Senior Chartered Physiotherapist Jeelna joins BOOST

BOOST PHYSIO in Hendon.  Jeelna is an outstanding match for BOOST- she has the right mix of excellent sports experience, is a great “Hands-On” manual therapist, has qualifications in Pilates Rehab and has a warm bubbly personality! Perfect for us at BOOST.

Jeelna also works part-time for Queens Park Rangers FC, where she helps to look after their youth players both pitch-side and in clinic.  I am sure she will be putting her football physio skills to great use with all our football injuries here at BOOST PHYSIO.

Jeelna’s hours are:

• Monday: 12-8pm
• Tuesday: 8am-4pm
• Wednesday: 1pm-9pm
• Thursday: 12pm-8pm
• Friday: 8am-3pm
• Weekend appointments available

Please call the clinic on 020 82017788 to arrange an appointment with Jeelna.

Take care in the icy conditions

1. Avoid leather soled or high heeled shoes outdoors.
2. Choose shoes that are rubber soled with chunky tread that will cut into and grip slippery surfaces better.
3. A walking stick or Nordic walking pole gives extra stability.
4. Watch where you are going! Sounds obvious, keep a look out for icy patches.
5. Colder muscles are tighter, less elastic muscles so keep the muscles warm.
6. Neck pain? Wear a warm scarf around the neck to stop the muscles going into spasm from the cold.
7. Arthritic fingers? Wear warm gloves- this makes a big difference by maintaining temperature and hence pliability of the connective tissues when the temperature drops.
8. For back pain- wear an extra layer of clothing close to the body to keep the chill of the back muscles.
9. Arthritic knee? A neoprene sleeve is very effective at maintaining warmth to the knee- this is the same material wet-suits are made of.
10. If you do slip and take a tumble if you have any doubts- check it out.  Each year we have patients who leave injuries from falls on the ice for far too long without having them assessed.  In 2010 I saw a 22year old who slipped and injured his shoulder.  He waited for 6 weeks before attending to it thinking it would get better- I sent him immediately for a scan which showed he had fractured his shoulder!

If you have fallen or injured yourself BOOST PHYSIO in Hendon will examine and assess you thoroughly and help you recover more quickly.

Dr Nathan Hasson- Paediatric Rheumatologist with an interest in Hypermobility

 Dr Hasson is a Consultant Paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital and consults privately in North West London at The Garden Hospital and 999 Finchley Road Medical Centre.  What impressed my staff was not only Dr Hasson’s broad and deep knowledge of the subject matter (something one expects from a consultant!), but his kind, caring and genuine interest came through very strongly.  Dr Hasson has a particular interest in dealing with children who are hypermobile, or who suffer from painful joints or muscles.  You can view Dr Hasson’s website here. 

I was refreshed by Dr Hasson’s attitude towards Hypermobility in children, it is such a common situation that he seems to view it almost as a variation in the normal spectrum of how flexible a child is, rather than a disease or illness.  In fact it would seem that the issue with hypermobility in children is not that they are hypermobile, but they are weak and have poorly developed muscles. Case in point gymnasts, ballerinas and circus performers are all hypermobile- but they are also strong and have well developed muscles. 

It seems that over the last 10 years there has been an explosion of children with hypermobility. The actual prevelance of the condition cannot be that different to 20 years ago, this increase I believe is due to increased awareness about the condition and the fact that our children are more sedentary getting less exercise (due to TV watching, computer games etc) and have poorly developed muscle strength.  As a result the hypermobility causes these children who are also weak pain and leads them to seek medical advice. 

In a way the diagnosis for children with hypermobility should probably be muscle weakness rather than 

Exercises to strengthen the knees for hypermobile children

hypermobility. 

Our physiotherapy treatment approach for Hypermobility in children at BOOST PHYSIO is a fun and dynamic strengthening exercise programme to build muscle strength, endurance and control among these children.  We find that once these children are stronger they have less pain and less trouble. 

Physiotherapy treatment At BOOST PHYSIO, NW London, for children with hypermobility begins with a thorough assessment and examination.  We then formulate the necessary strengthening programme for the child to address particular areas of weakness.  

