Tamika Hassum,, Author at True North Wellness

11 Jun 2024

Empowering Men: Managing Pelvic Floor Concerns After Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate cancer is a significant health concern for men globally, with treatment often impacting various aspects of their lives, including urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction. As an accredited exercise physiologist, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of tailored exercise programs in helping men manage these challenges effectively. In this blog, we’ll explore how exercise physiology plays a crucial role in supporting men’s pelvic floor health post-prostate cancer treatment.

15 May 2024

When to be concerned about your blood pressure

Hypertension (AKA high blood pressure) is often called the “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms but can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, stoke and kidney damage if left untreated. It can be difficult to know when to be concerned about high blood pressure, so here are some general guidelines you can follow…

27 Feb 2024

Why hurt does not always equal harm (persistent pain perspective)

If you have experienced an injury that has turned chronic, then you may well understand that there are adaptations that occur in your body that can leave you feeling ‘not quite like it used to feel’ when you do certain activities. Learning why this occurs is often the first step in managing your persistent pain. We can understand this by exploring the ‘Twin Peaks’ Metaphor described by pain researchers David Butler and Lorimer Mosely in their book Explain Pain (see below). Let’s discuss!

23 Jan 2024

The role of exercise in persistent pain

For a long time, the standard suggestion for persistent pain patients was to rest and be inactive to prevent a flare up of pain. Now, guidelines promote physical activity and evidence-based movement as an important part of the treatment plan for chronic pain. When people are restricted from the usual activity and exercise, they become more anxious, tired, depressed and with an increase in pain (which is not helpful). Despite this being the guidelines, it can be tricky to get started with an exercise program when you are experiencing pain.

06 Sep 2023

Returning to exercise after hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is one of the most common types of elective surgeries for Australian women, however it’s not exactly the most talked about! We tend to understand that there is a period of rehabilitation after any major abdominal surgery, but it can be challenging to know where to seek help on how and when to return to physical activities.

05 Jun 2023

The Importance of Muscle For Reversing Ageing and Improving Metabolic Health

It is possible that the single biggest problem with our health these days across society is not that we carry too much fat, but actually that we don’t carry enough muscle.

07 Mar 2023

Endometriosis and Exercise Physiology – What’s the connection?

Endometriosis, commonly known as ‘endo’ is a word you might have heard of and perhaps even associate with the female reproductive system, but how much do you really know about the condition and the systemic effects it can have on other bodily systems?

21 Sep 2022

Looking after your pelvic floor

Our pelvic floor is made up of muscles and tissues that stretch, like a supportive trampoline, from your pubic bone at the front of your pelvis, to your tailbone at the bottom of your spine. It also stretches sideways from one sitting bone to the other. Your pelvic floor muscles work with your…

09 Aug 2022

I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)… Why should I think about exercise?

In a nutshell – what is PCOS? PCOS is one of the most common endocrine conditions, affecting about 8-13% of reproductive aged women with up to 70% of affected women remaining undiagnosed. PCOS is a significant public health issue with reproductive, metabolic and psychological features. Some features that females with PCOS present with can be…

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