Understanding more about Hay Fever.

The incidence of Allergic Rhinitis, more commonly known as Hay Fever, nasal allergies, or ‘sinuses’ is extremely high in the Harrismith area. This is directly linked to all the different grass, pollen and tree types found in our area.

Allergic Rhinitis presents as a collection of symptoms occurring mostly in the nose and eyes, as a response to the inhalation of an allergen that you are allergic to, such as dust, pollen, animal hair, house dust mite, or mold. Interestingly, the trees, commonly implicated are pine, birch, cedar, horse chestnut, willow and poplar, which are found widely in Harrismith. Because the pollen causing the disorder is wind-borne, it occurs more often on hot, dry and windy days, than the wet rainy seasons when the pollen is washed to the ground.

The Role of Physiotherapy in Sinusitis and headaches

Millions of people suffer from a headache from time to time. Physiotherapy aims to restore the body to normal function by employing techniques such as massage, manipulation, mobilization, heat, hydrotherapy and electrotherapy. Headaches are a complex type of pain and physiotherapy can help put a stop to them.

After determining the cause of your headache, a physiotherapist will use many techniques and methods to treat the problem. The physiotherapist will suggest exercises and they will also give advice on correcting posture. This advice may include adjusting your work station or alternating furniture at home.

More than 90% of headaches fall into the following four categories:

• 1.       Tension or stress headache: The pain is often described as tightness or pressure and may feel like a band around the forehead.
• 2.       Migraine headache: These tend to give more intense and pulsating pain, mainly on one side of the head. Sometimes the pain may be preceded by an aura, visual sign, and often other symptoms may accompany the headache, such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
• 3.       Cervicogenic headache: This headache develops from pressure or damage to the neck or spine. They can be caused by incorrect posture, a whiplash injury or from certain diseases.
• 4.       Sinus headache

Spelterapie - meer as net speel?

 Spelterapie word al vir meer as 50 jaar nagevors en benut deur sielkundiges as deel van hul terapie met kinders.  Vir baie ouers is spelterapie opsigself nog ‘n onbekende veld wat dikwels verwar word met praktyke wat kinders leer hoe om te spel.  Spelterapie behels egter iets heeltemal anders en word erken as ‘n suksesvolle sielkundige intervensie met kinders, wat beoefen word deur ‘n opgeleide spelterapeut of sielkundige.