BOOST PHYSIO Hendon NW London

In January and February each year my physio clinic sees a sharp increase in injuries amongst people who’ve made these types of New Year resolutions. These patients always share one thing in common, they push themselves too much, too soon!

It is inspiring to make lifestyle changes to increase fitness and improve health and well being.  Come the 1st of January people can be seen  jogging in the park, riding their bicycles, or hard at work at the gym.  Their enthusiasm can be infectious, if not sometimes irritating! 

But my words of caution are to start slowly and progress slowly.  Any increase in exercise must be done in a gradual way- this is to allow the body a period of adaptation. Adaptation is the physiological phenomenon of the body adapting to the stresses and strains of the training you subject it to- in this case making the muscles, tendons and bones stronger and the cardiovascular system fitter.

Here is a common example.  You have decided to enter a 10km fun run.  Having never run before you begin sensibly by doing combination walking / jogging intervals for a total of 20min, 3 a times a week- a very sensible start!  After 2 weeks you are finding it all a lot easier and can jog for 20min without stopping- brilliant! You then decide to increase to 30min jogging 3 times a week- surprisingly your breathing and endurance feel good- but after your third 30min jog you notice your Achilles tendon is hurting you.  And there you have a start of Achilles tendonitis- a condition that can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months to settle down!

What went wrong, you ask yourself, I was doing so well.  Quite simply your cardiovascular fitness improved quickly, but your musculo-skeletal system did not have enough time to adapt to the new stresses of jogging.  By increasing the loading on the tendon by 50% extra from one week to the next- the Achilles tendon had not had enough time to adapt and was not strong enough to withstand the increased loading.  The tissue broke down and became inflamed.  This is a typical example of a training related injury that we see in the clinic.

The advice is quite simple- give your body, particularly your joints, muscles and tendons time to adapt to your increases in training.  Don’t be overeager and push yourself too much too soon when you feel things getting easier.  As a simple guide, increase training volume by no more than 10% each week to begin with.  Allow your body time to adapt and adjust.

My own experiences were quite similar- I took up jogging following my 30th birthday one February, having entered the Watford 10km fun run in April that year.  My first problem was shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome), this eventually settled somewhat by the June after the fun run, my cardio fitness had improved much more quickly than my musculo-skeletal adaptation. I then entered my first half-marathon, Stevenage half marathon, that September.  Up to that point I could run 10miles with no trouble other than the shin splints.  But during the half marathon from mile 10 to 13 I began feeling pain on the outside of my foot.  I completed the half marathon in 1hr50min which I was very pleased with- but my foot hurt for 6weeks!  The upside was that I was thrilled with my half-marathon time and the shin splints never came back.  But no way could my body have adapted enough during that year to run a marathon.  It was 18months later in April 2006 that my body had adapted enough to enable me to train for and run the London marathon successfully.

Good luck and congratulations on a commendable resolution for 2012, give it time, be patient and most of all

The BOOST Blogger- Steven Berkman, Head Physiotherapist at BOOST PHYSIO, Hendon NW4

persevere.

Regards- from Steven Berkman- the BOOST BLOGGER

Groin pain can be a challenging condition for clinicians- is it the hip joint, is it a pulled adductor muscle, osteitis pubis, sportsman’s groin  (Gilmore groin) or an arthritic hip ???

The unique feature of Prof Schilders is that he is able to provide a “one-stop” solution to groin pain- able to deal with all the elements of the injury without the need to have opinions from lots of different specialists.

Rehab exercise is needed to ensure full strength and balance is returned to the injured hip and groin

Prof Schilders’ presentation was excellent, detailed and well delivered.  He is a specialist to whom we at BOOST PHYSIO would happily refer patients with groin pain to.  Prof Schilders consults at the Wellington Hospital in London Ph 020 7483 5589.  Website link here www.ernestschilders.com

If you are needing physio rehab following a groin, adductor or hip injury BOOST PHYSIO has years of experience helping sportsmen of all ages and levels rehab and get back to their sport (usually football).  When it is clear that more help is needed we always refer our patients to specialists who can help, Prof Schilders is certainly on our list now.

Contact BOOST PHYSIO in Hendon, North West London on 020 82017788

Wishing you festive greetings over the holidays and a happy healthy 2012!

