Womens Health Physio Dorking

Specialist Womens Health Physio in Dorking

Womens health is a specialist area of physiotherapy encompassing the needs of women with obstetric or gynaecological issues.

Womens Health issues include continence problems, post gynaecological surgery rehab and back pain. They also includes pregnancy related issues such as back pain in pregnancy, pelvic pain, SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction) and post natal conditions such as Diastasis Recti.

Pregnancy Related Musculoskeletal Problems

In an ideal world, all new mothers would be seen by a pelvic health Physio in order to optimise their rehabilitation and ensure a safe and effective return to life and sport!

The changes in a woman’s body when they are pregnant are enormous and can cause challenges for the musculoskeletal system. These challenges coupled with the normal stresses of daily life can cause many women to be in pain during their pregnancy.

Women are often working later into their pregnancy or are combining looking after a young family whilst working. This can cause challenges both during the pregnancy and post-natally.

Anna Watson

Anna Watson is a member of Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy and has over 15 years experience in women’s health physiotherapy. She has been trained to use acupuncture specifically for women’s health problems and musculoskeletal pain in pregnancy. She is passionate about issues within women’s health and promoting best care for women. As a mum of 2 and a trained Doula, she can empathise with her patients and can contribute enhanced skills to fully understand and implement the best management for her pregnant patients.

We offer assessment and treatment of the following:

• Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy (PGP) and post-natally
• Back pain in pregnancy and post-natally
• Diastasis Recti – split abdominals
• Post-Gynaecological surgery

Treatment includes:

• Acupuncture
• Manual therapy
• Specific Muscle training

Assessment and treatment can be administered in the clinic or in the comfort of your own home.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from Womens Health issues and would like to have a physiotherapy assessment for suitability of Womens Health physiotherapy treatment, contact us here.

Get Walking

One of our roles as Physiotherapists is trying to encourage patients to engage in healthy, appropriate activities, in order to improve or maintain fitness levels. For some this might be running marathons, ironman competitions or climbing Ben Nevis; for others walking is a more suitable activity.

Whilst we do our best to recommend local walking groups or routes, occasionally you get to hear about something a little bit different. When I bumped into Peter Sturge at the Sports Centre, I was intrigued to hear about Dorking Museums’s guided history walking tour around Deepdene. Of particular interest to me was the local historical reference to what appears to be an early Physiotherapy service for injured WW1 soldiers!

A less well-known resident of the Deepdene founded the intriguingly named “Almeric Paget Military Massage Corps” in 1914.  The uniformed staff serving in the Corps provided rehabilitative support for the wounded of First World War.  These early physiotherapy treatments included massage, hydro and electric therapy to assist servicemen to recover.

Peter went on to explain that the Deepdene may be visited at anytime in daylight hours but, for those keen to explore the Grade II listed estate and learn more of its fascinating history, the tours led by Dorking Museum’s knowledgeable volunteer guides are recommended.

The 90 minute stroll through the gardens and and along woodland paths will introduce many of the colourful characters who lived in the now lost mansion. These include the “drunken Duke”, a Lord wrong-footed by his “giddy and unfaithful wife”, the wealth that bought the ‘cursed’ Hope Diamond into the family and the squandering of an inheritance.

The tour includes the Grotto, the Embattled Tower and WWII fortifications, combined with a visit inside the Hope Mausoleum.

Tour Dates

For anyone interested in the tour:

The next tour dates:            Sunday 14^th July at 2 p.m.

                                                Sunday 11^th August at 2 p.m.

Tours must be pre-booked and cost £4 per adult (children under 12 free). Booking and further information available at www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/the-deepdene-trail  

Private tours for groups of 10 or more may be arranged by contacting admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk.  For visitors with a disability, the Museum’s guides are willing to discuss and plan visits to suit individual needs, enabling access wherever possible.

As part of the fantastic Rusper Village May Day celebrations, Friends of Rusper Primary School have organised a one kilometre family fun run. Number are being limited to 100 runners & walkers of all ages, so please do join us & tell all your friends!

