Category Archives: Sports Massage

Hope Wakes Fell Race

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For the third year in a row we were invited, and went over to Hope for the Hope Wakes fell race to help out with post race massage for the runners. We have had a cracking time there every year, and this was no exception. I decided that running it was not going to be an option this year, courtesy of a slightly twisted ankle at the weekend, so settled down to watch. There was again a record turnout of well over 250 runners, so registration and the start line were crowded. Stuart Bond won the race again, and broke … Continue reading →

U is for University

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Well, that went rather quickly. I have now passed my first year of a Physiotherapy BSc. It wasn’t even 12 months ago that I decided that would be a course which I would take, and life has certainly been different – and a lot busier, than I expected it would be this time last year. I have learned a lot about research methods, evidence based practice and have come to look at various issues that I see from a slightly different perspective than I did before I started the course. My knowledge of skeletal anatomy has certainly come on a … Continue reading →

T is for Thrombosis

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Thrombosis is a blood clot that forms within a blood vessel and restricts blood flow. There are various causes and types of thrombosis, here we look at DVT – Deep Vein Thrombosis: What is DVT? This condition occurs when a vein is blocked by a blood clot. The risk factors leading to it can be many, including physical trauma, varicose veins, local infection, reduced circulation, immobility, pregnancy/childbirth, some types of cancer, surgery, certain contraceptive pills or other factors such as smoking or cardiovascular disease. Signs & Symptoms The most common things are pain, heat, redness, localised itchiness, swelling and the … Continue reading →

Q is for Quadriceps

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As the name would imply, the quadriceps muscle group has four muscles: rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis. These muscles are what we commonly know as our thigh muscles, and are responsible for extending the knee (i.e. straightening the lower leg) – and also providing a braking force when running downhill or stopping suddenly. Rectus femoris also flexes the hip – as it attaches to the pelvis (at the anterior inferior iliac spine). Rectus femoris and vastus intermedius are situated down the central portion of your thigh and act on the knee centrally with power when extending … Continue reading →

Soigneur at Gent-Wevelgem Elite Womens Cycle race

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I was invited by my good friend Jody, lead therapist at Home Massage in London, to spend this weekend helping him out as a soigneur with the Breast Cancer Care Cycle Team. For the Ghent-Wevelgem race, the team consisted of 5 riders, Julie Leth, Anne Ewing, Ella Hopkins, Jane Barr, and Joanna Rowsell, who was guesting for the team. With the way the weather was, snow, cold temperatures and general mayhem in Britain, it wasn’t overly certain that the race would be held, however, we needed to be over in Belgium, just in case it was going to go ahead. … Continue reading →

O is for Overbreathing

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“Proper breathing at all times is important. If breathing is not effective, the ability to exercise is compromised. Breathing patterns, both functional and dysfunctional, are a direct link to … mood, feelings, and behaviour. Especially when working with athletes, the breathing function may be a causal factor in many soft tissue symptoms.” Sports & Exercise Massage, Sandy Fritz. With dysfunctional breathing, the muscles which attach onto the ribs will frequently become shortened, and incorrect upper chest breathing patterns result. The outcome of this can be chronic overbreathing and overbreathing pattern syndrome symptoms. Which, as Sandy Fritz states so well in … Continue reading →