Quicker Recovery, from Knee replacement surgery or injury, in Norwich Norfolk, With Getfitstayfit Norfolk

Knee replacement surgery

A patient now back in action, due to the Aid of  The Bioneuro Therapy System Sigma Q (ΣQ®) 

Jackie from Brundall had been suffering with excessive knee pain and her movement was restricted, following her visits to her GP then to an Orthopaedic Surgeon, a date was planned for a knee replacement. For Jackie the pain became debilitating, not being a lady who regularly took pain killers.

She came to Getfitstayfit Norfolk to see if we could help.

“When my knee started giving me a considerable amount of pain I when to my GP and was told a knee replacement was necessary, as an active person I knew I had to keep on top of this as I try to avoid pain killers as much as possible.

I knew of Steve Kirby and Getfitstayfit Norfolk as it is a local business in our area and had treated a friend, very successfully, I contacted him to see if he could help. Steve started treating me on The Bioneuro Therapy System Sigma Q (ΣQ®), I found  the pain was greatly reduced and I was able move with a lot more ease, and a lot less pain, my muscles where in a good state of health following treatment and I was ready for the surgery.

The operation went well and I was quickly back having The Bioneuro Therapy System Sigma Q (ΣQ®) treatment with Steve, about three times a week. I had to attend physiotherapy at the hospital, which I did not feel happy with at all, pushing and forcing the knee, made it very painful.

So I decided I would stick with the treatment from Steve, with the Bioneuro, some gentle exercise this did the trick, with no pain regular monitoring and all in my time, a lot quicker I feel, than I would have achieved with just the painful exercises.”

The Bioneuro Therapy System Sigma Q (ΣQ®)  is fully medically tested and approved to help aid in the recovery from knee injuries and in Pre and Post knee replacement surgery, quicker than you can ever imagine. The system works deeply into the deep nerves and muscle’s, helping to take away swelling, improve blood flow and aid mobility.

 

The operation went well and I was quickly back having The Bioneuro Therapy System Sigma Q (ΣQ®) treatment with Steve, about three times a week. I had to attend physiotherapy at the hospital, which I did not feel happy with at all, pushing and forcing the knee, made it very painful.

Treatment For A Painful Back In Norwich, Getfitstayfit Norfolk Says “We All Need Good Treatment”

Treatment For A Painful Back In Norwich

One of my clients recently, told me that  prior to coming to my clinic, she had been told.

“Everyone has back problems and you’ve just got to live with it”.

I believe that is a  almost criminal comment. My question is why is this the case and why do we accept it.?

When someone has a Painful Back they should have treatment for it.

Pain comes in several different forms, from the dull nagging ,sharp and sudden, to the pain we have with  Osteo and Rheumatoid Arthritis .

There are many reasons,but not dealing with muscular pathologies, surely is not the right way to go.

We should not just be expected  to accept it and live with it. This is the field in which we work at Getfitstayfit Norfolk.

If a joint is out of out of alignment it will easily cause multiple issues, one being the lack of good blood supply, then concerns with the nervous system creating pain. Hyperirritable area’s in taut muscle are never a good thing.

Trigger points often appear, also known as trigger sites or muscle knots,( just for the record although called muscle knots a muscle can not knot as it has an origin and an insertion ) are described as hyperirritable spots sarcomeres  in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taunt bands of muscle fibres

Research  has improved considerably in the knowledge of what a Trigger Point Formation is, this is when a dysfunctional endplate occurs, commonly associated with a strain or the over building of muscle tissue that can then be damaged, stored  calcium is realised at the site that creates a oxygen nutrient deficit.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is needed in order to remove the excessive calcium the problem is that ATP is decreased by the tightening of the tissue this then restricts the blood supply . The persistence’s of high calcium  level resumes  causing  Acetylcholine (ACh), release creating  a viscous cycle.

Trigger points often appear, also known as trigger sites or muscle knots,( just for the record although called muscle knots a muscle can not knot as it has an origin and an insertion ) are described as hyperirritable spots sarcomeres in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taunt bands of muscle fibres Research has improved considerably in the knowledge of what a Trigger Point Formation is, this is when a dysfunctional endplate occurs, commonly associated with a strain or the over building of muscle tissue that can then be damaged, stored calcium is realised at the site that creates a oxygen nutrient deficit. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is needed in order to remove the excessive calcium the problem is that ATP is decreased by the tightening of the tissue this then restricts the blood supply . The persistence’s of high calcium level resumes causing Acetylcholine (ACh), release creating a viscous cycle.

