Roisin Sullivan OT in Ellenbrook, Western Australia, Australia | Occupational therapist

Roisin Sullivan OT

Locality: Ellenbrook, Western Australia, Australia

Phone: +61 478 437 368

Address: Unit 9, 46 Coolamon Boulevard 6069 Ellenbrook, WA, Australia

Website: http://www.roisinsullivanot.com

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• Medical and health
• Occupational therapist

25.01.2022 How full is your cup? Lately, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with patients about making sure there’s enough left in their cup. So what do I mean by this? Well, imagine that we all have a cup and in that cup holds everything your body needs to maintain itself - whether it’s to keep you healthy, recover from a nasty injury or keep you feeling good! ... But there’s things that empty your cup, like: Physical overexertion Stress Poor rest and sleep Genetic predispositions Complex medical conditions Poor diet Lack of movement Previous injuries A weak immune system On the flip side, there’s things that refill your cup, such as: Healthy eating Relaxation Adequate hydration Managing stress Good endorphins from exercise, socialising and enjoyment Early treatment of injuries Good amounts of rest Keeping a strong immune system Note : Everyone’s cup is different. Your cup might be a different size than mine, than your spouse’s, than the guy across the road. We all have different sized cups and different capacities. But you need to make sure there’s enough in your cup! As an OT, part of my role is to help you work out how to balance your cup so you can stay healthy - so if you feel like you need help with that, just ask me next time you’re in.

25.01.2022 HEADACHES Many headaches actually have nothing to do with your head, but are instead a referral of pain from the musculoskeletal structures of your neck, shoulders or back, often following the patterns below Simply popping a painkiller can take the edge off it, but if you don’t get to the root cause of it, there’s a good chance it will continue to reoccur Headaches can affect your whole day, making it difficult to do the things you want to do and need to do. So it mig...ht be time to find out why they’re happening and work out the best way to manage them If you or someone you know is experiencing headaches referring from the neck, shoulders or back, feel free to get in touch. Online bookings are available using the link below. But feel free to message me directly if you need to chat about anything before booking in. www.roisinsullivanot.com/online-booking

25.01.2022 Love this! Such a simple but important concept. Happy Friday all!

25.01.2022 With return to winter sports well and truly underway, there’s certainly been an increase in patients coming into the clinic with shin and foot pain There’s some great tips here to help you manage any shin and foot niggles : http://www.roisinsullivanot.com//avoiding-shin-splints-an/

25.01.2022 I’m really privileged to be able to teach the OT students at Edith Cowan University again this semester. I only have a few more weeks left with them and my old mate here but it’s so lovely to be involved with the the next generation of up and coming OTs

24.01.2022 A little bit of funny to start the week

23.01.2022 A very big THANK YOU to everyone that has referred a friend, family member, colleague or loved one in to see me recently. It's always lovely to meet new faces and I really appreciate the trust you place in me to look after them!

21.01.2022 Do you know that I have a whole page of different stretches on my website? There’s also an ergonomic desk checklist as well as a range of health related articles Jump online at www.roisinsullivanot.com and click Resources to explore

20.01.2022 Words of truth!

20.01.2022 There’s been a little influx of lifting-related lower back injuries in the clinic at the moment, so a timely reminder to make sure you’re using the tips below for safe lifting. And remember, lifting a smaller load incorrectly lots of times can have as much impact as lifting one gigantic load incorrectly once. If you need any help with your safe lifting techniques, just ask me when you’re next in the clinic!

