By Allison Lerette, Physiotherapist
I did the maths before writing this and realised I’ve been practising physio in New Zealand for eighteen whole months. (Darren might argue it’s closer to 12, given how much leave I’ve taken – but what can I say? You live in a beautiful country that’s begging to be explored.)
Before Auckland, most of my working years were in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Same job, same anatomy – but the injuries that come through the door are surprisingly different. Here’s what I’ve noticed so far.
Kiwis stay active all year round
The biggest difference is how many activity-related injuries I see here – running, hiking, tramping, you name it. In Canada, activity is far more seasonal. Running injuries spike in spring and autumn, then drop off in winter (too cold) and summer (too hot).
What I saw a lot of back home was the opposite problem: people stuck indoors for months on end, followed by a wave of overuse injuries when the snow finally melted and everyone went from the couch to 10 km overnight.
That lesson travels, though. It’s often not the activity itself that gets people into trouble – it’s a sudden jump in how much of it they do. Kiwis aren’t immune. I see the same pattern after the Christmas break, or when someone signs up for a half marathon with eight weeks to go. Build up gradually and your body usually keeps up.
No snow shovels, no black ice
Every Canadian winter brought a steady stream of back injuries from shovelling snow – a job you should all be very grateful you never have to think about. Not just for your back, but for the sheer annoyance of it.
I’d also see at least five patients each winter who had slipped on ice. I’m happy to report I haven’t seen a single one here.
I had to learn netball and cricket on the job
I had never seen netball or cricket in my life. Neither was part of school PE back home, so I’d only ever heard whispers of either.
One of my first patients in New Zealand tried to explain their “bowling” injury, and I genuinely couldn’t work out how anyone got that hurt at ten-pin. Don’t worry – I’ve done my research, and I now know the difference in the arm action.
On the flip side, I haven’t treated a single ice hockey or figure skating injury since arriving. If you’re one of the few Kiwis who loves an ice sport, I’ve got you.
Long-haul bodies
I used to think a five-hour flight was a long time to sit still. Turns out that was a privilege I didn’t know I had. Living at the bottom of the world means 10-plus hours in the air is just part of life, and I’ve seen a surprising number of travel-related niggles:
Stiff, sore knees from being bent at the same 90° angle for half a day
Neck pain from sleeping in economy at whatever angle keeps your head off a stranger’s shoulder
Back pain from sitting for 10+ hours, then hoisting a carry-on bag that is definitely within the 7 kg limit into the overhead locker
A few things that help: grab an aisle seat if you can, get up for a walk every hour or two, do some ankle pumps and calf raises while you’re seated, and keep your bag close to your body when you lift it down.
Come and say hello
If any of this sounds familiar – for you or someone you know – come and see us. I love the variety of treating all sorts of injuries, but I have a special interest in lower-limb injuries (ankle, knee and hip), particularly helping people keep doing the activities they love.
