How do I know I need a Biokineticist? - Bianca Bunge (Paladin Biokineticists)

• Have you been suffering from lower back pain for the last month, year, or all your life?
• Have you recently sustained a sports injury?
• Have you undergone any Orthopaedic surgery?
• Are you planning on undergoing any Orthopaedic surgery in the near future, and need to do some strengthening and conditioning beforehand?
• Do you suffer from any joint pain or niggles?
• Do you suffer from daily headaches?
• Does your whole body feel tight and tensed?
• Have you recently undergone any Cardiac surgery?
• Are you unhappy with your weight and want to shed a few kilograms?
• Is your posture worrying you?
• Are you an athlete looking to enhance your performance?
• Do you Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes?
• Do you have High Blood pressure or Cholesterol?
• Do you experience knee pain when running and/or squatting?
• When you embark on your ab challenge workout, do you seem to feel every exercise in your lower back instead of where you actually need to feel it, uhm, your abdominals?
• Do you occasionally feel numbness and tingling down your legs?
• Do you suffer from any chronic conditions such as Parkinsons, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome, to mention a few?
• Have you sustained a Neurological or Spinal injury?
• Do you just generally feel tight, tired, tensed and weak

Have you answered yes to any, or even a few of these questions? Well, then chances are you need a Biokineticist!! And we can help you!!

Bianca completed both her BA in Human Movement Science as well as her Honours degree in Biokinetics at the University of Pretoria. 

Bianca has a keen interest in various sports, particularly Netball and Running. She loves working with individuals and athletes of all levels and assisting them in achieving their desired goals. It’s all about the comeback! 

She’s passionate about the human body, movement, and working with different people and has a special interest in Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, in particular knee, hip and back rehabilitation. 

Bianca can be contacted on 082 8297 438 or biancabunge@kinetics.co.za

Diabetes … what’s your type? - Natasha Eekhout (Paladin Biokineticists)

So you have diabetes… let’s not ‘sugar’ coat it. You’ve adjusted your sugar intake and you are changing your overall diet, but what about exercise? Yep these two go hand in hand, whether you are overweight (Type 2) or whether it was genetically passed on (Type 1).

In this day and age, Type 2 diabetes is most common, where our lives are made convenient with take-out meals and video games are more fun than socialising and kicking a ball outside. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to use insulin properly or when the body doesn’t make enough insulin, thus making it hard for your body to metabolise sugar. Type 1 diabetes is usually genetic and occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin.

So how do we fix this problem? Ok yes Type 1 diabetes cannot be cured whereas Type 2 can be prevented and managed completely. Although both Types are very different, they can both be approached the same way with healthy eating, lifestyle changes and most importantly physical activity.

Performing exercise sounds easy enough, however there are a few restrictions.  This is when our biokinetics qualifications intervene. Diabetes is a chronic condition and so with it comes a couple considerations to take into account when combining exercise, namely:

• Hypoglycaemia: sudden drops in blood sugar when physically exerted with symptoms such as shakiness, weakness, sweating, anxiety and visual disturbances
•  Hyperglycaemia: mostly a Type 1 concern, symptoms may include fatigue and increased thirst
• Blood glucose monitoring: nedds to be done before, after and during your physical activity
• Timing: Exercise isn’t recommended during periods of high insulin action as hypoglycaemia may result. Exercise in the morning and evening is dependable on the individual
•  Insulin injecting: avoid injecting into exercising limbs
• Supervision: is important and necessary to reduce risks
• Associated retinopathy: high intensity exercise can result in haemorrhaging and retinal detachment
• Thermoregulation: the body’s ability to regulate temperature is skewed
• Overweight: exercises need to be adjusted as to remove increased pressure on vulnerable joints

With all of these taken into consideration, we at Paladin and Associates Biokineticists have developed a specific program to improve your current diabetic condition, aimed to regulate your sugar levels, manage your weight and decrease your associated symptoms.

Feel free to drop us an email or give us a call, and let’s make life a little sweeter for you!

Natasha completed her BSc Sports Science undergraduate degree at The University of Johannesburg and her BHSc honours degree in Biokinetics at The University of the Witwatersrand. 

She has a passion for a variety of sports in particular soccer, tennis, running and kickboxing which have contributed to a strong interest in orthopaedic rehabilitation and working with athletes. Other areas of focus include diabetic and cardiac rehabilitation, as well as weight loss and a keen enthusiasm for working with children of all ages. 

Natasha can be contacted on 082 476 9727 or natashaeekhout@kinetics.co.za