If you have pain in the knee or back you probably think something is wrong with your knee or back. In most cases this is probably correct but sometimes the brain gets confused making you think that one part of the body hurts when in fact, the real source of trouble is elsewhere. This curious (and clinically important) phenomenon is known as referred pain. I’ve been talking a lot lately…
4 out of 5 people will experience back pain. Chronic lower back pain is becoming a big problem affecting over 18 million people in the UK preventing many from working. So what is the solution? Lumbar Fusion Surgery? The Backcare Charity states that; “Very few people require back surgery. Such surgery is only essential when there are extreme symptoms such as a paralysis of the bladder and bowel or loss…
With Easter / Semana Santa coming many people are driving long distances – either home for the summer or arriving here for the warmer weather. And long distance driving often results in back pain. Are you sitting comfortably? The seats themselves don’t always help – lowered, tipped back seats make the legs too straight, placing strain on the hamstrings, pelvis and lower back. The neck then tilts forward to look…
The wonderful, glorious thing about medicine is that it is constantly improving and changing. But it means that keeping up to date on what really works is a job in itself. A British Medical Journal article once estimated that family doctors needed to do 60 hours of reading a WEEK just to have a broad understanding of the changes involved. And that is literally life and death. Is it any…
Your body works as a whole unit. A team. And that “work” of moving you forward still needs to be done even if one part doesn’t function that great. So another area picks up the slack. And when that part of the team doing the extra work gets too tired? You get pain. Now, if this is the situation it doesn’t matter how much fabulous treatment you get in the…
One of the best and worst things about modern medicine is that it moves so FAST! The “best” treatment a year ago can, in the light of new research, become not just outmoded but dangerous. We are learning all the time. The science of treating back pain A recent series of papers published in The Lancet has caused quite a stir in the medical profession as it basically demonstrated that…
Today is Valentine’s Day! It is the season of love! So to celebrate Bodyworks are having LOVE YOUR BACK month from 14th February to 14th March! In my opinion one of the best and easiest ways to love your back is a few regular sessions on our amazing Mobiliser. I often use it with my patients either before or after a session with me or as part of an MRT…
ACL issues are common in many athletes, professional or keen amateur – sudden twisting, over extension, falls, a bad landing or sudden stops . . . these can all cause ligament injuries. And only 1 in 3 patients return to their sport. That seems to me a worryingly LOW number. What is the ACL? A ligament is the fibrous connective tissue that joins bones together in a joint. The ACL…
Often people with back pain are told that their “core” isn’t strong, that they should “strengthen their core” to relieve their back pain. What is your core? Roughly speaking, when people refer to the core they mean the muscles between the base of your ribs and your hips: The pelvic floor muscles transversus abdominis multifidus internal and external obliques rectus abdominis erector spinae (sacrospinalis) especially the longissimus thoracis the diaphragm the latissimus dorsi gluteus maximus trapezius Is your…
Back pain is estimated to affect most adults at some point in their life. It is also one of the leading causes of time off work. So here are a few tips to help if it strikes: ICE – a pack of frozen peas will do. Always wrap it in a damp tea towel to protect your skin. Use it for 10 minutes every half hour. TOILETS – If you…