The race will start at 12:30 on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May. There will be a one lap all off-road course that the whole family can enjoy. 

For more information and to Book a place click here

Valentines Day massage Vouchers now available from Head2Toe

Looking for a Valentines present idea this year? Why not get a massage voucher for your loved one. Massages can be a relaxing and pampering Swedish massage or a more deep tissue Sports massage.

We can offer massage vouchers for all our clinics – Crawley, Leatherhead and Dorking – just let us know which clinic you want to use your voucher at.

Please contact reception on 01293535884 / 01306876072 or email admin@head2toephysio.co.uk

Knee injuries in skiing are common. The popularity of skiing has exploded over the last 20 years mainly due to increased ski areas, use of snow cannons, cheaper flights and faster ski lifts.

With increased accessibility and increased numbers of recreational skiers, the number of skiing injuries have gone up markedly.

The most common skiing injuries are lower limb injuries including leg fracture , ankle injury and knee injury. The development of the rigid ski boot in the 1970’s is reported to have shifted injuries up the leg from the ankle to the knee, however; since ski boots, ski bindings and the shape of skis have all changed its not easy to pin point why we see so many more knee injuries in clinic but we do!

In a 2015 study¹ comparing injury types and rates between 1996 and 2013, knee injuries were shown to be the most common, head injuries reduced (possibly but not definitely because of the uptake of helmet use) and skiing in the afternoon when tired (and possibly after a drink) increased your chance of getting injured.

Another study² showed that about 75% of skiers/snowboarders injured themselves falling or losing control on a jump whilst only 3-8% of those injured did so due to collision with other skiers or snowboarders.

What both studies seem to suggest is that many injuries are preventable!

What are the most common Knee Injuries in skiing and how do we injure them?

Knee injuries in skiing contribute about 30% of all skiing injuries, with the Medial Collateral ligament (MCL), closely and Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) being the most commonly injured structures in the knee.

The three most common ways of injuring the knee are:

1. Valgus/external rotation mechanism
   1. The skier falls forward and catches their inside edge, which causes the ski to twist out and move away from the skiers body twisting the knee, injuring the MCL and sometimes ACL.
2. Boot induced anterior drawer mechanism
   1. The skier lands a jump with locked knees and lands the back of the ski first. The boot then pushes forward on the calf injuring the ACL.
3. Phantom-foot mechanism
   1. The skier falls backwards between their skis, with all the weight on their downhill ski. The bent knee then twists in hard with all their body weight causing injury to  the MCL and ACL.

Can you get fit for skiing?

Yes you can get fit for skiing…….but…….that’s not the same as saying you can reduce your chance of injury by getting fitter or doing certain types of exercises. It’s complicated.

The evidence that certain exercise programs or certain leg and core conditioning classes reduce your chance of injury just isn’t there. It doesn’t mean doing the right exercises won’t reduce injuries but we just can’t say so for sure. The studies either haven’t been done or the ones that have weren’t good enough to tell us much of use.

I’m certainly not saying that you shouldn’t bother, in fact I’m saying the opposite, you should. It makes a great deal of sense to me that the fitter you are the lower your chances of injuring yourself due to muscle fatigue. I feel from personal experience that my time and performance on the slopes was improved when I’ve been fitter going into the ski holiday. Being well-prepared will help you get in more runs with less fatigue and will probably leave you better prepared for the rare emergency requiring strength or endurance.

How to reduce Ski Knee Injury

I’ll describe in another blog post what I would recommend doing to try and get your body ski ready, but before I deal with that there are some things we do know will reduce your chance of injury:

1. Ski within your limits (get lessons)
2. Be aware of different conditions (this takes some experience)
3. Use the correct gear (your bindings should be set correctly as the majority of knee injuries occur when bindings do not release the ski)
4. Listen to your body (fatigue, light headed etc)
5. Fall correctly (keep knees flexed and don’t stand up in the fall or in a slide)

Before you all roll your eyes and think how obvious these points are, you should consider that ignoring them is still (unsurprisingly) the quickest and most common way to get yourself injured. It doesn’t matter how many ski sits and balance exercises you do, or how good your core is, IGNORE THESE POINTS AT YOUR PERIL!

