Archive for June, 2006

Runners Knee is a common sports injury in runners

Solihull Sports Injury Clinic have expertise in treating this condition in runners and can provide a speedy return to running.

Runners Knee

This is a knee pain condition which presents as pain on the outside of the knee joint. It is commonly seen in distance runners or winter training where increase in distance is involved.

The knee pain is generally eased with rest, but as you run further the pain will return and get progressively worse. You may be aware of a clicking sensation as the knee bends and straightens which could indicate a tight IT Band.

The Ilio-Tibial Band (ITB) is a straplike band of tissue that runs down the outside of the upper thigh and attaches to the outside of the lower leg just below the knee. The ITB is a lateral stabilizer of the knee joint and protects the knee from unwanted sidewards movement.

If the runner runs off road, runs on a camber for long periods or is an over pronator, then this can lead to a tightening of this band via contraction of the tensor fasciae latae. Once this band tightens, the act of bending and straightening the knee will force the tight ITB to flick over the lateral femoral condyle.
Repetitive movements such as running long distances will eventually irritate the tight band and create an inflammation and tenderness which will be very painful.

The ITB is very difficult to stretch due to its location, but icing the inflamed area, reducing mileage and addressing the cause of the irritation will assist the recovery of the condition. Manual Fascial stretching may be needed to stretch the ITB in order to gain a faster recovery time but ultimately a reduction in mileage is necessary to allow the inflammation to be treated.

Careful management during the treatment phase will get fast results and make sure you enlist the help of sports injury specialist with knowledge of running injuries. Solihull Sports Injury Clinic in Hockley Heath, Solihull between Stratford on Avon and Birmingham have such expertise and also have a clinic in Tamworth, Staffordshire. Headed by Sports Physiotherapist and Osteopath John Williams, Solihull Sports Injury Clinic will get runners back running again. More information on Running injuries can be found by visiting their website www.solihullsportsinjuryclinic.co.uk

Tamworth Weight Loss Success forAtlas 10K team member.

Tamworth based Johanna is showing an example to anyone that exercise and controlled intake of calories is the way to lose weight and get fit.

50 year old Johanna Smith has introduced a lifestyle change which has taken her from smoking over 60 cigarettes per day and weighing 16 stones at a height of only 5 feet 1 inch tall. losing an incredible 4 stones and stopping smoking completely Johanna has been an inspiration to the Tamworth members of the Atlas 10K squad and is currently in training to run the Lichfield 10K race in September.

Johanna is currently running regular sessions of 5 miles at a time and is well on track to complete the Lichfield 10K course in September.

Johanna Smith Profile

Name: Johanna Smith (aka Honey)
DOB: 15th May 1956
Height: 5′1″
Highest weight: 16stone (2003)
Weight at joining Atlas team: 14st 2lb
Weight now: 10st 2lbs
Weight lost on Atlas 10k squad training – 4 stones

In 2003 i stopped smoking and going from 60+ cigarettes a day to nothing caused me to gain alot of weight. I yo-yoed up and down with different diets but managed to lose 2 stone on the Mayo Clinic Diet which was a crash diet. Then my daughter joined weight watchers and asked me to go with her, so i did. A couple of weeks later my daughter saw the Atlas advert in the paper and went along to the meeting. When she got back she explained that although the advert had said you had to be over 17stone as long as you were obviously overweight you could join. I was so unfit that i could not walk 10mins without being out of breath and was coming up to my 50th and wanted to be fit and fifty not fat and fifty! So i joined the team too. I was really pleased that i was able to do this with my daughter, she (being heavier than i am) gave me the inspiration to keep going with it. We’ve both come along way from being able to run only 100 meters to today running 5 miles.

Solihull Physiotherapist John Williams is working with Endurance Champion Paddy Doyle to take on all comers in America. New York is the venue for the 5 Hour Fitness record attempt on August 5th 2006.

Paddy will be putting his body through a punishing 5 hour fitness regime where he will do the following back to back events.

