René Alberts & Nicola Michau Physiotherapy

09/01/2026

06/01/2026

Small changes can make a big difference🚴‍♂️🏋‍♂️🏃‍♀️

03/01/2026

📣We will be open again from Monday 05 January 2026👐



☎️ 013 282 4440

01/01/2026

Happy New Year🎉

25/12/2025

21/12/2025

🚫 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 — 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐲

𝙀𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚-𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨
👉For most people with low back pain, imaging is not needed. In fact, around 90% of cases improve with appropriate care and self-management — without X-ray, CT, or MRI.

🔍 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜:
• It often reveals incidental findings (normal age-related changes) that are not the cause of pain.
• These findings can increase patient worry and lead to unnecessary or invasive interventions.
• It also increases healthcare costs without improving outcomes.

📚 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒔:
Studies consistently demonstrate that for patients without red flags or suspicion of serious pathology, pain and disability outcomes are the same whether they receive immediate imaging or standard care without imaging.

🔆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲:
Reserve imaging for cases where a serious underlying condition is suspected. Unnecessary imaging can:
• Increase cost
• Increase anxiety
• Increase risk of harmful interventions

📖 Key References:
Graves JM et al. (2012), Jarvik JG et al. (2015)
Suri P et al. (2014), Webster BS et al. (2013)

17/12/2025

Please take note that our practice will be closing for annual leave on 23 Decemeber 2025❗️

Enjoy the festive time🎄

03/12/2025

The 3rd of December marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day that highlights the rights, dignity, and well-being of people living with disabilities. It reminds us of the importance of accessible environments, inclusive healthcare, and opportunities for meaningful physical activity. As physiotherapists, we play a vital role in advocating for these principles and helping communities participate fully in daily life.

Aquatic physiotherapy aligns strongly with this call for inclusion. Water offers a supportive and therapeutic environment where movement becomes more achievable, less painful, and more enjoyable for people with disabilities. It is an evidence-based approach that can improve mobility, confidence, health, and independence.

Through the unique properties of water, aquatic physiotherapy reduces load on joints and limbs, improves circulation, and supports safe, effective exercise for people with limited movement as well as active individuals. Warm water helps reduce pain, muscle tone, and spasticity, while the natural resistance strengthens muscles, boosts endurance, and improves overall function. Water also provides a safe space to try new tasks without the fear of falling.

The psychosocial benefits are equally important. Many people experience a sense of freedom in water, reduced fear, and increased confidence, which leads to better engagement and long-term adherence to exercise.

As the AQPG, we remain committed to supporting persons with disabilities by promoting accessible, effective, and inclusive opportunities to move, exercise, and thrive.

01/12/2025

15/11/2025

❗️Please Note❗️

We will be out of the office from 17 November - 28 November.

We will be back for appointments on the 1st of December💪

Thank you for understanding.

☎️ 013- 282 4440

14/11/2025

Every time you move, your fascia listens, and responds.

Your body’s connective tissue is made up of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronan (the substance that helps fascia glide and stay hydrated). When you move, stretch, or bounce, your fascia cells (called fibroblasts and fasciacytes) sense that mechanical load. In response, they produce more collagen and hyaluronan, literally reshaping and rehydrating your body from the inside out.

This process, known as mechanotransduction, is how movement becomes communication. It’s your body’s way of turning physical input into biological change. Too much sitting or stillness sends the opposite message: stiffness, densification, and dehydration.

So next time you move, remember: every roll, twist, and bounce tells your fascia how to grow. Movement is medicine.

Learn more about how MAP Movement can help you retrain your body here: www.mapmovement.co.za

05/11/2025