The Health Network Podcast: Recent Episodes
Marcus Matear
The Health Network Podcast is a place to integrate all different health professionals and focus on prevention; to provide the best care for patients, promoting happier healthy lives for us and those around us.
Dr Ivana's website and what she does
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https://www.doctorivana.com.au/
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group classes perimenopause
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one on one, coaching
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GP consults
0: intro
4:30 What is perimenopause and what to expect at this time?
6:30 What to do
8:10 early onset perimenopause and effect on family planning
10:00 Lifestyle medicine approach to perimenopause
16:30 appointment structure
18:00 lifestyle health coach
18:30 shared medical appointments
20:00 Hormone replacement therapy
24:40 future of lifestyle medicine and perimenopause, shared medical appointments and coaching
Mishma's bio:
"I live, work, learn, grow and explore opportunities on the stolen land of the Woiwurrung, Wurundjeri and Bunurong. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal Land. I pay my respects of elders past, present and emerging.I am a non-binary, queer and BIPOC immigrant, who has spent more than a decade working with individuals, families, groups, communities and organisations as a social worker. I have done this nationally in Australia and internationally in India. I build upon my own lived experience to strenghten my intersectional, anti-oppressive and trauma informed lenses that I bring to all levels of intervention whether that is clinical, managerial, entreprenuerial or strategic. Overseeing the clinical, operational, strategical and managerial elements of The Iceberg Foundation as the chair and principal practitioner whilst holding a clinical case load and providing training gives me a unique insight into clinical governance, models of change, the ever evolving diversity of the LGBTIQA+ movement and the needs of the community I am passionate about serving. I support the strategic development and direction of GiveOUT as a non-executive board member and clinically consult through orgs such as Mindful Living and Enable Workplace Consulting.When not working, I love to explore the coast, read for hours and cook for friends and make the meanest cup of masala chai you've ever tasted."
Follow Mishma and The Iceberg Foundation here.
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Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Nikki Ellis, a personal trainer, transformational specialist, gym owner, podcast host, and author. In this episode, they talk about weight transformations and how one can achieve them through consistent diet and exercise as well as its overall benefits.
[01:48] Introducing Nikki Ellis
[08:55] What is a Transformational Specialist?
[13:45] Nikki’s Clients’ Goals
[17:50] Assessment and Exercise for Low Bone Density
[22:34] Tips for Overweight Clients
[31:47] Muscle Mass Assessment
[36:09] Resistance Training and Cardio
[41:39] Healthy Eating
[45:19] Health Messages
[48:15] Wearable Devices
[53:06] Future of Health with Referrals
[59:35] “Am I Doing Enough Exercise?”
[01:08:26] Walking After Dinner
[01:11:24] Exercise as Medicine
Nikki is a personal trainer but has since rebranded herself into a transformational specialist 3-4 years ago; this is because one of the biggest points of improvement she has seen among her clients is their increase in confidence. They feel happier, better, and more empowered about themselves. Her clients are mainly women who feel lost because they have been out of their jobs for a while due to motherhood and a big part of her job is getting them stronger and feeling better in their own skin. Nikki thought it was fabulous seeing people transform with their confidence and not just seeing an increase in self-esteem, but also with how people view their bodies and seeing themselves as strong, functional beings.
Nikki recommends for people struggling with their weight with sugar and cholesterol problems to address it as soon as possible. She suggests weight training to lose body fat and work with a qualified nutritionist for a more holistic approach and to also look at a client’s cornerstone habits. It’s also best to look for more nutritious options for snacks. Weight training, nutritionists, and moving away from a sedentary lifestyle is one of the best ways to combat weight loss.
For those wondering if they’re doing enough exercise, Nikki recommends starting a healthy fitness lifestyle as early as possible and maintaining strength as best as you can. Wearable devices are also great tools to help track your progress. Daily activities such as 30 minutes of good quality weight training, resistance training, and aiming for 10,000 steps a day can all help in combating weight loss and help promote muscle mass and having an overall healthier lifestyle.
