Opioid medicines can be used to reduce some types of pain, such as acute pain and chronic pain caused by cancer. However, their role in the management of chronic (non-cancer) pain is limited. Pharmaceutical opioids include naturally derived opioids (codeine,…

  An arthritis flare is an episode of increased pain, fatigue, joint stiffness, swelling and tenderness. These symptoms may lead to a loss of functioning and interfere with people’s mood, sleep quality, and ability to perform everyday activities. Depending on the type…

  Low back pain is a significant burden in terms of pain, disability and loss of quality of life for those who experience it. This is a global problem with data in Australia revealing that a quarter of the population…

Treating pain, inflammation and injury with hot and cold therapies can be extremely effective and affordable. However, it’s important to know which situations call for hot, which call for cold and which may benefit from both treatments. Importantly, this kind…

The spine stretches down from the base of the skull to the coccyx (tailbone). It is one of the most important structures in the body as it houses the spinal cord which is responsible for your body’s ability to move,…

We know that with arthritis, your joints are weaker and less stable and you may experience ongoing pain and fatigue as part of your condition – doing your housework can certainly be challenging! As soon as you find out you have…

The exercise of this month focuses on working this particular muscle group so you can develop stronger arms for your daily functional activities such as carrying, lifting and moving objects. Bicep curls isolate the body movement of elbow flexion, or…

Does weight affect arthritis? The simple answer is yes. Extra body weight increases the stress on many joints, particularly the knees, hips and lower back. There is also a clear link between being overweight and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.…