Blog - Get Fit Stay Fit

Back pain cost the country 5 million working days a year, will New Guidelines Help ?

Back pain cost the country 5 million working days a year.

That is a lot of people in pain over the course of a year. Have a look at the information on the link and make your own mind up whether it is in favour of the patient or just another way to shuffle them round the system , by giving your Doctor a set target date and setting you and them up to fail.

New guidelines for the CG88 or the New Pathway, for when a patient is suffering Back Pain.

It talks of earlier intervention , but then who is going to intervene, have they put in place the necessary things to make this work?

As many people already know the waiting list for physiotherapy appointments are already stretched and a lot of the time a patient is just get given exercises to do, till they can see a physiotherapist, but due to the pain can’t do the exercise.

Lets get something straight from the start, your Doctor will do their best for you, but in most cases all they can do is refer you for an MRI as NICE says an X-ray is not the way to go, an X-ray will not show muscular problems, then you have a choice medication or physiotherapy, all this takes time and referrals, but to whom ?

Early intervention needs to be just that at the point of need, not 12-18 weeks down the line, a strategy needs to be there from the beginning and Doctors need the back up, NICE give options that are fine on paper, but do not seem to have considered how to put this into practise.

If your in pain you need to get help straight away, a simple thing as a starting point is ICE. Please make sure when you apply an Ice pack you have wrapped it in a tea towel, we don’t want you burning your skin, apply for 10- 15 minutes every 2-3 hours yes at the outset you may need painkillers to help, but they are not a long term solution. Folks Neuromuscular Injury Therapy was designed for this sort of intervention and a good Injury Therapist can help.

Why do you think Sports people go to them?

I have found over the years in this business that with Early intervention, from Neuromuscular Manipulation, Injury Therapy and Dealing first with the injury, then the whole person, going onto light kinetic exercise , working with the client, has a more positive and beneficial result ,than giving them a list of exercise to do from a sheet of paper.

Using cutting edge equipment to aid me, having both Medical and other Sport injury Colleagues, to call on for advice and if necessary, further treatment for the client, has also been beneficial.

Are you investing in your Arteries ?

Are you investing in your Arteries and long term well-being ? Do you know how exercise and Neuromuscular Injury Techniques will help ?

Recently hearing a very well respected Cardiologist speak on how “Arthrosclerosis” is a creeping insidious problem from an early age of life if we are not careful. Staying fit and well, not smoking is of course is one answer .Obesity and alcohol intake combined air pollution, are other factors that damage the well being of our arteries.

The up to date medical research says Exercise helps prevent Atherosclerosis in different ways. It keeps arteries healthy by dealing with the Cholesterol issues, it also reduces other risk factors such as Atherosclerosis, Blood clots, High blood Pressure, Diabetes, Obesity, and Stress.

Regular exercise also helps arteries by boosting the production of Nitric Oxide by the cells lining the arteries, which helps circulation, Low levels of nitric oxide production are important in protecting organs such as the liver from ischemic damage.

Even in fit people who are free of the effects of Atherosclerosis, age takes its toll on arteries. As you age, arteries become stiffer, stickier, and narrower. Italian scientists found that in people who exercised regularly, age had a much smaller effect on arteries.

Neuromuscular Release Techniques along with Sports Therapy Massage is part of my field and maintaining peoples well being along with recovery after injury is a large part of it .

Dale G. Alexander, LMT, MA, PhD ,In a recent “Massage Today” article, Alexander describes how Sports massage can literally create more space for the heart within the thorax. In the article Alexander explains.

“This is achieved by increasing the suppleness and length of the soft tissues both within the chest and those of the outer wall, enhancing the mobility of the thoracic joints, and by reducing the pressure within the cavity itself.”

Based on this premise, freeing restrictions found in the sternum, rib and thoracic areas will help the heart function at maximum capacity, thus improving overall cardiovascular health.

What is also interesting Korean researchers found that Sports Therapy massage had an impact on the autonomic nervous system – a system integrally tied to cardiovascular health.

Besides increasing blood circulation, the massage therapy strokes of Effleurage, Kneading and Tapotement stimulate skin receptors that send messages of relaxation to the central nervous system. These reflexes cause Vasodilatation: where the blood vessels widen to decrease blood pressure and heart rate.