Follow Nikki on Instagram and find her links here.
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Gina McEntee, a senior clinician and occupational therapist who has been in the industry for 15 years. We talk about the importance of occupational therapy, how it can be integrated into different medical fields, and her vision for the future of occupational therapy.
[01:08] Introducing Gina McEntee
[06:00] Role of an OT
[09:28] OT and Mental Health
[12:14] Ergonomics for WFH
[17:26] OT and Physical Fitness and Driving
[22:21] Workload and Funding for OT
[24:02] Integration with Other Fields
[26:11] How to Receive OT Care
[27:51] Gina’s Vision for the Future of OT
Occupational therapists provide practical support to assist with people in their recovery or in overcoming barriers that might prevent them from doing basic, day-to-day activities. OT helps to support them in increasing their independence and satisfaction in all areas of their lives. Some of the areas are in self-care, productivity, or leisure which occupational therapists refer to as ADLs or “Activities of Daily Living”. These are things that occupies time during the day might be considered something that can be used as treatment in occupational therapy.
OT is often worked into multidisciplinary teams along with doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, physiologists, or dieticians on how to best support the patient. On mental health, there are many different areas that OTs look at and finding out the barriers that the person is facing. Goal setting and having a set plan on how to assist that person and have them be at the planning and implementation stage is also very crucial in recovery.
Gina’s vision for OT is having a holistic approach and helping all of society regardless of disability, age, or any marginalized condition. She aims to help people, gain or build their capacity to construct their own destiny, and improve their quality of life and participation in daily activities. It could be working in third-world countries or with a multidisciplinary team or having wellness clinics with GPs and other disciplines to work with the patient or client in one space. She envisions a future where there are plenty of opportunities for OTs to support their clients.
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Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Marie-Claire Ross, a leadership speaker, facilitator, coach, and consultant who works for global organizations. We talk about how leaders and organizations can create safe and fulfilling work environments built on trust as well as her vision for the future of the workplace.
[00:23] Introducing Marie-Claire Ross
[02:28] Workplace Examples
[09:14] Leadership Pledge
[11:18] Techniques to Creating Trust
[16:18] Common Issues and What to be Done
[19:23] Questions Leaders Should Ask
[20:54] Animosity Between Team Members
[25:40] Marie-Claire’s Vision for the Future of Work Environments
Marie-Claire believes that the success of an organization always starts with the leadership team. The top leaders of the organization need to look at how they communicate, prioritize, and work together as one as everyone in the organization looks up to these leaders and how they behave. Working with leaders in terms of getting them the skills to create an environment that people want is also important especially with the pandemic and a current shift in how employees want to be and feel cared for and supported given mental health issues brought about by the pandemic. Nowadays, it is important to create an environment where people can thrive.
Trust is at the heart of every successful team, and what organizations can do to help people thrive is to have leaders who know how to create safety and foster connections where people can see their future as a team as well as what the rewards will be. If you were to put it in a Venn diagram, at the top there’s safety, connection, and meaningful future and at the inner section between safety and connection is meeting one-on-one. Visibility is at the intersection of connection and future. As humans, we need to see that we’re safe and we naturally can’t trust a situation if we feel that information is being hidden from us. We also want to see our leaders and let them see us working so they understand our experiences. At the intersection of safety and stepping into our future, we have accountability. It’s about the leader being accountable as well as demanding accountability.
Marie-Claire believes that business is a force for good and when we do work that we love with people that we love, it’s good for our well-being and our confidence levels. Her vision for the future is for people to work not because it’s a job but because the work that they do is fulfilling, with leaders and a supportive team culture that helps them achieve their best. We thrive when we have goals, are learning new things, and when we have a leader that challenges us to be the best version of ourselves. She wants leaders who can create that environment with people excited about going to work, learning and sharing ideas, and contributing with others.
