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Should I take painkillers?
Menopause Day
How to Avoid Soft Tissue Injuries
ITB Syndrome – What is it and how to treat it!
Osteoarthritis -What it is and how to manage it
Top 5 Bone Health Tips
MSK Annual Report – 2021
Physio Top-Tips for Office Workers / Working From Home
Take BACK Control of Your Back Pain
Should I take painkillers?
I often get asked by patients if they should be taking pain killers or not. Sometimes the answer is straight forward and sometimes it can be a bit more complicated. The simplified answer is, if pain is preventing you...
Menopause Day
Happy Menopause Day If you didn’t know, Tuesday 18th October 2022 celebrates Menopause Day. This is a topic we hear and discuss more and more which I feel truly helps us and the people experiencing the menopause....
How to Avoid Soft Tissue Injuries
With the last couple of years in the Covid pandemic, people have started picking up new sports, hobbies or activities due to not being able to go to the gym or putting on a few pounds with all the furlough and being on...
ITB Syndrome – What is it and how to treat it!
The word Iliotibial Band or ITB for short tends to get thrown around especially among the running community. But what exactly is it? Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is thought to be the most common cause of lateral...
Osteoarthritis -What it is and how to manage it
‘Wear and tear’. ‘Degenerative changes’. ‘Age-Related changes’. All phrases used to describe the same condition – Osteoarthritis (OA). OA is one of the leading causes of joint pain, with approximately 1 in 5 adults...
Top 5 Bone Health Tips
1: Move Your Body! As a physiotherapist, we know we do not stop talking about the importance of moving your body regularly and exercising. However, there is more to this than just a nagging physiotherapist.Did you know...
MSK Annual Report – 2021
The following data summary aims to demonstrate and quantify patient outcomes captured using the MSK-HQ over the period of 01/01/21 - 31/12/21 between admission and discharge. This data was collected from 514 patients....
Physio Top-Tips for Office Workers / Working From Home
Whether you’re an avid office worker or Coronavirus has forced you to work from home and now that might be permanent? Does your 9-5 leave you with no time for structured exercise? Since Coronavirus started, we have...
Take BACK Control of Your Back Pain
Have you ever suffered from back pain? Whether this is in the form of neck, upper or lower back pain. Are you suffering now? Have you just woken up one morning with back pain or stiffness? Or moved the wrong way and...
Could Shockwave Therapy Be For You?
Could Shockwave Therapy Be For You? Have you ever suffered from shoulder pain? Achilles pain? Heel pain? Tennis Elbow? Hamstring or Hip pain? And not known what to do? Or been told you have a tendinopathy? Or have you...
The Benefits of Walking
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic we were all asked to remain inside to prevent the spread of the virus and to help save lives. We were also told that we were allowed to go out briefly once a day to exercise. This...
Shoulder anatomy 101
Is that niggle in your shoulder continuing to get worse? Is the pain after an accident not going away? Are you noticing you can’t reach up into cupboards or wash your hair without pain? Shoulder problems are the second...
Could Acupuncture Help Me?
What is Acupuncture? The practice of Acupuncture originated in China. The ancient documents that support and explains the theory and practice are dated back 6000 BCE. For acupuncturists, who use a traditional theory,...
Strength and Conditioning –What it is and why we ALL would benefit from it!
When someone mentions strength training, bodybuilders, athletes and wrestlers probably come to mind. However, strength and conditioning can be a useful addition to improve everyday life and recovery from...
Return to Activity Post-lockdown 4 Top Tips
In this blog we will explore the best ways in which we can prevent injury and optimise our enjoyment in returning to our favourite sport or pastime after lockdown. Whether its football or golf, powerlifting or taking...
NHS or Private Physiotherapy -which route to go?
OK, so you have made the wise decision to see a Physiotherapist to get your problem addressed -well done! You finally want to get rid of those persistent aches and pains that are stopping you doing the things you want...
Why Good Communication is SO Important in Healthcare
Good communication is essential in any healthcare setting in order to ensure that you receive optimal treatment without unnecessary delays. At Thorpes we understand how frustrating it can be if you are struggling with...
