Phone: 07 3351 5177
Hill walks: why your knees and hips complain
The lookout at Keperra Bushland Reserve is worth the climb, but steep tracks can leave knees and hips aching for days.
Why does that happen? Going uphill loads your glutes and calves, and going downhill makes your thigh muscles work hard to brake. If those muscles are underpowered, your joints take the extra load. You are not alone: the AIHW says 29% of Australians live with a chronic musculoskeletal condition.
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07 3351 5177 · 170 Patricks Road, Ferny Hills QLD 4055
Keperra Bushland covers 150 hectares, with a lookout over The Gap to Mt Coot-tha, and Council rates its multi-use tracks as hard, suited to people with good fitness.
At the 2021 Census, 10.5% of Keperra residents reported arthritis as a long-term health condition, above the Queensland rate of 8.8%. If your knees or hips are making the climbs harder, our Ferny Hills clinic can check how you move and plan your exercise with you.
Try this: step down slowly from the bottom stair, lowering your heel over 3 seconds, 10 times each leg.
A physio can check how your hips, knees and feet move, then build a plan so hills feel like exercise again, not punishment.
Council warns that some Keperra Bushland tracks may have washouts, ruts and uneven surfaces after rain, and lists a popular 2.5 km return walk from 70 Levitt Road.
Steep descents and uneven ground ask more of your knees, hips and balance, especially when a joint is already sore.
We check how your hips, knees and feet move, build the strength you need for the climbs and work on balance for rough ground.
We treat for the following conditions:
We focus on strengthening your body to support your joints, getting them moving again and improving your overall ability to move. In order to get you to this point, we come up with an individualised exercise plan for you to increase your strength and flexibility.
Arthritis treatment
Sports injuries affect bones, muscles, tissues and cartilage and are detrimental to normal daily activities, not just athletic performance. Sports injuries require supervision and time to heal safely.
Sports physio rehab
We will decide upon a course of action and treat you with manual therapy, exercises and use of heat or ice to relieve pain. This includes training for proper lifting, sitting, and bending and proper sleeping positions.
Back pain
Hydrotherapy focuses on slow and controlled movements that lead to relaxation. At the same time, pushing against the water helps improve muscle strength.
Hydrotherapy
This includes our Vibro Trainer for advanced muscle training and our Gaitscan™ biomechanical footprint scanner to identify abnormalities and prescribe custom orthotics.
Our equipment
We also supply equipment that aids in rehabilitation and injury prevention such as supportive braces, therapeutic sandals and contoured pillows. Our staff is happy to help you obtain these materials to promote your speedy recovery.
Ask about supplies
Our treatment plan for you begins with a comprehensive assessment and physical exam to diagnose your condition. We then communicate with you and other health professionals to collaborate on a treatment and recovery plan to get you back on your feet. When we have determined your health goal, we will begin treatment which involves hands-on mobilisation and soft tissue techniques.
Once your initial complaint is treated, we will teach you to manage your pain and aid your recovery.
All of our treatment techniques are based on scientific research and clinical experience. We are always adapting to new treatment methods and advances in technology so you receive the most up-to-date care.
At Ferny Hills Physiotherapy Centre, we don’t see you as just another patient. We understand that your body and your circumstances are highly unique, which is why we provide distinctive treatment to each client that will most benefit the individual. We want your treatment experience to be positive and effective.
Steep tracks load your legs two ways: climbing works your glutes and calves, and coming down makes your thigh muscles brake. When those muscles are underpowered, your knees and hips take more of the load.
Not necessarily. Many people keep walking while they build strength, but pain that lasts for days after a walk is worth having assessed so the plan suits your knees.
How your hips, knees and feet move, so the plan targets the muscles that need more strength.
Our clinic is at 170 Patricks Road, Ferny Hills, and we do not have a clinic in Keperra. Keperra residents are welcome to book an appointment at Ferny Hills.
No. Physiotherapists are primary care practitioners, so you can book directly without a doctor’s referral.
We work with the leading Australian private health funds, so eligible patients can claim their rebate at the time of treatment with our on-site terminal.
We will review your health history and ask questions about your symptoms to pinpoint any behaviours that may be contributing factors to your pain.
Ferny Hills Physiotherapy, 170 Patricks Road, Ferny Hills. Experienced team, appointments 7am to 6pm, major health funds welcome.
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07 3351 5177 · 170 Patricks Road, Ferny Hills QLD 4055
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