Category Archives: physiotherapy

Tendinopathy – or How I understand Jill Cooks podcast

By | | ,
Comments Off on Tendinopathy – or How I understand Jill Cooks podcast

Professor Jill Cook is a physiotherapist, a clinician and a scientist, she is deputy editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine and is, quite frankly, a legend. This is my take, and a simplification for the time starved on the British Medical Journal podcasts delivered by Jill Cook – you can listen to the originals by following these links part 1 and part 2. Lets break it down from the beginning… What are tendons? Connective tissue made from Collagen that attaches muscles (contracting tissue) to bones (levers). they don’t just connect, they store and release energy to provide efficient movement. What is a tendinopathy? … Continue reading →

Chief Medical Officers Report: Women in Health

By | | , ,
Comments Off on Chief Medical Officers Report: Women in Health

11 December 2015 saw the publication of the Chief Medical Officer’s annual report on Women’s Health. The report “contains analysis of, and recommendations on, a range of women’s health issues, including obesity, cancer and reproductive health.” We were very pleased when we learnt that the CMO had focused her report on women’s health, and tackled head on some of the topics which are often shied away from in public, such as menopause and incontinence. This report is of great interest to us. The main themes she looked at are: obesity and its impact on women’s health, including reproductive health women’s health … Continue reading →

Why do I have a Personal Trainer?

By | |
Comments Off on Why do I have a Personal Trainer?

Yes, that’s right. I may be a qualified personal trainer myself but I do have someone help me with my own training.  When I tell people this I get one of two responses – either a puzzled look followed by “Really? Why?” or a nod of understanding and questions about what they get me to do. The most common response is the first one, so realising I have been baffling some people I thought I’d explain my reasons… Accountability Because we have regular check-ins my training is kept on track. Adjustments to the plan can happen instantly taking into account … Continue reading →

Who’s the expert in buying running shoes?

By | |
Comments Off on Who’s the expert in buying running shoes?

I warn you.  This is a rant. I was recently in a well-known store that sells running shoes and happened to witness a lady wanting to buy running shoes. Great. It’s approaching the start of the new year, maybe a resolution has been made and it includes getting fitter/being healthier or some such goal related to why someone may take up running. Superb. Good on her. However, what I witnessed was nigh on bullying from the shop assistant who looked too young and to be frank (going by the state of his own trainers) lacking in knowledge and expertise fit … Continue reading →

Rehabilitation when Injured: 3 tips to coming back stronger

By | |
Comments Off on Rehabilitation when Injured: 3 tips to coming back stronger

A couple of weeks ago I woke up on Sunday after two days of decent running mileage wearing a rucksack to find that it was painful at the bottom of my achillies tendon. It hurt to put weight on my left foot, it hurt to walk, it really hurt to walk down stairs. Two months out from The Mountain Rescue Spine Challenger*, it wasn’t exactly the greatest of things to assist my preparation. Thankfully, I had a decent amount of resources at my fingertips, and a good amount of information in my head to help me out. Here’s my tips … Continue reading →

Acupuncture in Physiotherapy

By | |
Comments Off on Acupuncture in Physiotherapy

Recently I had the opportunity to go on a Continual Professional Development course for Acupuncture in Physiotherapy. It was the first of a two weekend course run by the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists as a foundation into the principles of both Western and Eastern acupuncture, and how they can be integrated into general practice. It may seem odd that I went on this course, despite offering dry needling as a therapy for the past couple of years. Although I went on a dry needling course three years ago, and I was quite happy with my technique and results, when I trained, … Continue reading →