Running injuries are very common, whether you are training for 5km or 42km!  We see everything ranging from achilles tendonitis, knee pain to back and neck pain!  What is our physiotherapy approach? One that is based on experience of training for 2 marathons and many more half-marathons, combined with out-standing physiotherapy skills and knowledge.

• full history and medical background
• thorough assessment of training programme, mileage, intensity and frequency
• full in-depth physical examination and assessment
• biomechanical assessment, usually including GAITSCAN pressure plate analysis
• diagnosis of condition and causative factors
• formulation of bespoke treatment programme

Gaitscan computerised pressure plate and gait analysis system

We are based in Hendon, NW London, appointments available 8am-9pm and recognised by all major health insurance companies.  BUPA, AXA-PPP, AVIVA, PruHealth, WPA etc…

Call us on 020 8201 7788

Laura Harman- Senior BOOST PHYSIO dealing with skiing issues

Have you ever wondered why your knees hurt when you ski? Why your thighs burn at the end of the day? Or why you find it easier to turn to the right?

If the answer is yes…then maybe Pilates for skiers can help!

Regardless of your level of skiing, if the body isn’t conditioned correctly it can be very demanding, putting excess stress on your joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons, leading to pain and injury.

You may well have heard of Pilates before with regards to back strength and stability. Pilates for skiers is a particular type of Pilates that targets the specific muscles that you use when you ski.

Pilates for skiers is designed to assess the body and prepare it for the demands that skiing places on it. It will focus on:

-         Posture awareness and education (skiing and non-skiing posture)

-         Assessment of muscle imbalance

-         Core stability

-         Balance and coordination

-         Ski specific muscle strength/endurance and flexibility

The programme aims to prevent injury and increase strength and endurance. By doing so, it will improve skiing efficiency, ultimately making your skiing holiday more enjoyable!

The benefits of Pilates for skiers can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of your age or skiing level. Whether you simply want to get fit for an approaching ski holiday or address a specific skiing issue – Pilates for Skiers can help!

Book a Pilates for Skiers session with Laura today and begin your skiing training now! Your body will thank you if you do!

Call BOOST PHYSIO in Hendon, NW London, on 020 82017788 for an appointment.

Come for 1hour- leave feeling even better!

As physiotherapists we often find that we get more out of treatments when we can spend longer with our patient.  This enables us to work more comprehensively with our patients- spending more time ”hands-on”, working more widely on the body, ensuring that the exercise regime is being well adhered to, answering questions more fully and ultimately leaving patients feeling even better following their appointment with us!

As a result we have introduced our OFF-PEAK HOUR BOOSTER- a discounted hour physiotherapy session for £75. 

1 hour appointments between 10am and 4pm are discounted to £75, when you pay immediately- a significant 22% discount. 

Our PEAK HOUR BOOSTER is discounted to £85 for an hour, which is a great saving of 12%.

Half hour sessions remain at our rate of £48 for patients who pay immediately.

Call us to arrange a booking now at our Hendon clinic (NW London) on 020 8201 7788 or email info@boostphysio.com

Ultrasound and electrotherapy for sprained ankle to speed up healing

Bring your child to our scoliosis and hypermobility free screening day

Does your child suffer from poor posture, curvature of the spine or excessively bendy joints?  Why not make an appointment for our free Scoliosis and Hypermobility Screening day on Sunday 25 September 2011?

View our hypermobility and scoliosis screening day advert by clicking here.

The screening day is aimed at school children aged between 8-16 years old who suffer from poor posture, slouching, uneven shoulder alignment or very bendy joints.  Should you be concerned about the posture of your child make an appointment for our free screening day. 

Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and hypermobility are two conditions that often go undiagnosed among school children, often causing significant health impact later in life.  Early detection is essential in the successful management of these 2 conditions, hence we are offering this screening day free of charge to school children.

Children will be thoroughly assessed and examined by our experienced Senior Chartered Physiotherapists.  A parent or guardian must accompany the child.  The screening is free of charge and there are no obligations. A booking must be made by calling 020 82017788.  Recommendations will be made and information given to those who are found to have either condition.

Call BOOST PHYSIO, Hendon now to book an appointment for your childs free screening appointment: 020 82017788

Find out more about BOOST PHYSIO by looking at our website here http://www.boostphysio.com/about.php

Ouch! Swelling and bruising after a twisted ankle indicates a Grade 2 injury which can take 6 weeks to heal.

