HEALTH & WELLBEING
syncytial virus ) surge sparks winter warning
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– the two states with all-infant RSV immunisation programs – are reporting lower rates of RSV-related hospitalisation in babies .
“ The message is clear – infant RSV immunisation keeps babies out of hospital ,” said Ms Hughes , whose threeweek-old daughter was hospitalised with severe RSV in 2016 , 18 months after the death of her son Riley from whooping cough .
The Immunisation Foundation of Australia has calculated that nationwide access to and uptake of infant RSV immunisation could prevent around 10,000 infants aged under 12 months from being admitted to hospital each year .
Data collected during the European and the US winters showed an 80-90 per cent fall in childhood hospitalisations due to severe RSV following the rollout of infant RSV immunisations .
“ Without immunisation , we know that around 12,000 Australian babies are hospitalised with pneumonia and bronchiolitis caused by RSV each year ,
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with one-in four requiring intensive care , “ she said .
Dr McHugh and Ms Hughes are calling on all Australians to join them in declaring “ I Support RSV Protection ” as part of RSV Awareness Week .
Ms Hughes warned that without national RSV immunisation programs for infants and the elderly , Australia would fail to realise the potential of a new era of RSV protection .
“ It ’ s wonderful that for the first time we can protect babies and the elderly from RSV , but it ’ s not sustainable to have infant immunisation programs in some states and not others , nor to ask older Australians to pay hundreds of dollars each year for RSV protection ,” she said .
Ms Hughes will join infectious disease experts in Federal Parliament House on Tuesday , 4 June to brief parliamentarians on the latest research into RSV and the opportunity for national RSV immunisation programs .
For more information on RSV and the Immunisation Foundation of Australia , visit www . ifa . org . au / uniteagainstrsv
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Suitable exercise program for 50 years + focusing on strength , balance and falls prevention . Exercise program is delivered by health professionals and caters for all fitness levels . Walking aids are welcomed . |
North Richmond Neighbourhood Centre NORTH RICHMOND Monday 9.00am Friday 9.00am Cost is $ 5 per session 33 William Street , North Richmond |
Diagnosed Facet Joint Disease – not a sentence for eternal back pain
with Andreas Klein
I often see facet joint arthritis on scan reports in clinic . Research shows 15-45 % of neck pain , 48 % of thoracic pain and 54- 67 % of lower back pain can be attributed to facet joint arthritis , while pain may also be referred to areas such as the head , arms , chest wall , buttocks , and legs . 1
So , what are facet joints and why might arthritis cause pain ? The picture below shows that individual vertebra is joined by two types of joints : a disc joint ; and 2 facet joints .
Facet joints take only a small amount of your bodyweight . Their main job is to guide & limit movement of spine , preventing excessive rotation & forward bending , protecting vertebrae from sheer ( forwardpulling ) forces . Facet joints have a good nerve supply . If they become inflamed due to degenerative changes of age-related wear-andtear , pain can result . But which type of back-pain can such facet joints cause ?
Incredibly careful research on back pain sufferers shows that it is impossible to ‘ clinically ’ determine any ‘ typical pattern ’ of pain referral due to facet joint arthritis . 2 Facet joints ‘ can ’ be established as the source of some chronic back pain but only via a complex procedure called a diagnostic block . Otherwise , it is difficult to say whether facet-joint arthritis is the source of a person ’ s back pain or not . The best we can do is say ‘ maybe ’!
Although anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed as first line treatment when facet joint disease is suspected 3 , radiofrequency neurotomy ( cutting the nerve to the joint ) or a lumbar facet joint nerve block ( anaesthetic injection ) are currently the only medically validated treatments for true facet joint pain 4 . Importantly , both the diagnosis & the validated treatments are complex , very invasive & not without risk .
The good news ? Even when antiinflammatory drugs have failed , many people with facet joint arthritis and back pain typically respond well to muscle elongation therapy . Specific manual therapy techniques , can reduce pain & inflammation , often removing need for ongoing medications .
If you have a problem with back pain , why not talk to me on 0418 166 269 .
Greater West Exercise Physiology SOUTH WINDSOR Monday 10.30am , Tuesday 10.30am , Thursday 10.30am , Friday 10.30am Cost is $ 5 per session Unit 5 / 74 Mileham Street , South Windsor
Glossodia Community Hall Wednesday 10.30am - Cost is $ 5 per session 162 Golden Valley Drive , Glossodia
SUFFERING constant BACK PAIN ? Want to ENJOY LIFE again ?
Work & play like you used to after just a few sessions !
Andreas Klein Nutritionist & Remedial Therapist
BSc , Adv Dip Nut Med , DRM
FREE OFFER !
If you ’ re sick of being in constant back pain CALL NOW for your FREE 30min Assessment Session !
Valued at $ 55
Richmond Uniting Church RICHMOND Wednesday 10.30am - Cost is $ 5 per session 25 West Market Street , Richmond
NEW LOCATION Greater Western Health , KURRAJONG Monday , Tuesday & Friday 10.30am 1147 Grose Vale Road Kurrajong
For information on attending the Move to Live Seniors Exercise program please contact 0404 871 484 or ( 02 ) 4577 2348
I ’ ve personally developed this technique after 16 years experience :
“ After years of severe back pain I ’ m now enjoying golf , fully pain free and even started brick-laying again !” John Hasler , Glenmore Park
“ I ’ d given up really - I ’ d tried so many things . In just a couple of sessions the pain and muscle spasms had gone . I ’ d recommend your work to anyone .” Craig Gibson , Richmond
Remedial Muscle Elongation Therapy targets the cause of chronic back pain and inflammation to really eliminate them . This technique works well for shoulders and knees too !
Call Andreas 0418 166 269
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 169 // JUNE 2024 21