Why we can help You.!

The need is to stop the cycle. We specialise in Neuromuscular injury, with cutting edge equipment Neuromuscular Injury Techniques.

The equipment we us is the Bioneuro Therapy System Sigma Q (ΣQ®) designed to deal with, Trigger points, muscle injury and recovery.

It works into deep muscles and nerves which are difficult for a traditional massage therapist to manipulate to enable quicker recovery and “Pain Free Movement “

Runners Knee How Bad IS IT, Advice in Norwich Norfolk.

Runners Knee How Bad IS IT, Advice in Norwich Norfolk

It always amazes me how a type of injury or condition can become synonyms with certain types of  activities or people.  My concern is by simplifying the name of the injury , are we simplifying the injury itself. 

For instance Policeman’s Heel, Athletes’ Foot, Golfers Elbow, Tennis Elbow or Housewives/ Housemaids Knee, (this affects roofers more than any one else),  Builders Back and of course Runners Knee, really are these things a diagnosis  ?

The answer is No they are not, in some case’s it is what we would call an coverall for a few problems, used because the exact problem has not been fully diagnosed for what ever reason.

With muscular injuries this can be the case, because of transferred pain or more than one group of muscles being affected, it should not however take away  the serious of the injury, or the treatment needed just because it has a simple name.

Take Runners Knee for instance.  The real name is  Chondromalacia patellae (CMP)

This is what Wikipedia has to say about it

While the term Chondromalacia sometimes refers to abnormal-appearing cartilage anywhere in the body,it most commonly denotes irritation of the underside of the kneecap (or “patella”). The patella’s posterior surface is covered with a layer of smooth cartilage, which the base of the femur normally glides effortlessly against when the knee is bent. However, in some individuals the kneecap tends to rub against one side of the knee joint, irritating the cartilage and causing knee pain.

This is what Wikipedia has to say about it While the term Chondromalacia sometimes refers to abnormal-appearing cartilage anywhere in the body,it most commonly denotes irritation of the underside of the kneecap (or “patella”). The patella’s posterior surface is covered with a layer of smooth cartilage, which the base of the femur normally glides effortlessly against when the knee is bent. However, in some individuals the kneecap tends to rub against one side of the knee joint, irritating the cartilage and causing knee pain.

The condition may result from acute injury to the patella or chronic friction between the patella and a groove in the femur through which it passes during knee flexion. Possible causes include a tight iliotibial band, Neuromas, bursitis, overuse, malalignment, core instability, and patellar maltracking.

Pain at the front or inner side of the knee is common in both young adults and those of more advanced years, especially when engaging in  football gymnastics cycling rowing tennis ballet basketball, horseback riding, volleyball, running, figure skating, snowboarding, skateboarding, and even swimming. The pain is typically felt after prolonged sitting.” Skateboarders most commonly experience this injury in their non-dominant foot due to the constant kicking and twisting required of it. Swimmers acquire it doing the breaststroke, which demands an unusual motion of the knee

See what I mean it is not so simple and it is not restricted to Runners,

One thing that is apparent, there is pain and you need to rest it and  get treatment, or it will not get better,  just categorising the problem as Runners Knee, will by itself not sort out the problem, you still need to put a treatment package in place with your Doctor so ask the question ” What sort of Runners Knee is it”. Don’t just assume, and don’t let your Doctor just assume you know what it is, you need to have answers you need the right treatment, mainly because you don’t want to make it worse, you may need to wear a knee brace or you may be on your way to a meniscus problem and surgery.

One thing that is apparent, there is pain and you need to rest it and get treatment, or it will not get better, just categorising the problem as Runners Knee, will by itself not sort out the problem, you still need to put a treatment package in place with your Doctor so ask the question ” What sort of Runners Knee is it”. Don’t just assume, and don’t let your Doctor just assume you know what it is, you need to have answers you need the right treatment, mainly because you don’t want to make it worse, you may need to wear a knee brace,Don’t just assume, and don’t let your Doctor just assume you know what it is, you need to have answers you need the right treatment, mainly because you don’t want to make it worse, you may need to wear a knee brace or you may be on your way to a meniscus problem and surgery.

You need an idea of recovery time, don’t forget, when a professional athlete has an injury they have down time to recover, you may not  have that time period, you have to work, what you do in work may irritate the injury. All these factors have to be taken in to consideration. Something that some one with knee problems needs to be aware of they are nearly always degenerative,  don’t assume it will go away it may settle down for a time, but things can trigger it off again and you can be your own worse enemy.

