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As an Osteopath, I use a whole range of different techniques when treating runners with injuries. These include soft tissue massage and joint articulation (specific joint movements to reduce stiffness). It is largely accepted in research that massage techniques can reduce joint stiffness and persistent pain1, 2, 3. What isn’t so well understood is how massage techniques achieve this.
The Carpal Tunnel is a part of the human body – it runs from the lower wrist to the bottom of the palm. It is made up of a number of bones and other connective tissues. There are also a number of tendons and a big nerve that run through it, which, if injured, can cause pain.
Headaches whereby the pain often originates from the cervical spine, and moves up to the neck and shoulders, are known as cervicogenic headaches. They are in most instances a result of whiplash. In other instances, individuals might have had neck injuries or experienced trauma to the muscles. This is often due to prolonged bad posture or even extreme stress.
Knee pain is a common complaint. There are many people who experience this problem at some time or another. You have to make sure that you know a number of things in relation to the problem. The importance of having the requisite information regarding the health condition cannot be overstated. There are many causes of this pain, which can occur unexpectedly.
It is almost impossible to discuss in depth the causes and nature of numerous injuries related to sports. It is also not easy to provide all the detailed treatments of any of the injuries marathon runners experience due to their extensive nature. You should therefore have a medical expert take care of your needs when faced with challenges related to sports. Marathon injuries are numerous and can take various forms, making everybody’s experience different.
People have different activities they enjoy the most. Some physical activities are good for us, yet some of these special exercises could pose problems to particular body parts if performed incorrectly. Specifically, Runner’s Knee is a common issue recurring in those who love to jog.
Pain caused by injury or pressure to the sciatic nerve is known as sciatica. This nerve is the biggest in the body. It starts from the back of the pelvis and goes down the back of both legs. This article looks at how this type of pain can be treated and managed effectively, along with prevention strategies. It is always helpful to seek medical advice when dealing with an injury or affliction.
With the advancement of technology, many solutions can quickly remedy exercise-related or physical-type accidents. Healing comes about much faster when the problem gets attention sooner rather than later. However, costly trips back and forth to doctors can cause added mental and financial pain. In order to get rid of annoying pain from tennis elbow and continue living a normal life again, it is worthwhile seeing a specialist such as an Osteopath or Physiotherapist.
Pain in your wrist might be very frustrating. It is often caused by a number of things. Wrist pain/Carpal Tunnel is one of the major causes of such aches.
This guide to marathon running and injuries will assist runners in taking care of the most common injuries after running a long-distance race.
Suffering from pelvic pain? Read on to learn about pelvic torsion and how to deal with it!
The internet and health: there is a wealth of information on the internet regarding health and the body, allowing people to become more body conscious. The level of information given can be exhaustive and often confusing to someone who is not familiar with medical terminology. While it is a very good thing that people have become more body and health conscious, it can also allow people to self-diagnose. Often, some people can panic as the diagnosis they have reached themselves can seem daunting or severe. Quite often, the problem is not as sinister as it seems. In addition, a lot of problems can be solved by speaking to the right person who can explain and inform a patient on their problem, the level it has reached and the anatomy and physiology that causes their discomfort.
One medical condition that is experienced by many women is symphysis pubis dysfunction. This condition is related to pregnancy and birth. It causes a lot of movement of the pubic symphysis (the connecting ligaments that join the two halves of your pelvis), both lateral and anterior. There is a lot of pain associated with this condition due to the movement of the pelvis. Here is more important information in regard to this issue.
What is Achilles tendinopathy? What can be done about it? Here we reveal all!
Ten top tips to keep you injury-free on the ski slope! Don't go without reading them!
We often hear clients say, ‘I wish I had come to see you sooner; I just thought the pain would go away on its own’. Here we discuss why pain sometimes persists, and why getting treated early is beneficial.