Everything you need to know about: Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
Frozen shoulder can seem like a bit of an enigma and I regularly receive questions from my patients wanting to understand more about this rather unique condition. Here I have tried to answer the most common FAQs...
Top tips to avoid injuries as lockdown eases
As lockdown restrictions gradually show signs of easing, many of us are itching to get back to our favourite sport or hobby and are relishing the opportunity to meet up with a few friends for a kick about in the local...
I’ll be seeing you …
Social distancing is changing the way we do everything – no visiting family, no BBQ with friends in this glorious weather, businesses learning new ways to function, clash of the titans for a bag of toilet roll and a...
Newborn lockdown
So, it’s not quite how you expected to welcome the new member of your family! Dad’s on lockdown, panic buying in the shops, loved ones not yet able to visit you and your bundle of joy… New Mums regardless of this...
Top Tips on Posture and Preventing Neck and Back Strain
Following the mass exodus of office workers flocking to their homes a few weeks ago, many may have envisaged this as a short term way of working. As we look on, we realise that weeks are more realistically going to...
Are Video Physiotherapy consultations effective?
Online Physiotherapy Consultations Even though our clinic doors have had to temporarily close, all of our physiotherapists are logged on and set-up to provide one-to-one video consultations. You might be sceptical as...
6 Top Tips To Stay Healthy in Times of Uncertainty
In these current times of uncertainty we can find ourselves becoming worried or anxious about the unknown. This is a totally normal response, however staying positive is vitally important on a number of levels. It can...
A guide to Physiotherapy costs
One of the first questions potential patients want to know when they call our company is: How much does Physiotherapy cost? Although this is a difficult question to answer, I will try to do my best here to explain some...
Should I see a Physiotherapist, Chiropractor or Osteopath?
Before answering this question let’s look a question I get asked all the time ‘What is the difference between a Physiotherapist, Chiropractor and Osteopath’? I’ll be honest, this can be a difficult question to answer...
ViMove Low Back Assessment
Here at Thorpes we have cutting edge technology wireless sensors called ViMove, which we use to help people with various things, including Back Pain. These sensors are used by Manchester United and the British...
Calling all runners! 6 Easy steps to running success!
Are you fed up of getting injured all the time? Whether you are a seasoned pro or are new to running, this post is just as relevant all the same. Firstly we need to look at a break-down of the most common reasons for...
Top Tips to Ease Plantar Fasciitis
What is plantar fasciits? Plantar fasciitis or fasciopathy is a painful condition of the sole of the foot often characterised by pain on the middle underside of your heel. The plantar fascia consists of thick and...
My Pilates
In recent years, Pilates has become recognised as one of the most effective ways to maintain an active and pain free life. Thorpes Physiotherapy APPI Clinical Pilates courses, takes you from the first steps to a real...
The Importance of Strength Training
On a daily basis we deal with people who have aches and pains or who are injured. One over-riding component that contributes to a lot of the problems we see is a LACK OF STRENGTH in the individual. Think...
Do You Do 150 minutes Of Exercise A Week?
A recent study into physical activity in adults found that 26% of females and 19% of males were ‘physically inactive’. Physical inactivity is described as doing less than 30 minutes of exercise a week and is a...
What is Hydrotherapy and can it help me?
Hydrotherapy is a series of exercises performed in water often lead by a qualified Physiotherapist, with the aim of providing a therapeutic benefit. How does it work? As hydrotherapy is performed in water, the...
Muscle ‘knots’ and how to treat them
What are muscle knots? Muscle knots, also known as trigger points, simply describe an area of muscle fibres that have become tight and contracted at rest. In healthy muscle tissue, muscles fibres should contract with...
Easy Ways To Ease Shoulder Pain That Keeps You Up Late At Night
Let’s talk about shoulder pain, the one thing that gets on most people’s nerves because they don’t know what to do about it and think it’s just something they have to get on with day in, day out… Meet Mike for example…...
Why people aged 50+ are more prone to injuries at Christmas (and what to do about it!)