Deborah takes her Running Seriously, when she was in Pain she came to Getfitstayfit Norfolk for Help

Running Seriously

This is her Testimony, she had been suffering for a year before she came to Getfitstayfit Norfolk. We always say early intervention is the best way to aid recovery, the longer it is delayed the longer it takes to recover, we try to improve recovery rate and get people back to fitness as soon as possible.

“I came to Steve after recommendations from members of my running club.

I’d recently been suffering with knee pain but also low back pain upon waking in the morning for over a year.

I’d seen a chiropractor, a physio, an osteopath and even had an MRI scan all to no avail. In the end my doctor just said it’s muscular and prescribed me Amitriptyline!

Steve was great. He identified my IT band and TFL muscle were tight and used the Bioneuro System Sigma  Q(ΣQ® to free them off. It was a strangely pleasant sensation and the muscles felt a lot looser after. Alas, my symptoms didn’t go away, but Steve was determined to solve my problems. He’s like a dog with a bone!

He was regularly in touch to see how things were going and he researched my symptoms to try and find the answer. Eventually he suggested using the Bioneuro System Sigma  Q(ΣQ® on my Psoas muscle.

Running and sitting at a desk all day had made this short and tight and can be responsible for low back pain. I am delighted to say I can now sleep free from pain, without the need for pillows under my legs and without the Amitriptyline! As for the knee pain, it’s getting better with postural and running form correction’

I’d recommend to anyone suffering with muscular issues to seek out Steve. He really can help, he doesn’t give up on you even when you feel you want to give up he made such a difference“

Plantar Fasciitis , Plantar Fasciosis.or Capsulitis.Getfitstayfit Norfolk Asks Which Is It ?

Plantar Fasciitis , Plantar Fasciosis or Capsulitis

You may have heard of Plantar Fasciitis,  it is Painful, but you may not have realised that there is also Plantar Fasciosis or Capsulitis they are all different,

The main differences being  that with Plantar Fasciitis there is inflammatory swelling in the area  around  the connective tissue or ligament on the sole (bottom surface) of the foot.

This is a common condition and if treated immediately it may not degenerate.  The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of connective tissue originating on the bottom surface of the calcaneus (heel bone) and extending along the sole of the foot towards the toes.

The best treatment is R.I.C.E. As the swelling goes down , then and only then can you start on stretching the area again some of the exercise’s  include a Tennis or golf ball and rolling it under the foot from the toes to the heel, massage of the area is very useful, but remember with out treatment and care it will degenerate, to become a long term injury. So take care rest when it is needed, keep on top of it, or it will beat you. What causes it, now here is the problem if you are a runner, or dancer the bad news is, it is often caused by overuse of the plantar fascia, increases in activities, weight or age.

This is a common condition and if treated immediately it may not degenerate. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of connective tissue originating on the bottom surface of the calcaneus (heel bone) and extending along the sole of the foot towards the toes.You may have heard of Plantar Fasciitis, it is Painful, but you may not have realised that there is also Plantar Fasciosis or Capsulitis they are all different, The main differences being that with Plantar Fascitis there is inflammatory swelling in the area around the connective tissue or ligament on the sole (bottom surface) of the foot. This is a common condition and if treated immediately it may not degenerate. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of connective tissue originating on the bottom surface of the calcaneus (heel bone) and extending along the sole of the foot towards the toes. The best treatment is R.I.C.E. As the swelling goes down , then and only then can you start on stretching the area again some of the exercise’s include a Tennis or golf ball and rolling it under the foot from the toes to the heel, massage of the area is very useful, but remember with out treatment and care it will degenerate, to become a long term injury. So take care rest when it is needed, keep on top of it, or it will beat you. What causes it, now here is the problem if you are a runner, or dancer the bad news is, it is often caused by overuse of the plantar fascia, increases in activities, weight or age.

The long term condition Plantar Fasciosis . The suffix “osis” implies a pathology of chronic degeneration this is  without inflammation. Since tendons and ligaments  do not contain blood vessels they do not actually become inflamed. Instead, injury to the tendon is usually the result of an accumulation over time of microscopic tears at the cellular level. Well folk this is still not looking good if you are a runner or dancer as these microscopic tears  need time to heal, we all know how dedicated runners are to there sport, but if not treated and time taken to rest , then running may no longer be an option. Better to rest when you need should, than to have to give up all together.

We don’t want this to happen, Prevention is the best way to go with this problem, first your feet are your best friends you need them never mind Stand by me this is a case of Stand on them and you need to be able to with out pain.

