Latest news with #physiotherapist
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
High Court confirms suspension of physiotherapist who gave Botox-like drug to clients
A physiotherapist who administered an unlicensed Botox-like product to a number of clients and was found guilty of poor professional performance has been suspended for three months by the High Court. High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville confirmed the sanction of Coru, the regulatory body of health and social care professionals, to suspend the Dublin physiotherapist from the register of physiotherapists for three months, starting in October. Igor Castro, who operates a practice on O'Connell Street in Dublin, appeared before a fitness-to-practise inquiry earlier this year over his use and promotion of Liztox, a Korean botulinum toxin product similar to Botox which is used for aesthetic treatments. The fitness-to-practise committee found an allegation proven that Mr Castro had administered Liztox to three clients at his practice in October 2023. READ MORE The committee also found it proven that the Brazilian native had posted one or more posts on his Instagram account between October and November 2023 promoting the fact that he was administering the Botox-like product to clients. In the High Court on Monday, Coru solicitor JP McDowell, of Fieldfisher solicitors, said the committee regarded it as a very serious matter 'and it goes to the issue of public safety'. He said mitigating factors were considered including that Mr Castro had 'considerable insight into the error of his ways'. Confirming the suspension to begin in October, Mr Justice Barniville noted that Mr Castro had made a full admission and was very apologetic for what happened. At the Coru fitness-to-practise committee inquiry last January, the inquiry's chairwoman, Geraldine Feeney, said the committee made its findings on the basis of Mr Castro's own admissions and the uncontroverted evidence of a number of witnesses, including an enforcement officer with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). She said Mr Castro's actions in administering Liztox when it was outside his scope as a physiotherapist also represented breaches of the profession's code of professional conduct and ethics. The committee observed that an expert witness had pointed out that Mr Castro was not legally qualified to administer an unlicensed product which was a 'potentially harmful substance'. Ms Feeney said the physiotherapist had demonstrated extremely poor judgment and brought the profession into disrepute. She acknowledged that Mr Castro had co-operated fully from the outset with an investigation by the HPRA and subsequently the Coru inquiry and had made complete admissions about his conduct which she said had demonstrated insight into his wrongdoing. She noted that the committee was satisfied that there was little or no risk that Mr Castro would repeat the conduct in future based on his evidence, insight and statement of regret. She acknowledged that he had provided the inquiry with several references which described him as a 'conscientious and good' physiotherapist. Ms Feeney said the committee was also impressed by the fact that Mr Castro was undertaking continuous education for the purpose of improving his skills and providing physiotherapy services.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Physiotherapist who gave Botox-like drug to clients suspended for three months
A physiotherapist who administered an unlicensed Botox-like product to a number of clients and was found guilty of poor professional performance has been suspended for three months by the High Court. High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville confirmed the sanction of CORU the regulatory body of health and social care professionals to suspend the Dublin physiotherapist from the Register of Physiotherapists for three months starting in October. Advertisement Physiotherapist, Igor Castro, who operates a practice on O'Connell St in Dublin, appeared before a fitness-to-practise inquiry earlier this year over his use and promotion of Liztox, a Korean botulinum toxin product similar to Botox which is used for aesthetic treatments. The CORU fitness-to-practise committee found an allegation proven that Mr Castro had administered Liztox to three clients at his practice in October 2023. The committee also found it proven that the Brazilian native had posted one or more posts on his Instagram account between October and November 2023 promoting the fact that he was administering the Botox-like product to clients. In the High Court on Monday, CORU solicitor JP McDowell of Fieldfisher solicitors said the committee regarded it as a very serious matter 'and it goes to the issue of public safety.' Advertisement He said mitigating factors were considered including that Mr Castro had ' considerable insight into the error of his ways.' Confirming the suspension to begin in October, Mr Justice David Barniville noted that Mr Castro had made a full admission and was very apologetic for what happened . At the CORU fitness to practise committee inquiry last January the inquiry's chairwoman, Geraldine Feeney, said the committee made its findings on the basis of Mr Castro's own admissions and the uncontroverted evidence of a number of witnesses including an enforcement officer with the Health Products Regulatory Authority. She said Mr Castro's actions in administering Liztox when it was outside his scope as a physiotherapist also represented breaches of the profession's code of professional conduct and ethics. Ms Feeney added: Advertisement The committee observed that an expert witness had pointed out that Mr Castro was not legally qualified to administer an unlicensed product which was a 'potentially harmful substance'. Ireland Elon Musk's X to commence Labour Court appeal agai... Read More Ms Feeney said the physiotherapist had demonstrated extremely poor judgement and brought the profession into disrepute. She acknowledged that Mr Castro had co-operated fully from the outset with an investigation by the HPRA and subsequently the CORU inquiry and had made complete admissions about his conduct which she said had demonstrated insight into his wrongdoing. She noted that the committee was satisfied that there was little or no risk that Mr Castro would repeat the conduct in future based on his evidence, insight, and statement of regret. She acknowledged that he had provided the inquiry with several references which described him as a 'conscientious and good' physiotherapist. Ms Feeney said the committee was also impressed by the fact that Mr Castro was undertaking continuous education for the purpose of improving his skills and providing physiotherapy services.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Hot vs cold: which is better for muscle recovery? New study says this is the answer
