Susan Ferreira Physiotherapy

Susan Ferreira Physiotherapy Qualified Physiotherapist with a special interest in Sports Physiotherapy, Orthopaedic Physiotherapy and Women's Health Physiotherapy.

For ourselves. For each other. 🩷Happy Women’s Day. xx
09/08/2026

For ourselves. For each other. 🩷
Happy Women’s Day. xx

10 years as a physiotherapist. 👐🏽Looking back, these are a few of the lessons the profession has taught me over the past...
28/07/2026

10 years as a physiotherapist. 👐🏽

Looking back, these are a few of the lessons the profession has taught me over the past decade.

I’m grateful for every patient, colleague and mentor who’s been part of the journey, and excited to keep learning in the years to come.

& community wins 🤎

Ohhhh, I was so happy when I found thispaper - and even more excited to share it with you. 🤎Returning to running after h...
05/07/2026

Ohhhh, I was so happy when I found this
paper - and even more excited to share it with you. 🤎

Returning to running after having a baby is not always straightforward. ♻️ This 2026 study listened to the experiences of 503 postpartum runners, then used focus groups and an advisory group of mothers to co-design a return-to-running guide.

One of its biggest takeaways? There is no single timeline that works for everyone.

The guide includes suggested time ranges, but these are only a starting point. Progress should be shaped by symptoms, healing, current capacity and the realities of daily life: including fatigue, feeding, sleep, contidence anc fear around symptoms returning. 💤🥘😨

As clinicians, we often talk about muscles, strength and loading. This paper is such a valuable reminder that successful rehabilitation is also about helping women feel informed, capable and confident in their bodies again. 🩷

⬅️Swipe through for the key takeaways.
💡 This guide does not replace an individual postpartum assessment.

Reference:
James, M. L., Donnelly, G. M., Crone, D. M., Stiles, V. H., Evans, L., & Moore, I. S. (2026). Your guide to return to running following childbirth: Co-designing a return-to-running guide with postpartum runners. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living.

Returning to running after birth deserves more than a timeline. A safe return asks for more than simply counting the wee...
03/07/2026

Returning to running after birth deserves more than a timeline.

A safe return asks for more than simply counting the weeks postpartum. It should be individual, guided by symptoms and capacity, and consider pelvic health, strength, confidence, previous running history and the realities of life with a baby. 🤎

That is the shift the research is calling for: away from rigid timelines, and towards a return that meets each mother where she is.

A collection of reminders I’ve saved over the past few weeks.Some came from books.Some from conversations.Some from long...
18/06/2026

A collection of reminders I’ve saved over the past few weeks.

Some came from books.
Some from conversations.
Some from long runs.
Some from a mindfulness course I’ve recently completed.
Some from farm walks and coffee.

Reminders about being kinder to ourselves.
And paying a little more attention.

🤎

RESEARCH UPDATE 📚A lot of women expect back and pelvic pain to settle once the baby arrives.For some, it does.For many, ...
11/06/2026

RESEARCH UPDATE 📚

A lot of women expect back and pelvic pain to settle once the baby arrives.
For some, it does.
For many, it doesn’t.

A new 2025 systematic review analysed 37 studies involving 3,769 postpartum participants and found that postnatal exercise interventions were associated with meaningful reductions in lumbopelvic pain and related disability. ✅👏🏽

One of the most interesting findings? Strengthening exercises targeting the trunk muscles were associated with the greatest improvements. 💪

The authors also highlighted something we see often in practice: recovery is about more than muscles. Fear of movement, reduced confidence, and avoidance behaviours can all play a role in ongoing symptoms.

This is why postpartum rehabilitation should be individualised, evidence-based, and focused on helping women feel confident in their bodies again. 🌿

Swipe through for the key takeaways from the paper.

📖 Ruchat et al. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2025.

Ordinary things | The basicsMovement. Sunlight. Real food. Rest. Nature. Laughter. Connection. 🌿
24/05/2026

Ordinary things | The basics

Movement. Sunlight. Real food. Rest. Nature. Laughter. Connection. 🌿

A quiet day.No phones. No talking. No rushing somewhere else.Just breathing, movement, stillness, and noticing.A few thi...
16/05/2026

A quiet day.
No phones. No talking. No rushing somewhere else.

Just breathing, movement, stillness, and noticing.

A few things that stayed with me afterwards:
🌿 kindness
🌿 compassion
🌿 connection
🌿 boundaries

And the reminder that rest is not always something that comes naturally, sometimes it’s something we have to intentionally practise too.

🤎

Recovery after birth is rarely determined by a single date. 🗓️💥 Strength, pelvic health, symptoms, sleep, stress, suppor...
06/05/2026

Recovery after birth is rarely determined by a single date. 🗓️💥

Strength, pelvic health, symptoms, sleep, stress, support systems, healing, and confidence can all influence readiness to return to running.

Some women need more time.
Some may safely progress earlier.

Evidence continues to move toward more individualised, criteria-based return to running. 🏃‍♀️🤍

💡 This post is general education only and not individual medical advice. Return timelines should always consider symptoms, healing, training history, delivery type, and clinical assessment.



Alderslade Physiotherapy

movement & mindfulness 🤎
05/05/2026

movement & mindfulness 🤎

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Highlands Farm
Patensie
6335

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Monday 10:00 - 13:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 13:00
Wednesday 14:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 13:00

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