without relying on passive treatments- which should ALWAYS be the goal! See more

12.01.2022 **Headaches** Headaches are one of the most common complaints I see in clinic Headaches can be debilitating- Anyone who gets headaches knows how much they affect their everyday functioning. But.. Headaches are relatively easy to fix if you know why they are occurring. Headaches can result from: De-hydration ... Stress Musclular tension Dietary deficiencies Infection or Virus and many more If you experience Headaches or migraines, its important to consult a health professional to understand the root cause and be treated effectively. To find out more about how I can help you with headaches and migraines send me a message See more

11.01.2022 Neck pain is one of the most common complaints for swimming athletes Dysfunction stemming from neck musculature is a huge cause of headaches, fatigue and shoulder pain which can be easily remediated with proper rehabilitation

11.01.2022 Properly managing acute injuries is key in preventing chronic pain from developing. Whilst weve probably all heard of RICER, current evidence has renewed the recommendations for managing acute injuries to PEACE & LOVE In the first 24 hours acute injuries need... ... P Protection E Elevation A Avoid anti-inflammatories C Compression E Education (on active approaches to recovery) After Day 1, soft tissues need... L Load O Optimism V Vascularisation E Exercise Manage your acute injuries properly to avoid chronic pain from occurring. Send me a DM with any questions or to find out how occupational therapy can help you

11.01.2022 http://Pain without injury// Pain is ours bodies alarm system warning us of actual or perceived harm. But, what happens when pain lasts beyond normal healing timeframes. In the case of chronic pain, this alarm system becomes dysfunctional meaning pain doesnt always equal tissue damage ... There are many factors which can create the pain experience outside of tissue damage or injury including: Fear and avoidance of activity Anxiety and beliefs around pain Stress and inflammation Lifestyle factors Emotional state Ill go through each of these and how they can affect the pain experience.

11.01.2022 Keith Campbell, J & Penzien, Donald. (2000). Evidenced-Based Guidelines For Migraine Headache: Behavioral and Physical Treatments. Current best practice guidelines for treatment of Migraines highlights the importance of physical and behavioral therapies in conjunction with pharmacological treatment for optimal outcomes. Occupational therapists utilize an array of skills including cervical manipulation, relaxation techniques, behavioral and occupational changes to prevent and... improve the intensity, duration and frequency of migraines. For more information about how an occupational therapist can help with migraines send me a message :)

09.01.2022 Chronic pain and chronic fatigue so often come hand in hand. Managing both of these conditions can be frustrating. Trying to balance completing all your daily tasks as well as incorporating exercise (because youve been told its good to help reduce pain), all whilst feeling wiped out can be extremely hard. So often do I see clients struggling with either doing too much then crashing falling victim to the boom/ bust cycle ... Or.. feeling like they cant do anything at all and falling victim to the avoidance & de-conditioning cycle Its important to find each persons limit and work within this. Slowly grading up activity, incorporating activities which add to recovery (mindfulness, rest, relaxation ect.) and prioritising tasks to work within these limits are all important aspects of managing these conditions and improving the quality of life for people living with chronic pain.

06.01.2022 Its not a coincidence pain worsens in times of stress. Chronic stress plays havoc on our system by both reducing our bodies ability to heal and hypersensitizing our central nervous system, worsening our pain experience. Psychological, emotional and physical stress all effect our body in this way. When managing chronic pain we must address all the factors which add stress to the body. These can include... Work life, family stress, exercise load, diet, lack of sleep and many many more

06.01.2022 Pain which leads to a belief that movement will worsen injury commonly leads people to stop participating in activity. This leads to... 1: de-conditioning which makes us even more prone to pain and injury 2: increased anger and frustration due to inability to engage in life further perpetuating pain ... I am a firm believer that in the case of chronic pain, we must start to re-engage Shutwith life to decrease pain rather than waiting for pain to decrease before re-engaging with life This means finding safe movement and slowly pushing this to re-train our brain and desensitise our pain response

06.01.2022 An important part of managing pain is incorporating activities into your routine that fills your cup. These activities are things that helps you switch off, assists in managing stress levels (physiologically, psychologically and emotionally) and in activating our parasympathetic nervous system (our rest and digest system). Incorporating these improves our bodies ability to heal, assists in down regulating our pain systems and increases our ability to cope with stress & p...ain. For me its being at the beach, doing some gentle movement and watching the water.. but that doesnt mean this will work for everyone. Find what works for you and start making time to add these into your day

05.01.2022 Properly managing acute injuries is key in preventing chronic pain from developing. Whilst we’ve probably all heard of RICER, current evidence has renewed the recommendations for managing acute injuries to PEACE & LOVE In the first 24 hours acute injuries need... ... P Protection E Elevation A Avoid anti-inflammatories C Compression E Education (on active approaches to recovery) After Day 1, soft tissues need... L Load O Optimism V Vascularisation E Exercise Manage your acute injuries properly to avoid chronic pain from occurring. Send me a DM with any questions or to find out how occupational therapy can help you

05.01.2022 The way we move after an injury or because of musculoskeletal pain can massively impact the way our brain perceives movements and contribute to development of long term pain. In some cases it can be completely avoiding a movement or activity, like avoiding bending down after a bout of back pain, or something more subtle like limping as a result of knee pain. When we do this our brain begins to perceive these movements as dangerous and contributes to sensitisation of our ner...vous system. The best thing we can do is reintroduce normal activities and movements as quickly as possible after an acute injury. As always, DM me with any questions

04.01.2022 An important part of managing pain is incorporating activities into your routine that ‘fills your cup’. These activities are things that helps you ‘switch off’, assists in managing stress levels (physiologically, psychologically and emotionally) and in activating our parasympathetic nervous system (our rest and digest system). Incorporating these improves our bodies ability to heal, assists in down regulating our pain systems and increases our ability to cope with stress & p...ain. For me it’s being at the beach, doing some gentle movement and watching the water.. but that doesn’t mean this will work for everyone. Find what works for you and start making time to add these into your day

03.01.2022 The new definition of pain updated by the International association of pain highlights * Pain is a subjective experience * Pain is influenced by many factors (biological, psychological and social) * Pain can not be reduced to painful sensory activity * Pain is a learnt concept ... * Pain has an adverse effect on a persons function, behaviour, social & psychological well-being WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Hopefully this is step 1 in what should be a shift in the way society and health professionals view and treat pain. Highlighting that pain doesnt always = tissue damage is key in addressing all factors which effect the pain experience and advocating for patients in pain with little to no biological cause. Lack of tissue damage DOES NOT mean its all in your head Too often do I hear no one knows whats wrong Ive tried everything and nothing works Im never going to able to do XYZ This is not true! Its just time to look outside of tissue damage and look at the whole person If this sounds like you, get in touch to find our how occupational therapy can help