The Neuromuscular Techniques and Bioneuro Therapy System that we use at Getfitstayfit Norfolk helps more than ever for patients to gain that very positive clinical outcome to help prevent those sinister problems which could affect us all.

What makes Getfitstayfit Norfolk Different ?

A question that I have been asked ,and no doubt will be asked again is

“What makes Getfitstayfit Norfolk different from others “

As an Injury Clinic first and foremost, the people I treat come to me with an injury.

Be it Sports or Occupational, Injuries, not necessarily for a basic massage, although we do use, Sports & Remedial massage, as part of the treatment.

I am a Neuromuscular Injury Therapist, I use all the necessary Techniques in Sports Injury Therapy Treatment

What my patients want is to not be in pain, or have to take pain killers ,getting higher dosages making them unable to work or get on with their day to day life.

They don’t want to wait up to 12-18 weeks down the line to see a physiotherapist, while their injury is getting worse and restricting them.

What they need is someone to help immediately , understand their situation, listen to them about what is wrong, take action to alleviate the problem and get them back to being themselves again.

“We are there for our clients at their point of need, that is what makes Getfitstayfit Norfolk different.”

London Marathon 2012 to Braydeston5K With Getfitstayfit Norfolk.

Last year Getfitstayfit Norfolk looked after some of the runners of the London Marathon 2012, with a fantastic team of other therapist.

This year we had the pleasure of looking after two fantastic guys, Marcus and Kirk both running for Cancer charities. Kirk is our own local, Braydeston5k run original organiser, most people know Kirks story and all the reasons he has done the Braydeston 5K, but this year he also wanted to do the London Marathon ,despite the fact that unfortunately he also had to have knee surgery and doing the Braydeston 5k run was in doubt let alone running the London Marathon, but still he was determined to do both.

This is where Getfitstayfit Norfolk came in to Kirk’s life we started looking after him just before the Braydeston 5k last year and continued to look after him throughout this year up to and after the London Marathon.

We treated Kirk with the Bioneuro Therapy System and Neuromuscular Injury Techniques, to help keep his muscles flexible, Kirk ran both the Braydeston 5k then he went on to run the London Marathon in a fantastic time.

Kirk came back to us on the Monday and despite the run he had just done his muscle tone was excellent with no sign of problems that a lot of runners suffer. We must admit we were expecting some, but after a treatment session he felt great.

Kirk has written his own blog on his day follow the link to have a read for those of you considering a Marathon run or you want to understand how they do it it is a great read.

http://bandyrunner.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/the-day-i-ran-the-marathon/

Fit For Work in Norwich after Muscular Related Injury, helped by Getfitstayfit Norfolk

We are dealing with muscular related injuries on a regular basis from back and shoulder injuries to hip and knee injuries.

Today on the news we were told about the new Government scheme called Fit For Work.

They say “Sick leave leads to long-term absence from work in too many cases, the government says. It hopes a new scheme will get people off benefits and back to work much more quickly. But will it work, and will it be fair?”.

This is one of the questions asked toady as the government is looking at the Fit for work scheme, this is the link to the BBC Report http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22033655

One remark made by Dame Carol Black Adviser on Health and Work was “If you have been out of work for 20 weeks then you have a very low chance of returning to your own job”

It is difficult for people with injury sometimes to get back to work due to muscular issues and sometimes the medication they are put on to help with the pain.can cause a problem. Here at Getfitstayfit Norfolk we are having great results getting people back and feeling the Freedom of Pain.

We can help with Muscular Skeletal issues Repetitive Strain issues also with Stress issues. All these things can cause long term problems leading to more time off work that we want to have. It is not always people who work in mainly manual related jobs that have issues with Back Pain.

To do this people, after the initial trauma related injury, have to get back moving and exercising, but what holds people back from doing this is pain, with muscular pain that often comes from very tight/ hyper-tonic muscles, due to scar tissue created after the injury , this in turn can prevent full rehabilitation, this is a cycle that needs to be broken down, so people can move pain free.

Here at Getfitstayfit Norfolk we believe early intervention with massage and the equipment that we use, have extremely good results.

We are dealing with muscular related injuries on a regular basis from back and shoulder injuries to hip and knee injuries. We are getting people back quicker, fitter and able to return to work, in a shorter time,

We also deal with a maintenance and rehabilitation program so they don’t end up in the same situation again.

