School starts again here and packing that backpack with all the stuff they “just can’t live without” plus what their teachers’ need them to have . . . . it can suddenly be heavy bag. Style is everything A back pack is always the best style as they distribute the load across the strong back and shoulder muscles. If you can convince them to use a hip strap as well,…
It’s always interesting what prompts people to take action. What one movement that hurt which made them make an appointment. Interestingly many people are unbothered that their knees hurt when walking long distances but, when they start to have pain going up and down stairs – this is a big problem. So why are stairs a problem? When we are walking on a flat surface our knees don’t have to…
When my daughter was little there was a ritual at this time of year – the annual trip to Clarks Shoe Shop to buy sensible shoes for school. As she grew older this inevitably turned into something of a battle but, unsurprisingly given my feelings about feet, I won for a long time! The time the assistants spent, making sure that the fit was right for the shoe, the arch…
Frozen shoulder, rotator cuff, bursitis, impingement . . . shoulder pain can come with a lot of different names and root causes. But there are some common themes – difficulty raising your arm overhead, difficulty working or doing your sport, problems sleeping and, of course, pain! But what happens when you’re not making progress? When the pain and difficulty moving continues? Pain Perception I’ve spoken before about chronic pain and…
Few things are more frustrating for a runner than shin splints. They’re painful, restrict your movement and training and seem difficult to treat. What are Shin Splints? This is a useful “catch all” term for pain in the leg below the knee. But true shin splints are painful on the inner part of the shin. Although the pain starts intermittently, running and walking may quickly become extremely painful. If you…
With the Olympics just finished we have had plenty of chances to see “perfect” bodies. But did you know how many Olympic athletes past and present had scoliosis? Usain Bolt – Jamaican runner (you may have heard of him?!) Alexandra Marinescu – Romanian gymnast Jon Olsen – swimmer for the USA Jennifer Thompson – swimmer for the USA, one of the most decorated Olympians in history What is Scoliosis? Scoliosis is a term used…
I love this old fashioned name for Plantar Fasciitis and heel pain. It goes well with the “flat foot” description of a policeman, as it is often associated with . . . flat feet! What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar – relating to the sole of your foot Fascia – A sheet of connective tissue around muscles and organs in the body ‘itis – inflammation So we have inflammation of the…
As a fairly new convert to the iPhone I’m in awe of how easily kids pick up technology. Even toddlers can now work smartphones and tablets with amazing speed and dexterity. But as working adults we are all aware of the toll technology can take on our health: Migraines Tension headaches Carpal tunnel Tennis elbow Shoulder / Neck pain Tingling or loss of strength in your fingers or arms Breathing…
If you have pain in the knee or back you probably think something is wrong with your knee or back. You see your doctor, perhaps get an X-ray or MRI scan. But what if these investigations don’t show a problem? You still have pain in your knee but your doctor is saying there is nothing wrong. Or worse, you receive a lot of treatment (sometimes including surgery!) but make no…
Another lovely interview with our friends at The Euro Weekly News as part of their Costa del Success series. What an honour to be considered successful! Estelle Mitchell founded The Bodyworks Clinic in 2004, for 12 years she has offered physiotherapy, health screening and a number of innovative treatment options focusing on non-surgical options. Having been on the Costa del Sol through good times and bad we asked Estelle for…