How do we know we have it

First of all there is , the pain, usually felt on the underside of the heel and is often most intense with the first steps of the day not a  great way to start the morning . Another symptom is that the sufferer has difficulty bending the foot so that the toes are brought toward putting on shoes the shin (decreased dorsiflextionof the ankle ). Also a symptom commonly recognized among sufferers of plantar fasciitis is an increased probability of knee pain, this is very presented among  runners

 

Capsulitis. 

This is pain that is  Sometimes felt in the  ball-of-foot it is  mistakenly assumed to be derived from plantar fasciitis, But this is a dull pain or numbness in the metatarsal region of the foot  and unlikely to be the plantar fascia inflamed and  more likely to be the  metatarsalgia, also called Capsulitis.  This is an inflamed flexor digitorum brevis muscle

Some of the Problems/ Injuries that occur Insertion Tendonitis This is an inflammation at the point where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone. When you have this problem you will have tenderness directly over the insertion of the Achilles tendon, which is commonly associated with calcium formation, or a bone spur forming just above the insertion point. You may also suffer a Retrocalcaneal bursitis; this is caused by movement-related irritation of the Retrocalcaneal bursa, the fluid-filled cushioning sac between the heel bone and the Achilles tendon. The bursa can become inflamed or thickened and stick to the tendon, because of overuse or repetitive loading. You will feel pain when squeezing the tendon itself or the space just in front of the tendon.

Looking after your feet. It is Essential.

If your a runner at some point your will get the urge to try for one of the Big Ones you will want the medal , so preparation is of the utmost importance. Having looked after a quite a number of runners at events including the London Marathon, I have seen some injuries cause by the wrong shoes from  gait to knee injuries, lower back problems and  messed up feet, a lot of these injuries could have been prevented by the right footwear, we recommend and advise our clients  to go to a good Sports shop, that know what they are talking about . The reasons why you need a certain shoe, from the shape to  the type of material  structure of the shoe. As Sports Injury  Therapist I don’t sell shoes, but I do have a very good relationship with  some Sports shops so I asked for advice  on your behalf from a very reputable company this is what Neil of Sportlink Running-Fitness Specialists  had to say.

” My main warning would be to just be very careful who you buy from online i.e. always buy from a running specialist!!

I have been in this trade for 25 years and have seen so many changes during that time. I know the industry inside out having also worked with a number of manufactures as well.

There are lots of processes that shoes have to go through during the manufacturing of a quality shoe i.e. moulding, temperatures, time, etc, etc and this is just for the midsole. However and as with all industries some times there are one or two problems whereby product is not finished correctly and end up being sold via the grey market to wholesalers in bulk i.e. grade two and even grade three product.

Looking after your feet. It is Essential. If your a runner at some point your will get the urge to try for one of the Big Ones you will want the medal , so preparation is of the utmost importance. Having looked after a quite a number of runners at events including the London Marathon, I have seen some injuries cause by the wrong shoes from gait to knee injuries, lower back problems and messed up feet, a lot of these injuries could have been prevented by the right footwear, we recommend and advise our clients to go to a good Sports shop, that know what they are talking about . The reasons why you need a certain shoe, from the shape to the type of material structure of the shoe. As Sports Injury Therapist I don’t sell shoes, but I do have a very good relationship with some Sports shops so I asked for advice on your behalf from a very reputable company this is what Neil of Sportlink Running-Fitness Specialists had to say .

Any good running specialist would not touch this product with a barge pole!!

We certainly will not, but do see it several times when customers come back to us with a pair of supposed top quality shoes that have broken down very quickly due to soft midsoles or the customer is injured due to the midsoles being too hard.

We can tell straight away just by feel and sometimes from the codes inside the tongue. Anything more than 25% off trade is basically old stock which has to be cleared, but after a maximum of two years oxidation of the EVA foam is likely to have taken place or as already stated the product could be faulty. At Sportlink as I am sure at The Runners Centre and Pilch as well, you can be sure that you will always be sold product of the highest quality. Running shoes are the most important piece of kit you will buy, so always be 100% sure before buying

Getfitstayfit Norfolk Say “Age should not Stop you”

Age should not Stop you

When you get a little older, you start to question what you can or can’t do in regards to exercise,

You worry about injury , but this is a time in your life when you can start to enjoy doing things , what you need to do though  is.

Keep Flexible ,Supple , Know Your Limits And Enjoy Life.