A Blog about us in The Best of Norwich

Here is what The Best of Norwich had to say in their blog about Steve and Getfitstayfit Norfolk

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/norwich/community-hub/blog/view/get-your-body-ready-for-spring-and-beyond

We have been writing about getting your body ready for Spring.

When we have all been use to Winter for so long.

Our muscles are Tight and Contracted, no one wants constricted muscles.

We know it is not good for you, its like being in a Straight Jacket, struggling to get out.

We need to get moving we need to prepare for the year ahead.

We want our muscles to be Supple, Flexible, Pliable, We have to wake them up again and start to think about Spring and Beyond

One of the best ways to get yourself Motivated and Prepared is with Exercise, but remember to warm up your muscles stretch and flex before doing any major exercise.

To sort out the aches and pains a session with Steve having Neuromuscular therapy can aid you to stay on top form for the year ahead.

Pheasant Season almost over, but the Recoil Injuries are here for Game Shooters in Norfolk

Norfolk is known for it’s Pheasant shoots it is fantastic and truly is the UK’s top Shooting county, but the Recoil injuries to Neck and Shoulder are also a problem here for Game Shooters in Norfolk.

It has some world famous shooting venues including Sandringham, just ask the Queen and the Holkham Estate, we also have some great shoots in Broadlands, but it is that time again, when the pheasant can breath a sigh of relief and the pigeons will still take their turn. but things are slowing down on the shooting diary.

So now is the time to sort out the injuries that have occurred during the season, The Neck, and Shoulder injuries caused by Newton’s Third Law of Motion. That is for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Better know to those that shoot as Recoil this is the motion of the gun in the opposite direction to that of its projectile. The force is affected by the weight of the gun, the weight of the projectile, and, most notably, by muzzle velocity.

There are two phase’s to recoil the Primary and the Secondary, primary recoil begins momentarily after the primer is detonated, the ignited propellant rapidly creates an expansion of gas that overcomes the inertia of the shot charge and wad and accelerates them down the barrel, there is also a force of friction and air resistance to overcome.

The trouble to the person shooting the gun comes on The Secondary recoil the effects of which seem much smaller and starts when the ejector (pellets, wad and burnt powder) leave the barrel there is a sudden release of gas causing The gun to be pushed back much like a rocket.

Recoil is not just about the rearwards movement, but the body’s reaction to this movement in so much as it will cause, rotation about the axis of the shoulder when a gun is fired. This is because the centre line of the bore is above the shoulder line.

When this rotation effect occurs, the muzzle moves up and the cheek piece of the gun may be brought into abrupt contact with the Zygomatic bone, this is a bone of the human skull we know as the cheekbone.

At the same time the butt sole may slip from the shoulder (especially if it is poorly designed with a very inclined comb or, if the gun is being fired from an awkward or inappropriate position,) the term used is Face Slap, a trip to A&E may be the visiting place if this occurs.

For those more experienced and doing quite a lot of shooting, this will hold problems of its own with

Shoulder, Rotator Cuff, Rhomboid Muscles, causing Frozen or Dropped Shoulder or the Neck Muscles Sternocleidomastoid, Longus Colli , Longus Capitis,Suprahyoid muscles and Infrahyoid muscles. having the same effect as a whiplash injury

Here at Getfitstayfit Norfolk we are able to help keep you on form during the season and to help get you back to full fitness if the season takes it toll on you with a Neuromuscular Injury Therapy, Remedial massage and if you’re having problems with those deep muscles, we can help with the Bioneuro Therapy System.

Cold Air and how it the affects our Muscles & Joints

Did you know that you muscles react to cold air similar to a barometer

In the cold months that are now upon us, unlike the weather we have had this last couple of weeks, cold air brings with it lower barometric air pressure. This means gas expands when heated and contracts when cooled so the lower air temperature it will causes the air to constrict the result is lower pressure. Well this is the same affect on your muscles they constrict and tighten . This lower air pressure, causes the soft tissue around your joints to expand in response, and it infringes on the joints, which can cause pain that radiates into the muscles making them more prone to cramps and spasms and generate more pain.

Are You Prepared ?