20.01.2022 A "kinked neck" or "wry neck" is known clinically as a torticollis. But regardless of what you call it, this very sudden neck pain can have very unpleasant side effects! This type of neck injury is very, very common, and can often come on with sudden movements, sleeping in awkward positions (such as on the couch or using a bad pillow) or due to a flare up in old chronic neck issues. Once your neck has "locked up", you'll probably find it quite hard to turn your head as the ...joints and surrounding muscle tissues all the way from your neck down to your shoulder blade become irritated. However, the prompter the treatment, the easier this conditon is to get on top of by far! You can read more about it here: http://www.roisinsullivanot.com//wry-neck-a-pain-in-the-n/

19.01.2022 Happy long weekend everyone! Hope you all enjoy the extra downtime I’m off for some camping R&R with the family this weekend and will be back in the clinic on Wednesday

18.01.2022 The latest newsletter hit inboxes today! Best enjoyed with a cold drink in this warm weather , there’s some important information for December as well as a stack of great tips and advice to keep you healthy and moving well! **it might be hidden in your junk folder**

17.01.2022 It’s been great to meet some lovely new faces in the clinic lately. Thank you for trusting me to look after your friends, family and loved ones.

16.01.2022 The good old Epsom salts... Epsom salts, or magnesium sulfate crystals, are a fantastic old wives remedy with so many good uses! They’re used for everything from fertilising your garden to an inexpensive fabric softener, but they can also be used as a potent muscle soak in the bath ... An Epsom salts bath can alleviate pain from muscle tightness, arthritic changes, stiff joints and general soreness. It’s a time tested remedy for sports recovery and relieving overworked muscles, sworn by athletes for many years The benefits are two fold - firstly, the warmth of the bath helps to increase blood flow and soothe muscles Secondly, the high magnesium levels in the salts act as a muscle relaxant, aids recovery and loosens stiff joints These salts are readily available at most supermarkets and pharmacies. As with any natural remedy, you should always seek advice to make sure it’s suitable for you so feel free to ask me about it next time you’re in!

16.01.2022 WHAT’S YOUR GOALS? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO HELP YOU WITH? When I first meet a patient in the clinic, I always ask these questions. Sometimes, you’ll know the answer straight away And other times, you’ll look at me with a strange look where I realise that no one has ever asked you that before But why do I ask that when we first meet?... Because it’s THE most important thing I need to know. It’s everything! It not only tells me where you want to go, but also helps me work out how I can help get you there. It might be to return to that sport you really love (and really miss), or to pick up your kids easily or to return to your job or to be able to sit long enough to go on a road trip. Or it might simply be to have less pain each day. And your goal might even change once we start treatment and you see what’s possible again - you might strive for new goals But whatever your goal, it’s my role to get you there If you or someone you know is experiencing an injury or issue that’s getting in the way of a goal, feel free to get in touch Online bookings are available using the link below. But feel free to message me directly if you need to chat about anything before booking in. www.roisinsullivanot.com/online-booking

15.01.2022 Why do joints hurt more in winter? With winter comes rainy days, warm fires and wooly jumpers, but unfortunately it can also come with something else - increased joint pain But why do our joints hurt more in winter? And why can someone with joint pain predict the rain better than the weatherman? ... Well, winter effects our bodies in a unique way. Studies show that cells that promote inflammation are increased in winter, while cells that suppress inflammation are simultaneously decreased in the winter. And if that’s not enough, the drop in barometric pressure that happens before a storm can cause our joints to swell, placing more pressure on the nerves that talk to our pain centres. The more swelling you have, the more aches and pains you’ll feel in winter. But not all is lost! Despite the weather working against you, there’s still plenty that you can do in winter to keep the aches and pains at bay Try these ideas: Using heat often (such as heat packs, hot water bottles, hot baths and showers) can keep joints warm and increase blood flow. Using a joint support to give a little extra TLC to a joint during winter - neoprene ones are best as they keep in the warmth (think wetsuit material). Keep on top of niggles and seek help if they persist. Getting onto of swelling and inflammation quickly can nip it in the bud before it turns into a bigger problem in winter. Stay as active as you can. This keeps your joints mobile, keeps fresh blood circulating around your body and reduces muscle shortening. Stretch often to keep your joints and muscles moving well and hold back increasing joint winter stiffness. If you need any help managing your pain as the cold sets in, just ask next time you’re in the clinic!