Link to Marie-Claire’s website and a link on where to buy her book/download free chapters.
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Lexi O’Dea, a pharmacist. In this episode, they discuss her expertise as a pharmacist, how the pandemic affected her field, and the benefits of medical cannabis in pain medication and lifestyle diseases.
[00:23] Introducing Lexi and How She Got into Pharmacy
[02:37] Community Pharmacy
[04:17] Common Mistakes in Taking Medication
[06:56] The Effect of the Pandemic
[09:27] How Pharmacists Integrated with other Health Professionals
[11:26] Changes in the Impact of Drug Companies
[12:36] What is Medical Cannabis?
[16:46] Medical Cannabis in Pain Medication
[19:02] Methods of Administering
[20:46] Approaches to Lifestyle Diseases
[24:52] Cardiovascular Diseases and Dental Health
Medical cannabis has been legalized in a few jurisdictions in Australia a few years ago and it allows patients to access prescription cannabis for therapeutic purposes. It is different from straight cannabis because the products have been processed in a way where you have a great deal of certainty around their content. Prescribing is not easy in Australia compared to the US and Canada, which has their own medical framework since 2016. Through this, patients can access cannabis products on prescription from their doctor. However, there’s still some regulatory red tape and doctors need to seek permission from the Therapeutic Goods Administration to provide prescriptions, on top of state health approvals. There are two main components: THC and CBD. CBD has effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, and may have an effect at reducing anxiety.
The most common format of medicinal cannabis is an oil for oral use through a syringe. Patients can either swallow it or put it under the tongue before swallowing. The oils have a gradual onset and a longer duration of effect and start to work between 30 minutes to two hours which lasts for 6-8 hours. There are also flowers which are cannabis buds in a jar and vapor is produced through a vaporizer, grinding device, and scales. It is gently heated until it starts to produce vapor which is then inhaled. The benefit of inhaling cannabis is that it has a rapid onset and can start to work within 30 seconds and a shorter duration of action. This is beneficial for acute symptoms like breakthrough pain or insomnia where you need something to work quickly. The fact that it’s vaporized is important because smoking combustion can be harmful and produce a lot of harmful by-products into the lungs similar with nicotine in cigarettes. Whereas through a vaporizer, it’s a lower heat and it doesn’t burn the product but only gently heats it until vapor begins to form.
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Yogi Ella Thai, a yoga teacher. In this episode, they discuss mindfulness, the different styles of yoga, and how she teaches to a wide range of people.
[01:29] How Ella Got into Yoga
[03:40] Mindfulness and Pain in Yoga
[06:51] Ella’s Teaching Course and Approach to Teaching
[10:00] Styles of Yoga
[11:54] What is Mindfulness?
[14:56] How Yoga Benefits Others and Her Colleagues
[19:43] Ella’s Sisters
[22:18] Teaching Kids Yoga
[25:59] Ella’s Yoga Book
[31:46] The Future of Health
[34:10] Transformation in Yoga
Mindfulness comes in different definitions, but Ella likes to see it as having awareness. No matter what we say or do in our daily life, we should be aware of what we’re saying because what we say to people has an effect on them. There’s also awareness such as “are we being aware in the present moment?”. People are very good at multitasking, which is good in many ways, but we need to come back to ourselves and having that awareness and reset is something that we need, otherwise the mind will just keep going which could lead to a person not being present in the moment. Ella does a lot of pranayama or breath control in yoga because when a person focuses on their breath, it brings a person back to the present moment.
Ella wrote her book “Lantern Yoga” for simple ordinary people who are busy with their lives who are oftentimes parents and don’t have that much time for themselves but do want to practice yoga. She is surrounded by parents and found a way to empower them through yoga to be present, while nurturing their mind and body.
Ella is seeing more demand for yoga popping up in workplaces, events, and workshops simply because you can take it anywhere, whether you’re up in the mountains, in the studio, or travelling. In terms of the health industry, yoga is a booming industry and Ella thinks more people need to know more mindfulness and have that awareness because that’s what makes the world a better place—the better version of ourselves.
