As part of an exciting expansion, experienced Physiotherapist, Sarah Carpenter, joins The Regency Chiropractic Clinic this month.  She will be helping patients with all forms of musculoskeletal injury.  As well as looking after her own patients, she will be working alongside the chiropractors to offer a combined treatment when necessary.  This is a very unusual approach to patient management, as Chiropractors and Physiotherapists generally work independently.

Sarah says, “The Clinic is offering something quite different by incorporating physiotherapy into a chiropractic treatment plan.  It is an exciting opportunity for me to join the team of specialists, at this forward thinking clinic.”

Chiropractors and Physiotherapists use very different techniques to achieve the same goals; getting a patient out of pain and back to their physical fitness as soon as possible, as well as to keep them that way.

There is a strong working relationship between professionals in the clinic ensuring that patients receive optimal care though-out their treatment.  Inter-referral between professionals is possible when appropriate, offering a very important continuity of care.  A patient, who has benefited from Chiropractic treatment, may then see Sarah for rehabilitation sessions, likewise a patient who has seen Sarah for an ankle trauma, may then see a Chiropractor for a back problem caused as a result of their limping.

Rob Grace comments, “I’m thrilled that Sarah is joining us at The Regency Chiropractic Clinic.  She brings with her experience and expertise, which is invaluable to our multidisciplinary clinic.”  He adds, “We pride ourselves in a structured and comprehensive approach to patient management and now by incorporating Physiotherapy within the clinic, we offer our patients a complete care package.”

When the sun comes out, it is easy to rush outdoors and get started on the pruning, digging, lifting etc in the garden.  But my advice would be to start slowly with the lighter jobs if possible and if you do have a larger project to tackle, take your time.  Take regular breaks and rotate jobs to avoid over stressing one area of your body.  Two hours of weeding will inevitably cause lower back pain (if not knee stiffness and neck or arm ache too), but by stopping regularly, stretching and perhaps doing a different job for the next 20 minutes, you will reduce your risk of post gardening stiffness.

Another activity which we all rush headlong into at this time of year is DIY.  Before you start, it really pays to take your time and think about the safest way to approach each job.  This means having the right equipment to adopt the best position to work in, for example, make sure you have the right size step ladder and extendable brush/roller handles (so you don’t have to over stretch), large brush/roller head (cutting down work time), a good wallpaper stripper and drill (meaning you have to use less force) etc.  Investing in the right tools for the job will pay off in the long run.  Also, think about your posture; try to avoid too much twisting of your back or neck.  Equally, try not to reach or look up (extending your neck backwards) for long periods of time.  If you are comfortable working, you are unlikely to be causing damage.

For those tackling their 1^st marathon, training should wind down in the last few weeks to allow plenty of rest in your legs and your longest run need not be more than 18-20 miles. You don’t need to do the 26.2 miles as a rehearsal! Also get lots of sleep, most adults are thought to be sleep deprived!!  Likewise, if you are planning a shorter race, wind down towards the event and don’t feel you must make the full distance beforehand; somewhere near it will suffice.

Don’t plan on purchasing any new equipment or clothing just before an event, unless you have to, especially shoes. It’s far better to wear a broken in pair than trying to break in a new pair in the last couple of weeks. If you do have to, wear the running shoes as everyday shoes until the event.

Plan your meals and hydration for the day.  Hopefully you have decided what suits you in terms of pre-run food and energy drinks or gels. For London, Lucozade is the official nutritional sponsor, so you’re likely to receive their products on the day.  Be aware that they may suit you, but they may not, on the day is not the day to find out.

You may have your own warm up routine of stretches, especially if you have suffered with leg, knee or lower back injuries, but for those who don’t, bear in mind that recent studies suggest that stretching prior to a run gives no benefit. HOWEVER most runners will develop classic muscle imbalances over time, most notably tight hip flexors, hamstrings and calves and these should be gently stretched daily on run days and non-run days.  Regular sports massage is also advisable for someone on a strict running exercise regime, it will help your muscles stay flexible and repair any damage caused by overuse. For more detailed or personal advice call us at the clinic.

As a podiatrist, I’m obviously keen to mention that our feet play a huge role in running (no surprises there!), but an imbalance derived from a dropped arch or other biomechanical foot problem, can have a knock on effect on the body, primarily knees and hips.  If you are just starting out with jogging and running, as a new sport, it is worth buying a ‘good’ pair of trainers fitted by specialists (eg Up and Running Cheltenham) and if you are concerned about any foot issues, then do come and see me.

