The Athlete's Guild

🌏 World Spine Day 2026 - Spine Health For Life 🦴

2.1 million Australian men are living with back problems. That's around 1 in 6 men, making back problems one the most common long-term health conditions affecting Australian males.

Back pain and problems are the second leading cause of disease burden in Australian men, while 16% of men live with long-term back problems.

These aren't just statistics. Behind them are men whose back problems may affect their ability to work, train, remain active and enjoy everyday life.

For tradies, athletes, office workers and men approaching retirement, spinal health isn't simply about avoiding back pain. It's about preserving the strength, mobility and physical capacity to keep doing the things that matter.

This year's World Spine Day theme, Spine Health for Life, is a reminder that looking after your spine is a lifelong investment.

💪 Build strength and physical resilience.
🚶 Keep moving and reduce prolonged inactivity.
🤸 Maintain mobility through regular, varied movement.
⚖️ Balance physical demands with adequate recovery.
🩺 Seek appropriate care when symptoms persist or interfere with daily activities.

Your spine supports you through every stage of life. What are you doing to support it?

Stay strong. Stay mobile. Keep moving.

Today, on International Allied Health Professions Day, we recognise the diverse professionals supporting Australians across hospitals, clinics, sporting environments and communities.

Yet some clinical contributions remain less widely recognised.

Remedial massage therapy is one of them.

Beyond traditional musculoskeletal care, appropriately qualified practitioners contribute to multidisciplinary healthcare through specialised services:

- Oncology: Adapted massage and symptom management during cancer treatment and recovery.
- Lymphoedema: Manual lymphatic drainage, compression and decongestive therapy.
- Orthopaedics: Postoperative rehabilitation, pain and mobility support.
- Neurology: Supportive care for muscular discomfort and movement limitations.
- Scar therapy: Managing tissue restrictions following surgery, trauma and radiation.
- Sports medicine: Supporting injury recovery alongside physiotherapists and exercise physiologists.

At The Athlete's Guild, we believe better healthcare comes from recognising complementary expertise and working collaboratively across professions.

Allied health is for everyone, everywhere. So too should be recognition of those contributing to better patient outcomes.

Arthritis is often associated with ageing, but some forms disproportionately affect men, including those who are otherwise fit, healthy and active.

Gout is one of them. 3 in 4 Australians living with gout are men.

A painful form of inflammatory arthritis, gout places a significant burden on Australian men's health, mobility and quality of life.

🇦🇺 The Australian facts:
🔹 Men are 2.6 times more likely to have gout than women.
🔹 Men are 3.7 times more likely to be hospitalised for gout than women.
🔹 Risk increases with age, but gout can affect men well before retirement.

Gout is more than a painful big toe.

It develops when urate crystals accumulate in joints, triggering sudden and often debilitating inflammation. While the big toe is commonly affected, gout can also involve the ankles, knees, wrists and elbows.

Repeated attacks can interfere with work, exercise, sleep and everyday mobility. Without appropriate management, gout can lead to permanent joint damage.

Despite its reputation as a condition of overindulgence, gout isn't simply about diet or alcohol. Genetics, kidney function, metabolic health and certain medications all influence risk.

The good news? Gout is one of the most treatable forms of inflammatory arthritis.

Early diagnosis, appropriate urate-lowering treatment and management of contributing risk factors can prevent recurrent attacks and protect long-term joint health.

This World Arthritis Day, we're encouraging men to take unexplained joint pain, swelling and inflammation seriously.

Joint pain shouldn't simply be accepted or pushed through. Understanding the cause is the first step towards managing it.

A personal update from me.

After a lot of consideration, I’ve decided to step away from clinical practice for the remainder of 2026.

There are a few reasons behind the decision. My dad has recently completed chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma, and I want to have the time and flexibility to support him and my family through the next stage of his recovery.

I also have some significant commitments outside the clinic. I’ll be devoting more time to growing Evosys and supporting my software clients, while completing the remaining clinical placement requirements for my Diploma of Nutrition.

While I’m stepping away from hands-on clinical practice, I’m not stepping away from health, sport or the community.

I’ll continue coaching triathlon and developing athletes, supporting major local sporting events, continuing my men’s health advocacy, and maintaining an active role with local lymphoedema and prostate cancer support groups.

It has been incredibly rewarding to work with so many people through The Athlete’s Guild and Hoys Allied Health & Wellness, and I’m grateful to every client who has trusted me with their care.

For now, taking some time away from clinical practice feels like the right decision for me and my family.

This is a pause, not a goodbye. I look forward to returning to clinical practice refreshed in 2027.

Thank you for all the support.

Trent
The Athlete’s Guild

Open-water confidence starts with time in the water. 🌊

Join CHTC Openwater Swim Coaching at Jetty Beach for a free 18-week block focused on improving technique, building confidence and developing the skills to swim smarter in race conditions.

📍 Jetty Beach
🗓 Mondays, 14 September–25 January
⏰ 6:30–7:15am
💥 Free to attend

Bring your swimwear, goggles, swim cap, towel and an optional wetsuit.