This is why you must warm up and stretch, it is so important when training in lower temperatures, apart from anything else you need to do this for you cardiovascular system.

Even if you are going into a warm gym to do your training, remember your muscles would have got cold prior to getting in there. be kind to them they have a lot of work to do.

Cold Air will also affect any Pre-existing Conditions people have

If you sufferer from Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, or have any joint injury you are going to feel it in the cold weather more, because of the nature or these problems they are more susceptible to cold weather and how it effects your joints and muscles you are already experiencing pain, so when the winter months come the changes in temperature and weather will exacerbate your condition, it brings with it more problems than you already have. We all know that Arthritis causes swollen joints, so when the soft tissue expands around the joints, it causes more pressure and pain.

Regular Maintenance in the form of Neuromuscular Therapy along with Sports Massage can help immensely in the winter months for anyone with Joint pain, and this is a time of year when you need to keep more active, to keep warm, so Therapy massage will enable you to do this.

Along with the Bioneuro, that will aid circulation that in turn will help towards the reduction of pain especially in people with Arthritis

it works in a way that it can get into the joints that normal massage may not be able too.

With Neuromuscular Techniques, remedial massage, we can deal with a lot of the Muscular Skeletal problems that can be caused by the cold weather.

We want you to enjoy the cold months keep exercising, enjoy time with your family outdoors, Winter need not be all doom and gloom.

Compliment to Getfitstayfit Norfolk.from the Tour Manager of the Heavy Metal Rock Band Trivium

Well folks this weekend Getfitstayfit Norfolk had a great compliment paid to it , in the form of a phone call and a subsequent client. On Friday we received a call from the Tour Manager of a Heavy Metal international Rock Band.

He asked if we could help the drummer of the band as they had being doing a long heavy going tour, and the drummer needed to get a great Sports Massage. As they were going to be doing a gig in Norwich on the Saturday he was calling on ahead to see if he could come to us.

The tour manager had been on the internet to checked us out, and then because of what he had read about us, he then went on to our website, and decided that we would be the best people to help . So on Saturday we had the pleasure of massaging Nick Augusto from the Band Trivium. who left us feeling a lot better and more revived

Even better for Hannah one of our therapist she was given tickets for the gig, put on the guest list and the meet and greet, one very happy therapist.

Accidents, Injury and Physical Trauma how Getfitstayfit Norfolk can help with recovery in Norwich

Accidents, Injury and Physical Trauma, all have physical, physiological and psychological effects.

When it is one, of our clients, we take it personally. In this blog we would like to point out some of the problems that arise and how and why we can help to get you back to full fitness as quick as possible. Recovery should start as soon as the injury occurs.

Physical effects

Strain, sprain, rupture, fracture create physical pain which can be acute or chronic if the problem is not dealt with promptly and efficiently.

Any physical impact will involve an interruption on circulation of the blood and nerve supply to that particular area of the body. Ischemia injury. is a restriction in blood supply to tissues, causing a shortage of oxygen and glucose needed for cellular metabolism (to keep tissue alive).

Neurapraxia is a disorder of the peripheral nervous system in which there is a temporary loss of motor and sensory function due to blockage of nerve conduction, usually lasting an average of six to eight weeks before full recovery. Most commonly, this involves compression of the nerve or disruption to the blood supply which results in ischemia.

Why we can help you

Neuromuscular Injury Techniques including Release Sports Massage and Sports Injury Therapy are great for helping to reduce the influences or causes for the nerve to be injured. Since Sports Therapy Massage increases the circulation throughout your body, it can help to circulate fresh blood and oxygen to area in need, and help to pump out used blood from organs. Breaking up fibrosis within muscles and connective tissue will help to lessen the amount of force is on the nerve and also diminish ischemia in areas. Reducing areas of tight muscles will take stress off the tissues and allow good nerve function without entrapment. Also Sports Therapy Release Techniques loosens up muscles that will help to take pressure off the spinal muscles, preventing nerves being pinched as they come out of the spine. Also using The Bioneuro Therapy System along with Neuromuscular Techniques we are able to penetrate deeply into the Central and Peripheral nervous system aiding the regeneration of nerves from trauma related occurrence.

We have found that by using The Bioneuro Therapy System combined with Neuromuscular Techniques and Remedial massage some overwhelming, results making clients recovery quicker.

