Blog

‘Healthy human movement  exploration through the disciplines of Pilates, Exercise Physiology and Remedial Massage.’

This blog is a space where I like to explore, learn and ‘do good’. I hope to be able to share my thoughts in a way that is accessible for all those with an interest in health and movement. Thanks for reading,  Warwick…

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Injury Prevention and Exercise

Posted on November 24, 2023 by Movement Health in ,
An image of two soccer players competing for the soccer ball

Sports injuries are injuries that occur during participation in sport or general exercise. They typically affect the various tissues of the musculoskeletal system such as the muscles, tendons, ligamentous structures, and bones. Sports injuries can be classified as acute or chronic, an acute sports injury could be a skier who twists their knee placing shearing …read more

Knee Meniscus Injuries

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Movement Health in ,
An image of a therapist performing a knee assessment.

What is the meniscus? Meniscus are crescent shaped fibrocartilaginous structures that are located between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone), they are located within the knee joint (tibiofemoral joint) and are attached to the joint capsule at the knee joint line. Each knee has two menisci, towards the inner aspect of the knee …read more

Another New Year’s goal setting post…

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Movement Health in ,
An image of the rainforest showing tall trees and mountains.

So, it’s that time of the year, it’s early 2023 and people start to talk about or commit to resolutions that involve developing healthier habits. So, what’s a habit? A habit is an automatic behaviour that can be developed intentionally or unintentionally. We can develop infinite numbers of habits as we navigate the world and …read more

Cover of Physical Culture magazine showing a female doing the squat exercise.

A few years ago, I wrote about the ‘culture’ in Physical Culture (learn more here) and explored ideas such as the Romantic thinking of the late 1700-early 1800’s and how Physical Culture was more than moving/strengthening bodies and expanded into areas such as society, customs, science and the creative arts (Maloney, 2018). Such a discussion …read more

The physical activity health paradox

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Movement Health in ,
A construction worker using a concrete saw.

Physical activity is one of the best things an individual can do to improve their health and using this rationale conventional thinking may suggest that having a physically demanding occupation therefore contributes positively to health. It is not unusual for people who work in industries such as the building trades to think that the physical …read more

Sandow and Pilates

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Movement Health in ,
Eugen Sandow performing an abdominal exercise holding light dummbells.

When you explore the Physical Culture Movement of the late 1800’s-early 1900’s you can start to develop a picture of some of Joseph Pilates influences. One influence of particular interest is Strongman Physical Culturist Eugen Sandow. Eugen Sandow (1867-1925) Born Friedreich Müller in Konigsburg, Prussia (Germany) in 1867, Sandow is considered the, ‘Father of modern …read more

Indian Clubs

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Movement Health in
A drawing depicting a man swinging an Indian Club taken from Sim Kenoe's book 'The Indian Club Exercise'.

Indian Club history As per their name Indian Clubs originated on the Indian subcontinent. Some of the earliest references to clubs can be found in Hindu epics prepared between 400BC and 400AD, these texts referred to a style of club called the Gada (Heffernan, 2017). The Gada is a single mace-like weapon that consists of …read more

The Physical Culture Movement and modern Massage

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Movement Health in
Swedish gymnasts learn massage at the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics in Stockholm showing the relationship between physical culture and massage.

When I studied Remedial Massage we were told the origins of the profession were to be found in the Swedish Gymnastics system created by Pehr Henrik Ling (1776-1839) (learn more here). Following this we learnt a Massage style called Swedish Massage and the associated techniques Effleurage, Petrissage, Tapotment, Friction and Vibration. Upon hearing these terms …read more

Joseph Pilates and the Physical Culture Movement

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Movement Health in ,
Joseph Pilates teaching the teaser exercise to a group of dancers outdoors

Pilates gave us his wonderful method of physical and mental conditioning, however some of his ideas were informed by the times and the Physical Culture Movement represents those times. The Physical Culture Movement followed a timeline that started in Europe, moved on to England and expanded in to the United States; Pilates life followed a …read more

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