Neuromuscular Injury Therapy, along with Massage helps  keep things pumping, it moves the lymphatic system it keeps blood flowing to the muscles, it keeps those muscle flexible,  less chance of aches and pains, it also releases the bodies own feel good factor Endorphins that help with our own Natural Healing Abilities . Here at our Treatment Room at Getfitstayfit Norfolk we use these therapies to aid our clients, to insure their abilities to stay supple

The Bioneuro Therapy system works with the clients own body,  even better than a Deep Tissue, Sports Massage without the need to apply as much pressure.

Free From Pain

Just because you are getting older it does not mean you have to do less.

When you have had a life that has been on the go all the time ,then you retire it is  better to Keep active, Mentally and Physically, so find hobbies that suit and stimulate  you like  running , swimming ,dancing, there are so many activities out there you can do. All you have to do is embrace them and keep fit enough to do them.  after all it is about you and what you need to keep you on top form.

Getfitstayfit Norfolk & The Runners at The Braydeston 5K Fun Run 2013

Getfitstayfit Norfolk & The Runners at The Braydeston 5K Fun Run 2013

The morning of the 8th September 2013 was a beautiful morning, we at Getfitstayfit Norfolk had been looking forward to the day.

It was the day of  The Braydeston 5K Fun Run , this is an even organised by Kirk Wilson in aid of Cancer Research, we are happy to be one of the sponsors , working at the run with Pre & Post Massage, we had quite a few people take up the offer of both.

Some great people, also good meeting up with members of The Norwich Road Runners folks if you are looking for a running club to join have a word with these guys you won’t go far wrong. The whole thing was  well organised and a pleasure to be part of and yes a great cause, but still fun.

Some great people, also good meeting up with members of The Norwich Road Runners folks if you are looking for a running club to join have a word with these guys you won’t go far wrong. The whole thing was well organised and a pleasure to be part of and yes a great cause, but still fun.

Recovery & Rehabilitation or the Limbo Room

You have had an injury, be it shoulder , back , hip ,or knee, it is your injury.Back Pain In Human Body You did not want it,no one wants’ it to happen, you did not expect it, so the question is. What are you going to do now ?

You have had an injury, be it shoulder , back , hip ,or knee, it is your injury.

You did not want it,no one wants’ it to happen, you did not expect it, so the question is. What are you going to do now ?

You can.

Take painkillers to mask it and stay in the Limbo room to wait for it to heal on it’s own maybe.

 

 

Recovery & Rehabilitation or Over Medication

Or you can.

Move forward to the Rehabilitation and Recovery room , make progress, towards getting your life back on track again.

 

We know Massage releases the “feel good factor” and there is a reason for that it is not all about just relaxing, massage helps release Endorphins and Dopamine, it is the physical input that the therapist applies to the patient and how it is applied that makes the difference.

 Which is it going to be ?

These are the decisions only you can make for yourself, but you do have options, besides waiting in the Limbo room and taking painkillers.

Fact’s

The sooner an injury is treated the easier it is to treat, the sooner it will heal, early intervention always helps.  Keeping Muscles Supple is a must. as muscle tightness (Hypertonicity)  in the injured and surrounding area of the injury, can cause you real pain to the point that it could prevent you from getting the exercise you need, to help you progress to getting you back to fitness.

Muscle Activation Techniques  need to be applied and  the sooner the better, to aid in the  progression to the recovery and rehabilitation stage after an injury, unused muscles don’t help you in any way.

We have  an in-depth understanding of the mechanical principles of the Musculoskeletal body, we are able to address and intervene in aiding these  Musculoskeletal  imbalances that occur due to injury, quicker than conventional methods.

By using the tools such as The Bioneuro Therapy System Sigma Q (ΣQ®) this is a tool used, to aid in rehabilitation of some of our Elite sportsmen and women and can get to the deep muscle issues, that unfortunately can’t be reached with normal muscular release techniques, due to the fact, that  in the early stages or a muscular injury, the pain factor felt  by the injured person, can be so overwhelming for them.

Using the Hydrotherm Massage Therapy System, this is a system that is used in spinal injury treatment  to alleviate pressure on the injured area as it allows for  better accessibility. It gives us the advantage of being able to treat the area without adding further discomfort for the injured person.

If an injury is  left,  It will be  these muscular Skeletal  imbalances that  may lead  to chronic and repetitive stress injuries. In later life. as  once something is damaged it will never be the same it becomes week and prone to injury.

This need not be the case if Early intervention and the correct treatment is applied.

Muscle Tightness happens to us all at some point, but do you know why and what can you do to help prevent it ,  first of all you need to remember that all Muscles Pull and to pull it is only one way Up, we all know we have muscle groups, but what happens when one member of the group does not want to work?

