Archive for May, 2008

Overpronated feet are very common and many people now wear prescription orthotics in their trainers and running shoes. Prices may vary and range from off the shelf orthotics to prescriptive orthotics to a high specification.

Orthotics can range from soft, semi rigid and rigid and can come in threequarter or full length varieties. Slim fit orthotics can be found for more difficult shoes and you can even have them fitted in ladies court shoes.

The secret to correcting faulty biomechanics is in the prescription. Many people fit orthotics but care must be taken when choosing a practitioner. At Solihull Sports Injury Clinic in Hall Green Birmingham they have Sports Podiatrist Peter Taylor who has competed as a runner for many years and won the Burton Half Marathon in 1 hour 10 mins.

Peter runs the running injury clinic at solihull sports injury clinic on the Robin Hood Island Hall Green and has access to laser foot scanning and video gait analysis equipment which ensures accurate prescription measurements when designing your orthotics.
www.solihullsportsinjuryclinic.co.uk

If you are currently wearing orthotics in your running shoes but not in your daily footwear then you are risking the incidence of picking up an injury.

As soon as you wear an orthotic it changes your relationship with the ground. Generally your feet are pushed towards the outer side of your shoes reducing the rolling in experienced by overpronator’s. This now puts the lower limbs into a different position and results in the muscles having to pull at a slightly different angle. This is supposed to happen and in order to get used to wearing the orthotics some users may have been told to wear them for a few hours per day and gradually increase the time wearing them until they get used to them.

If we need time to get used to them then surely the orthotics need to eventually be worn all the time and in all footwear. If you only wear them for running, then the majority of the time you will be wearing shoes with no correction. How on earth are you ever going to get used to them. Each time you put your running shoes on will be like the first time you have worn them. This continual swapping from non corrected to corrected footwear and exercising will increase the risk of injury.

Basically if you need orthotics you wear them in all footwear!

Solihull Runners now have Running Sports Injury Clinic at Hall Green Birmingham

Solihull Sports Injury Clinic at the Robin Hood Island, Hall Green in Birmingham have now opened their running sports injury clinic. Custom prescriptive orthotics can be fitted for over-pronator’s and the feet can be scanned accurately using a laser foot scanner which maps the contours of the feet.

Video gait analysis performed on a treadmill ensures that runners get an accurate assessment of gait and biomechanics. Biomechanical evaluations are available from a sports podiatrist who is an impressive runner himself clocking 1 hour 10 mins when winning the Burton half marathon.

Sports injuries are diagnosed by experienced sports physiotherapists who have many years competing and treating sports injuries. Sports massage and sports therapy is also available for relieving tight or damaged muscles and stretching out soft tissues after exercise.

UK athletics Birmingham Physiotherapist John Williams and Peter Taylor the flying Sports Podiatrist and Physiotherapist are available to sort out any sports injury problem you may have.

Solihull Sports Injury Clinic treat dance injuries, skiing injuries, gymnastic injuries, athletic injuries, racquet sports injuries, soccer and rugby injuries as well as motor sport and golf injuries. Golf has a habit of irritating the low back and many golfers would benefit from advice and treatment from the Solihull Physiotherapists and Osteopath at the Hall Green centre.

Private parking outside the front door and minimal waiting time for an appointment is the answer if you need physiotherapy treatment.

Check out the website www.solihullsportsinjuryclinic.co.uk or call reception for an appointment on 021 745 8792

Solihull Birmingham Osteopath backs Amy Winehouse

It appears you cannot read a newspaper or listen to radio these days without hearing negative things about Amy Winehouse. There seems to be the overwhelming agreement that this pint sized lady with a powerful voice has immense talent, but many feel she is wasting her life and endangering her health with the so called “rock and roll” lifestyle.

I would like to put a little perspective on the life and behaviour of this talented lady.

I met Amy at the Birmingham Clothes Show in 2006 where she was performing for the Birmingham show. This was before Amy topped the charts and she sang “rehab” as her choice of song. I was supporting the Birmingham Clothes Show team of dancers and models and also any “celeb” guests who required my services.

I am a Birmingham Osteopath based in Solihull West Midlands and provide Sports Massage as well as first aid and injury cover for the 6 days of the show.

Amy made use of my services on more than one occasion and I have to say I found this young woman friendly, polite and utterly charming. This is hardly a description that you would currently use to describe Amy Winehouse. Amy always thanked me and on her day of departure made an effort to seek me out in the staff canteen in order to show her appreciation before she left.

I treat many clients with “celebrity” status and Amy was delightful to work with. Stories in the media do not reflect the true nature of this young woman and I want to provide some kind of balance to the negative media and publicity she attracts.
Sure she may have problems but I can only “speak as I find” and my memories of Amy are positive ones.

Amy, I sincerely hope that whatever issues in your life that cause you grief are resolved and that if what we hear in the media is true, that you get all the help you need from people who love and care about you, in order to bring you back to the decent young woman that you truly are.

Kind regards John Williams
Solihull Osteopath
Solihull Back Pain Clinic
www.solihullbackpainclinic.co.uk