The Christmas season is fast approaching and with it comes things like office parties and family gatherings… Usually involving lots of alcohol, lots of food and chocolate and days sitting around on the sofa because...
Why Back Pain Can Get Worse In The Winter
Winter is now upon us, the evenings are darker and the weather colder. Whilst I love this time of year there is something that can creep up on you unexpectedly – back pain. In fact, this is something that many men...
New year goals – Make them SMART
It’s at this time of year that people have made their new year’s resolutions. Quite often this involves getting fitter, or starting up a new hobby such as running. Most people can relate to going to a gym in January...
Making sure you stay fit and healthy over the holidays
It’s approaching that time of year; where most people will overindulge in food and drink, lose their normal routine and motivation to keep active. It’s noticeable in January the sudden increase in people who come to...
Throwers Shoulder
I am a big fan of my cricket so I thought that we would talk about a common cricketer’s complaint known as “throwers shoulder”. This is not just limited to cricket though; it can be caused by throwing the ball for the...
5 reasons why early Neurological Physiotherapy is Important with Parkinson’s
We must remember that a positive difference can be made to people who have lived with Parkinson’s for a number of years. But the question we are regularly asked is, why early Neurological Physiotherapy is so important?...
5 areas Neurological Physiotherapists work with Parkinson’s patients
Every patient is an individual, we take the time to assess each patient not only at the first session but also throughout the duration of treatment, and to ensure the programme we develop is right for each patient and...
The Rotator Cuff and its importance in preventing shoulder pain
The shoulder region is a complex but fascinating area of the body. Pain in the shoulder is also a common reason people come to clinic. It is made up of the upper arm bone (humerus) and socket which it sits in, known as...
Why do my knees click? The Patellofemoral Joint explained.
Knee pain is a very common complaint in both the sporting and non-sporting populations. Patellofemoral Joint (PFJ) pain is one of the most common causes of knee pain. It generally involves patients reporting pain on...
How to use a Foam Roller
What is a Foam Roller? The foam roller is made of hard celled foam rubber, and is available in different sizes and varying hardness. They are now available in a variety of different models but the traditional...
5 Easy Ways To Ease DIY Aches And Pains
I've lost count the number of times that patients have injured themselves doing DIY or gardening - Its so common. I’ve therefore put together some actionable tips for you – so muscle strains, and unexpected injuries...
Tendon Pain – What Causes It and How Do We Get It To Go Away?!
Tendon pain is a very common reason for people to come to see us in the clinic. Classically, everybody thinks about the Achilles tendon, as that is the most famous. But, often shoulder pain is caused by problems with...
Hip Pain – What You Need To Know!
With Andy Murray returning from a hip injury, we thought it would make sense to discuss the main causes of hip pain and how physiotherapy can help. Hip Osteoarthritis Hip osteoarthritis is an inflammation of the joint,...
Low Back Pain- Do Not Fear!
Lower back pain is a very common health problem worldwide, and the most common cause for people to come and see us at Thorpes Physiotherapy. Statistically speaking, 90% of us will experience an episode of lower back...
Cruciate Knee Injuries: What you need to know?
Following recent cruciate knee injuries to Marcus Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United, we thought that we would discuss the anatomy and how physiotherapy can help in such cases. Cruciate ligament injuries...
Is it safe to exercise with a bad back?
Below is a very common question that we get asked all the time:- “Is it ok to exercise when my back is hurting? '' I get the frustration, and I also know that the thought of doing any movement at all when you’re going...
5 Different Ideas for Healthier Valentines Day
Take a hike Getting some fresh air with a nice daytime hike is a great way to spend quality time with your significant other while getting in some good exercise. Getting outdoors is known to boost your mood as well as...
Eating for bone strength and recovery from injury
There can be many different reasons for bones to fracture, for example osteoporosis characterised by a low impact fracture with no obvious damage to skin or tissues. Or a high energy impact fracture which would be...
Ice or Heat?
A very common question we get asked is do I use ice or heat for pain? Well the question depends on the injury and here is a simple way to work out which you need: When to Ice – acute injuries such as a sprained ankle...
A Pain In The Heel!
