Sarah Stephen Physiotherapist

26/08/2025

Look at our beautiful new signs ❤️. I will also be sharing more rehabilitation videos on this platform again soon! 😁

03/02/2023

03/02/2023

I have relocated to Cape Town!

I am in a Pilates Studio in Observatory. I hope you will come and visit if you’re in the area 😁🤸🏻‍♂️

08/02/2022

My exercise journey during pregnancy has not been an easy one. I went into pregnancy wanting to be an example of fitness and health. However after two miscarriages and complications early on during this pregnancy, I was advised to stop running and cut down on all other exercise. As a physiotherapist who uses my body to treat patients and a Pilates instructor who demonstrates a lot of the exercises, I found this not only difficult for my personal mental health but also for my career!

I am now 35 weeks pregnant and have thankfully been healthy with no complications since about 20 weeks. I haven’t run for the past 7 months or so but I have been able to explore some Pilates exercises and keep fit with regular walking.

I hope that through my experience I can help others better in their pregnancy journey keep fit and healthy during their pregnancies.

As an aside note, I am extremely grateful that I went into the pregnancy fit and with a strong core from Pilates training as I have had minimal back pain or musculoskeletal issues. Let’s see if it helps in the final few weeks and in the actual child birth!

04/01/2022

I have moved and am back in Joburg seeing patients! I hope you all had a good Christmas (if celebrating) and a good December break if you took one 😁. Happy New Year 🎉

*Please note I am not currently taking on any new patients as I am cutting down working hours before I take maternity leave in March.

13/12/2021

12/12/2021

One of my last sessions for the year with someone who injured their back a year ago - she is doing so well with her rehab. I find my job so rewarding! :)

04/11/2021

Pilates classes at the John Meyer Private Gym. 😁
Pilates gives me strength, breath and poise for each day. I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into when I did teaching course in 2013 but now I know my life wouldn’t be the same without it!

30/10/2021

Great exercises for golfers! Gets that back warmed up for the swing😀🏌

01/07/2021

Ever woken up at night with numbness or pins and needles in your hands?
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND WHY IS IT MORE AT NIGHT?
The answer to the 2nd question is that your blood pressure is lowest at night and nerves are very oxygen dependent using about 20% of your body's oxygen circulation, so they are more sensitive to compression symptoms at night. For some people the position of sleeping also plays a role.
CAUSES
One common cause is carpel tunnel syndrome which is when the a nerve supplying the thumb and index finger and part of the middle finger is compressed as it runs under a sheath of fascia in the front of the wrist.

Another cause may be irritation/inflammation around the nerves as they leave the neck due to a disc injury or degeneration of the spine. The nerves can also become compressed at various points outside of the spine in the neck, shoulder and near the elbow (cubital tunnel).

For those of us who work with our hands pins and needles could be a result of forearm overuse.

The last cause I will mention here is peripheral neuropathy which is usually secondary to other conditions or medication. In this case you may experience nerve symptoms in your hands and feet and is linked with poor circulation.
If you are experiencing numbness, please see your Physiotherapist or Doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

05/06/2021

*Is there an ideal posture and what is it?*
Sitting posture needs to be functional and personal. Maintaining one position for hours on end (even if ideal posture) is not ideal.
Watch this space for more posture tips.

25/05/2021

We know how important oxygen is for us but what about nitric oxide? This natural gas produced in our sinuses is continuously released into the nasal passages and plays a vital role in combating airborne virus and bacteria. It's like our GOD-GIVEN STERILISER to the air we breathe in. Nitric oxygen also increases the oxygen that gets into our blood from the lungs, and reduces blood pressure in the lungs. Studies indicate that just by breathing through your nose you INCREASE the OXYGENATION by u to 10%!

SLOW DEEP BREATHS THROUGH THE NOSE have shown to result in higher concentrations of nitric oxide in the lungs. It is important to work on clearing the nasal passages and practicing slow diaphragmatic breathing regularly.
For a full assessment and breathing exercises contact your health professional with an interest in this area.