This meta-analysis synthesises evidence from numerous studies to evaluate how structured physical activity alleviates symptoms of depression and anxiety across various demographics. The research concludes that exercise is a highly effective intervention, often matching or surpassing the results of traditional medication and psychotherapy. While all forms of movement are beneficial, aerobic activities and supervised group settings offer the most significant relief for depressive symptoms. Conversely, shorter, low-intensity routines appear particularly efficacious for managing anxiety. The authors specifically highlight emerging adults and postnatal women as groups that experience the greatest mental health improvements from these interventions. Ultimately, the study advocates for health professionals to prescribe tailored exercise programs as a primary, cost-effective treatment for psychological distress.

PHYSIO MOSMAN: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/

Conservatively treated massive prolapsed discs: a 7-year follow-up

This research investigates the natural history and recovery potential of massive lumbar disc herniations treated without surgery. By tracking patients over seven years, the study reveals that non-operative management is highly effective when early clinical progress is noted. Findings indicate that extruded disc material often shrinks significantly over time, with an average volume reduction of 64% seen on follow-up imaging. Most participants achieved a complete and sustained recovery, reporting high levels of long-term satisfaction and minimal recurrences. Ultimately, the authors conclude that conservative treatment is a safe and viable alternative to surgery, even for the largest spinal protrusions.

READ MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/conservatively-treated-massive-prolapsed-discs-a-7-year-follow-up

PHYSIO MOSMAN: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/

Recent highlights in low back pain research, Part I: Diagnosis and Prognosis

This narrative review synthesizes recent research on the diagnosis and prognosis of low back pain, highlighting five core themes to assist clinical decision-making. The authors emphasize that serious spinal pathologies are extremely rare, suggesting that clinicians should evaluate overall patient risk rather than relying on isolated red flags. The text criticizes the continued overuse of diagnostic imaging, noting that most findings are common in healthy individuals and lack significant predictive value. Furthermore, the review suggests that embracing diagnostic uncertainty and focusing on modifiable lifestyle factors is more effective than providing potentially harmful structural labels. Findings indicate that while many patients recover quickly, recurrences are frequent, and traditional terms like "acute" or "chronic" often fail to reflect actual pain trajectories. Finally, the researchers identify psychological and physical prognostic factors for delayed recovery but conclude that current prediction models are not yet ready for practical implementation.

READ MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/beyond-the-mri-5-truths-about-back-pain-that-might-change-how-you-heal

PHYSIO MOSMAN: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/

New Study Reveals a Surprisingly Simple Way to Stop Your Back Pain From Coming Back

The WalkBack trial investigated the effectiveness of a walking and education program in preventing the return of low back pain. Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial in Australia, comparing participants who received physiotherapy-led health coaching to a group receiving no treatment. Results demonstrated that this low-cost, accessible intervention nearly doubled the median time between pain recurrences while significantly reducing pain-related disability. Beyond clinical benefits, the study found the program to be highly cost-effective from a societal perspective. Although the walking group reported more minor lower extremity injuries, the overall strategy offers a scalable, safe solution for managing a high-burden health condition.

READ MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/new-study-reveals-a-surprisingly-simple-way-to-stop-your-back-pain-from-coming-back

PHYSIO MOSMAN: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/

A 2024 critical review titled "Cryotherapy for treating soft tissue injuries in sport medicine" challenges the common practice of using ice for injury treatment. The authors conducted a systematic literature search, finding a significant lack of human studies that demonstrate a positive effect of cryotherapy on tissue regeneration, contrasting with its established use for short-term pain relief. While acknowledging that cryotherapy is a basic principle in protocols like RICE, the review highlights that the bulk of evidence on tissue healing comes from animal studies, which often suggest that cryotherapy may delay or impair muscle and tendon regeneration post-injury, especially with prolonged use. Consequently, the authors conclude that cryotherapy should be recommended only in the first hours after an injury to manage pain and swelling, with caution advised for continued application until more conclusive human research is available.