Today we are focusing on one of our most commonly seen injuries – Achilles pain. Achilles pain or tendinopathy is a condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness of the Achilles tendon that joins your heel bone to...
How to prevent Hamstring Injuries
Hamstring injuries are the single most common injury in professional football, as well as being the second most common injury in rugby. With the Premiership football season starting up again this weekend, we thought it...
The Importance of Healthy Joints – A Nutritional Therapist’s View
There are many different reasons for stiff and painful joints. One of the two most common causes are rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. From a Nutritional Therapy perspective these conditions can be managed through diet...
How do I know if my bike is set up correct?
Reach – This is a little more variable to measure as everybody has different levels of flexibility and strength, not to mention the type of bike you are using. The main points that you need to remember when adjusting...
The 5 ways to BEAT Tennis Elbow!
With Wimbledon now in full flow we thought this would be a good opportunity to give some top tips in preventing / treating tennis elbow! Tennis elbow is the common name for an injury to the muscles and tendons on the...
Kinesio Taping
Kinesio Taping The Kinesio Taping Method is a rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without...
Stay Strong Avoid Ankle Sprains
Stay Strong Avoid Ankle Sprains The ankle joint has three bones that are precisely shaped to interlock and give stability. Strong bands of connective tissue called ligaments reinforce the joint and help hold the bones...
Heel Pain
Heel Pain Stand Firm – Don’t Let Heel Pain Stop You Plantar Fasciitis is a common overuse injury affecting the sole or flexor surface (plantar) of the foot. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis means you have inflamed the...
Golf Injuries
The most common golf injuries occur in the lower back, elbows, shoulders, hands and wrists. Injuries can occur during golf as a result of overuse or trauma to a region. The impact and stress of repetitive motion of the...
Computer Tips
Computer Tips How you use your computer can be a major cause of back, neck and shoulder pain. Poor posture while sitting at the computer and lack of regular breaks and exercise can all contribute to the problem. Here...
Travelling Tips
Travelling Tips Everyone loves a holiday, but who doesn’t start a holiday feeling a little exhausted? However when that cabin door closes, slumping into your seat and ordering a few drinks and eating your way through...
Safe Lifting
Safe Lifting The lifting and moving of objects is a common cause of pain and injury to your lower body. The low back is often put at risk, the neck and the shoulders can also be injured. You can protect yourself...
Ankle Sprains
Ankle Sprains Ankle sprains, particularly ligament sprains are one of the most commonly treated injuries and are extremely common in sports that involve rapid changes in direction such as netball, football and...
Instructions for Using Crutches
GENERAL INFORMATION You have been given crutches so that you can rest your injured leg. You should wear a shoe with a non-slip sole on the uninjured foot to prevent slipping. The handle of the crutch should be level...
Corked Thigh
What is a corky? A corky is a bruised muscle that results in bleeding into the muscle. As with a skin wound with ongoing bleeding, the treatment of choice is compression with an elastic bandage – not a crepe bandage as...
Shoulder Injuries
The shoulder is a very important joint in many sports such as racquet sports, swimming and ball sports. It is an extremely mobile joint and relies on good muscle control to maintain stability. Repetitive movements...
Hamstring Strains
Hamstring injuries are the most common soft-tissue injury to the thigh, and are often seen in runners, especially sprinters, hurdlers and long jumpers. They also occur in sprinting sports such as football and hockey,...
Core Stability
To attain total fitness, an athlete must possess “core stability” – the ability to use the muscles to keep the body’s separate sections stable. In order to perform ballistic movements – such as running, throwing and...
Chronic Knee Injuries
Chronic Knee Injuries can affect many athletes, from the professional who trains twice daily to the Saturday morning netballer. The pain and dysfunction can be debilitating, and can lead to extended time off sport....
Acute Knee Injuries
Whether you play sport socially or professionally, a knee injury can cause significant pain and dysfunction. Acute knee injuries are one of the most common sporting injuries seen by Physiotherapists, and they can...
Food Supplements
There are arguments both for and against many food supplements. The following outlines some of the most common food supplements on the market. Creatine For: Creatine is a naturally occurring compound found in meat and...
