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Arthritis and OsteoArthritis can occur in any joint in the body

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis – such a common diagnosis for so many people and so many joints. But what is it? Arth – joint Itis – inflammation This can happen to any joint in the body –any point where 2 bones meet, and this includes each disc of the spine as well! Sometimes we are given more complicated names for specific joints or conditions: Osteoarthritis – when the cartilage within the joint has…

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Knee surgery - total knee replacement, arthroscopy, ACL - getting a good result

Knee Surgery – getting a good result

I don’t think it will surprise anyone who’s met me or read my blog that  in my opinion surgery is to be considered the last resort, the thing you do when you’ve tried everything else or things have got so bad there just isn’t another option. But if you are at that point then I think it’s important to get the BEST results possible. These points apply for all kind…

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chronic knee pain and how to manage it

Chronic Pain – Part 3

In my first post about chronic pain I explained the difference between chronic pain and acute pain and how pain functions in the body. In my second post I talked about central sensitization and how this complicates treatment for patients with chronic pain – making them, quite literally, feel more pain, more easily with less stimulation. So now I want to put this in a real life context. Knee Surgery…

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Video Gait and Pressure Analysis

Gait Analysis and hip osteoarthritis

In the past I have jokingly referred to gait analysis as a way to predict the future. I can watch you walk, analyse your foot function and be pretty certain whether you will have hip, knee or ankle pain in the next decade. Foot function rarely alters, it gets worse but if you have high big toe impact at 18 the chances are you will continue to have high big…

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Anatomy of the hips - hip pain can be difficult to diagnose

Hip Pain

The hip or acetabilofemoral joint includes over 70 different ligaments, tendons, muscles and bones and is (with the shoulder) the most flexible joint in the body, slightly different in men and women. Where’s the pain? Confusingly, the area that most of us refer to as our hip is actually the pelvis bone. The hip joint itself is deep into the groin. So “true” hip joint pain is usually felt as…

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knee pain can be treated with Magnetic Resonance Therapy, physiotherapy and video gait analysis

How effective is arthroscopic surgery for the knee?

Arthroscopy – one of the most common surgical options for arthritic knees. A procedure that most patients with knee pain have been offered at some point in their process. What is an arthroscopy? This is a “keyhole” surgery procedure where an arthroscope camera is inserted through a small incision in the knee, allowing the surgeon to view the inside of the knee. The surgeon can then use other micro instruments…

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The A to Z of knee pain

The A to Z of Knee Pain

The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most complex, making it a very vulnerable joint! It is made up of 4 bones, more than 20 muscles each with a tendon, 4 major ligaments as well as many little ones, and at least 3 layers of cartilage. Arthroscopy An operation to “clean” inside the knee joint. Results of recent studys report that arthroscopic surgery is…

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Getting the knee straight is CRITICAL for knee problems

How Straight is your Knee?

Again and again you’ve heard me stress the vital importance of a proper clinical assessment when you have knee pain. One of the KEY factors in a knee pain assessment (because we have to check it is a knee problem and not a hip or foot or lower back problem – they all cause knee pain too!) is examining knee extension – basically how straight you can get your knee.…

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gait analysis for runners - is it critical?

Gait Analysis for runners – is it that important?

I’ve just been reading a really fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal of all places! Not my usual paper by any means but this particular article caught my eye. Edit – my apologies, it seems that for some people this article might be behind a pay wall. I’m not quite sure how I was able to view it for free but I do apologise for any frustration! I have…

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Bodyworks WORKS

A holiday from knee pain

One of the things that always surprises me is how few places offer Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MRT or MBST) despite the fantastic results. I genuinely don’t understand it. But it seems to have an international reputation . . . . judging from my multi-national patients. The fact that the therapy can be condensed into a 2 week period also helps those of my patients who travel to Marbella to have…

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