Contact Physiotherapy Methven, NZ

24/11/2025

24/11/2025

Walking- The actual health benefits are from raising your heart rate during exercise- therefor my ambling pace is not likely to be helping anything! Professor Rob Copeland recently compared the benefits of 10 000 steps with Active 10- an exercise programme which requires three brisk 10-minute walks a day. The study found that although the Active 10 group did less activity, they experienced greater health benefits! The moderate intensity exercise they recommend should be enough to raise your heart rate and leave you slightly short of breath.

24/11/2025

MRI “Abnormalities” Do not Equal Injury — Here’s What the Research Really Shows….

Following on from my recent post about running and arthritis, here’s another important myth-buster that every athlete, patient, and clinician should understand.

A large review by Culvenor et al. (2018) looked at 63 studies and over 5,300 knee MRIs in people with no knee pain or injury. What they found is incredibly important:

Almost 20% of people under 40 with zero symptoms had “changes” on MRI

Almost 50% of people over 40 with zero symptoms had “changes” on MRI

And what were these “changes”?
Things like: Meniscal tears, Cartilage defects, Bone bruising, Bone spurs, Degeneration as
well as other findings often labelled as “wear and tear”

In other words… Perfectly healthy, pain-free knees often look “abnormal” on scans.

🔍 Why does this matter?

Because too many people are told that:
❌ “Your MRI shows damage.”
❌ “You must stop running.”
❌ “You need surgery.”
❌ “This explains your pain.”

But the science is clear:

MRI findings only matter if they match your symptoms.

If you’re not in pain—and not limited in daily life—these findings are usually completely normal, harmless, and often just part of the body adapting and ageing.

Think of it this way:

Just like we get grey hairs and wrinkles on the outside, we get them on the inside too.

Imaging simply makes it easier to “see” them.

🏃‍♂️💬 What this doesn’t mean

This doesn’t mean MRIs are useless. They’re a powerful tool when used correctly—typically after a thorough clinical assessment, when symptoms and history indicate that imaging will change management.

But it does mean:
✔ A finding on MRI does not automatically explain pain
✔ A finding does not predict the future
✔ A finding does not mean you should reduce activity
✔ A finding does not mean you are damaged

🧠 The real take-home message

If you’re pain-free, active, and functioning well, then an MRI “abnormality” is often nothing more than internal grey hair and likely something you shouldn’t overly worry about.

If you do have pain, the goal is not to chase scan results, but to treat you — your movement, load tolerance, goals, worries, and the patterns behind your symptoms.

22/11/2025

Walking - Since a Japanese health promotion in 1964 the goal for exercise promotion has been 10 000 steps. For me that equates to about 7km and at my usual ambling pace takes about an hour and a half! Realistically that time is not easy to access for most of us. More up to date recommendations from the World Health Organisation are 2.5 hours of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity.

20/11/2025

Walking - I know its been pretty windy lately but physical inactivity is the biggest killer in the western world. Being active can help to prevent cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, mild to moderate depression and prolong cancer survival. Walking outside in sunny Mid Canterbury provides vitamin D for calcium absorption and also helps bone density (though resistance training is much better).

18/11/2025

Christmas is just around the corner!
Are you ready for it??

Here are some present ideas from us.
Spiky ball/foam roller/lumber roll or
Voucher for some treatments/Pilates?
We have Duane Schroeder’s calendar in the clinic as well!!
o and Amy's pottery will be here from next week😊

29/10/2025

19/09/2025

What a beautiful day!! Hope you are enjoying this weather😊
A wee reminder - Our Pilates will start again on Monday 29th September. If you are keen to join us, please call 3028205 or email to amy@contactphysio.co.nz to register!

15/09/2025

Do you remember Anna, the lovely physio we had back in 2019? She competed in the peak to pub yesterday and came 3rd in open women category!! only a few minutes behind 1st and 2nd place. What an incredible achievement! Well done Anna😊 She was off to a birthday party after that big race!!! 😆

14/09/2025

Walking
Spring is here and its nice walking weather! So why not look at how many steps you are doing? Your smart phone may already have an app that counts steps, there are so many to choose from!! Remember to build up gradually though and if you have concerns about starting physical exercise, come and see us at Contact Physiotherapy at the Medical Centre, 3028 205.