You can get Ella’s books here.
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Sarah Case, a certified optometrist and a trained physician in children's vision. In this episode, they discuss optometry, conditions that could lead to loss of sight, and the link between eye health and diabetes.
[00:25] Getting to know Sarah Case
[01:50] The Interprofessional Education and Practice Health Students Network
[04:10] Advice to Parents Whose Children Have Never Been to an Optometrist
[06:45] Conditions That Could Lead to Loss of Sight in Children and Adults
[08:40] Tips on How to Prevent Eye Problems
[10:42] Sleep Apnea in Adults
[11:30] How to Improve Sharp and Detail Vision
[12:12] Effects of the Smoking on the Eyes
[14:20] Migraines, Headaches, and the Eyes
[15:09] Interprofessional Collaborations Between Optometrists and Other Medics
[17:02] Autoimmune Conditions That May Risk Eye Health
[20:01] Patient Confidentiality and Why Doctors Don’t Send Patient Information Via Email
[21:03] The Future of Health and Technology
[23:07] The Link Between Eye Health and Diabetes
From a very young age, Sarah always knew she wanted to be an optometrist. She had really poor eyesight and experienced first-hand how amazing it feels when someone's eyesight is fixed.
Her mother is also an optometrist, and so she had a great role model to look up to. The fact that optometry makes a real difference in a person's life was the extra motivation she needed to pursue optometry.
Eye exams for children are a crucial step in ensuring your child's eyes are healthy. Early eye exams are also essential because children rarely know the difference between proper and poor vision. Plus, children need great vision for optimal learning, excellent visual acuity, and improvement of a child's ability to learn. Sarah recommends children should have their first comprehensive eye exam at six months of age. If no issues are spotted, the next exam should be done at age three and then at about age 5 or 6. School-going children, adults, and the elderly should have an eye exam at least every two years. People who need eyeglasses or contact lenses must visit the doctor annually or as recommended by the optometrist.
Unfortunately, not all parents see value in taking their kids to the optometrist. Nonetheless, Sarah believes that, even if your child looks okay, it would be best to have them checked at a young age to correct any issues on time. Many visual disorders in children can go unnoticed, and sometimes parents seek help when it's too late.
Eyesight is one of the most sensitive human senses that can be reduced or lost entirely. Sarah explains that certain health conditions can greatly increase a patient's risk of going blind. For children, "Lazy Eye" can cause permanent vision loss if left untreated. The disease occurs when the vision of one eye is weakened by the brain, suppressing its line of sight and favoring the other eye. In adults, glaucoma and diabetes are the two diseases that can lead to potential eyesight loss.
Other than regular checkups, people can preserve their eyesight by spending at least two hours outside every day. However, care should be taken because the sun can also be harmful to your eyes, and thus sunglasses and hats are recommended. If you're also spending long periods facing a computer, Sarah recommends the 20-20-20 rule where after every 20 minutes, you spend 20 seconds looking at things 20 meters away.
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Lulu Nyirenda, a former Marketing Professional and Events Manager-turned-Social Worker and Criminology student. In this episode, they discuss social work, how she deals with her patients, the future of social work, and how to reach out to a social worker.
[00:23] How Lulu became a Social Worker
[03:36] The Role of the Social Worker
[05:26] How to Seek Help
[07:28] Seeing Clients during COVID-19
[09:25] Problems Faced by Clients
[11:40] How to Reach Out to a Social Worker
[16:47] How Often Lulu Sees Patients
[18:23] How Lulu Benefits Her Patients
[20:17] Getting Patients Involved in Meditation and Mindfulness
[22:19] Patients in Crisis
[25:53] How to Empower Patients
[28:05] How Social Workers Integrate with Health Professionals
[29:14] The Future of Social Work
[32:11] Mental Health and Gut Health
[35:02] Online Gaming and Addiction
[37:58] Teaching Kids Life Skills
[39:53] Lulu’s Plan For the Future
The role of the social worker is to essentially provide support to people and Lulu deals mainly with young people in the youth justice system and helping to integrate them back into society. It is often confused with being a counsellor or a psychologist, both of which deal mainly with behavioural problems.
