Van Der Merwe Fisioterapeute

21/11/2025

🖤 We at Van der Merwe Physiotherapists stand against Gender-Based Violence.

Today, we wear black to raise awareness, honour survivors, and show our commitment to creating a safer community for all.

Let’s speak up. Stand together. Break the silence. 🖤

20/11/2025

✨ What is Whiplash? ✨
Whiplash happens when the neck is quickly forced forward and backward, often during car accidents, sports injuries, or sudden falls. This rapid movement strains the neck muscles, ligaments and joints — causing pain, stiffness and headaches.

💆‍♂️ How Can Physiotherapy Help?

Physiotherapy plays a key role in recovery by:
✔️ Reducing pain and inflammation
✔️ Improving neck mobility
✔️ Strengthening supporting muscles
✔️ Restoring normal movement patterns
✔️ Providing guidance to prevent chronic pain

🧠 Early treatment = Better recovery!

If you’re experiencing ongoing neck pain, headaches or stiffness after a sudden impact, physiotherapy can help you heal safely and effectively.

18/11/2025

THE DIAGRAM MUSCLE ✍️

✅ The diaphragm is the dome-shaped muscle located below the lungs that separates the chest from the abdomen and is the primary muscle for breathing. During inhalation, it contracts and flattens, expanding the chest cavity to draw air into the lungs. It also plays a role in other functions by increasing pressure in the abdomen, such as for urination, defecation, and preventing acid reflux.

✅ Function and structure
Breathing: When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward. This increases the volume of your chest cavity, which lowers the pressure inside your lungs, allowing them to fill with air. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward.
Separates cavities: It serves as a physical barrier, separating the thoracic (chest) cavity from the abdominal cavity.

✅ Other functions: It helps with functions like urination, defecation, and childbirth by increasing pressure in the abdomen. It also prevents acid reflux by putting pressure on the esophagus.
Structure: This large, dome-shaped muscle is made of a combination of muscle and tendon. It is attached to the lower ribs, the sternum, and the spine.

17/11/2025

🌎💜 World Prematurity Day
Raising awareness. Celebrating strength. Supporting every tiny fighter.

Babies born prematurely often face unique developmental and physical challenges — and physiotherapy plays a crucial role in helping them grow, move, and thrive.

✨ How physiotherapy supports premature babies:
• Assists with early motor development
• Helps improve muscle tone and strength
• Supports feeding and breathing coordination
• Encourages age-appropriate milestones
• Guides parents on safe handling, positioning & stimulation
• Supports long-term movement, posture, and sensory development

Every preemie’s journey is different — and early intervention can make a remarkable impact.
Today we honour the courage of premature babies, their families, and the healthcare teams supporting them. 💜

14/11/2025

💙 World Diabetes Day 💙 14 November

Today we raise awareness about diabetes and the important role physiotherapy plays in helping individuals live healthier, more active lives.

✨ How Physiotherapy Can Help:
• Improves blood sugar control through personalised exercise
• Boosts circulation and helps manage diabetic neuropathy
• Reduces joint stiffness and pain
• Supports balance, mobility & overall wellbeing
• Encourages safe, sustainable physical activity habits

Regular movement is one of the most powerful tools in diabetes prevention and management — and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

💙 “Small steps every day lead to big health changes.”

12/11/2025

The ancient origins of physiotherapy: 🏺

Physiotherapy is one of the oldest healing professions in the world. Its roots can be traced all the way back to 460 BC, when famous Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen first used massage, manual therapy, and hydrotherapy (water therapy) to promote healing and restore movement.

💧 Hydrotherapy involved using warm or cold water to reduce pain, improve circulation, and help with joint movement.

🤲 Massage and manual therapy were used to relieve stiffness, improve muscle tone, and support recovery after injuries.

These early practices laid the foundation for what modern physiotherapy is today — a blend of science, anatomy, and movement to help people live pain-free and active lives.

11/11/2025

11/11/2025

11/11/2025

How to tell when your baby is sick 👀

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ4p8VaiOxG/?igsh=YTFhYnFvenA0bHgx

10/11/2025

📍What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It happens when the thick band of tissue (plantar fascia) under your foot becomes irritated or inflamed — often due to overuse, poor footwear, or tight calf muscles.

👣 Common symptoms:
- Sharp pain under the heel (especially with first steps in the morning)
- Tenderness along the arch
- Pain after long periods of standing or walking

💪 How physiotherapy can help:
✅ Stretching and strengthening exercises
✅ Soft tissue and fascia release
✅ Taping or orthotic advice
✅ Ultrasound or laser therapy
✅ Footwear and posture correction

Early treatment = quicker recovery! Don’t ignore that heel pain — your feet carry you every day 💫

07/11/2025

We invite all our Pilates members to join us for a fun year-end walk! 🌊💪

Come along on the Sea Point Promenade on the 6th of December for sunshine, movement, and great company.

06/11/2025

Your goniometer might be your most underrated clinical tool👀

That simple tool in your drawer transforms subjective observations into measurable outcomes, yet how often do we question our technique?

📐Recent research shows that even experienced therapists can improve measurement consistency with standardised protocols. The difference between reliable and unreliable measurements often comes down to factors we can control: same therapist, same time of day, clear anatomical landmarks. When measurement error creeps in, it affects everything from treatment planning to patient motivation. Think about it – if your baseline measurements aren't accurate, how confident can you be in tracking progress?

Our volunteer team is currently updating all goniometry content on Physiopedia to reflect the latest evidence on technique, reliability and modern alternatives like smartphone apps. Because precision in measurement leads to precision in treatment decisions. What's your biggest challenge with goniometric measurement? Let us know below 💬

Read the full article: https://members.physio-pedia.com/members-news/goniometry-in-physiotherapy-and-why-precision-matters/