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. We're hardly short on ways to boost muscle recovery, whether it's pummeling ourselves with the best massage guns or paying a visit to the local physiotherapist. But a debate has been simmering in the background about hot and cold therapy, and it's this: is heat or ice better for muscle recovery? Or both? Growing up, I've always been taught to apply ice to swollen ankles or sore muscles post-workout, but then the rise of heat therapy came along, and suddenly, you're either jumping into an ice bath, braving an infrared sauna, or flipping between the two in something called 'Contrast Water Therapy.' Now, a study says this is the real answer. Here's what it shows. What is the study? A study published in the Journal of Physiology looked at the effects of hot water and cold water therapy on muscle recovery in 34 participants. They found evidence to suggest that hot water immersion therapy significantly improved recovery compared to cold water. They found evidence to suggest that hot water immersion therapy significantly improved recovery compared to cold water. Researchers simulated a muscle injury in a lab setting, then used several modalities to see which would offer the most improvement. Participants were offered three recovery methods: cold (15 minutes at 12 degrees Celsius / 53.6 Fahrenheit), hot (60 minutes at 42 degrees Celsius / 107.6 Fahrenheit) and room temperature (30 minutes at 12 degrees Celsius / 53.6 Fahrenheit), all performed daily for 10 days. Recovery was monitored using inflammation markers, muscle biopsies and performance testing. While strength improvements were similar in each setting, hot water showed to reduce perceived muscle pain and improve muscle damage markers; cold water didn't improve perceived muscle pain or reduce markers of damage. In short, the experiment found that hot water immersion could be more beneficial than cold water and room temperature immersion recovery methods for muscle regeneration and injury. Benefits of cold water immersion Whether it's wild swimming, cryotherapy, or ice plunges, subjecting the body to temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) has been thought to have multiple benefits for the body, including boosting mood and focus and enhancing recovery. One study published in Biology reported participants felt more alert and attentive and less nervous or distressed after cold water bathing. The American Heart Association (AHA) warns of some risks associated with cold water immersion, and the data surrounding the practice is limited, so always exercise this form of recovery with caution and seek medical advice if you're unsure. Benefits of hot water immersion There are many types of heat therapy, such as infrared saunas, traditional saunas, steam rooms and heat packs. However, it's hot water immersion — think hot tubs or similar — that could be the most effective. A study found that soaking in a hot tub, or soaking in hot water in general, could boost blood flow, immune response and cardiovascular health compared with traditional or infrared saunas when assessing heat methods. This could be in part because the immersion method helps raise core body temperature more effectively, which could be a key stimulus for the responses the study found. Then, there's contrast therapy, or hot and cold therapy (as it's also known). This involves switching between both methods in the same recovery session, allowing you to benefit from the energizing and mood-boosting benefits of cold water, followed by the soothing and relaxing benefits of heat. Here's a little evidence to support the method: a study published in PLoS One found that contrast therapy outperformed passive recovery or rest in reducing muscle pain after workouts in athletes. The next time you're faced with the decision: Hot or cold? Now you know which way to swing. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Forget running and swimming — study finds this sport adds 10 years to your life Forget running — new study shows this exercise can burn body fat as much as cardio Forget 10,000 steps — study reveals the real number of minimum daily steps you should take, according to your age
ABC News
6 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
The 'difficult' phase of returning to life after cancer treatment
In December, Grace Passfield finished four years of immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma. "I was really lucky, I had a really good response to that," says the 37-year-old physiotherapist and mother-of-two from Newcastle/Awabakal. "I had a scan at six weeks after starting the immunotherapy and all the melanoma had stopped growing, and then I had another scan six weeks later and half of it had gone or had shrunk significantly." When the time came to stop the treatment, Grace says many people close to her assumed she would be thrilled to return to "normal life". "Everyone was very excited that I was finishing and saying things like 'it's just so wonderful you're finishing, that's amazing'," she says. "But I was quite terrified because [treatment] felt like a safety net, it felt like a security blanket. "I had my last treatment, and I cried for half of the session." Clinical psychologist Samantha Clutton specialises in oncology support on Kabi Kabi lands on the Sunshine Coast. "It's a really difficult phase," she says. "A lot of people believe that once they sort of recover from the initial shock of diagnosis and get through the physical and psychological challenges of treatment, that they will feel better, that it will all be over. "And yet … particularly those months following the end of treatment, [it] is a very difficult time." Grace says once she realised