The problems that Lulu usually sees in her patients include anxiety, depression, and family violence and every person is different and therefore have different ways of being treated. Lulu benefits her patients through methods such as mindfulness, meditating and breathing techniques to ground themselves, and physical activity (nature walks, shooting hoops) which is a great way to have conversations with them compared to just simply sitting down and conversing with them. Lulu also empowers her patients by reminding them of how much they’ve achieved, how far they’ve come, and getting them to remind themselves of their good qualities and the positive things in their life. She also encourages them to do creative things like journaling and listening to music to get them to open up their minds so they’re not constantly trapped in their heads or in their own thoughts.
Social workers integrate with health professionals by working with psychologists who provide diagnoses or information on their mental health status which helps social workers attribute certain behaviours to their mental illness. In relation to gut health, Lulu agrees with the saying that the gut is the second brain and her organisations aim to promote healthy eating as opposed to unhealthy foods that only exacerbate their mental health issues.
Lulu foresees a high need for social work in the coming future given the current climate and how it will be integrated with different services like mental health, housing, and financial services to help rehabilitate them. There is a lot of shame and embarrassment among victims when it comes to reaching out for help and if a listener is faced with or knows someone dealing with anxiety, depression, and violence, Lulu advises to always come from a place of love and to provide a list of organisations such as Orange Door and headspace where they can seek help for their problems.
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Beyond blue (For depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses)
https://www.beyondblue.org.au
Headspace (Mental Health, addiction alcohol, life issues, etc)
https://headspace.org.au/
Safe Steps (Family violence, emotional/physical safety planning, crisis phone line, information)
httpss://www.safesteps.org
Orange Door (For family violence support)
https://orangedoor.vic.gov.au/
For more information from Elizabeth Black and Laura Arrowsmith find their clinic website at:
https://nutritionhealthandwellbeing.com.au/meet-the-team/
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Elizabeth Black and Laura Arrowsmith, both of whom are accredited practicing dieticians. They have a panel discussion about balanced nutrition and the role of dieticians in the healthcare system.
[01:16] How Elizabeth and Laura became dietitians
[05:30] Dietician assessment
[08:12] Feeding tips for parents with fussy children
[09:22] Keep a food journal
[11:28] Common nutrient deficiencies and how to solve them
[16:30] How to improve energy levels: Fibre, probiotics, and whole foods
[22:11] Healthy fat VS saturated fat
[28:13] Incorporating more plant-based food
[33:35] Elizabeth and Laura’s favourite recipes
[37:30] How to address cravings
[43:25] Which health professionals do dieticians work with?
[45:55] The future of dieticians and nutrition
[49:48] Dentist-dietician partnership
Test results and doctor’s letters are helpful when assessing patients but individual factors like lifestyle, motivation, and cooking skills are also taken into account. Dieticians encourage their clients to notice eating patterns so they can make adjustments accordingly. Any changes to a person’s diet will have to be monitored for weeks or months to evaluate its effectivity.
With regard to specific food, people should gradually eat more fibre which can be found in beans, oats, yogurt, and fermented food. Reduce intake of food with saturated fat like chips, chocolates, and biscuits. Healthy fat can be found in avocados and olive oil. Overall, it’s also beneficial to incorporate more plant-based food, avoiding red meat and dairy especially if you’re high in cholesterol.
When a craving hits, be mindful of the moment. At times we seek food out of boredom, habit, or emotion. Try to pinpoint the cause for your craving. Replace sugary processed food with fruit, yogurt, or protein. If you find yourself still craving, it’s all right to treat yourself in moderation. Simple changes like these can contribute positively to your health.
