31 Oct The Surfers Physio

Surfers as they age struggle with competing interests of a strong arching back and the need to keep their ribs in.
Even the design of their boards can factor in to future problems. If the foam is not in a good proportion (foil) to their body shape injuries and pain occur.

Of the many injuries surfers get, shoulder and neck issues seem to be the main injuries that can cause the premature end of the joy of surfing.
Gold Coast Physio Sally Buratowski is very good at detecting, preventing and fixing surfing related injuries.
As a junior elite swimmer Sally’s motivation to study to be a Physio was partly to better understand the body mechanics and over training issues she encountered with the massive kms of swimming up and down the black line.

If you have ever watched the warm up of an elite swimmer, the shoulder flexibility and power is extraordinary.
As a surfer on the Gold Coast our fast snappy little beach breaks create their own demand on older surfers.

Sally will show surfers how to paddle correctly – to focus on your lats, keep the shoulders relaxed and avoid arching the back.
To avoid arching your back you need to avoid relying on the larger muscles of the back to hold your posture.
By building up the smaller core muscles you will benefit by using them for the tasks they were designed for.

Clearly a strong powerful paddler will get more waves, get better waves and give themselves a fraction more time to get up on the surfboard.
You may find you do not have to compromise your choice of surfboard to fit your fitness level.

We are finding more and more people surfing later in their lives and a growing number of retired surfers still surfing very well.
Part of the fun of the Gold Coast is our warm water, consistent waves and clean beaches. By learning the correct techniques an older surfer can keep themselves keen and fresh in the surf.

One of Sally’s long time customers in Norm a competitive surfer. Norm loves surfing and was on another trip to Hawaii as this article is being penned.

(Norm comes in with a different injury every week)

Sally is able to maintain Norm’s enjoyment of surfing well into his 60’s – Norm still maintains a style normally associated with a younger surfer, partly due to the glorious surf on the Gold Coast and partly due to Sally’s Physio sessions.
PhysioFusion™ is a combination of machine pilates carried out by a Physio who understand body movement in relation to sport.

These PhysioFusion™ sessions can be inexpensive as they are done in groups and covered by many health funds.

Shoulder Injuries an Issue with Older Surfers

Consider purchasing Sally’s Shoulder Program DVD for exercises designed to keep you flexible and able to surf.