May 22nd, 2013

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Options

Plantar fasciitis is extremely common affecting around 10% of the adult population at some time in life. Commonly plantar fasciitis is associated with heel spurs however on x-ray only 50% of patients with plantar fasciitis have evidence of calcification through the heel (DiMarcangelo, 1997).

Commonly plantar fasciitis symptoms start as an awareness or ache in the morning. Relief treatment can be quite simple at this time however if it is left, these symptoms will often slowly progress to pain that significantly impacts quality of life.

When targeting plantar fasciitis symptoms your practitioner will guide you through the best strategy or combination of strategies to help relieve and control your individual pain. At Body Leadership Australia we recommend a multimodal approach utilising a number of different treatment options.

Soft Tissue Release
Tightness of the muscles surrounding the foot have been found to pull hard enough on the bones that they alter the natural shape of the foot and ankle often leading to plantar fasciitis pain. Accordingly, release techniques and stretching of the lower limb muscles can have an effect on decreasing symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis.

Stretching
Strategic stretching of the calf muscles and Achilles tendon or on the plantar fascia itself can decrease pain associated with plantar fasciitis. You should get a program tailored to your individual needs.

Orthotics
Orthotics can help to relieve the effects of plantar fasciitis. Changing the weight load through the foot can allow the inflammatory response to settle by supporting the foot appropriately.

Night Splints (Strassburg Sock)
The use of a night splint can reduce recovery time compared to the same protocol utilising standing stretches through the calf.

Cortisone
Cortisone was always a last resort due to potential complications and pain post injection. Now with ultrasound guidance outcomes have improved and we see them used more effectively. Cortisone options can be discussed with your health care professional.

Surgery
A number of studies found 75% to 95% of patients had long term improvement as measured by various criteria. Up to 27% of patients still had significant pain, up to 20% had some activity restriction, and up to 12% had moderate pain that impaired function (Brown et al., 1999; Davies et al., 1999; Fishco et al., 2000). Surgical options are always a last resort.

Once your pain is treated and controlled it is important to understand your individual factors that predispose you to plantar fasciitis which can be explained by your physiotherapist. You can then be taught a home program to release tension, particularly through the calf as well as the foot to nip problems in the bud. This can also be optimised using home exercises to improve strength for better control of your biomechanics long term.

If you, your friend or family member suffer from plantar fasciitis please do not hesitate to contact one of our friendly Brisbane sports physiotherapists on 07 3847 8040. Our Brisbane sports physios can also provide treatment from our Brisbane Sports Physiotherapy practice.

May 21st, 2013

Metal Fabrication – History and Use in Mining Industry

Metal fabrication began in the earliest civilizations when the metals gold, mercury, silver, tin, iron, lead, and copper were discovered. These metals were worked by early artisans into decorative pieces, religious iconography, and jewelry. Items of a practical nature were forged from metal including coinage, tools, and weapons. Using heat and tools, metalworkers began to make functional objects and the industry developed through the years advancing and gaining value from society.

As an industrialised society, the world cannot live without metal; it is essential to almost every industry from mining and heavy industry to agriculture and medical equipment.

Specialist engineers and manufacturers fabricate metal and metal alloys, which are made from a combination of different metals for a staggering number of uses. The pivotal role of metal has been responsible for significant advances in technology, construction, transport, and agri-science. Metal has strength; it is very low maintenance and will last a lifetime and more. Specialist metal fabrication companies are made up of a group of skilled people who all have a role in the process of turning metal into supports for a building, heavy duty mining equipment or boilers and tanks to name a few.

Metal fabrication is a series of processes used to manufacture an object from metal. The specialised equipment involved includes laser cutting machinery, turret punches, machine centers, rollers, welding machinery, water jets, and metal shears. The metals most commonly used for fabrication are aluminium, stainless steel, and carbon steel, which is in the form of sheets, tubing and bars. Most metal objects start life as sheet metal in varying thicknesses depending on the application. Thicker sheets are known as metal plate.

The process starts with the design and then the fabrication begins with the metal sheet being sheared, laser cut or punched into shapes. Once the required basic shape is achieved, the object goes next to the press brake machine to form any bends a process known as forming. Dies are used in the press brake to make the correct accurate shape according to the design plans. The product may be finished at this stage or will be just one component in a series that requires moving on to the next process, which is welding.