Good luck with your running event from Lawrence Bevan and everyone at The Regency Clinic

With all the weight loss and detoxing focus, which comes with every New Year, you shouldn’t overlook the health of your colon.  It is all very well getting fit and eating healthily, but if your colon is ignored, and has perhaps been abused by poor diet for many years, it will take more than a 4 week detox to have an impact on your general well being.  By combining a colon massage with your other New Year health efforts, you may be surprised at the results.  With a balanced diet, increased exercise and healthy colon, you should find a boost in your natural energy and vitality.

Detoxing is something the body does naturally, a process using many organs, the largest of which is the colon.  Its main function is to eliminate waste, but when it’s not working well problems can occur in all areas of the body.  Fatigue and lethargy, poor digestion, bloating, constipation, skin problems and back ache are a few symptoms associated with an improperly functioning colon, but it can also lead to more serious health issues.

Many people would like to improve their colon function, but don’t like the idea of the internal treatments available and may not realise that massage is a gentle and relaxing, non-invasive alternative.  Instead of clearing out the colon and stripping it of any good bacteria, a massage stimulates the colon, awakening muscles and restoring it to good function, especially in areas that have become a little ‘stagnant’.  It has been suggested that an average colon has more than 50% dysfunctional muscle tone and some degree of sagging or distortion.

Not only is it a beneficial treatment for your colon and therefore health, it is also deeply relaxing. The patient is totally in control of the treatment, which is comfortable throughout.  A typical session lasts about 20 minutes and comprises of gentle warming and massaging movements to the tummy and then deeper massage and vibrations into the colon area.  Patients can also be taught a simple routine for self-treatment at home.

For those who have regular hydrotherapy, the colon massage can also work well alongside this, reviving the organ after it has been cleared out – offering a real fresh start!

It’s that time of year again when people start to think about their lifestyles and begin to make positive changes. This normally involves “losing a bit off here” and “toning up there”. The problem with these motivations for embarking on an exercise campaign is that they are rather vague targets.

This year, instead of dashing straight into goalless exercise, why not resolve to finally get rid of that niggling backache, stiff neck, problem hip or knee by using specifically designed exercises coupled with stretching and massage?  The occurrence of common complaints such as these is partly due to our sedentary lifestyles. We all spend far too much time sitting at desks, in cars, or in front of the TV. This inevitably leads to poor posture and in turn, tightness and weakness in key muscles groups around the neck and shoulders, as well as low back and hips, often causing pain. I spend a lot of time with clients stretching and massaging tight muscles and helping them strengthen those that have become weak.

Typical muscle groups that everyone needs to strengthen are: Gluteal (bottom and hip muscles), Core (low back and abdominals) and Scapulae retractors (upper back and rear shoulder muscles).  Often I find that these muscles groups are not ‘firing’ as well as they could be, in other words, due to a lack of use, the nervous system has lost its connection to these muscles and can no longer make them work properly. This means that other muscles have to perform the action of the non-firing ones.  Usually ill equipped to do this, they quickly get overworked and inflamed, which inevitably results in pain.  A classic example of this is when the glutes are not firing correctly, the lower back and hamstrings take the extra strain during activities such as running, bending and lifting, thus giving you back ache.

The good news is, that this can all be rectified with an easily sustainable regular massage and exercise plan.  After assessment, I would release and stretch the tissues that have become tight, and stimulate the body to heal the inflamed areas by massage. Once the pain and inflammation has settled down, appropriate strengthening exercises can follow to target the weak areas to get those key muscle groups firing and help your body move more efficiently.  This will stand you in good stead to get started on your fitness regime with no pain to hold you back.

Healthy Spine, healthy body, how healthy are you?

At a time of fitness drives and detox diets, not many people consider the health of their backs as relevant, but a healthy spine can have a positive influence on the whole body.  Rob Grace explains why your spine is so important and how a minor back problem (which you may not even notice) can have an impact on your overall health.

The spine provides structure to the body and is a core part of the skeleton.  It is made up of 24 bones and joints allowing the body to move in many directions and also acts to a certain degree as a shock absorber.

Its primary function is to surround and protect the spinal cord, through which all the messages from the brain travel to the entire body via nerves.  It is the nerves that control all bodily functions, from voluntary limb movements to involuntary organ control.

Therefore, if you have a damaged or stiff joint in the spine, which impinges a nerve, it can affect much more than just the back.  A nerve pathway can become damaged or disrupted and other areas or organs of your body may suffer as a result, causing, for example, symptoms such as headaches or IBS.

Rob says, “Keeping your spine as healthy as possible should be up there with teeth, eyes and ears, as it can have affect so many areas in the body.  Some people view it rather like getting their car serviced, so instead of waiting for a problem to arise, they come in for a regular check up to see that all the joints in their spine are moving correctly.”  He adds, “By ensuring the spine is functioning well, you could be benefiting your general health, rather than just your back.”