Physiological Effects

Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed.

Should the nervous system stay in survival mode following an accident, the Stress hormone such Norepinephrine that is a catecholamine with multiple roles including as a hormone and a neurotransmitter. And Cortisol is then released, causing an increase in blood pressure and blood sugar, which can in turn reduce the immune system’s ability to heal.

Psychiatric Effects

Injury of any kind has psychiatric effects , not being able to work, play sport or function normally often can lead to, a Depression (mood), Anxiety can occur when there is a financial worry. This creates a negative mental affect on the client, which can lead to a more serious concern, if a person is depressed then healing takes longer, so the spiral starts, it is so important as a therapist to be able to bolster the client from this affect from the onset of treatment, you have to treat your client as a whole you have to empathise with them and reassure them, as it is never just about the specific injury, as all therapist know quite frequently when someone is injured then the Bio- mechanics are out of whack the same goes for their emotions, they are frustrated with the injury so need the reassurance a therapist can give them with positive treatment.

Vibration related injury in Norwich and how Sports Massage & Bioneuro Therapy System Sigma Q (∑®) helped

I was born with scoliosis and had a Spinal Fusion at three years old. The operation worked very well up until the age of around 20 when I started to notice lower back pain. This increased over the years leaving me struggling with chronic pain. I tried various things like epidural and nerve root injections but nothing seemed to work. In June 2016 I underwent surgery to correct the curve in my spine, taking a piece out and replacing it with a metal cage as well as two metal rods either side for support. Unfortunately during the operation The surgeon caught my spinal cord leaving me in Spinal Shock and temporally paralysed from the waist down, but within days I started being able to move my legs very slightly but I was unable to move my toes or my feet.

Shoulder Injury can be one of the most major musculoskeletal problems.

At some point in our lives we will have a Shoulder problems including pain, this is one of the more common reasons for visits to the Doctor it is one of the major musculoskeletal problems.

The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. And it does a lot of work, However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed. This instability increases the likelihood of joint injury, often leading to a degenerative process in which tissues break down and no longer function well. This in itself is problem enough as it will create repetitive problems, but what if because of your job you were putting your shoulder under a lot more stress and a higher risk of damage, than an average person.Continue reading

“Painkillers make a million people’s headaches worse” We can help suffers in Norwich & Norfolk

Massage relieves Stress moves the lymphatic system to get rid of built up toxins and releases endorphins the body’s own natural pain relief system

This is part of the Statement from NICE today in the Telegraph,

“Sports Injury Therapist have been saying this for year’s.”

It is all about trigger points, and Stress Areas Tight Muscles and water intake combination is the key they now say Acupuncture works, and that is the case because of the Trigger points used, at the time of the headache, but Maintenance is also key to this. Neuromuscular Techniques are known to relieve Stress, to moves the lymphatic system to get rid of built up toxins and releases endorphins the body’s own natural pain relief system “.

This is blocked when you are taking painkillers so you do not get the natural “Feel Good Factor” that also comes with the release of endorphins “

Here at Getfit Stayfit Norfolk we use the Bioneuro System Sigma Q(∑Q®) it gets into the bodies central and peripheral nervous system releasing the endorphins. and removing the stress on those trigger points in a similar way as the acupuncture would do, but without the needles so it is not invasive give us a call or look on our website to find out more how we can help you be the best you can and get rid of those Headaches.

Painkillers ‘make a million people’s headaches worse’
A million headache sufferers who take common painkillers on a regular basis are actually intensifying their pain by making their brains ‘immune’ to the drugs’ effects, doctors warn today. They are aggravating their symptoms by relying on medications like aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen on an almost daily basis. Five in six of them are women.

Instead of taking these over-the-counter drugs to combat symptoms when they flare up, sufferers should try treatments that help prevent headaches in the first place – including acupuncture – according to official advice from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

It is launching new guidance today to help doctors better diagnose and treat different types of headache, which can be difficult to tell apart. Almost everyone experiences occasional headaches but almost 10 million people – a fifth of the adult population – suffer from much more serious and debilitating types.

Of those, some seven million suffer from migraines, and another 1.5 million or so develop intense ‘tension’ type headaches on most days. see our website for more advice