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Dr Ivana's website
https://www.doctorivana.com.au/
Dr Ivana GP clinic
https://www.maxwellmedical.com.au/dr-ivana-matic-stancin
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Dr. Ivana Matic-Stancin who is a general practitioner with 25 years of clinical experience. She is board certified by the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM) and has a holistic approach to medicine. In this episode, they discuss how lifestyle medicine and positive psychology can prevent and reverse chronic health conditions.
[00:58] How Ivana became a physician
[02:51] Generational guilt over state of the world
[04:36] Concerns for the future generation
[06:09] Lifestyle Medicine
[10:08] Who can benefit from lifestyle medicine?
[14:18] Empowering patients to commit to lifestyle changes
[18:43] Reimagining health appointments and assessments
[21:44] My Best Health 8 Week Program
[24:06] Cultivating mindfulness and emotional literacy
[28:44] Slow medicine is the future
[31:30] Holistic and integrated care team for patients
[34:22] Genetic testing and epigenetics
The world has conditioned us to choose convenience and excess at the expense of our lifestyles and environment. Chronic conditions then arise from our consistently wrong choices. Even in medicine, people tend to look for an easy fix to their health problems. When prescriptions don’t work as desired, we seek alternative treatments that may not be scientifically sound.
Lifestyle medicine is all about treating patients holistically with evidence-based interventions. Practitioners work with all kinds of patients to help prevent diseases; and in some cases, even reverse chronic conditions. Once patients are ready to make changes to their lifestyle, doctors empower them to create individualised plans that can be implemented in their personal lives.
Currently, the healthcare system is too fast-paced. Fifteen-minute health appointments are not enough to be able to truly assess a patient’s condition. In reality, few things are easily fixed in such a short amount of time. Slow medicine is the future, with a focus on integrated and comprehensive care.
Interested about lifestyle medicine? Book a complimentary consultation with Dr. Ivana on her website. Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Lifestyle Medicine GP Dr. Malcolm Mackay who has 30 years of experience in medical practice and his wife Jenny Cameron, a research librarian, nutritionist, and life coach. In this episode, they advocate for whole-foods diet and discuss tips on how to prevent health problems and reversing lifestyle diseases.
[02:05] How Malcolm became a Lifestyle Medicine GP
[06:47] How Jenny became a Librarian, Nutritionist, and Life Coach
[09:45] Challenges of Lifestyle Medicine
[11:00] How to Assess Patients’ Health
[14:37] What Diseases Can be Reversed or Reduced
[16:36] Plant-based Approach for Iron-Deficiency
[20:11] How Malcolm Integrates Care with Different Health Professionals
[22:03] Difference Between Nutritionist and Dietician
[23:22] Advice in Choosing Diets
[28:40] Future of Health-Prevention and Integration
[30:35] How Health Professionals Can be More Comprehensive
[33:00] Malcolm and Jenny on the Future of Health
The challenge in Lifestyle Medicine is changing patients’ behaviours and habits. One of the things that came out of Dr. Malcolm’s practice is the concept of behaviour change— how to help people to make changes in their lifestyle and sustain them in the long term. Aside from medical assessments, dietary changes could greatly change and reverse medical conditions but this also depends on what patients want to achieve, where they are in their health journey, and how much they can change or are willing to.
Dr. Malcolm and Jenny both advocate for healthy lifestyle changes and a whole-foods, plant-based diet to help reduce or reverse ailments and diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and iron-deficiency. However, Dr. Malcolm admits that Lifestyle Medicine isn’t as integrated enough with different fields of healthcare and hopes for a more “teamwork” approach which integrates fields such as physical education and mental health.
For Dr. Malcolm, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own science. With so many diets popping up everywhere, Dr. Malcolm advises to find diets that suit the needs of a patient’s mechanism and medical condition. He believes that aside from medicinal solutions, the future of medicine lies in making lifestyle changes and lifestyle medicine. Jenny also hopes that the evidence of whole-foods, plant-based nutrition becomes more widely known among health professionals.
