Preparing for winter sport

Some people find that the cold winter weather can play havoc with their joints and muscles, which is why it might be a good idea to visit a physiotherapist if you find yourself seizing up as the temperature drops. 

Even something as simple as shivering or the way we brace ourselves against the cold can lead to discomfort over time, so working with a physiotherapist can help you work through any cold-related pain you might be experiencing.

Physiotherapists can work with you to improve your posture and correct an unusual stance you may have developed after spending lots of time in the cold weather. When we are cold, we tend to tense our muscles to retain body heat, and this can make us more prone to sports injuries, especially if we don’t warm up correctly. 

You may need to learn techniques to warm up more efficiently and to continue playing the sports you love whilst avoiding worsening any existing injuries or creating new ones.

If you are interested in finding out more about how physiotherapy can help you continue to play your favourite sport safely throughout winter, please contact us today for more information about our physiotherapists.

Exercise and depression

The positive effects of exercise have been strengthened by a recent review of the latest evidence of papers related to depression and exercise. There was no conclusion as to the best types of exercise or whether there was any lasting effect if exercising stopped.

Comments made  included distinguishing between curative and useful activities. For instance having  pneumonia benefits from getting out to get more fresh air but it doesn't cure the pneumonia. Exercise in itself will not relieve depression unless it is done to a level that causes the release of endorphins  which would mean running at 6.5 to 6.7 miles per hour for 10 minutes; not often attempted by those suffering with depression.

To find out more about the physiotherapy services we can offer to help you with exercise, please contact us today for more information and to book an appointment.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;9:CD004366. Abstract

Barefoot running

Barefoot running is not a panacea for avoiding running injuries; we evolved to run barefooted but this does not make it best for everyone.
There are some theories as to why barefoot running may prevent injuries:
Humans evolved  to run barefoot so putting on shoes may alter the running form.
It may decrease the impact on certain parts of the leg and foot and increase foot strength.
The benefits remain unproven and injuries may be related to many factors including mechanics which vary with the individual. Just going barefoot may not alter the risks
There is a need for controlled prospective injury studies comparing shoes or no shoes and the need to understand how best to progress to barefoot running and gradual slow change with attention to posture and form will play their part. Start on a smooth hard surface. Run for about 100m and assess how you do. Progress from that

To find out more about the physiotherapy services we can offer to help you prepare for barefoot running, please contact us today for more information and to book an appointment.

From British Journal of Sports Medicine
http://bit.ly/16va98X

Getting ready for the ski season

If you’re heading off on a skiing trip this winter, it is important you’re in good shape. Skiing is excellent exercise for the entire body, but it can exacerbate existing joint and muscular problems, so it is important that these are treated before you head onto the slopes.

Seeing a physiotherapist is the best way to ensure you are in the best possible physical condition before you go skiing, and is recommended for everyone from first time skiers to those who have been skiing for many years.

Skiing can be very physically demanding, so if you have pre-existing sports injuries or have simply never seen a physiotherapist before, now could be a good time to take the plunge. You need to be relatively agile and able to respond quickly, especially when you reach the trickier ski runs, so it can be invaluable to have a physiotherapist help you with your posture and work through any potential joint issues that need addressing.

To find out more about the physiotherapy services we can offer to help you prepare for the ski season, please contact us today for more information and to book an appointment.

Ageing, sugar and living longer

Scientists have done work with small round worms on the matter of ageing. They have managed to make these worms live twice as long by partially disabling one of their genes-daf2. The worms appear to be healthy until the end. They also managed to shorten their lifespan by adding sugar which revved up their insulin pathway.

The link between ageing and diet makes sense if one understands that the daf2 gene activates receptors that are sensitive to two hormones, insulin and growth hormone. Too much sugar overstimulates the receptors. People who live to 100 are more likely to have a mutation in the daf2 gene. A drug that prolongs the life of mice is soon to be announced and the direction of this work may lead to drugs that allow us to live longer and healthier lives.

Observer March 2013 Discover in Review

If you're concerned about your own health or the effects of ageing then why not contact the Physio Therapy Centre to see how we can help?

Exercise,diabetes,weight loss.

Exercise helps to control glucose levels in patients with Type 11 diabetes and increases cardiovascular fitness. They also reduced their waist size!
Combined aerobic exercises with resistance training seems to be the most effective.
The exercise was brisk treadmill walking at 50% to 80% maximum respiratory fitness plus weight bearing exercises in the gym

Journal of the American Medical Society 2010

Physiotherapists and how we differ from other therapists

Here at the Therapy Centre we often get asked about the differences between a physiotherapist and a chiropractor or an osteopath for example, to help explain this we've added some new content which you can read by clicking the links above.

We hope that's useful and please don't hesitate to contact us if you've any questions at all about how we can help you.