Archive for July, 2005

Physiotherapy is the study or practice of the therapeutic use of physical methods or agents, such as remedial exercises, massage or electrotherapy
Physiotherapy is the treatment of injury by correcting and improving the natural healing processes of the body. This can be done in many ways but having an awareness that the human body will always attempt to heal itself, the physiotherapist can assist this process.
In recent times physiotherapy has developed combining its established techniques with those associated with other disciplines including osteopathy and chiropractic and many physiotherapists now offer acupuncture as an additional treatment. The physiotherapist often uses “hands on” treatment and offers remedial home exercises in an attempt to get the patient to take some responsibility in assisting their own recovery.
Physiotherapists have always been regarded as the “Gold Standard” in rehabilitation techniques and exercise prescription following injury. The NHS employs many specialist physiotherapists who provide treatment following accidents or surgery both in hospitals and the community.
Physiotherapy will soon become a protected title and only physiotherapists registered with the Health Professions Council may use the title Physiotherapist.

Sports injuries are no different in most cases to other forms of injury however, specialist knowledge and experience on how the sports injury can occur is very important. Specialist sports injury clinics are now frequently advertised but make sure you select experienced sports injury practitioners.
An awareness and understanding of biomechanics and forces exerted on the muscles and joints during sporting activity will enable the practitioner to be able to diagnose and treat mysterious symptoms that appear out of nowhere.
Sports injuries may occur from overuse or structural faults, which lead to weakness when the body is pushed to extremes during intensive sporting activity. If left untreated the sports injury will often heal badly with scar tissue creating adhesions to adjacent tissues.
This may lead to subsequent further injuries when returning to training.
Treating athletes needs careful consideration as they can push their physical capabilities to extremes and frequently sustain injuries. Accurate diagnosis, clearly structured treatment regimes and rehabilitation will promote swift healing, reduce the possibility of recurring injuries and help strengthen the affected area, allowing greater flexibility and increased range of movement
Sports injuries are mostly divided into overuse and trauma injuries and may be dependant if you take part in a contact sport. Lack of fitness and preparation is often one of the reasons sports injuries occur. Ensure a proper warm up and stretch before exercise and cool down and stretch the muscles following physical activity.
Advice on training, injury prevention and the ability to get the athlete back to fitness in the quickest possible time should be the focus of all sports injury practitioners

Remember
You should get fit to do sport - not do sport to get fit !

Osteopathy was developed by A.T.Still in the nineteenth century. He reasoned that God made man perfect. Therefore, seen from a mechanical viewpoint, if the body structure was in correct alignment and functioned normally, with no impairment to the flow of blood or nerve impulses, then optimum health would follow.
Osteopathy is a long established system of diagnosing and treating the structure and function of the human body. It involves the treatment of medical disorders through manipulation and massage of the skeleton and muscles.
Osteopaths use many diagnostic tools and procedures used in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis. The training of Osteopaths involves a 5 year degree programme and is now regulated by the General Osteopathic Council ( GOsC ) and is now well established and widely recognized as a mainstream medicine being recognized by all major private health insurance companies
Osteopathy is a safe, gentle and effective method of pain relief suitable for people of all ages. Many newborn babies receive Cranial Osteopathic treatment following difficult births, which can help symptoms of infantile colic, poor feeding and irritability.
Osteopaths are well equipped to treat low back pain, sciatica, slipped discs, whiplash and trapped nerves as well as joint pain, arthritis, headaches and muscular strains.
Your first visit to an Osteopath will involve a detailed case history being taken. This is followed by a physical examination of your muscles and joints and for this it is usual to undress to your underwear. On completion of the examination a diagnosis of your condition is offered and a course of treatment will be prescribed. If acceptable the treatment will then commence.

Many years ago the dentist was only visited when someone had toothache, but with advancement in dental care we now realise that prevention is better than cure

Regular checkups have resulted in less serious damage to teeth and gums and now
“ Teeth for Life “ is a real possibility for nearly all of us.

Following this example, the health of your back surely has to be a priority

Ask the people who have experienced acute back pain, sciatica, or a herniated disc. They know the severe pain and inability to function that these conditions produce and that they can persist for many weeks.

Pain is a red traffic light. It’s a warning sign that something is wrong and indeed it’s the body’s way of asking for help. Pain is not a normal state and if left unattended may develop into something more serious.

Your spine protects your central nervous system which controls everything that occurs in your body and if any spinal segments become mis-aligned then nerve impingement may follow. This can cause pain and restricted movement, muscle spasms, loss of function, numbness and pins and needles.

Have you considered a Maintenance Programme ?

A Maintenance Programme with check ups 4 times per year is sufficient to ensure correct spinal segment alignment in most cases and enables us to look after your back properly.

If you are interested in prevention of back and neck pain please speak to our receptionist who can give you more details.

This will depend on how acute your condition is when you make your appointment

If you delay your appointment until your pain is unbearable then swift intervention is needed to offer relief and manage your condition effectively

A higher concentration of treatments is much more effective than having your treatments spread out

In most cases treatment will be effective for 2-3 days
during which time your body will undergo changes in response to treatment. It makes sense at this time to introduce the next treatment in order to accelerate the healing process and obtain maximum benefit. A quicker resolution of your problem is therefore more cost effective

We recommend 2 treatments per week for the first 2-3 weeks

followed by weekly treatments which can gradually be spaced out until your condition has been resolved.

At Atlas we have a fast recovery reputation and many conditions are pain free within the first few sessions !

Once your condition has been resolved regular check-ups are advised to keep your spine and other joints functioning well.

Tamwoth female sustained sports injury to left knee during football game. Attended Atlas Sports Injury Clinic in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Knee injury diagnosed as medial collateral ligament sprain and physiotherapy from resident physiotherapist began.

Electrotherapy, soft tissue manipulation and rehabilitation exercises were given and a successful full recovery was achieved

Sports injuries are common in soccer and frequently involve the knee. Atlas Sports Injury clinic in Tamworth boast industry experienced physiotherapists and sports injury specialists to provide accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment. This enhances our reputation as the Tamworth Sports Injury Clinic with the fast recovery reputation.

74 year old Tamworth male presented with left knee pain which had developed during his training for his first triathlon. This was his first experience with an Osteopath who is a sports injury specialist. He attended the Atlas Sports Injury Clinic in Tamworth and received physiotherapy and sports injury treatment for 4 weeks before resuming training.

Treatment from a Tamworth Osteopath for an arthritic knee resulted in a swift return to training and a successful achievement of completing his first ever triathlon at 75 years of age.

30 year old Tamworth male presented with low back pain. He reported that previous treatment of physiotherapy, chiropractic and acupuncture had not resolved his discomfort in the past and he had been recommended to Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth to see an Osteopath. He had a previous history of Sciatica from a slipped disc 3 years ago.

Following a consultation with an Osteopath in Tamworth, diagnostic tests were carried out, and it was found on this occasion that the backpain which was located to the right hand side of his lower back was a sacro-iliac joint which was not functioning correctly.

The Tamworth man with back pain was treated with a combination of Osteopathy and Physiotherapy techniques and was pain free with full mobility being discharged after 4 treatments.