It does not stop the rest, in fact they take on the extra work they become Martyrs to the muscle that is not doing it’s share, they are protecting your body and being overworked.

What we have to do is find  the culprit, that is not doing it’s job, by doing certain tests.

As  a muscle’s job is to produce motion, control and stabilize joints  Then you will find that If, one or more muscles are tight, depending on the stress exists, it will  follow logically that certain ranges of motion from one side of the body to the other will not be symmetrical when tested.

Recruitment of muscles will be off balance , it will show to  the trained eye and hands what is going wrong.

Then we move onto Rehabilitation, do you know we have, Muscle memory we do and it has been used synonymously with motor learning, which is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems, this can be a great thing if you are fit and well as your muscles will work in a fluid motion within your body, but when you are injured, your muscles react differently, they want to tighten up to protect themselves so that they won’t get injured again, some muscles have to take over other muscles work , as the injured muscle wont stretch out , it becomes a habit and a default position.

So next time you have

Shoulder, back, hip, neck, leg, or even foot tightness, etc. from your Sports  workouts or your  day-to-day occupational  responsibilities, consider it as an important warning don’t just ignore it,  start finding out where the cause of the problem exists. The symptom of pain and tightness are a sign and often exists simply because some muscles have and not  done their job, get it checked keep on top of it.

Because if we only look at the symptoms when an injury occurs and  not  the root cause,

we will not be in a position to prevent chronic problems, becoming exacerbated in later life.

Our Treatment today will be a good investment

for your physical abilities tomorrow.

Neuromuscular Injury Therapy and Massage Can Benefit You In The Summer.

It looks like the Summer is finally here and boy has it taken it’s time to arrive, two years with not very good weather , so now is the time to get out there and enjoy it.I went to see Steve after reading about him in the EDP Norfolk magazine. I have had four visits to date, two of which involved the use of the Bioneuro Dry Therapy System Sigma Q(∑Q)® The difference this has made has been amazing. I feel pain free, more agile and have a more positive outlook. I can enjoy playing golf and gardening without suffering afterwards Equally important as the season change you must maintain adequate hydration. If you’re a Runner, Rider , Gardener or just wanting to take some exercise outdoors, you may be using muscles that you have not used for a while or you may need to make sure your muscles are in peak condition. Muscles and tissues require lots of fluids, as well as good nutrition to enable them to function properly, to avoid spasms and sprains. whatever your reasons Massage can help.

It looks like the  Summer is finally here and boy has it taken it’s time to arrive, two years with not very good  weather , so now is the time to get out there and enjoy it.

Equally like plants and all living things, it is important as the season change you must  maintain adequate hydration.

If you’re a Runner, Rider , Gardener or just wanting to take some exercise outdoors, you may be using muscles that you have not used for a while or you may need to make sure your muscles are in peak condition.

Muscles and tissues require lots of fluids, as well as good nutrition to enable them to function properly, to avoid spasms and sprains. whatever your  reasons Massage can help.

A lot of you will know or felt the consequences of The build up lactic acid

For those that don’t, this is when we work or exercise hard, our muscles build up lactic acid, this is normal, but often it  can become lodged within the muscles fibres tissues, causing spasms or strains to occur, it can shorten  our  range of motion as well as creating what people call  “Knots” in the muscle these “Knots are in fact Trigger points where a Nodule has formed on the muscle fibres and is constricting, it can be a very painful experience.”

Working with quite a few Runners and cyclist over the years, knowing you guys, want to push yourselves to achieve  to your Personal Best, that is a great thing and some of our clients have achieved things they should truly be proud of. 

In this weather though could You be the ones holding yourselves back ?

What do you think a professional Neuromuscular Therapy and Sports Massage could do for you ?

Exercise is good but the right type , you need to look at the cardiovascular, start easy go swimming, walking you need to get the muscles relaxed not tighten them up , there are reasons for this.

Here are some clues !!

A Neuromuscular Therapy Session with a professional therapist, they will apply the right kinds of techniques to muscles and joints to release tightness, cramping, spasms, and constricted Fibre Nodules . This is important to do because these pockets of lactic acid  If not dealt with, can become more toxic to the body.  This causes an inflammatory response by the immune system causing  the pain cycle to  advance. By applying Trigger Point therapy to the area they will be able  help with the removal of  metabolic waste therefore strengthening immune function.  By doing so this will return muscles to their optimal functioning ability. Improving range of motion increasing flexibility and muscle tone, 

Another thing about your immune system that massage aids is that it helps to support White blood cell proliferation, this is quite complex, but if you would like to know more about this in particular follow this link to find out more.

