Hand Therapy Week – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Main Principles for Strength Exercise and Bone Mineral Density
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01/06/2026
Main Principles for Strength Exercise and Bone Mineral Density
Main Principles for Strength Exercise and Bone Mineral Density
If you have been diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis, you may have been told to “do some strength exercise”, but not all strength exercise is created equal when it comes to bone health. I want to share the evidence behind why individualised, progressive strength training is the most effective and safest intervention to improve bone mineral density (BMD), reduce fracture risk, and protect your long-term health.
Ageing is often associated with declining muscle mass, reduced mobility, and increased risk of chronic disease. But these outcomes are not inevitable. Strength training—also known as resistance training—is one of the most effective, evidence-based strategies older adults can use to maintain independence, improve health, and enhance quality of life.
Nick Wison recently travelled to Italy with the Australian Winter Paralympic team. He was the health performance lead for the Para-Nordic skiing group in the small mountain village of Predazzo.
Para-Nordic is a combination of 2 separate events – cross-country skiing and biathlon. The cross-country skiing events cover various distances with a sprint, middle, and long-distance event, and the biathlon combines target shooting with cross-country skiing.
Injuries to the thumb can have a surprisingly large impact on daily function. One of the most common thumb ligament injuries is Skier’s thumb, a condition affecting the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb’s metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. This ligament plays a crucial role in grip strength and pinch stability, meaning an injury can significantly affect tasks such as opening jars, writing, or holding ski poles.
Pulley injuries in rock climbers: What are pulley injuries and what to do about it?
Injuries to the flexor tendon pulleys in the fingers are common amongst rock climbers. Climbing is one of the only activities that puts an incredible amount of strain on these structures! If you’ve injured your finger climbing, there is a strong chance it could be a pulley injury.
These are injuries to the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint (middle joint) of the finger. They happen quite often in sport where you go to catch the ball and it hyperextends your finger and dislocates, or from diving to the ground for a catch or tackle and bend your finger back.
Tasmania’s long surgical waitlists and limited access to conservative care highlight the need for evidence-based physiotherapy. But the insights from my research extend far beyond our island. One of my PhD studies was awarded the 2025 Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) Rehabilitation Discussion Group Paper of the Year, showing that regional research can have global impact.
Shoulder pain can be frustrating—whether it’s a dull ache while reaching overhead, stiffness that limits daily activities, or discomfort that seems to appear without injury. The good news? For most non-traumatic shoulder pain, physiotherapy is not only effective, it’s often the best place to start.