READ MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/rethinking-ice-5-surprising-truths-about-using-cold-therapy-for-injuries

PHYSIO MOSMAN: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/

We discuss a comprehensive research review article from the Journal of Physiotherapy focused on the physiotherapy management of Achilles tendinopathy, covering both mid-portion and insertional types. The article provides an in-depth exploration of the condition's epidemiology, burden, and clinical course, advocating for a shift from a biomedical to a biopsychosocial view in diagnosis and care. The article details assessment methods, including load tolerance and identifying various physical and psychological impairments, and offers an extensive, evidence-based overview of management strategies, particularly focusing on education, activity modification, and graded exposure exercise as primary treatments, while also summarising the evidence for various adjunct therapies.

REFERENCE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/5-surprising-truths-about-achilles-pain-that-could-change-how-you-recover

PHYSIO MOSMAN: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: Diagnosis, Care, and Rehabilitation Guidelines

A recent article provides an evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) developed by an international expert panel focusing on the non-surgical diagnosis and treatment of rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy. The guidelines emphasize that initial assessment must rely on a comprehensive clinical evaluation and detailed patient history, rather than the costly and often unnecessary use of diagnostic imaging like MRI. For objective measurements, the CPG mandates the use of reliable tools such as a handheld dynamometer and validated patient-reported outcome measures. Treatment recommendations strongly support structured exercise programs and manual therapy as primary interventions, noting that pharmacological options like NSAIDs or corticosteroid injections are considered supplemental for short-term pain relief. Finally, the CPG covers the entire management continuum, including specific guidance on referral to a specialist if non-surgical treatment fails and criteria for an athlete’s safe return to function and sport.

READ MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/the-new-rules-for-fixing-shoulder-pain-why-exercise-beats-injections-and-surgery

This academic review re-examines Frozen Shoulder (FS), traditionally seen as a localized orthopedic problem, by proposing an integrative systemic model linking the disorder to immunometabolic and endocrine dysfunctions. The central focus is on estrogen deficiency and resistance, noting the disproportionate effect of FS on perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. The article explores how factors such as thyroid dysfunction, endothelial damage, metabolic stress (high HbA1c, dyslipidemia, AGEs), and adverse lifestyle factors (poor sleep, stress, EDCs) converge to create a state of chronic low-grade inflammation and a profibrotic environment in the joint capsule. This new paradigm advocates for integrative, personalised treatments that target systemic hormonal and metabolic imbalances alongside traditional physiotherapy.

READ MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/5-surprising-truths-about-frozen-shoulder-that-go-beyond-the-joint

PHYSIO MOSMAN:https://www.fitasaphysio.com/

New Perspectives on Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis

A narrative review published in the Journal of Physiotherapy summarises recent research concerning the exercise management of knee osteoarthritis (OA) between 2020 and early 2025. The authors identify and discuss six key themes addressing the effectiveness and uncertainties of exercise therapy for knee OA, including questions about optimal dosage, adherence, delivery methods like telehealth, and how communication influences patient beliefs. Notably, the review highlights recent evidence suggesting reduced certainty in the clinical effectiveness of exercise compared to previous understanding and points out that the mechanisms of how exercise works remain largely unknown. The document also suggests numerous future research directions to better inform clinical practice in this area.

READ MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/five-surprising-new-truths-about-exercise-for-knee-arthritis

PHYSIO MOSMAN: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/

An academic article, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, presents the findings of a large cohort study titled, "How much running is too much? Identifying high-risk running sessions in a 5200-person cohort study." This study explored the relationship between sudden increases in running distance and the risk of overuse injuries among adult runners, utilizing data collected from Garmin devices over an eighteen-month period. The researchers found a significant dose-response relationship between the distance covered in a single running session and injury risk, specifically noting that an increase of more than 10% compared to the longest run in the prior 30 days significantly raised the risk of overuse injury. Importantly, the study challenges traditional weekly load metrics, such as the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR), concluding that they were not associated with increased injury rates and advocating for a new "single-session paradigm" for injury prevention. The text includes detailed methodology, results with hazard rate ratios, and a discussion of the study's implications for coaches and healthcare professionals.

READ MORE: https://www.fitasaphysio.com/blog/single-session-distance-spikes-predict-running-injury-risk