Neuromuscular Therapy can also help with relieving  Stress and in hot weather people do get stressed, then comes the  tension headaches, it will help to relieve them, it will then aid your sleep pattern also improve your alertness by reducing fatigue. therefore helping to clear your thinking and concentration.

Neuromuscular Therapy also releases Endorphins and Dopamine, your bodies natural feel good factors, it will help you to have a better sense of well being, and for some people this can be essential, especially if you suffer from Depression or some of the other effect’s of over or under release of two very powerful natural chemicals in your body,  as it helps control your bodies natural release of your Endorphins and  Dopamine levels.

This lead’s me to one of the other benefits of Neuromuscular Therapy 

It can help you to feel great, in hot weather we feel sluggish, and although you ladies notice it more, guys also suffer from it, The Swelling in the legs,(Lymphedema) the heat affects our lymphatic system and as it has not got its own pump, legs do swell, massage can help reduce this swelling and help us feel less sluggish, and while we are on the subject of what you ladies and guys notice,

Give your Achilles Tendon a Bit of a Lift? Part 2

Further Problems/ Injuries that occur Paratenonitis is an acute Achilles injury causing inflammation usually due to overuse, affecting the Tendon Sheath or Paratendo “In really acute cases, the tendon can be a sausage shape, because of the severity of the swelling. This is a common one for runners especially after a long run. They may also feel stiffness and discomfort at the beginning of the run, but as you guys always seem to try to push through the discomfort. a word of warning “This will typically aggravated the injury, when you need to relieve it by rest please do so If left untreated, Paratenonitis will progress to the point that any running becomes extremely difficult.”

Further Problems/ Injuries that occur 

Paratenonitis is an acute Achilles injury causing inflammation usually due to overuse, affecting the Tendon Sheath or Paratendo “In really acute cases, the tendon can be a sausage shape, because of the severity of the swelling. This is a common one for runners especially after a long run. They may also feel stiffness and discomfort at the beginning of the run, but as you guys always seem to try to push through the discomfort. a word of warning  “This will typically aggravated the injury, when you need to relieve it by rest please do so If left untreated, Paratenonitis will progress to the point that any running becomes extremely difficult.”

The area approximately two inches above the Calcaneus attachment is most susceptible. In this area, the Achilles tendon does not have good blood supply or cell activity, so injury can be slow to heal. The tendon receives nutrients from the tendon sheath or Paratendon. When an injury occurs to the tendon, cells from surrounding structures migrate into the tendon to assist in repair. Some of these cells come from blood vessels that enter the tendon to provide direct blood flow to increase healing. With the blood vessels you also get nerve fibres’.

It is believed, that these nerve fibres are the cause of the pain. So while it is healing it will cause you a lot more pain, some say “It is like having an Arrow in your heel” Not very fair but unlike Achilles painful fate, you’re not going to die from it and there are things you can do to help yourself, but recovery from an sever Achilles tendon injury can take anything up to 12 or even 16 months, a long time if you are a runner that is why I always say “Early Intervention is better than long recovery time’s”

So what is Tendinosis? Well the point is most pain within the Achilles tendon, may be classified as Tendinosis. This may be because it involves tendon degeneration, whether it has inflammation or not. In addition, the tendon may become weakened and lose its structure. Aging plays it own part in this process, repetitive injury, or a minor trauma, through occupation or sports. Whatever the reason, “Without proper treatment and healing time, of the area Tendinosis will eventually progress to partial or complete ruptures, if you continue to put high pressure on them, that are physically demanding.

So what is Tendinosis?

Well the point is most pain within the Achilles tendon, may be classified as Tendinosis.

This may be because it involves tendon degeneration, whether it has inflammation or not. In addition, the tendon may become weakened and lose its structure. Aging plays it own part in this process, repetitive injury, or a minor trauma, through occupation or sports. Whatever  the reason, “Without proper treatment and healing time, of the area  Tendinosis will eventually progress to partial or complete ruptures, if you continue to put high pressure on them, that are  physically demanding.

What Can You Do To Help or Prevent Achilles Problems?

