Christmas is approaching and 2018 is coming to an end…and what a year it has been!!
Restore Function Physiotherapy and Pilates has been busy over the last 12 months, with seeing new clients, hiring new staff, developing new professional relationships within the community and continuing to provide Physiotherapy to the best team in the AFLW, the Brisbane Lions!

In May, RFPP welcomed Tristan Dower, a physiotherapist with an abundance of experience with professional sporting teams, and a man who isn’t afraid to get into his active wear to instruct and participate in Clinical Pilates! Tristan has been keeping the AFLW Lions and Coorparoo Football Club fighting fit and on the field, as well as treating clients in clinic. He is looking forward to seeing the AFLW Lions and Coorparoo players more frequently in 2019, and hopefully playing a part in a Premierships for both.

In July we came upon Jacqui Walker, the Minister of All Things. Jacqui oversees everything from social media, manning the phone and clinic emails and occasionally being the cleaning lady. She is also tasked with keeping our illustrious leader Miranda organised, on time and up to date on her very hectic life. She continues to learn a lot about Women’s Professional Sport, sport in general, and how to add music to a video for Instagram!

In exciting news, Fiona, our Pilates Guru, is expecting a little baby boy in March! We are amazed with Fiona’s continued efforts to demonstrate tricky Pilates moves, and can’t wait to meet the newest addition to her family. Watch this space on news regarding a temporary replacement for our Guru…

RFPP have been thrilled to become involved with Fitstop Coorparoo after their grand opening in June. Fitstop offer Fit, Fast and Functional group training, providing the perfect balance between high intensity, aerobic, anaerobic and strength-based movements. It’s been great to have such open communication with trainers Tom and Nikala, ensuring all athletes are working hard but smart, by keeping in mind any previous or current injuries and accommodating workouts accordingly.
We can’t wait to see what 2019 holds for Fitstop Coorparoo, they continue to grow every week!

Our involvement with Fitstop has also been integral to the pre-season of the Coorparoo Australian Football Club, with Miranda facilitating training and fitness programs between the two. The players from Coorparoo have been training up a storm at Fitstop, and have loved the guidance from Miranda, Tristan, Nikala and Tom.
Miranda and Tristan presented to the club on maximising performance and injury prevention during the season, with the players learning a lot of different skills they can implement into their game. Players have also been keen to take up our offer of half price Musculoskeletal Screening. This screening allows us to assess the entire player, look at areas of any previous injuries, and formulate plans for training and playing that will ensure the player plays safely and effectively.   We look forward to another year with Coorparoo Football Club, hopefully ending in a Premiership or two.

On the research front, Miranda has also been heavily involved in research at Bond University, assisting Jessica Farley, Physiotherapist and PHD Candidate with a research project. Jessica is researching injury prevention and performance development in female Australian Football Athletes. As her supervisor, Miranda has been integral in this research project, we look forward to publishing the research in the near future.

In October, Miranda and Abbey attended the Queensland All Schools Touch Carnival as the Physiotherapist and Trainer for the All Hallows School Touch Football teams. Held at Whites Hill Reserve in Camp Hill, the Carnival is the biggest Touch event in Queensland, with over 5000 spectators each day and teams competing from all over the state. Unfortunately, due to the heaviest rain of 2018, the Carnival was wound up before finals could be played. However, all teams from All Hallows School won their games, and were looking to compete in the Grand Final in a number of age groups. All Hallows School were thrilled with the services RFPP provided, and look forward to working together again in 2019.

Miranda also was thrilled to be involved in the creation of ‘Prep to Play’, an educational resource for grassroots football clubs developed by the AFL in conjunction with La Trobe University. Miranda travelled to Melbourne to sit on an expert panel, and heavily contributed to the development of this resource, using her experience as the AFLQ as Head Physiotherapist, and AFLW Brisbane Lions Head of Medical. Knee injuries are 9.2 times more likely to occur in female athletes than their male AFL counterparts, hence why the AFL are addressing this issue and aiming to reduce these statistics.
The ‘Prep to Play’ manuals and resources are now available to all AFL clubs, and will assist and supplement what individual clubs are already doing, as well as making the education process easier, more efficient, and standardised across the league.

We hope all our clients and friends of RFPP have a restful break, and we look forward to an action packed 2019!!!