Welding is a skilled practice and the artistry of the welder is to take the component parts shaped and formed previously and weld all the pieces together to make the final product in accordance with the design. This final assembly is critical and it is up to the welder to use the welding technique necessary for the job in hand.

Metal fabrication is essential to heavy industry such as mining. The manufacturing of support equipment, skids, conveyor belts, tanks, crushers, drill rigs and hydraulic lifting equipment through to pipe work are all the result of the metal fabrication process. In the mining industry there are very often special requests for one off pieces of equipment that are needed in a hurry and the metal fabrication business that can design and manufacture the product to implementation on site is the company that has the advantage. Metal fabricators may also be called upon to repair equipment or weld a broken object. Mining relies upon rugged, tough machinery often needing custom manufacturing or enhancements making metal fabricators an essential support service to the industry.

Reputable metal fabricators have the ability to design high quality, complex products with precision and manufacture them to full compliance with the specification, which is essential to mining companies who need to be operational at all times. Other metal fabrications for the mining industry include chutes, bins, screen stands, safety guards, stairs, catwalks, platforms and wear plates.

Metal is an essential material for mankind and industry and has the ability to be recycled over and over again which makes it a valuable resource for the global environment. The long working life of all metal fabrications due to its durability means once your product is manufactured, you will not have to worry about it, as it is highly unlikely it will need your attention again.

The mining industry is reliant upon the equipment and the expertise of metal fabricators not only for mine construction but also for ongoing support and maintenance in such rugged environments. For metal fabrication Mackay or metal repairs Mackay, contact 3D Engineering Mackay today.

May 19th, 2013

Logo Design Brisbane

When it comes to graphic design, and working with professional graphic designers Brisbane, one of the many techniques that are available to designers is the grid system. Not only does it give a basic premise and starting point for the design work and layout of a page, it is also a simple system that designers turn to, when they are creating content for any number of mediums, from online site design, to print layouts.

Content organisation -
The grid system used by Brisbane graphic designers is a method of laying out content, in order to organise that content in a certain way. By using margins, lines, columns, rows, and grids, the system allows designers to properly lay things out on a page, and lay them out in the most precise manner. Depending on the detail of the site, the content that is being laid out, and the manner in which it is to be seen by the end viewer, one grid, or a combination of grids can be used through all the pages on a site, in order to keep a uniform style, and to lay out the information and content in a certain manner to the end viewer of the site. Once the end result is displayed on screen (or in a magazine, newspaper, etc), the grid lines are no longer seen, but you can still see the consistent pattern if you look through all content, on all pages.

Types of grids and uses -
When graphic designers Brisbane choose the grid layout for site content, there is really no limit as to how many grids can or should be used, how they should be laid out, or how they should be created. It is simply used as a guide, to help lay out content, and give the pages some uniformity throughout. There is a common layout when it comes to grids, and some of the modifications or additions that can be made include:
- Equally sized 2, 3, or 4 column grids, which have a header at the top of the page, and full page grid of squares.
- Varied line, border, and width columns can be created using this basic pattern.
- Changes of page sises which allow for unique page designs, and content layout.
Using the grid system is a great way to lay out any page; it is a simple way to see all the content that will be used on the page, and how it will look once you are finished. Using the grids also allows designers to see whether everything fits together on the pages, how it looks, and whether changes should be made, prior to actually adding content to the sites.

Break out of grids -
Graphic designers Brisbane use the grid as a premise for design, and content layout; but, once the grid is established, and all content has been laid out, it is up to different designers how they are going to, if they are going to, and at which points in the page they are going to break out of the grid. Simple because designers break out of the traditional “grid”, does not mean that the entire system is ignored by designers; as a matter of fact, they use the grid system in many aspects of design and page layout.

Instead of throwing out the grid system, designers may choose to cross over from one grid to the next on the page layout, they choose to extend certain elements to different areas on the grid, possibly extend page breaks to create continual content, and so forth. By breaking out of the grid, designers are able to create a unique layout, they are able to create distinct content, and they are able to design a page and content that is best suited for the client that they are creating that content for.

Like any other guide or premise, Logo design Brisbane use the traditional grid system as a starting point for laying out content. It creates uniformity on a page, allows them to see what looks best where, and eventually it allows them to create, modify, and recreate the grid, in order to design a truly unique site, and one that is the best possible layout for the client they are working with.