Aches and Pains: book review

Tim’s current reading material is Louis Gifford’s books, Aches and Pains. This is a series of books written by one of the leading lights in physiotherapy and pain science who unfortunately passed away a few years ago. He has a lot of weight as a voice in current physiotherapy having trained with the “big names” of the last century – being obsessed with the biomedical model, and yet he has progressed onto a much wider and more inclusive view of physicality and pain science. The books are written in a very personable style, and are much easier to read than a normal … Continue reading

Training vs Rest

The problem with training hard for any sport is that once you get to a certain point, you aren’t necessarily getting healthier. You may be getting fitter, but healthy? Perhaps not. Alongside this, the warning signs are there, but are mainly ignored. As athletes we know that training again and again, putting ourselves back into the hole, is the best way to adapt, to become better, faster and more competitive. When we finally over-reach ourselves, something gives. Something breaks. Our ability to compete, or even train, goes down and we are faced with potentially a long, slow road to recovery. … Continue reading

Physio Exercises

Patient: I saw a physiotherapist previously and all they did was give me exercises. Physio: Did you do them? Patient: Errr. Not really.   Not that there is anything wrong with this approach. In the past I’ve been a patient and have gone through exactly the same process. It was partially because of laziness on my part, but also because of a lack of understanding, and a lack of buy into the process of getting better and healing in general. (and also the massive amount of exercises that I was given, and the fear of doing them wrong and exacerbating … Continue reading

I’m injured, will rest just make it go away?

Injury. It’s pretty rubbish. Unfortunately when you get injured, it doesn’t always take the same amount of time to heal, nor does it manifest itself in the same way as it does in others. It’s not the same as a bit on your car or bike breaking down – why is this?   Variables The injured tissue Every different type of body tissue takes different amounts of time to repair. Even in muscles, different bits of muscle take different amounts of time to heal. Have you injured a tendon, the junction between the muscle and the tendon, the main part … Continue reading

Spine Mountain Rescue Challenge Talk

We would like to say a BIG thank you to the crowd of people who gathered in Old Glossop last night to hear Tim talk about his experience of running the Spine Mountain Rescue Challenge – 108 miles up the Pennine Way in the depths of winter this January. All monies raised from entry to the talk are going to Glossop Mountain Rescue Team (£90) and the money from drinks and homemade cakes goes to the scouts for loaning us the venue. For a full account of Tim’s race and preparation for it he wrote several blogs over on TestedToDestruction. Lynne wrote … Continue reading

Never Underestimate The Influence Of Exercise on Depression

A long while ago I had some time off work – signed off with depression. The ‘D’ word is less dirty these days. Back then, I literally hid away at home in case I bumped into someone I knew and didn’t have a limb hanging off, for the unseen illness surely didn’t exist! That attitude didn’t help me at all, and staying in a self-imposed locked up four walls meant I did little exercise. I had no appetite for it anyway. The self-perpetuating circle of gloom fueled itself merrily. Yet, had the doctor prescribed a 60 minute brisk walk daily (even better … Continue reading