Briony Gildenhuys Physiotherapy

04/09/2026

29/08/2026

Sugar Free September........Why bother?

We often think about sugar in terms of weight, diabetes and dental health — but there’s another reason to pay attention to how much we consume.

A diet high in added sugars can contribute to low-grade inflammation and metabolic stress in the body. And when the nervous system is already sensitised or dysregulated, these inflammatory processes may add to the overall “load” on the system.

For people living with chronic pain or neurological dysfunction, this matters:
- Inflammation can influence how the nervous system processes information.
- A persistently activated inflammatory system can contribute to pain sensitivity.
- Metabolic fluctuations can affect energy, mood and nervous-system regulation.

This doesn't mean that sugar is the cause of someone's pain or neurological symptoms — far from it.

Rather, reducing excessive added sugar is one small way of reducing the overall load on an already hard-working system.

And it doesn't have to mean “no sugar ever.”
It's about less, not perfect. 🌱

Small changes can make a difference.

A local organisation is offering their resources for free this September to help people to take the difficult first step. To get access to all the resources and support join the whatsapp group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GLdS44JzbT39S4EUwETaF4?s=cl&p=i&mlu=4

23/08/2026

Here's some of their fun memories 💜

23/08/2026

As we headed into the second half of the year, Block 4 of students flew by in a whirlwind. What a great four weeks of care and rehabilitation! Wits Physiotherapy Department

09/08/2026

It doesn't matter where you start and it doesn't matter what you do. What matters is that it happens 💜

23/07/2026

Our second 'unseen' neurological disorder that we are highlighting is Dysautonomia.

Most of us never think about our heart beating, our blood pressure adjusting when we stand up, our temperature staying steady, or our digestion quietly doing its job.

Our autonomic nervous system manages these functions automatically—every second of every day.

For people living with dysautonomia, the "autopilot" doesn't work as it should.

Something as simple as standing up, taking a shower, walking around the supermarket, or being out in the heat can cause dizziness, racing heartbeats, exhaustion, nausea, brain fog, or even fainting.

The hardest part?

Many people look completely well.

Others may only see someone cancelling plans, needing to sit down frequently, or struggling to keep up. They don't see the enormous effort it takes just to get through an ordinary day.

Living with dysautonomia often means carefully planning energy, staying hydrated, managing symptoms, and constantly adapting to what the nervous system will allow that day.

Like many neurological conditions, dysautonomia is largely invisible—but its impact is very real.

A little understanding can make an enormous difference.

Not every disability can be seen. But unseen doesn't mean unreal.

24/06/2026

A few more memories of an awesome day!

23/06/2026

What an amazing day this was! So much fun had by all and yet again a reminder that there is so much more opportunity out there than we may realise.
Thank you again to ASF, Rebel 4x4 and all involved for the amazing effort put into making events like this possible!
Adaptive Sports Fund Rebel4x4

08/06/2026

After starting the weekend with a beautiful breathwork session we then spent Sunday morning on a Forest Bathing Walk with Jen from Naturally Grounded. Forest Bathing is the direct translation of the Japanese word Shinrin-yoku, from which the current concept of Forest Bathing originated. It encapsulates the essence of total immersion in nature with all of your being and all of your senses. Luckily in the cool winters morning there was no bathing in water (!) but an awesome opportunity to experience the natural world with our whole selves. A chance to return to nature where we, and our nervous systems, belong 💚🧘‍♀️🌳

05/06/2026

What better to do on the coldest day of the year so far than snuggle under our blankets, with the sun warming us through the windows, as we learned about nervous system regulation through the amazing power of breathing and practised such simple yet impactful techniques.
Thank you so much to Niki Seberini for an awesome Breathwork session 🩵