Stephen Louw Biokineticist

29/09/2025

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. This causes inflammation, pain, swelling, and over time, joint damage. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear, RA can affect people of all ages and often impacts multiple joints on both sides of the body, such as the hands, wrists, and knees.

Symptoms may include persistent joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes, fatigue, and reduced range of motion. RA can also affect other systems in the body, including the skin, lungs, and eyes.

RA affects about 1% of the global population, and women are about three times more likely to develop it than men. It most commonly begins between the ages of 30 and 60, but it can appear earlier.

While there is no cure, RA can be managed effectively. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in slowing the progression of the disease and reducing the risk of long-term joint damage. Alongside medical treatment, rehabilitation plays an important role.

Consult an accredited Biokineticist to receive assistance in the form of rehabilitative exercises and patient education to help manage recovery from this condition and assist with activities of daily living.

29/09/2025

24/09/2025

Heritage Day is about more than braais and boerewors; it’s a chance to honour the traditions, cultures, and stories that shape us. 🇿🇦

Our heritage lives in the food we share, the music we dance to, the languages we speak, and the communities we build.

So whether you’re around the fire, on the sports field, or with family and friends, take a moment to celebrate the diversity that makes South Africa truly unique.

How will you be celebrating? Let us know in the comments below! ✨

16/09/2025

Spring is here, and so is the urge to lace up and run. ☀️

Before you hit the pavement, make sure your body is ready for the kilometres ahead.

Running is fantastic for your heart, lungs, and bones, but diving in too fast can leave you with shin splints, sore knees, or burnout.

Here are our top tips to keep in mind:
🏃 Start slow – let your body adapt. Walk-run intervals are your friend.
🏃 Stretch and strengthen – focus on calves, hips, and core for stability.
🏃 Good shoes matter – don’t let worn-out trainers do the talking.
🏃 Listen to your body – pain is feedback, not a challenge.

Running should energise you, not sideline you. Train smart this season and you’ll be more likely to stick with it all year round!

To find out more about how we can help you, contact:
📞 084 406 7291
📧 biokineticist@stephenlouw.co.za
🌐 www.stephenlouw.co.za

11/09/2025

Restoring Movement After Neurological Conditions.

Conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis affect coordination and strength. Biokineticists focus on retraining movement, improving balance and maintaining independence. We also help you adapt exercises to suit your changing needs over time.

Explore neurological rehab options: https://biokineticssa.org.za/public-information/

09/09/2025

💪 Did you know your bones are living, changing tissue?
They’re not just scaffolding; they respond to how you move.

As kids, bones get stronger with play. As adults, staying active keeps them strong and less likely to break.

👉 The trick? Give them work to do.
Weight-bearing impact exercises (walking, jogging, dancing, tennis).
Muscle-strengthening exercises (push, pull, squat, hinge with bodyweight, bands, or weights).

Short bursts and variety are key. Think: running, then slowing to a jog, or dancing in different directions. Your bones love it when you mix things up.

Your muscles and bones are a team. When one works, the other adapts. Train them both; your future self will thank you.

To find out how we can help you, contact:
📞 084 406 7291
📧 biokineticist@stephenlouw.co.za
🌐 www.stephenlouw.co.za

09/09/2025

As we age, changes in our posture can quietly shift how we perceive upright posture.

Many older adults begin to lean, tilt, or adapt abnormal standing positions without even realizing it and what feels “straight” may no longer be accurate.

FallProof! A Comprehensive Balance and Mobility Training Program, Third Edition helps fitness professionals and caregivers identify these maladaptive postures and retrain stability with proven, research-based strategies.

Because improving balance isn’t just about preventing falls, it’s about restoring confidence in every step.

Now available on the Human Kinetics website.

27/08/2025

Rest alone won’t get you back to full strength 🚫 But the wrong training might hold you back even more!

After injury, returning to movement is essential, but how you return is everything.

"Training smart" means more than just easing into exercise. It means:
- Knowing which movements restore vs. re-injure
- Rebuilding mobility and control before loading strength
- Addressing imbalances that led to the injury in the first place

Rehabilitation isn’t a shortcut or a sideline. It’s the foundation of sustainable strength.

👊 If you're ready to stop guessing and start progressing:
📞 084 406 7291
📧 biokineticist@stephenlouw.co.za
🌐 www.stephenlouw.co.za

20/08/2025

Dr Tanya came for recovery and stayed for the stayed for results!

"I met Stephen in 2004. I had undergone abdominal surgery and faced more surgery. My original request was to prepare me for the surgery and to aid post-operative recovery. His programs were hugely successful. Thereafter Stephen coaxed me through a successful Comrades Marathon. His knowledge base is immense, and increasing. He has an ability to find the cause of a problem and treat accordingly. Stephen genuinely wants to help his clients. I would not willingly see another biokineticist."
– Dr Tanya Grantham

When someone has both the scientific knowledge and the intuition to uncover the real root of the issue, the results speak for themselves.

The approach isn’t just rehab, it’s rethinking what’s possible.

📞 084 406 7291
📧 biokineticist@stephenlouw.co.za
🌐 www.stephenlouw.co.za

09/08/2025

To the women who juggle deadlines, family, life admin, and aches they don’t talk about, we see you. 🌸 Today, we want more for you than just coping.

Your body doesn’t need to “just get through the day.” It deserves attention, care, and strength from the inside out.

This Women’s Day, let’s celebrate your resilience and also your right to rest, recover, and reconnect with your body.

You are strong and you are not alone! 🧡

06/08/2025

🛑 Just because it’s viral doesn’t mean it’s valuable for your body.

One-size-fits-all workout routines on TikTok might be entertaining, but they rarely account for injury history, mobility limitations, or individual biomechanics.

The truth? No two bodies move or recover the same way.

Your training should reflect you. Your history. Your goals. Your challenges. Your wins. 🤩

Whether you're post-op, post-injury, or just tired of guessing your way through pain, it's time to ditch the trends and get a plan built for you.

🎯 Train with purpose. Recover with intention.

To find out how we can help you, contact:
📞 084 406 7291
📧 biokineticist@stephenlouw.co.za
🌐 www.stephenlouw.co.za

31/07/2025

Your body is a brilliant machine composed of joints that each have a specific function. Some are built to move (mobility), others are built to hold steady (stability). And when everything works as it should, you move like magic. 🧠⚙️💪

Each joint has a role:
Stability: Foot, Knee, Lumbar Spine, Elbow, Cervical Spine
Mobility: Ankle, Hip, Thoracic Spine, Shoulder, Wrist

When these roles are disrupted due to injury, posture, or imbalances, the body compensates, and that’s where pain and dysfunction creep in.

🔧 A stiff hip might cause an unstable knee.
⚠️ A locked-up thoracic spine can strain your lower back.

It’s all connected!

Biokinetics focuses on restoring that natural mobility-stability pattern so you move better, feel stronger, and reduce your injury risk.

Unsure where you’re out of sync? Let’s assess and restore your movement pattern.
📞 084 406 7291
📧 biokineticist@stephenlouw.co.za
🌐 www.stephenlouw.co.za