15.01.2022 LIGAMENT INJURIES Ligaments act like the sticky tape that holds joints in place They connect the bones to each other all throughout our bodies and can be sprained, stretched or torn in an injury when they’re moved too far - like the sticky tape stretches or even rips Ligaments injuries can take some time to heal, often taking longer than a muscle or tendon injury. Without the sticky tape holding them together, joints can become damaged and your surrounding musc...les can become inflamed, overworked and sore Often your surrounding joints can take on compensatory pains as well, like we often see lower back and hip pain developing after a knee ligament injury If left untreated, ligament injuries can also lead to cartilage damage, arthritis and ongoing pain. So it’s always best to have them treated early so you can get back to living life while also avoiding any of those nasty long term effects As a Soft Tissue OT, I have lots of experience in treating people with ligament injuries. Soft tissue therapy can help to relieve the pain of ligament injuries as well as assisting in recovery to help you get back on track. If you’ve experienced a ligament injury or know someone who has, feel free to get in touch with me. You can also book directly online for an appointment by using the Book Now button on my page or heading to : www.roisinsullivanot.com/online-booking

11.01.2022 In keeping in spirit of OT Week, this little video sums up why OT is so different and we love to make a difference #thisisOT #OTWeek2020 Occupational Therapy Australia https://youtu.be/H4AB661VFBk

11.01.2022 FOREARM STRETCHES Our forearms can often be overlooked in stretching regimes, but they actually do a lot of work all day long! Tight forearm muscles can contribute to elbow pain, wrist and finger pain and even to neck pain! Forearm stretches are particularly important for you if you do a lot of:... Typing, device or computer work Writing Grip intense sports such as weights, bat sports, golf, climbing, horseriding or kayaking Arts and crafts Fine motor work Driving Trades where a lot of grip strength is needed To stretch your forearms, you need to stretch both sides of them, known as your flexor side and your extensor side. Just follow the steps below for an easy version of this! Hold each stretch for 30 seconds each side. 1 STRETCH 1: With an outstretched arm and palm facing away from you, pull your fingers and thumb gently back towards you. If this stretch is too intense, try bending the elbow slightly. 2 STRETCH 2: Again with your arm outstretched, turn your hand so your palm is facing to the floor. Pull your fingers and thumb gently down. Again, if it’s too strong, bend your elbow slightly. You should feel a nice stretch in your the fronts and backs of your forearm muscles with these stretches. They shouldn’t feel like increased pressure on your wrist - if they do, stop that stretch and seek the advice of myself or another health professional. Some tips: Don’t bounce these stretches, take them nice and slow. And just be careful not to apply too much pressure with your hands! And remember to breathe deeply. As always, check with me or a suitable health professional for advice if you’re not sure about which stretches are best for you personally.

10.01.2022 THE WONDERS OF HEAT Using heat on musculoskeletal pain can be an instant source of soothing comfort and pain relief and can I hear you say aaaahhh... Heat increases blood flow into muscles and so therefore relaxes them, lengthening muscle fibres and causing a process called vasodilation. This then provides injured muscles with much needed blood, oxygen and nutrients and helps them to repair it also allows your body to remove waste products and inflammation. Heat... is also useful for tight and sore muscles, muscular stiffness and areas with poor circulation. But be careful - heat shouldn’t be used where there’s obvious signs of swelling or bleeding though! Hot water bottles, reusable heat packs, heat creams and hot tubs can all help to bring heat to your muscles... so it may be time to run yourself a good old fashioned hot bath and let heat work it’s magic You should always use a temperature that you’re comfortable with - nothing extreme! And if possible, sit down and relax with the heat source, rather than trying to walk and move around with it on. If you’re not sure how to use heat therapeutically, just ask me next time you’re in!

09.01.2022 Drum roll please! If you’re with Medibank and have cover for OT services, you can now claim a rebate for your sessions with me directly through the HICAPs terminal in the clinic! Many of you know this has been a while in the making, so happy dances all around!