her mortality, she couldn't "unsee it". Despite her treatment being deemed successful, she battles with constant anxiety that the disease will return. "Any sort of persistent niggles or pain" brings up that worry. "I have contact with my psychologist regularly … when I start to get worried about the future, she talks about how that's just a story and try to focus on what's going on right now." She says regular self-care and exercise are an important part of that. Grace still has routine scans, which look for signs of the disease. "I've had it described [as] it's almost like living with a chronic disease and that you're always monitoring for it," she says. The CEO of Cancer Australia, Professor Dorothy Keefe, says "survivorship care" is important and having a plan for that is key for people. "So that they know what sort of tests should be done, how often, and what to do if there's a crisis," the oncologist and supportive care expert says. "I would always say to my patients, this is something that could potentially come back, but it doesn't always come back. "And although we don't know if you in particular are cured at this point, there's no reason it shouldn't be you, so let's be positive, let's live life." Professor Keefe says it can be helpful to keep a check on anxiety levels. "Are they able to manage their normal activities of daily living?" she says. "Are they socialising? She says everybody's different and will need different levels of support. Ms Clutton says getting professional support can help normalise any challenging feelings. "People will very often feel as if there's something wrong with them because they're not feeling great," she says. "They don't have a renewed sense of purpose necessarily, they're not feeling incredibly grateful all of the time moving forward. "So, helping people to understand that this is a really normal reaction can really help to lift that layer of stress." She says Cancer Council Australia can direct people to either to their service or to other services within hospitals or other cancer organisations that can offer free or no out-of-pocket cost services. Grace, who returned to work as a physiotherapist several years ago, says while she had an amazing support system during her treatment, some of that has waned. "I said to my psychologist, 'How lucky am I? Everyone's so amazing'," she says "And she said, 'that will drop off and people do forget', and that did happen. Ms Clutton says she recommends people "check with their loved ones who have finished cancer treatment and don't assume that they're doing well". "Ask them how they're feeling and really stop and try and listen and reflect an understanding of that person's experience rather than trying to shut them down or tell them that they need to think positively." This is general information only. For personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Forget crunches — a Pilates instructor shares 9 exercises to target your deep core
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. When we talk about deep core muscles, we don't mean a six-pack of rippling muscles. Your deep core refers to a group of muscles sitting deep in the torso that work to stabilize your body. They include the transverse abdominis, diaphragm, and pelvic floor, and they protect your spine as you move. A lot of the exercises you might typically see in ab workouts include sit-ups and crunches, which mainly target the outer abdominal muscles. In this five-minute workout, Pilates instructor and physiotherapist, Lilly Sabri, takes you through nine different exercises that really target your deep core. As a reminder, if you're new to Pilates or you're returning to exercise from an injury or pregnancy, it's always a good idea to check in with a professional before taking on a new exercise regimen. What are the exercises? The exercises included in the workout are as follows. You'll do each exercise for 30 seconds. You won't be taking any breaks, but feel free to press pause should you need. This workout is designed to be used as a warm-up or cool-down to blast your core. Pilates hundreds Pilates toe taps Single-leg stretch Full-body extension Double-leg extensions Flutter kicks Full roll up V-sit with torso twist V-sit with twist and leg lift For all of the exercises mentioned above, it's important to ensure that you're moving with good form, with your lower back pressed into the exercise mat. If you're struggling to do this, focus on engaging your core, thinking about squeezing your belly button into your spine. What are the benefits? Like all good Pilates workouts, these exercises work on the muscles in your midsection, especially those all-important deep core muscles and pelvic floor. While one workout alone won't dramatically change your body, over time, strengthening your core muscles will help protect your spine from injury, and build balance and stability in the body, reducing your risk of falls. If you're postpartum, working on your pelvic floor muscles is especially important, and abdominal exercises like this are a good place to start (once you've got the sign off from your doctor). Childbirth weakens the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, which support organs like the bladder, bowels, and uterus. Weak pelvic floor muscles can lead to issues like incontinence. Far from being an aesthetic goal, a strong core can also help you sit, walk, and run with better posture. Your core is the link between your upper and lower body, so whether you're a runner or a cyclist, a strong core will help improve your athletic performance and endurance. Finally, Pilates helps build functional strength in your body. Functional fitness refers to your ability to do everyday activities, like getting out of bed, lifting objects, or just sitting with good posture at your desk. Your deep core is responsible for a lot of day-to-day movements, so practicing how to engage it is about building a strong foundation for a healthier, pain-free life. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Forget weights — I tried this Pilates roll-up exercise that strengthens your core and boosts your posture The 8 best core workouts to build stronger abs and boost your balance without weights Forget planks — this dumbbell workout tones and strengthens core muscle in just 15 minutes