Are you a runner? Do you have, or have you had, knee pain? We could have a solution to this pain…
Perfect Balance Clinic are proud to announce that along with their Olympic status they have now been awarded the status of an official clinic of the 2012 Virgin London Marathon. There are very few clinics in London and Hertfordshire that have been awarded the status so we are very excited to be part of the preparations for the 2012 Virgin London Marathon.
We are proud to annouce that not only are we proud affiliates of the Virgin London Marathon but we have been linked with the Elite Sprint Group 'v.locity'. The group comprises Jodie Williams (World Junior 100m and 200m Champion) and Desiree Henry (current World Junior 100m and 200m World Champion) as well as a few other major players in the world of sprinting.
Perfect Balance Clinic are proud to be affiliated with the sprinting academy V.locity, who are dedicated to maximising potential in young sprint athletes, Desiree Henry and Jodie Williams. The group, which includes world-class coaches Mike Macfarlane (former coach to Dwain Chambers, John Regis, Tony Jarrett and Julian Golding) and Stan Midiri, seem to have the secret formula to producing athletes of 'world champion' status, boasting two world junior 100m and 200m athletes, Jodie Williams and Desiree Henry. Our services to the team include consultation on performance, injury prevention and biomechanics, as well as Pilates, Osteopathy and Sports Massage Therapy.
Do you know the difference between dry needling and acupuncture? Here one of our osteopaths explains both techniques and how they can help with muscle pain.
Do you know how to get the best out of your gym sessions? Here, one of our physiotherapists gives you some handy top tips to help you with your time at the gym.
We are excited to be able to launch our new sports injury and rehabilitation clinic in Hatfield. The clinic boasts a fantastic new range of services especially designed to complement the popular services we already provide to the local area of Hatfield, St Albans, Knebworth, Radlett and Harpenden. Included in the new services are the pilates and rehabilitation services. Feel free to come along to our open day on the 17th and 19th of November to share in this exciting time.
Pilates has long been used for the benefit of people suffering from different forms of back pain. It is impossible to know how back pain will respond to pilates unless it is diagnosed correctly in the first instance. Many people are advised to go and seek pilates from their GP in the hope this will alleviate their back pain or help them to manage it. This article examines the role of pilates and looks at why it is useful for those suffering with back pain.
Come down to our clinic in Hatfield and have an extensive examination to look for any ski-specific weakness areas that may cause injury on the slopes. If any problematic areas are identified, then you will be given an individual exercise programme to correct them.
You may often hear a practitioner diagnose a client with a pelvic torsion (twisted pelvis) on the right or left. What is a pelvic torsion (twisted pelvis)? How is it determined and what can be done about a twisted pelvis?
Here, we discuss the importance of women wearing the correct sports bra during exercise following statistics that suggest 41% of 20–35 year olds do not wear sports bras.
Our Sports Massage Therapist discusses adolescent athletes and anterior knee pain, describing two common conditions and explaining possible treatments.
One of our Osteopaths discusses osteoporosis and explains how diet and exercise can help.
Here one of our paediatric Osteopaths explains 'flat head syndrome': what causes it, what to look out for and how osteopaths can help.
One of our Osteopaths discusses the neuromuscular condition piriformis syndrome, its symptoms and how osteopathy can help.
Perfect Balance Clinic have been invited to take part in the huge Celebrity fundraising event for Leighton Cook, who was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Neuroblastoma in June 2010, four days after his third birthday.
Psoriasis is a common skin condition that can affect anyone. Here our Sports Massage Therapist explains the various types of psoriasis and how diet can help.
Do we really train our core muscles at the gym? Our rehab consultant tells us how to!
Do you find your movement a little restricted in your spine and shoulders? Here, our rehab consultant takes you through a step-by-step routine to help get things moving easily again.
Here we discuss the advantages of hydrotherapy and how it can help with injuries. Hydrotherapy has been around for years and has many health benefits. Here we focus on the particular application of returning to sport and exercise after injury.
Here, one of our Sports Massage Therapists, Lucy Georgiou, discusses tennis elbow and what can be done to help it.
