Case Histories

Case History 1

22 year old female who runs 30 miles per week, wants to increase training for London Marathon but has had a three month history of calf pain which is not responding to Sports Massage and is limiting her training.

Physiotherapy assessment found that the affected calf was both weak and tight but these symptoms were being generated by weakness in the buttock and abdominal muscles causing tightness in the lower back and inflammation of the nerves that supply the calf muscle.

Treatment: Acupuncture, personalised exercise programme to restore muscle strength and flexibility to spine and legs. Three, weekly sessions at a total cost of £107.00. After which time the runner was able to run without pain and increase her training to desired level.

Case History 2

Relief for Back pain Suffers

Back pain is increasingly common in today’s society, with a high percentage of us suffering at some point in our lives.

With progressive effective physiotherapy care, based on extensive research, the spine can be protected from recurrence of problems and modification of lifestyle can be kept to a minimum.

Needless to say, ongoing treatment can be expensive both in money terms and time away from work.

Current physiotherapy trends focus on prevention of back pain by careful exercising aimed at stability of an otherwise vulnerable spine.

Exercises for the back do not have to involve attendance at fitness centres, but can be tailored to the individual, aimed at high effectiveness with the minimum of effort.

For the sporty individuals who suffer back pain, it is not always necessary to stop playing sport which can be psychologically a frustrating experience. Back care can go hand in hand with continuing sporting activity.

Here are 10 rules which if obeyed should reduce the likelihood of low back pain;

1. Stretches regularly - in sport - stretch every day, if not 2-3 x a week, change positions frequently.

2. When sitting in car for long periods or at a desk
• hamstring stretch
• pelvic tilts
• weight transference
• stretching arms above head
• walking around at regular intervals

3. Abdominal work - sitting in car or at desk, correct posture facilitation muscles by gently pushing down on the dashboard or desk (with straight elbows)

4. Workstation should fit you, not you fit the workstation.

Overhead - Remember to organise books and file close by etc, over stretching tight muscles can cause injury.

5. Check your own home environment,
• support from chairs
• work surfaces at a correct height etc

6. Avoid repetitive movements - discs become damaged with repetitive movement or with poor maintained postures e.g gardening - picking up patio slabs or packing case at awkward height and then lifting it when full.

7. Take regular exercise - walking is good to encourage postural muscles.
• smoking reduces blood circulation to all parts of the body e.g discs.

Benefits of Activity & Movement

• bodies systems are enhanced by good circulation
• it supplies tissues with all chemicals needed
• if body emotionally stressed your body is vulnerable if these systems are not being
   maintained.
• best way to keep circulation flowing efficiently is with exercise.
• this encourages the heart pump and the muscle pump into action.

8. Remember that your body and its muscles are adapted to the postures/activities you habitually use, therefore when it comes to doing one off activity e.g -
• decorating the hall
• the first game of badminton in years
• the parents race at school
you will be using muscles which maybe tightened or shortened as a result of poor posture and are likely to be easily injured.