Josephine Lawson Physiotherapy Clinic - Autumn 2005 Newsletter - Issue No. 9

Introducing Our New Staff Members

  Jason Flitter - has joined our team of physiotherapists. Jason has locumed for the clinic on a number of occasions & we are pleased   to now have him with us on a full-time basis.

  Claire Litherland - qualified from the London College of Massage & visits the clinic on Monday 9.00am - 5.00pm as a Sports Massage   Therapist.

  ...and a warm welcome back to Darryl Reid who has just returned from The World Rowing Championships in Japan, where he worked   his magic on the New Zealand rowing team. With 4 gold medals from 5 crews for the New Zealand team those hands of Darryl's   obviously did the job. It's great to have a Josephine Lawson Physio at the leading edge of world rowing.

Football Rules

  From the premiership to five-a-side, to just kicking a ball around the park with the kids on the   weekend, the football season is well underway. As one of Britain's most popular sports, it is a   common cause of lower limb injuries. These can be roughly divided into overuse injuries and   traumatic injuries.

  As a running sport, the most common overuse injuries are tendinopathies (especially Achilles)   and muscle strains. The sudden sprinting and fast directional changes involved in football put   the player at a greater risk of hamstring and groin strains. Muscle strains are more likely to   occur when the muscle is cold (such as at the start of each half) or fatigued (towards the end of   the match).

  Traumatic injuries sustained playing football typically result from twisting and sudden changes in direction, or a tackle involving another   player. The most common traumatic injuries result in damage to the ankle and knee ligaments and/or cartilage.

  Players can significantly reduce their risk of injuries, as well as improve their performance, by warming up properly. An adequate   warmup consists of some brief cardiovascular exercise to increase blood flow and temperature of the peripheral muscles, followed by   stretching and then sport-specific to help activate the learned motor control pathways for the game at hand.

  Assessment and treatment by a skilled physiotherapist following injuries can help promote full recovery and a faster return to sport, as   well as preventing secondary complications and, importantly, preventing recurrence of injury.

  By Christopher Scott - Physiotherapist

Pregnancy Pre & Postnatal Care

Musculoskeletal pain:
Woman often experience mid, low back and pelvic musculoskeletal pain in association with changes that occur during pregnancy. These pains are often easily explained and treated effectively with physiotherapy.

At around 10 weeks during pregnancy a hormone called relaxin is produced which causes softening and loosening of the ligaments supporting the joints of the body. This is helpful in allowing the pelvic joints to expand with increasing baby size and improving the baby’s passage through the birth canal. However, with weight gain and associated postural changes various joints come under increased stress. The abdominal and pelvic floor muscles are also stretched and less effective in assisting low back and pelvic stability. Resulting musculoskeletal complaints can include; lower back and pelvic pain, thoracic (mid back), tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Physiotherapy treatment:

  • Manual therapy techniques for the jointsSoft tissue release and stretches for muscles
  • Positioning and postural advice and techniques
  • Exercises designed to improve core trunk stability
  • Pelvic stability belts
  • Antenatal/postnatal classes
  • Pelvic floor exercises
  • Electrotherapy – usually once the baby is born

Exercise:
For healthy women with an uncomplicated pregnancy exercise is very beneficial to encourage fitness, flexibility and strength, which assists with pregnancy, childbirth and caring for your newborn.

Recommended exercise includes; walking, swimming,
cycling cross-trainer, mat exercises, stability and swiss
ball exercises.

Exercise guidelines:

  • Do not start an exercise program in the first trimester if you have not previously exercised regularly before becoming pregnant. Exercise can begin in the second trimester
  • Do not become over heated or dehydrated during exercise.
  • Avoid lying on your back after the 20th week of pregnancy to prevent the weight of the baby restricting blood flow through major abdominal blood vessels. If this occurs you will feel dizzy and faint and should roll onto your side to relieve symptoms.
  • Avoid over stretching, as your joints will be at increased risk with the relaxin hormone in your bloodstream.

By Vivien Baxter - Physiotherapist

Antenatal, postnatal and low back stability classes are
available at this clinic

To the point - Benefits of Acupuncture

  Acupuncture is one of the oldest recorded form of medicine having   been used for over 3,000 years in China. Modern science has   shown that acupuncture stimulates the brain to produce natural   pain relieving chemicals, endorphins. There are also channels   (meridians) that Qi (energy) flow round the body. 

  Diseases arise from blockages in these channels. The stimulation   of appropriate acupuncture points frees this stagnation.   

  Acupuncture involves tapping a very fine needle into the point. When   it goes in, it gives rise to a sensation like a pin prick. The deep   needling sensation is part of effective stimulation. The effects of
  acupuncture are cumulative, with pain relief building up as   treatment progresses. It does not work for everybody and every   condition but, frequently, good results are achieved when   conventional medicine has failed.

  Acupuncture has been documented as effective in a variety of   conditions including:

  Acute neck pain (wry neck)

  • Neck and back problems
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Headaches
  • RSI ( Repetitive Strain Injury)
  • Tennis elbow/ Golfer’s elbow
  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Patello-femoral joint pain
  • Shin splints
  • Myofascial trigger points

  Physiotherapists at our clinic are all members of the AACP
  (Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists). AACP   members are in a unique position of combining acupuncture with   other physiotherapy treatment methods, such as exercise,   manipulation and relaxation techniques.

  By Benjamin Lee - Physiotherapist