Category: Uncategorized

Although some injuries are inevitable such as a collision or a fall, others may be prevented by improving your body’s strength and co-ordination as well as by improving your technique. Lower limb injuries are the most common followed by upper limb and spinal injuries. The risk of getting injured can be lowered by the right […]

The days are shorter. The temperatures are colder. That’s right, it’s winter… again. This is the time when it can be easy to give in to the weather and lose our great exercise habits. It can be tough to find the will to get out from under the cozy covers in the morning or find […]

As the year winds down with Christmas dinners and end of year parties planned, it can be natural to indulge a little. Your social calendar may take over your exercise and even your work schedule but don’t fear, there are other ways to burn some calories this festive season. Don’t let the cholesterol and high […]

The Achilles is an important tendon in the lower leg, attaching the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is the biggest and strongest tendon of the body and as such can be very painful and debilitating when injured. One of the most common injuries to occur in the Achilles is a tendinopathy. A tendinopathy […]

Struggling to get out of bed in the morning? The winter season may be great for Christmas parties, drinking hot chocolate and cosying up indoors but as those living with arthritis will tell you, it is also the season of joint aches, pains and stiffness. Getting out of bed in the mornings may get harder […]

Your upper back, also known as your thoracic spine, is an area that often becomes tight due to a modern lifestyle and certain sports. Although this area may not be painful itself, it can lead to pain in other areas such as the lower back, neck, shoulders and even the elbows. Even your breathing can […]

It can be difficult decide when to apply heat and when to apply ice to an injury or painful area. Certain injuries are usually more responsive to one than the other. Although research is still ongoing over the effectiveness of each, there have been some basic guidelines for their application which should be useful to […]

The commute between work and home can be a long stretch for some. Most of us spend this time reading from our phones, others think or plan while the odd person uses this time for quick nap. Many of these postures can be strenuous on the neck and shoulders especially when carrying a heavy bag […]

Ankle sprains are very common sporting injuries, especially when that sport involves jumping, pivoting and twisting. Ankle sprains also occur throughout day to day life when walking on uneven surfaces, missing a step or tripping. The most common type of ankle sprain occurs when the foot rolls in underneath the leg causing tearing or strain […]

Sometimes scars are visible after an injury and can clearly be seen with the naked eye such as with burn wounds or cuts from surgery. Other times scars cannot be seen but they are still there such as with pulling your hamstring muscle or spraining your ankle; some of the fibres can be torn but […]

Persistent knee pain in the middle aged person frequently results in a visit to the doctor. This grumpy knee pain often gradually builds and starts to impact on daily activity and exercise. Commonly, a person with persistent knee pain above the age of 35 years can be met with the terms: ‘middle aged knee’ or ‘degenerative knee […]

One of the first things that most of us are inclined to do when we have a bout of back pain is to rest. Although rest is needed to allow the back time to recover, it can also have undesirable effects which may prolong the recovery period. Active rest is the way forward with many […]

We’ve found this brilliant article from BBC Sports for you about exercising during and after pregnancy. It shows that the advice re: returning to exercise post natally is so varied and often unique to the individual. The article highlights the importance of not returning to exercise too soon but demonstrates that there are no clear […]

Our lives are so busy that often we don’t allow ourselves enough time to move during the day. Here are some quick and easy exercises that can be done at your desk to prevent muscle tension and pain. Try to do them regularly during the day. 1 BACK ROTATION Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat each […]

Improving your game of golf can be as easy as just adding a few dynamic stretches to your warm-up routine. Having a proper warm-up energises your muscles, giving them more power and flexibility and helps prevents injuries. Arrive a few minutes earlier to get your body and mind ready for the game. Below are a […]

Acute torticollis or wry neck is a term used for a stiff and painful neck that can feel “locked”. The neck can become stuck at an odd angle and any attempt to move the neck towards the neutral position will result in sharp pain, mostly on one side of the neck. It can be quite […]

Wearing the correct running shoes can make a significant difference to your running, not only in your technique but in your enjoyment of the sport. It provides protection and support and may help prevent certain types of injuries, keeping you on the road. Here are a few reasons why it is important to wear the […]

Flying can be strenuous on the lower back because of the long hours sitting in a cramped space and in a seat which is not very supportive for your lower back. Here are a few tips and exercises to get you through your flight. Airport You could ask your doctor or physio for a medical […]

Fascia or myofascia is a form of connective tissue that is very tough and strong whilst also being extremely flexible. It is a lining that encases almost every muscle fibre and spans the entire body. It’s main function is to help transmit tensile forces in the body. If the fascia is tight, it may lead […]

Catherine Fitzgerald our specialist Physio/Workstation Assessor was involved in the Health and Safety Day at one of our clients The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. She was giving advice on how to sit during the working day to avoid aches and pains, posture advice and specific exercises to prevent pain using a mock up […]

Typically, there will be problems with the biomechanics of the lower limb. Invariably with runners. dynamic muscle control (control of movement patterns) around the hip and pelvic girdle is an issue, and often the eccentric control (where muscles are required to lengthen under loading or tension) of the quadriceps group also. This manifests as what […]

Tibialis posterior dysfunction Tibialis posterior is a tendon controlling the medial (inside) arch of the foot. When this is weak or injured it can result in a collapse or lowering of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, commonly called a ‘flatfoot’ deformity. Injury to the tendon can occur by trauma, for example a direct blow […]

We all know that keeping fit and healthy is an important part of pregnancy and post natally, but it can be tough particularly if you suffer any pelvic girdle pain or had a difficult birth. Lisa Few, a local physiotherapist who specialises in women’s health, has helped hundreds of women both ante and post natally […]

(Reuters Health) – Physical therapy may work as well as surgery for easing symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis, a common cause of nerve damage and lower back pain among older people, a study suggests. “Surgery is a riskier procedure, with about a 15 percent complication rate, and half of those are life-threatening,” said Dr. Anthony […]