There seems to be an ever-increasing number of people coming through the clinic door in both St Albans and Moorgate. The complaint? Headaches.
Massage is defined as mechanical manipulation of the body’s tissues with rhythmical pressure and stroking for the purpose of promoting health and well-being. Sports massage has been used for centuries in an attempt to prevent and cure injuries due to its biomechanical, physiological, neurological and psychological mechanisms. Listed here are the beneficial effects of a sports massage on the body and why it should be incorporated into a recovery phase after exercise.
The foam roller is a fantastic piece of kit that should be used in any workout programme. This exercise improves core stability and abdominal strength without putting pressure on the lower back. Joe Reemer explains.
Perfect Balance Clinic Team Up With ASICS At Our St Albans Clinic, Monday 18th July 18:00–20:00
Perfect Balance Clinic at David Lloyd Hatfield, Health Awareness Evening, Tuesday 19th July 17:00–20:00
Our Sports Therapist discusses Sesamoiditis.
Perfect Balance opens its new clinic on Harley Street for summer 2011! This will be the sixth clinic for the experienced specialists in osteopathy, who also offer healthcare services in physiotherapy, podiatry, sports massage, cranial osteopathy and sports therapy.
Many people see the cool down as a waste of time or unimportant. In reality the cool down is just as important as the warm up phase of an exercise workout and vital if you want to stay injury free!!
During any rehabilitation programme we try to mimic the everyday movements that we need during our day to day living. This involves twisting, bending, picking things up and squatting.
When did we lose the ability to squat? A move that, as a child, learning to walk or playing we did everyday. Lets take a look.
Arguably the most important part of our series on how to perfect you running technique. Brought to you by the sports injury and physiotherapists in Hatfield and St Albans.
Struggling to contract your stomach muscles correctly? Try this exercise to regain the correct abdominal bracing position. It's a great way of building abdominal strength, and is also a stress-relieving technique as you're filling your lungs with beautiful air and taking two minutes to relax yourself!
Running along hard surfaces can cause pain in joints, but does this cause damage in the long run? Many of the clients I see are trying to better their fitness through running, but the high-impact from running on roads is causing them pain.
Strengthen the glutes and lower back with this exercise.
Choosing the correct running shoe is a very difficult thing. Many people rely on what they are being told in sports shops by using treadmill gait analysis...
In the clinic we see many people who have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Although we do not directly treat Rheumatoid we often have to be aware of the disease as it poses some interesting clinical questions as to how we can help people that are in pain that have Rheumatoid arthritis.
This seems to be the question on every bodies lips! All my patients, both in St. Albans and Moorgate, seem deeply confused as they watch me stretch Kinesio Tape around their shoulder, or their knee etc. I hope this article will shed some light on the subject, and answer a few of your questions.
Scottish researchers say sooner may be better when it comes to conceiving after a miscarriage. In a study published in the 28 August 2010 edition of the British Medical Journal, researchers found that women who conceived within six months after having a miscarriage had the best outcomes in their subsequent pregnancies.
The third part of our series comes to you from our sports injury specialists in hatfield and St Albans.
It is of no surprise given the great demands that dancers put their bodies under, that injuries within this artistic discipline are so common. In the 2002 in the second national inquiry into dancers’ health and injury in the UK, 80% of dancers who responded to the questionnaire had incurred at least one injury in the last 12 months (Laws, 2005).
So, a smartly dressed man or woman has come bounding down from Human Resources to give you a lecture and demonstration on how you should be sitting at your desk. If they haven’t – should you be going to find them anyway?
Following on from the prone cobra, this exercise is fantastic at preventing lower back pain and muscle tightness in the lower back. Great for anyone who is sitting at a desk all day, and then drives home.
If you are anything like me, when a big event has been on it inspires me to go and give it a try. This week I played snooker for the first time in years from watching it on TV, and tirelessly trying to perfect my golf swing from watching the Golf a few weeks back!
With the Summer fast approaching, and the need for the beach body becomes greater, many of us are starting the gruelling regime of achieving the perfect six pack.