 

Let’s start with the obvious

Preventive exercises aimed at strengthening the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles,

This means,  repetitions of slowly raising and lowering the body while standing on the affected leg, (Calf Raises)   using the opposite arm to assist balance and support if necessary, starting with the heel in a hyperextended position. (Hyperextension is typically achieved by balancing the forefoot on the edge of a step, a thick book, or a barbell weight. so that the point of the heel is a couple of inches below the forefoot. You don’t have to wait till there is a problem to do this exercise use it in your regular stretches,

Don’t take on too much too fast, slowly Increase the intensity and the difficulty of an exercise and running program do not put strain on your Achilles.

An ultimate must here !

Always Use appropriate footwear. The more arch support, the less strain there is on the heel and associated muscles. Wearing heel pads to reduce the strain on the tendon, and remember, if you start to show signs that there is a problem occurring.

Don’t leave it and hope it goes away, you can’t run it off, and it won’t just go away.

Use Standard RICE Treatment with Ice, cold compression therapy then please seek help. Early intervention can save you from lots of problems later.

 If you have an injury and need more advice give us a call, but please don’t leave it.

A few weeks rest or less, from running is better than 12 months or not ever again. 

 

Give your Achilles Tendon a Bit of a Lift? Part 1

Achilles Tendon

He may have died in the Greek Trojan wars, this tendon is named after him, it is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body, but  to  to many a Runner it is synonymous to injury and be the cause of pain, most  know it as The Achilles Tendon. or the Calcaneal Tendon or the Tendo Calcaneus.

Over the years I have found myself treating many, Achilles Tendon Injures some, after surgery, but I am happy to see more people, getting treatment before the situation has deteriorated to the point that only option is that of surgery, I hope this information may help some of the runners to avoid.

Problems that Occur with the Achilles Tendon.

The Achilles is the tendinous extension of 2 muscles in the lower leg: gastrocnemius and soleus. It also serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles to the calcaneus (heel) bone, In humans, the tendon passes the  posterior of the leg to the ankle It is about 15 centimetres (6 in) long, and begins near the middle of the calf.

 The Achilles’ muscle reflex tests the integrity of the spinal root.  The tendon can receive a load stress 3.9 times body weight during walking and 7.7 times body weight when running. (Think about  that on your next run)  Achilles tendon ruptures are most likely to occur in sports requiring, sudden eccentric stretching, such as sprinting, also long runs pounding the pavement will do the job just as well.

Some of the Problems/ Injuries that occur Insertion Tendonitis This is an inflammation at the point where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone. When you have this problem you will have tenderness directly over the insertion of the Achilles tendon, which is commonly associated with calcium formation, or a bone spur forming just above the insertion point. You may also suffer a Retrocalcaneal bursitis; this is caused by movement-related irritation of the Retrocalcaneal bursa, the fluid-filled cushioning sac between the heel bone and the Achilles tendon. The bursa can become inflamed or thickened and stick to the tendon, because of overuse or repetitive loading. You will feel pain when squeezing the tendon itself or the space just in front of the tendon.

Some of the Problems/ Injuries that occur

Insertion Tendonitis This is an inflammation at the point where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone. When you have this problem you will have tenderness directly over the insertion of the Achilles tendon, which is commonly associated with calcium formation, or a bone spur forming just above the insertion point. You may also suffer a Retrocalcaneal bursitis; this is caused by movement-related irritation of the Retrocalcaneal bursa, the fluid-filled cushioning sac between the heel bone and the Achilles tendon. The bursa can become inflamed or thickened and stick to the tendon, because of overuse or repetitive loading. You will feel pain when squeezing the tendon itself or the space just in front of the tendon.

I know that retrocalcaneal bursitis are  associated with Rheumatoid arthritis ,but in most occurrences in athletes, only  one side is involved so may  not be associated with a “Systemic disease ” Please get this checked by your GP if you have any doubts”.

Tendonitis also involves pain in front of the Achilles tendon and a bony enlargement of the heel bone, known as Haglund’s deformity, which is referred to as a ‘pump bump.’ “Most cases of Haglund’s deformity will occur in ladies who wear high-heeled shoes, but runners are also prone to this sort of injury.

Painful shoulder injury then he came to Getfitstayfit Norfolk

Shoulder Trauma in Norwich

Norman had a very Painful Shoulder Injury.

He came to us after he had been struggling for 12 years, his body had adapted to his injury  and he tried to cope with it, compensating in things like turning his head , lifting his arm , putting on a shirt or jacket. “He believed he would just have to live with it”

Being a self employed man feeling he could not take time off work because he had a family to look after, Norman continued to work ,but was always in pain.

Don’t take it from us have a look at His Testimonial, how we helped him to get back to fitness, how he can turn his head again and how he now gets a good nights sleep something he had not had since the accident.