Protect yourself from the Garden

Summer is finally upon us and we are enjoying some lovely weather which will inevitably be taking us out in the garden. At this time of year we see more back pain from over enthusiastic gardening than from any sports related activity.
When the frosts are over and the bedding plants are bought, there is an annual influx of patients with bad backs. After a hard week at work we hit the garden centre and haul 100L bags of compost in to the car and out again with no warm up or thought for our backs. Many hours will then be spent bending over weeding and planting out before collapsing in the chair for the evening. None of these actions are dangerous if we are used to that type of heavy work and sustained flexed postures but if we are more sedentary by nature or not used to bending, this type of activity can cause extreme pressures on our discs and back muscles.

A little preparation of the body before you begin will pay dividends. Try to buy bags of compost in smaller quantities. This may cost a little more but reduces the physio bills! Take care when lifting or better still ask for help. Avoid twisting when you are lifting and try to straighten up before you turn to put the bag down. Before starting to do the gardening warm up much as you (hopefully!) would before golf or tennis. Have a brisk wall and do a few gentle stretches to loosen off. Only spend a maximum of 20 mins bent down before walking around for 5 minutes and arching your back to reverse the strains of prolonged bending. After being bent over in the garden resist the temptation to collapse in the settee which will further bend your back - you may find it difficult to get up again sometime later. Have a lie down on the floor or your bed for half and hour to lengthen the muscles again.

If you have any worries or feel a quick posture MOT before you start working those muscles might help, please ring the clinic to book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists.

Growing Pains!

Angela Jackson has produced a parent pack giving up to date and detailed information about growing children, specifically those in sport, including advice on growth spurts, nutrition and other aspects of keeping your child fit and healthy during these vital growth years. There is detail about training loads and how to modify training during growth spurts. If you would like to receive a copy of this document by email please do let us know.

NICE SUPPORT BACK PAIN and ACUPUNCTURE

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines are recommendations about treatment and care of patients. New guidelines were published last year covering the early treatment and management of persistent or recurring Low Back Bain, defined as non-specific low back pain that lasts more than 6 weeks, but less than 12 months. The aims of recommended treatment and management strategies are to reduce pain and its impact on a person’s life:

The NICE recommended care pathway relevant to physiotherapy is:

To assess and review diagnosis at all times
To give advice and information to promote self management to maximise normal life
To give one of the following options, taking into account patient preference:
a. A structured exercise program tailored to the patient
b. A course of manual therapy (up to 9 sessions over 12 weeks)
c. A course of acupuncture (up to 10 sessions over 12 weeks)

PHYSIOFIT have the expertise and knowledge to offer patients all aspects of the recommended treatment and so are totally equipped to give you the best and most up to date, evidence based treatment for you back pain!

Acupuncture can be used to treat many painful conditions either alone or in conjunction with more conventional physiotherapy. Here at Physiofit we have Physiotherapists accredited in Acupuncture (AACP) treating conditions such as arthritis, headaches and tendonitis as well as back pain and many other other painful problems.