Please find Malcolm and Jenny's links below for on nutrition and lifestyle medicine:
https://www.wholefoodsplantbasedhealth.com.au/
https://drmalcolmmackay.com.au/
https://melbournelifestylemedicine.com.au/
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Alexandra Minichiello, a physiotherapist from Port Melbourne who has done continued training in Clinical Pilates, Dry Needling, Cancer Rehabilitation, and Vestibular Rehabilitation. She has worked in private practice settings across New Zealand and Australia since 2009. In this episode, they talk about Alexandra’s different fields of specialty, her holistic approach to physiotherapy, and tips to improve workplace ergonomics.
[00:47] How Alexandra become a physiotherapist
[01:48] Cancer rehabilitation
[04:15] Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
[06:13] Antenatal and postpartum physiotherapy
[08:38] Prevention of physical health problems
[10:39] Ergonomics in the workplace
[15:26] Recommended stretching and exercises
[17:27] Clinical Pilates
[21:04] Physical therapy and stretching classes online
[23:10] Dry needling
[26:53] Optimal sleeping conditions
[28:02] Integrated care is the future
Physiotherapists help patients maximise their mobility through a variety of techniques like dry needling, massages, and exercise. The actual treatment plan will vary for each person. It’s more beneficial for physiotherapists to work with doctors, psychologists, dieticians, and other healthcare professionals in order to provide a well-rounded program.
By looking at a person’s chair, table, and body position, you can assess if his/her workplace has good or bad ergonomics. A standing desk is useful to some degree, but what ultimately helps is when you change positions frequently. Alternate between standing and sitting. Walk around and sneak in stretches when you can. Now that the majority of people work from home, it’s easier to implement lasting changes to their behaviour or environment. If something is troubling you, it’s always best to consult with a physiotherapist who can tailor a personalised program for you.
Got questions about physiotherapy? Shoot Alexandra an e-mail at ali@portmelbournephysio.com.au.
Port Melbourne Physiotherapy and Pilates: https://portmelbournephysio.com.au/physiotherapists-team/
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!
Tips to prevent severe cumulative trauma, back, neck, and muscle pain
- Set timers when sitting for long periods
so you sit for 20-30min and get up to move
May be hard for dentists/physio, etc other ways
- Exercise:
Walks-aim for 10,000 steps/day if medically-able
Other exercises- clinical pilates, swimming, cycling. Any movement is better than none
- Ergonomics:
Sleep: On your side generally, Car: ergonomics can be assessed by physio
Office ergonomics: How to sit: not slouch, what chairs are more ergonomic, assessment with physio to work out best ergonomic aids i.e chair, desk, wrist support etc
- See your physio,
Assessing the cause,
a) Individualised Clinical pilates program
b) Exercising weaker muscles, alleviating imbalances
c) Alleviating acute muscle pain: massage, dry needling, etc
Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Astrid Southey, a psychotherapist in Melbourne. Trained in holistic counselling, she uses a multitude of tools to help her patients deal with depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues. In this episode, they talk about what hypnosis is and how it works with counselling. Astrid also shares practical mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises that you can use at any time.
[01:30] How Astrid became a psychotherapist
[03:24] Relationship and couples counselling
[06:05] Hypnotherapy to quit smoking
[08:04] Do patients need to believe in hypnotherapy for it to work?
[10:08] How to address phobia
[12:01] Attachment theory, CBT, and other tools
[15:25] Recognising when patients are ready to seek help
[18:01] Relaxation and breathing techniques
[25:02] Building a mindfulness habit
[30:22] Positive visualisations and gratitude
Working out relationship issues involve counselling and psychotherapy. Patients may have a certain pattern that they’re not aware of. Sometimes these unhealthy issues stem from how they formed attachments during childhood. It may be necessary to examine past experiences to understand how individuals interact and form connections.