If you or anyone you know is suffering from knee pain and would like to have a physiotherapy assessment for suitability of physiotherapy treatment, contact us here.

1. Patrick E et al, Changes in Skiing and Snowboarding Injury Epidemiology and Attitudes to Safety in Big Sky, Montana, USA, A Comparison of 2 Cross-sectional Studies in 1996 and 2013, Orthop J Sports Med. 2015 Jun; 3(6): 2325967115588280
2. Stenroos A, Handolin L: Incidence of recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding injuries: Six years experience in the largest ski resort in Finland. Scand J Surg 2014;0:1-5.
3. Koehle, M et al, Alpine ski injuries and their prevention, Sports Medicine 2002, 32, 12, 785-793.

We wish all our clients a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, New Year.

The clinics will be remaining open except on the 25^th,26^th December and 1^st January. Except for these dates we will have staff in but running a reduced service until the New Year. If you are in need of an appointment please feel free to give us a call or send an email. Please leave a voicemail if no one is able to pick up immediately.

Massage Vouchers now available at Head2Toe Physio Clinics

Stuck for a Christmas present idea this year? Why not get a massage voucher for your loved one. Massages can be a relaxing and pampering Swedish massage or a more deep tissue Sports massage.

We can offer massage vouchers for all our clinics – Crawley, Leatherhead and Dorking – just let us know which clinic you want to use your voucher at.

Please contact reception on 01293535884 / 01306876072 or email admin@head2toephysio.co.uk

 

 

New Head2Toe Crawley Reception Vacancy

Part Time Receptionist/Admin support staff required at our Crawley branch of Head2Toe

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY day times. Hours negotiable; (roughly 9AM-5PM)

JOB SHARE CONSIDERED

Must be friendly, polite and have basic knowledge of word and outlook.

For further info, or to apply, send your CV and a covering email to:

mel@head2toephysio.co.uk

Crawley Pilates Classes at Head2Toe Physio Crawley

Crawley Pilates Classes at Head2Toe Physio are pleased to welcome Dawn Fazackerley-King  – (DFK Coaching) to the clinic. Dawn offers group Pilates sessions in Crawley as well as 1:1 and 1:2 sessions (available on request).

 

It is never too early or late to start looking after your mind and body. Pilates is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Complete beginners are welcome.

 

 

Weekly sessions include Wednesday 6pm complete beginners and Wednesday 7pm Pilates for horse riders (mixed ability). Other sessions by arrangement. 

 

What is Pilates?

 

The Pilates Method was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s. His work with sick and injured detainees led him to believe that bad posture, inefficient breathing and modern lifestyle all contributed to poor health. He devised a series of exercises which acknowledged the link between physical and mental well being. They emphasized slow, controlled movements which aimed to improve core strength, flexibility and posture, whilst strengthening and lengthening muscles.

 

What does Pilates Help?

 

Pilates at Head2Toe Physio Crawley is thought to improve:

 

• Posture
• Co-ordination
• Balance
• Flexibility
• Stamina
• Muscle Strength
• Core Strength
• Improve Well-Being
• Lower stress

 

Equine specific Pilates sessions

 

There are four main areas of focus in the Pilates for Horse Riders Course.

 

1. Improving posture by stretching and strengthening the shoulder girdle.

2. Improving the flexibility of the hips and lumbar spine to deepen your seat and allow you to drive impulsion from your seat without having to rely on artificial aids.

3. Strengthening the core to allow to hold yourself in a more upright position.

4. Improving your ‘dynamic balance’ required for riding through the combination of all of the above.

 

 

Pilates is also well known for preventing and rehabilitating injuries so should form part of any riders fitness program regardless of whether you enjoy hacking out or are a keen competition rider. 

 

Pilates courses are competitively priced at £48 per 6 weeks.

 

Please see www.dfkcoaching.co.uk for more information and to book, or call Dawn directly on 07899 716920.