Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that is currently quite poorly understood. Fibromyalgia can present with a wide range of symptoms including: Widespread pain affecting many body sites. Depression Cognitive dysfunction/ memory issues (known as fibro-fog) Hypersensitivity or perceiving a non-painful stimulus as painful (allodynia). As...
Shoulder impingement is a very common condition that is frequently seen by physiotherapists. The shoulder joint is complex, with many different structures providing a very large range of movement while maintaining stability throughout range. Shoulder impingement refers to when some of these structures become pinched in the...
Every ski season physiotherapists see a lot of skiing related injuries. Mostly knees and shoulders but also the occasional back, neck and thumbs. Ligament injuries to the knee are quite common, with the anterior cruciate ligament at particularly high risk due to the nature of skiing. Shoulder...
Most of us know it is a good idea to warm up before exercising. This is especially important when the temperature drops in the winter months. When we are cold, our soft tissues such as ligaments, muscles and tendons are less elastic, making them more prone...
As physiotherapists, we are often asked about the difference between acute and chronic pain. Below are how we would normally describe these terms. Acute Pain Acute pain covers a wide range of pains that can last from seconds to months. Acute pain normally lasts less than six...
Earlier this year a patient attended an appointment with a history of shoulder pain that had been present for several years following an injury at the gym. He had tried physiotherapy before and had extensive work on his rotator cuff and scapular biomechanics and had also...
As a physiotherapist, we are highly trained to look out for “red flag” symptoms which could indicate a very serious condition. These are few and far between, with many physiotherapists never coming across them in their careers. One Saturday I was seeing my last patient and...
Don’t train faster than your bones can rebuild Bones seem very strong and sturdy, and we tend to think of them as robust pillars that make up the scaffolding of our bodies. People are often surprised to learn that healthy bones are continually breaking down and...
Mental well-being is in the news so much but how does it affect your recovery time after injury? If your life is already stressed you may find recovery much slower than someone whose life is more balanced and calm. Being busy does not always equal stress. It’s...
No-one boasts about how much sleep they had do they? It's mostly the opposite "I only had 4 hours sleep last night and I feel terrible" Yet we do so little to prioritise one of the most important health giving benefits that is totally FREE. Poor...
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