Hypnotherapy is particularly useful in getting people to quite smoking. In a relaxed trance-like state, patients have access to their subconscious resources to help them kick the vice for good. It’s also helpful if they’ve tried to quit smoking before. Even if past efforts failed, each new attempt will have an increased chance of success.
To deal with overwhelm, focus on the breath. Inhaling and exhaling slowly through the nose should help calm you down. Counting exercises, meditation, and mindfulness apps are good grounding practices. Spend a few minutes each day to build a mindfulness habit. The benefits have long been proven through physiological, psychological, and behavioural changes.
For more information about Astrid’s services, visit http://counselling.melbourne
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Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Dr. Katy Theodore who works in policy, advocacy and health promotion at the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) and before that at Victoria's leading public dental agency, Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV). In this episode, they talk about what value-based healthcare is, the importance of integrated medical records, and how clinicians can encourage healthy lifestyle changes in patients.
[01:06] How Katy became a dentist
[02:21] Public and private practice
[04:13] Katy’s transition into healthcare research and policy
[07:31] System of public dental funding
[11:47] Value-based healthcare model
[14:39] Patient’s readiness to change
[18:15] Shared introductory session
[21:28] Changing the criteria of public dental funding
[27:22] Improved patient care through integrated medical records
[35:29] How to encourage preventive health behaviors
[44:40] The Nudge Effect
[50:52] Current application of value-based systems in dental public health
[54:55] Data will be essential to move forward
Dr. Katy has practiced in both private and public sectors as a dentist. In both settings, she found that there was too much focus on procedures instead of preventive measures. She came to work for DHSV and the ADAVB to transform dental public healthcare to a value-based system that prioritizes outcomes instead of treatments. A value-based model favors a more holistic approach to healthcare. This means that more effort needs to go into education, integration of medical records, and data collection.
To help prevent health issues in patients, we must take a non-judgmental approach. Everyone has different challenges and it’s important to be understanding of that. Share information and encourage the patient to make small, incremental lifestyle changes. These little wins can help them feel empowered and can change their self-defeating beliefs.
Find out how you can access your health information by visiting www.myhealthrecord.gov.au. For further reading, check out Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happinessby Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein.
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Dr. Marcus Matear talks to Kerry Barnard, a hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner in Bendigo, Australia. With 30 years of experience in the field, Kerry has helped her clients solve a variety of lifestyle problems such as smoking, overeating, anxiety, and stress. She empowers her clients to unlock the potential of the unconscious mind through coaching and hypnosis. In this episode, they talk about changing bad habits, managing stress, and dealing with phobia.
[01:45] How Kerry became a hypnotherapist
[03:11] The power of words in Neuro-linguistic Programming
[05:31] The conscious and the unconscious mind
[10:17] Replacing bad habits with better habits
[16:02] Empowering patients through panic attacks and anxiety
[23:12] Hypnosis reinforces new strategies and habits
[24:58] Dental anxiety and phobia
[28:37] Practice through visualization techniques
[33:20] Kerry’s sessions and programs
[36:15] Individuals must initiate change
The words that we use in our daily lives influence our mindset. Disempowering words like “I can’t” or “I have to” negatively affects our way of thinking. Instead, we need to use phrases like “I choose to” or “I want to” so that we are in control of our actions.
The unconscious mind holds the answers to our problems. Nowadays, we look to external factors for solutions rather than searching inwards. We chase after distractions that only serve to clutter our minds. The unconscious mind can be heard only when there is clarity in our conscious mind.
If we perform an action often enough, it gets cemented as a habit. Our minds do not distinguish between good and bad habits. Willpower alone is not enough to change. We must involve our unconscious to help replace our old habits with better ones.
For more information about Kerry’s services, visit www.barnardadmindosolution.au. Give her a call at (03) 5447-7306 or 0407-536-636.
Don’t forget to follow the Health Network Podcast on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. If you liked this episode, do leave us a review and share it with your friends!