As I and all the other die-hard cricketers limber-up and get ready for the season ahead...BEWARE! Side strain affects both batsmen and bowlers (although, the latter more-so). It could also mean you missing out on up to 8 weeks (most likely the entire English summer) of cricket. So I ask you, is this worth the risk?!
Many people don’t realise, but Osteopathy is suitable for babies and children. Whilst they may not get the same types of injuries and problems as adults, babies and children, commonly get into difficulties as the body grows and develops through out the first stages of life.
Over the last two weeks I have seen many clients who are suffering from lower back pain and rounded shoulders from sitting at their desks for 9 hours a day.
Back Pain affects 24.9 million people a year; with Sciatica being one of the most common problems. The sciatica nerve is the longest in the body, it runs from the lumbar spine, though the back of the pelvis, buttock and down the back of the leg into the foot. Sciatica is the name given to any irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve.
Most people will be thinking about the big day, when they will be conquering 26.1 miles of great British Turf, having done their hours of training. Spare a thought for those people who haven't had enough time to train and have left preparations till the last minute.
The second part to our 5 part series on Perfecting your running, Brought to you by the sports injury specialists in Hatfield and St Albans.
This Weeks exercise of the week follows on from our series of exercises to help improve our core stability for running and single leg sports, as well as improving your general sore control.
Perfect Balance Clinic Mother and Baby Clinic were invited to take part in the Watford Bump and Baby show in watford this afternoon. A good time was had by all especially Joe Reemer who got to show off his birth coaching skills...
Breastfeeding can boost child intelligence. A new study has found that breastfeeding a child in their first six months has a significant, positive effect on brain development through their school years.
This exercise helps improve glute strength and stability around the Pelvis. Great for runners and people who do sports or activities which involve single leg strength.
Joe Reemer, one the Perfect Balance Rehabilitation Consultants, brings you the latest in our series of Exercises of the week.
At Perfect Balance clinic we believe in providing clients with as much information on their conditions as possible
Perfect your running technique. I don't know about you but when I first started running i thought 'this is easy', and quite rightly you probably think the same thing too
The training programme for a distance runner will need an increase in calories during the hard training period, the increase can be in excess of 4000 calories per day...
At Perfect Balance Clinic we have compiled a list of the most common injuries for marathon runners and the do’s and don’ts to promote a speedy recovery!
Our Sports Massage Therapist Rachael Owen counts down to the 2011 London Marathon, her first ever Marathon! Learn how she has been coping with training for the biggest race of her life.
Marathon training season is upon us, those of you who have registered to take part in this year’s London Marathon will be busy training as much as you can...
Zumba is a new craze that has taken over gyms across the country, having been around for the past few years in America, Zumba has now hit the UK in a big way!
The stability ball has been an essential tool used in the physical conditioning industry since 1965 when Swiss physical therapists began using it to help their patients develop balance and maintain reflex response.
The Ki System includes a clinically proven 'multi sensor' armband that monitors your body through a sophisticated variety of physical parameters.
Do you know how long you should be warming up for before you exercise or go for a run? Have you ever stretched for 2-3 minutes and then gone in straight for a 5k run?
The British Nutrition Foundation ran a website poll in Autumn 2010 entitled - What do you think is the most important thing to do to lose weight? See what answers people gave...
Cranial osteopaths feel for this fluid rhythm and use it as a way to diagnose the stresses, strains and areas of discomfort within the body.
Many people talk about core stability and how a healthy core means a healthy body, but if you don't have time to get to the gym how can you improve your core stability?
Most people assume tiredness is down to a lack of sleep or because they are too busy, but there are other components which could be instrumental in your lack of energy.
What simply began as a method of relaxation to the ancient Egyptians has now turned in to a modern day phenomenon, speeding up the healing process of an injured limb.
Is your child suffering from symptoms we could help? Read this article to find out how we can help children at Perfect Balance Clinic.