1 Hour Static Cycle

1 Hour of Star Jumps

1 Hour of Step Ups carrying a 40lb Back Pack

1 Hour Speed March on a Treadmill with 40lb Back Pack

1 Hour standing Chest Press holding a 30lb Plate

Paddy is hoping for a head to head confrontation with American record breaker Rob Powell to determine once and for all who is the best of the best.

Solihull and Tamworth Physiotherapist and Osteopath John Williams has pledged his support to Show jumping Star Robert Smith. Robert will now gain access to treatment should he need help with injuries and muscular aches and pains.

Solihull Sports Injury Clinic is headed by Sports Injury Specialist John Williams and he is involved more and more with riding injuries looking after the likes of professional event rider Jo Aston.

Many social riders take falls and receive shoulder and back pain injuries from both riding and stable management and should seek help before the condition becomes chronic. Injured riders are holding themselves back and will never achieve their true potential as the horse is very sensitive to the riders posture.

Riding is a very physical sport and fitness to compete at the top level requires that you are at your best.

Common injuries to riders are trauma injuries from falls and shoulder pain. Stable management injuries such as back pain when carrying buckets or cleaning of stables are commonplace and will affect riders, especially if competing at dressage events where any weakness in the rider will be transferred to the horse.

At Solihull Sports Injury Clinic we have the expert knowledge of injuries and back problems and can help riders improve. Call us on 0800 1953 916 or visit our website www.solihullsportsinjuryclinic.co.uk

Tamworth Back Pain and Sports Injury Clinic recruits a new Sports Massage Therapist.

Tamworth Osteopath and Sports Physiotherapist John Williams is delighted to announce the arrival of another team member at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Tamworth.

Sports Massage Therapist Jen Cockayne joins the Atlas team to provide Deep Tissue Remedial Sports Massage for Tamworth Clients. Evening appointments are available for sports injury prevention and deep tissue sports massage

Jen is an experienced therapist having worked with Coventry Rugby Club and Old Silhillians Rugby Club teams
and is also currently involved in one to one personal fitness training.

Jen is available for Sports Massage treatments at the Tamworth Clinic by appointment. Telephone 01827 59943

Tamworth Holistic Therapist Hazel Hancox has joined the team of practitioners at Atlas Pain Relief Centre in Lower Gungate, Tamworth Town Centre in Staffordshire.

Hazel will be offering treatments in Hot Stone Massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Sports Massage.

Hazel will be in charge of developing the relaxation side of Atlas Pain Relief Centre business and will be able to provide treatments on saturday mornings as well as during the week.

Hazel joins Atlas on 22 July 2006 and bookings can be taken now by telephoning 01827 59943

Tamworth Osteopath and Sports Physiotherapist pledges Sports Injury support for Tamworth athlete

Tamworth Osteopath and Sports Injury Physiotherapist John Williams of Tamworth based Atlas Pain Relief Centre is delighted to be able to provide support for Tamworth Athlete Meghan Beesley. !6 year old Meghan is one of the many up and coming stars at Tamworth Athletic Club coached by Trevor Marsay.

Meghan will team up with Atlas who are based in Tamworth Town Centre and she will receive the support and experience of their Sports Injury and Sports Massage team who will work to keep her in tip top condition on her progression to the very top in Athletics.

Meghan who has just set a new championship record for the 400 metre hurdles competed against older opposition in the under 20’s age group. This was an amazing performance as she had only run this distance on 3 occasions before and was competing against much older and more experienced athletes. Clocking 60.14 Meghan won the event and set new figures for the under 20’s 400 metre hurdles.

Meghan will now represent Britain in the World School Championships in Greece at the end of June 2006 and receives the best wishes from all at Atlas.

Solihull Back Pain Clinic Osteopath and Physiotherapist reviews Facet Joint involvement in muscle spasm and low back pain 12-6-2006

Solihull Back Pain Clinic for Back Pain in Solihull www.solihullbackpainclinic.co.uk

Low Back Pain and Lumbar Facet Joints

What are the facet (zygapophysial) joints?