Twisted or rolled over your ankle?  OUCH! It can be very painful and swollen. What is an ankle sprain and how does

one treat it?  Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries that we treat at BOOST PHYSIO in North West London. If you have gone over on your ankle and want to know what to do, then read on. Laura Harman, Senior Physiotherapist at BOOST PHYSIO, explains the anatomy of ankle sprains and treatment including useful exercises you can do at home.

Anatomy of the ankle

The ankle is a complex structure made up of 3 different joints:

1) Talocrural joint (ankle joint)

The talocrural joint is what most people think of as the “true” ankle joint. It is made up of three bones; the tibia on the inside, the fibular on the outside and the talus underneath. This joint allow the up and down movement of the foot (dorsiflexion and plantarflexion)

2) Subtalar joint

The subtalar joint sits below the talocrural joint and is made up of the talus and the calcaneus. This joint allows the inward and outwards movement of the foot (inversion and eversion). The main role of this joint is to allow the foot to adjust to uneven ground.

Ice compression treatment is used soon after a sprain to reduce swelling

3) Inferior tibiofibular joint

The inferior tibiofibular joint is the joint between the ends of the tibia and fibula. Although there is minimal movement of this joint, it is important for stability of the ankle.

In addition to the joint, there are many muscles and tendons in the ankle that allow it to move in various directions. There are also numerous ligaments that provide the foot and ankle with stability.

The main ligaments for the ankle are:

1. Lateral collateral ligament – attaches the fibula to the calcaneus and provides stability to the outside of the ankle joint.
2. Deltoid ligament – attaches the tibia to the talus and calcaneus and provides stability to the inside of the ankle joint.

What is an ankle sprain?

An ankle sprain is a very common injury. It can occur during sporting or everyday activities.  An ankle sprain is injury to the ligaments of the ankle. Ligaments are elastic band type structures that support and stabilise joints. During normal movements the ligaments stretch to allow us to move. When a ligament is stretched too far it results in an ankle sprain. Ankle sprains are essentially overstretching or partial tearing of the ligaments. In severe cases, the ligament can completely rupture. There are different types of sprain depending on the severity of the injury:

Grade 1 – Tearing of a few ligament fibres

Grade 2 – Tearing of a considerable portion of the ligament fibres

Grade 3 – Complete tear of the ligament

Ultrasound and electrotherapy for sprained ankle to speed up healing

Ankle sprains occur when the foot is rolled inwards or outwards, beyond it’s normal range of motion. This can happen in a number of ways, some of which are listed below:

a)      Running or walking on uneven ground

b)      Slipping off the edge of a curb or step

c)       Jumping and landing awkwardly

d)      Loosing your balance whilst wearing high heels.

The lateral ankle ligaments are much weaker than the medial deltoid ligament. As a result, inversion injuries were the foot rolls inwards are far more common that eversion injuries were the foot rolls outwards.

Treatment of ankle sprains

The most important period following an ankle sprain is within the first 48-72 hours. In this time it is important to follow the PRICE principles. PRICE helps to limit the bleeding and subsequent swelling that cause pain and joint stiffness.

Protection  – Protect the ankle from further damage.

REST – Reduce activity to help decrease bleeding and swelling. This can be achieved using crutches.

Later stages we use mobilisation techniques to restore full flexibility to the ankle

ICE – Primarily used to decrease tissue metabolism in the early stages of the injury.

Compression – Decreases bleeding and therefore swelling. This is usually achieved using a compression bandage.

Elevation –helps to decrease the build up of fluid.

After the first 48-72 hours, you can begin to gradually put more weight through the ankle and start some basic ankle exercises (follow this link to view an example of early phase exercises for ankle sprains). It is important to carry out these exercises in order to prevent joint stiffness.

In order to promote the healing process of the ankle, other treatments can be used such as massage and ultrasound .

Once the pain starts to settle, it is important to strengthen the muscles surrounding the ankle before returning to any sporting activity in order to prevent future injuries.

The usual healing time for an ankle sprain is 4-6 weeks.

Rehab exercise is needed to ensure full strength and balance is returned to the injured ankle