07.01.2022 There’s a few appointments that have come available this week, so jump online if you’d like to grab one of them! Tuesday: 4:40pm Wednesday: 8am, 9am, 11:20am... Online bookings are at : www.roisinsullivanot.com/online-booking

06.01.2022 There‘s some appointments still available this week! Tuesday 9:40am, 10:40am, 2:20pm & 2:40pm If you’d like one of them, jump online to book at www.roisinsullivanot.com/online-booking or send me a direct message

05.01.2022 IMPORTANT REMINDER If you can’t make your appointment... Please let me know with as much notice as you can! Unfortunately, there’s been a number of no-shows for appointments at the moment ... There’s a good chance that there’s someone waiting on the waitlist for that appointment and would have really, really liked the opportunity to come in - the more notice you give me, the better the chance that person can get treatment too Obviously, sometimes something crazy happens and you might need to cancel at the last minute, which I completely understand. But please give lots of notice where possible! Thank you! x

05.01.2022 HOW DO YOU STRETCH YOUR HAMSTRINGS? When asked to show a hamstring stretch, many people will do something like the image on the left One leg up on the bench, probably off to the side and leaning into it. You’ll feel the pull down the back of your leg, so it must be hitting the hammies, right? Unfortunately, not quite. To get a proper stretch of your hamstrings, you need to hit all the different parts (your hamstrings have four parts if you include the groin sections).... It’s all about keeping your hips square! To stretch your hamstrings thoroughly, you need to even up your hips and have your leg directly in front of you. Your leg can’t be off to the side unfortunately. Try following the steps below, as shown in the image on the right: 1 STEP 1 : Place your foot up on a medium height surface. Don’t worry about aiming for a super high surface, it’ll only make you twist your hips. 2 STEP 2 : Place your hands on the front of your hips on both the left and right sides, and square up your hips so your hands are sitting in line with each other. 3 STEP 3 : Poke your bottom backwards, keep your back up straight and lean gently forwards. 4 STEP 4: Hold this for 30 seconds before switching to the other side. This should feel like a nice stretch all the way up the back of your legs, into your groin a little and even into the base of your bottom. It shouldn’t feel like increased pressure on your lower back, knees or ankles - if it does, stop that stretch and seek the advice of myself or another health professional. Some tips: Don’t bounce this stretch, take it nice and slow. And just be careful not to apply too much pressure and keep it gentle! And remember to breathe deeply. As always, check with me or a suitable health professional for advice if you’re not sure about which stretches are best for you personally.

04.01.2022 I have the best patients!! Totally spoilt with a homemade cupcake and my favourite coffee this morning #notsharingwithanyone

04.01.2022 Make someone’s Monday!

04.01.2022 It’s national OT Week this week!! one of my favourite weeks of the year As many of you know, I absolutely love being an OT but I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without you - my lovely patients. Of course, I couldn’t let the opportunity go by and not celebrate with some cookies I’ll also be sharing a few facts, stories and features throughout this week to help showcase all the amazing work done by OTs.... So if you’re in the clinic this week, please take a cookie to help celebrate Cookies are beautifully handmade locally by Tarky’s Treats Happy OT Week everyone! xx #thisisOT #otweek #OTWeek2020 Occupational Therapy Australia

02.01.2022 OUT OF OFFICE And that’s a wrap for 2020! I’m out of the clinic now until January 20th, 2021 for some much needed surgery I will text and email everyone once I’m back on board properly, however you can also jump online and forward book an appointment if you need to at www.roisinsullivanot.com/online-booking/... A very BIG thank you to all my lovely patients for your all your well wishes (and offers to treat me ) but more importantly, THANK YOU for being so wonderful and making this strange year still a great one! I’m hoping everyone has a really lovely festive season ahead So it’s over and out for now... In the meantime, feel free to throw some Netflix binging suggestions my way See you all on the flip side!