The facet joints are synovial joints which help support the weight and control movement between individual vertebrae of the spine.

The facet joints work together alongside the intervertebral discs to form a functioning working unit. The facet joints direct the plane of motion at each vertebral segment which is dependant on their angle and orientation.

Throughout the spine the angles and orientations differ which alters the possible movement allowed in that area. The facets have an articular cartilage and articular capsule which allows movement but provide stability.
Facet joints have a nerve supply from two levels, one branch arises from the nerve root at that level and the second from the level above. When functioning correctly, facet joints move freely controlling the movement of the spine.
Facet joint pain may arise directly from the facet joint either from inflammation or nerve impingement.

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms associated with this condition are adjacent muscle spasms which can pull the patient’s spine out of alignment, leading to a guarded posture.

Often patient’s will report “i just bent over to tie my shoelaces and my back went and i couldn’t move”
The usual acute attacks of back pain involving facet joints occurs suddenly with no warning. It can appear dramatic and patient’s are in much discomfort and cannot move very well.

The spasm of adjacent muscles is the human body’s way of protecting the area. It tries to prevent you from moving and incurring more damage. Symptoms can vary a great deal and be confused with bulging discs or other disc related disorders as it often referrs pain into the lower extremities.

The traditional facet locking syndrome may lead to an acute attack but can be successfully treated by releasing the offending joint and restoring normal function. This should only be attempted by suitable qualified practitioners following the correct diagnosis. At Solihull Back Pain Clinic our Osteopaths and Physiotherapists can identify this cause of low back pain and muscle spasm and correct it. For examination techniques and prescription home exercises visit www.solihullbackpainclinic.co.uk

8-6-2006

Atlas 10k team member who has left the UK to be a holiday travel rep has contacted us to say ” keep up the good work and i will continue training abroad and join you all in September 2006 to run the Lichfield 10k race with you “

Trisha that is fantastic news and we look forward to seeing you.

The remaining squad of dedicated runners now have a few months left to improve their fitness and achieve a remarkable result. Its a shame that certain individuals have dropped out, because they too could have joined us. Success is never easy and when tough goals are set it needs a special determination and a strong will to succeed.

I am disappointed that the Birmingham Childrens Hospital has fewer representatives now and that the individuals who generously donated their time and efforts have fewer success stories than expected, however
lets concentrate on positives.

Everyone who took part was introduced to exercise and its benefits.

Teamwork and comradery was seen by everyone who trained with us

We still have team members who will achieve the feat of running a 10k race

On a personal note i wish to thank everyone who has supported us so far and congratulate those who are still working hard and turning up for training. Although this has been a tough assignment in time management for me, i will stick with it until the race in September. If we only get one person to line up at the start line wearing the Atlas 10k shirt i will be very proud of what they have achieved.

I couldn’t do this without the support and help of the inspirational Tom Dixon our 76 year old Tamworth Triathlete who leads the way in training for us. Thank you Tom!

7-6-2006

Back Pain for Solihull Stamina World Champion

Solihull Sports Injury Specialist John Williams helps world endurance record holder Paddy Doyle with his low back injury. Back pain can interfere with training and develop into more serious conditions if not treated correctly.

Solihull stamina record breaker Paddy has pushed his body to the limit during numerous record breaking feats and relies on the expert advice and treatment from Solihull Osteopath and Physiotherapist John Williams and his team at Atlas Back Pain Relief Centre which has clinics in Solihull near Birmingham and Tamworth Staffordshire.

Solihull Back Pain Clinic offers Osteopathy which is an alternative treatment to Chiropractic from Chiropractors. Acupuncture, Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy combined with Deep Tissue Sports Massage make Solihull Back Pain Clinic the place to go if you suffer Sciatica, trapped nerves, bulging discs, slipped discs, whiplash, muscular twinges or muscle spasms.

Paddy Doyle is a regular visitor to the solihull sports injury clinic for maintenance and injury treatments.

Anyone wishing to get help with pain or injuries can find contact details on

www.atlaspainrelief.com