Following our article on '
Common Golfing Injuries', here we provide a follow-up article to advise how you can prevent these injuries affecting you.
We are often subject to achy joints and muscle pulls when we haven’t partaken in any sort of physical activity - whether it be a gym session or moving house.
January is the time to re-establish yourself with your regular exercise regime, create perfect balance in your work/home life and feel good about yourself after the festive feasts.
As most people will be using Christmas as a time to take a break from work, this will hopefully provide you with an opportunity to rest your body and recharge your batteries.
Our clinic locations will be open on the following days over the Christmas and New Year period, with normal opening hours commencing from 3rd Januray 2011...
On 3rd December 2010, Stephen Makinde travelled to Dallas, Texas to meet Olympic Gold Medallist and Former World Champion Michael Johnson.
Perfect Balance Clinic have been selected to join the medical team of both the St Kitts & Nevis and St Lucian athletes, who will represent their countries at the 2012 Olympic games.
Shoulder Impingement includes a group of conditions also known as trapped tendons, tendonitis, and bursitis.
The great advantage of Pilates is that it combines mobility, strength and flexibility, in order to work on your body’s posture, balance and stability using your own inner strength.
Skiing isn't just about your technique, it's about your level of fitness too! You may be confident in your ability off the slopes, but is your fitness level good enough?
Each year the Sport Magazine recognises who they think are the ‘Big Guns of British Sport’.
Stuck in a running rut? Now that Cross Country season is upon us, why not enter a race to give yourself a challenge? Here are some ideas of good local races...
Our Osteopath Diego Bresciani will be providing first aid assistance and sports injury osteopathy for Team 2 players at Amersham and Chilterns Rugby Club
This two-part special written by our Osteopath Diego Bresciani, helps to identify and explain the most common injuries and problems suffered by golfers.
Drivers who fail to wear seatbelts correctly are at risk of injury according to the British Osteopathic Association (BOA).
Our resident Sports Therapist Lara Inge will be swapping our clinic rooms for Wembley Stadium this weekend, when Saracens 'Aviva Premiership Rugby' team take on Leinster in a Heineken Cup match.
Rotator cuff tears may result from direct trauma to the shoulder joint, such as falling on the shoulder, or from chronic overuse
Last night Perfect Balance Clinic co-hosted the first ever David Lloyd Hatfield, club Health Awareness evening.
The biceps tendon is a very common cause of pain in the front of the shoulder. It commonly affects those with poor shoulder mechanics (see article on shoulder pain published 20/08/2010), poor posture and those who repeatedly overuse the tendon such as tennis players and new mothers!
Shoulder injuries are one of the most common injuries presented to our clinicians at perfect balance clinics. They can range from tightness in the neck and shoulder region, muscular aches in the shoulders and more complicated bio-mechanical problems.
Stephen Makinde talks through the many problems that occur when suffering from common whiplash sprain to neck muscles and ligaments, providing useful tips to aid fast recovery
Perfect Balance Clinic has introduced Senior Citizen discounts
Stephen Makinde gives you 5 simple steps you can follow to prevent you from suffering with a bad back... Click here to find out more!
On Sunday 18th July, Lara Inge our Sports Therapist will be providing both First Aid and Sports Therapy to the 24 teams taking part in the Harriers ' Four Play' Volleyball Tournament, in association with Volleyball England.
The most common types of neck injury include whiplash, wry neck/torticollis and cervical spine slipped discs.
On the 1st July we will be opening our 6th location at Fitness First gym in St Albans Hertfordshire.
Lee Valley athletics track is the home of UK:Athletics and most of the UK track and field athletes competing in the up coming Olympic games.
Muscle injuries are one of the most common traumas occurring in sports, their frequency varying from 10-55% of all sustained injuries.
Running is a great way to keep fit and to stay in shape. However, due to its repetitive nature, and the impact stresses it can have on the body, injuries can sometimes occur.
Podiatry is the science which makes sense of the way lower limb
biomechanics inter-relate with the rest of your body.
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