Groin Pain
Groin Pain Groin pain in athletes, both recreational and professional, provides a huge diagnostic challenge. The groin, defined as the region between the trunk and hip, is a complex region; a defect in one part having...
Low Back Pain
Low back pain is very common in the community and can affect workers, sports people, new mums, older people, even young people! Many sports people suffer from low back pain particular those who ignore the early warning...
Podiatry for Athletes
Biomechanical Gait Analysis Sports injury, acute or chronic, can easily develop from poor biomechanics of the foot. Biomechanics is a broad area within Podiatry, which involves a detailed evaluation and analysis of...
R.I.C.E.D
The most important time in the treatment of soft tissue injuries is the first 24-48 hours immediately following the injury. When soft tissue is injured there is also damage to the blood vessels in the area and this can...
Shin Splints
‘Shin splints’ is a commonly used term to describe pain experienced along the inner border of the shin. The term is a very general one, and in fact involves a number of specifically different pathological conditions. ...
Sports Massage
Every athlete knows that a massage feels great, and can be a welcome reward after a hard training session. However, sportspeople need to understand how regular massage can assist in recovery and help aid performance....
The Importance of Water
Many people are living in a state of perpetual dehydration and are, without realising it, putting their health at risk. Water does much more than just keep us alive, however many are still getting most of their fluid...
Why Stretch?
Stretching relaxes the body and improves flexibility. As athletes, it should be part of your daily life. Stretching: Reduces muscle tension and enhances relaxation Helps co-ordination by allowing for easier movement...
Golfer’s Elbow
Golfer’s elbow — also known as medial epicondylitis — is pain and inflammation on the inner side of the elbow, where the tendons of the forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of the elbow (medial...
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are a type of overuse injury. These tiny cracks in your bones develop when your muscles become fatigued and can no longer absorb the shock of repeated impacts. When this happens, the muscles transfer...
Arthritic Joints
What is arthritis? Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. It causes pain and usually also limits movement of the joints that are affected. There are many kinds of arthritis. A type called osteoarthritis (also...
Whiplash & Associated Disorders
Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD) has been adopted as the definition of acute or sub-acute neck pain. WAD may result from car, workplace or sporting accidents. What are the common signs and symptoms of WAD? The...
Migraines & Headaches
Migraines happen when blood vessels of the head and neck spasm or become narrow (constrict). Minutes to hours later, the blood vessels enlarge (dilate). When they dilate, they fill with blood, which causes more...
Save Your Shoulders – 4 Simple Tips
Shoulder problems are a very common injury we see at Thorpes, its only back pain we see more of, so I thought I'd give a quick review of some simple ways to avoid shoulder pain. 1. Limit Overhead Exercises Many gym...
Ankle Mobility Exercises to improve Dorsiflexion
Limitations in ankle dorsiflexion can cause quite a few functional and athletic limitations and can lead to knee disorders as well as foot and ankle problems. This leads to the desire to perform ankle mobility...
Is your headache coming from your neck?
Whether it's a pounding in the temples, a dull throb in the back of your head or a shooting pain with noise and bright light; headaches are a disabling and painful occurrence, especially if they happen often. Headaches...
Stretching
This is my first blog and I was thinking of what might be a good starting topic for discussion. It makes sense to start with a key aspect of fitness and that is flexibility. I hold to the theory that we need to be able...
What does a Sports Dietitian Eat? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
"You must really watch what you eat" Here are 3 basic practical things I remember at each of my main meals to practice “moderation” (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner). This way of thinking leaves me feeling satisfied and...
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Should I take painkillers?
I often get asked by patients if they should be taking pain killers or not. Sometimes the answer is straight forward and sometimes it can be a bit...
Menopause Day
Happy Menopause Day If you didn’t know, Tuesday 18th October 2022 celebrates Menopause Day. This is a topic we hear and discuss more and more which...
How to Avoid Soft Tissue Injuries
With the last couple of years in the Covid pandemic, people have started picking up new sports, hobbies or activities due to not being able to go to...