Every day at Melbourne Osteopathy Sports Injury Centre we genuinely relate what we are doing to creating a ‘a healthier life for all’. This phrase is a large part of the vision that everyone at our Centre has agreed to work towards achieving each and every day. The phrase ‘a healthier life for all’ is our promise to our community. It is the drive behind our core values:
- Customer Service Excellence
- Clinical Excellence
- Leadership
Without a vision, we risk a journey without any real purpose or direction, as famously quoted by Helen Keller:
‘The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.’
Our practitioners are focused on everyone’s opportunity to live a better life. We are committed to guiding you on the journey from a place of pain or dysfunction to a fully functioning healthy individual. Working with both the physical and mental body we can assist you in achieving goals that might might range from running a marathon, hiking across a desert or climbing a mountain, to simply playing with your children or grandchildren.
Our promise to the community is that we will never give up on any person who comes in contact with our brand. Melbourne Osteopathy Sports Injury Centre always strives to be the very best in our field and to help you on your journey. Remember that ‘a healthier life for all’ is for all of you.
I recently had a chat with a member of the Melbourne Osteopathy Sports Injury Centre community, 32-year old Daniel Kelly. Dan is a Real Estate agent who is as focused and tenacious about his work as he is about the sport of triathlon, which he discovered just a few years ago. Dan has a great positive attitude in life and has taught us some incredibly valuable lessons here at MOSIC. I would like to share some of Dan’s wisdom.
DAN ON MAKING THE LEAP TO INVOLVE HIMSELF
“It can be an uncomfortable decision but one which often reaps the greatest rewards. I see it as the single biggest hurdle for most people out there, desperate to go somewhere but in reality going nowhere. I wish someone had pushed me into a group or club-based environment years ago when I was stuck going nowhere. I’m actually in better shape now than I was in my 20’s.”
Dan commenced triathlon with one of the largest beginner organisations in Australia and now trains and races for a new triathlon coaching team, Clayton Fettell Racing. The benefits that our patients experience through being involved in various communities can not be understated.
“Getting involved in triathlon is the best thing I ever did for myself, mentally, physically and socially. Meeting new people is what opened my eyes to a new healthy lifestyle, and triathlon really does attract fantastic people. The people are what make triathlon, and life, great in general.”
“I enjoyed following my coaches and seeing my training buddies develop. They’re all different ages and from different backgrounds. It’s a wonderful thing being involved in such a diverse community”.
“When people make a lifestyle change and join a gym and then get bored with the classes, it may be because there is no bigger picture in sight. The gym can become individual, unbalanced and ultimately mundane, which for me was unsustainable. This meant I ended up going nowhere. Tri clubs unknowingly bring a holistic approach physically, mentally and, dare I say it, spiritually. All of which I desperately needed at the time.”
“It takes courage for people to get involved – people shouldn’t think they won’t be good enough as not everyone is there to win. I would love people to have the courage to give themselves the opportunity to do it. You will be nervous at the start but when you finish, you will understand yourself and what is possible a whole lot better. Confidence is everything.“
MOTIVATION
Motivation is all around you in the sport of triathlon. Understanding where others have come from and the improvements they have made to get where they are now can be spine-tingling. Often you come across someone who has shown incredible character in getting through a tough period of their life, who go on to achieve incredible things….and in the process change other people’s lives around them too.
“Being part of a triathlon training squad has been a great benefit for my motivation in life generally.”
The majority of people seem to approach training and races fairly casually and just appreciate that they have found something which provides so much enjoyment and satisfaction. Outsiders might say that you’re obsessed or addicted to triathlon, but it really isn’t a one dimensional hobby.
“Travelling to events together, meeting up for a celebratory drink, I have made some great friends through triathlon and now my involvement is as much about good company as it is about training and racing.”
“The fantastic way this sport shapes you, seamlessly rolls into and improves other aspects of life, is the bottom line at the end of the day.”
“Calling it simply an obsession with sport is but tip of the iceberg.”
THE ROLE OF OSTEOPATHY
Dan has been plagued by a few injuries since his 20’s, mostly related to his time Rowing in his late teens. These are predominantly lower back, referred sciatic nerve pain down the legs and other core strength related issues. His early experiences with triathlon in conjunction with regular Osteopathy treatment has eliminated the pain and discomfort that he once thought would be with him for life.
Being consistent with any training is the key to improvement. Sometimes getting minor niggles sorted out early can help keep you involved in your sport without long breaks due to injury.
“My overall mobility just skyrocketed once I began seeing an Osteopath regularly. It has helped me identify weaknesses, and kept me training, which, in turn helped me drop weight. I don’t have the chronic stiffness and soreness which I had previously experienced.”
“It is so obvious to me now, but I didn’t understand how crucial base fitness and identification of deficiencies were. When you’re young, it’s easy to keep thinking you can get away with it and ignore all the signs. I thought I knew at the time but I didn’t. I got my education the hard (and painful) way. Get a good crew and coach around you. Knowledge is king.”
Dan tells us that his ability to get the most out of triathlon “is not achievable without the guidance of a coach and Osteopath.” And Dan’s secrets to success?
“A good diet, everything in moderation (good, bad and otherwise), and minimum 7-hours sleep. Don’t deprive yourself of anything. It’s all about balance.”
Under a big training block over the last 6-weeks Dan has been up at 5am every morning. He maximises sleep during these tough training periods by “getting in a nana nap, working social commitments and late nights around naps and training.”
“With a healthy attitude, I believe you can find the time for all those things.”
“I have found regular massage also helps recovery immensely. I use this in conjunction with regular Osteopathy to keep myself in check. It just helps identify things early before they lead to an injury. Over time you get good at reading your own body and nipping these things in the bud.”
WANT SOME ADVICE ON GETTING INVOLVED?
Get in contact with the team at Clayton Fettell Racing. They are extremely knowledgeable and run a top-notch triathlon program aimed at educating athletes of all levels.
If you would like to speak to Dr Brendan O’Loughlin or one of our other practitioners about getting in to triathlon, or how Osteopathy might assist with your training, please feel free to ask a question, contact us or email us at: info@
Dr Brendan O’Loughlin is an experienced Osteopath at Melbourne Osteopathy Sports Injury Centre. He is a competitive triathlete and has fantastic experience treating all sorts of sporting injuries.