Sessions will be coached by Adrian Hawke and are open to swimmers looking to become more comfortable, capable and confident in open water.

🌧️ Sessions are cancelled in storms, heavy rain or poor water quality.

Build confidence. Swim smarter. Race stronger.

Duchenne is often spoken about through childhood, mobility and disease progression.

But boys with Duchenne grow into men, and their healthcare needs grow with them.

Recent research involving adults with muscular dystrophy, most with DMD, found 60% had never discussed sexual health with a clinician. Participants also described barriers around privacy, relationships, fertility and assumptions about sexual or romantic interest.

One participant put it simply:

“I would have said something, but my parents were there.”

Lack of private, confidential time with healthcare providers was raised repeatedly, highlighting gaps in the transition from childhood to adult care.

Adults with DMD are living longer. Their care needs to move beyond puberty too.

That means seeing the whole man: his health, independence, identity, relationships, sexuality, fertility, mental wellbeing and quality of life.

Locally, Trent Renshaw provides clinical musculoskeletal and men’s health care through Hoys Allied Health & Wellness at Hoysfit, working alongside physiotherapists and exercise physiologists as part of a multidisciplinary approach to care.

His work focuses on musculoskeletal pain, mobility restrictions, pelvic health concerns, sexual function and soft-tissue issues, with treatment aimed at improving comfort, movement, function and quality of life.

For men living with DMD, this care puts privacy, autonomy and adult health needs at the centre.

This Duchenne Awareness Day, give adults with DMD a voice.

For broader support, advocacy, education and research, Duchenne Australia plays an important role in supporting the Duchenne community nationally.

See the man. Not just the diagnosis.

Dad might be the boss… but even the boss needs a bit of maintenance. 😏

It’s Father’s Day, but it’s not too late to book Dad in for a remedial massage and give him some overdue recovery.

Tight shoulders, sore back or just ready for a reset? Sort him out today.

Jump online and book now via the link in bio, or:
https://theathletesguild.com.au/bookings?utm_campaign=fathers_day

One week ago today at the Coffs Harbour Running Festival.

Looking back, it was one of those mornings that reminded me why local events like this matter so much. A chance to race hard, test yourself, share the course with familiar faces and be part of something much bigger than the result itself.

A huge thank you to and for continuing to build such a strong event for our community, and to every volunteer who gave their time and energy to make the day possible.

Plenty to take from this one, plenty to build on, and already looking forward to lining up again in 2027!

📸 South Breakwall:
📸 Finish line:

Run stronger this spring. 🏃‍♂️

Join us for FREE run coaching sessions at Fitzroy Oval, open to all runners and triathletes, of all abilities.

📍 Fitzroy Oval
📅 Every Wednesday, 2 September–21 October
⏰ 6:00–7:00am
🫶 All welcome

Each session includes a mix of intervals, technique, drills and strength, finishing with a stretch and optional coffee at Palate & Ply.

Bring your run gear, yoga mat and water bottle.

🌧️ If it rains, we’ll adapt the session to strength and stretching under the spectator shelter.

Coached by Trent Renshaw, AusTriathlon Foundation Coach, through The Athlete's Guild × Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club.

Build fitness. Run stronger. Together.

The Athlete's Guild

🏁 2026–2027 Tri Season Coaching is ON! 🏁

Ready to unlock your triathlon potential? Whether you’re chasing a PB, building confidence for your next race or simply want to train with a great crew, Coffs Tri Club coaching is back for another season 💪

📍 Run Coaching — Fitzroy Oval
🕕 Wednesdays 6:00 AM (Sep–Oct)
Sharpen your speed, improve technique and build strength with a mix of intervals, drills and race-focused running.

📍 Cycle/Run Bricks — Toormina Velodrome
🕖 Selected Sundays 7:00 AM (Nov–Dec)
Build bike-run endurance, sharpen your transitions and practise the skills that matter on race day.

📍 Swim/Run Bricks — Jetty Beach
🕖 Selected Sundays 7:00 AM (Jan)
Hit the water then the pavement and lock in that swim-to-run race rhythm.

📍 Open Water Coaching — Jetty Beach
🕡 Wednesdays 6:30 AM (Feb)
Build open-water confidence, improve technique and develop the skills to swim smarter in race conditions.

📍 Cycle Coaching — Enterprise Park
🕕 Wednesdays 6:00 AM (Mar–Apr)
Build bike endurance and practise the skills, pacing and race-day ex*****on that matter when it counts.

🔥 Plus race-orientation sessions, club races and plenty of opportunities to put it all into practice throughout the season.

Whether you’re an experienced racer or just tri-curious, come along, build consistency and train with a crew who love swim-bike-run as much as you do.

Let’s make 2026–2027 your strongest season yet! 🌊🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️

👉 Explore the full coaching program, live calendar and how to get involved:
https://theathletesguild.com.au/services/coaching/

The Athlete's Guild