Oops I did it again?

In clinic we frequently see clients who had an issue with either their neck or shoulder or their lower back that was resolved then a few weeks or months later they are back with the same issue.  So why does this happen?  First, it depends upon the client, as human body is unique and the issue.

What I want to explain below are some influencing factors:

Posture – Because lots of clients come to us in pain, when they walk out of clinic they are very vigilant about their posture.  When they start to feel like the issue has been resolved good posture becomes less of a priority.  More importantly bad posture creeps up on us slowly – particularly slumping at you desk when you have a tight deadline!

Over training – One of the most common questions we get asked, is when “will I be able to go to the gym again?” – clients are always very eager to get back training.  If you are unable to train for a while, you need to gentle easy yourself back into training.  Over training is when the physical trauma from exercising occurs faster than the body can repair the damage.

Overuse – An overuse injury typically stems from: training errors. Training errors can occur when you take on too much physical activity too quickly i.e. when you are training for a marathon you build up your distance and speed too quickly.

Related Posts

  • What is NMT or Neuromuscular Technique?

    NMT (Neuromuscular Technique) is a soft tissue technique developed in the 1930's by Dr Stanley Lief.  NMT is the application of quasi-static pressure perpendicular to the skin with the aim of releasing pain and tension in muscles (normally in skeletal muscles). Neuromuscular Technique is used by

    • Physiotherapists
    • Osteopaths
    • Chiropractors
    • Massage Therapists
    A lot of clients will be familiar with NMT techniques from having either a sports massage, deep tissue massage or seated acupressure massage with Vitality Therapy.  We commonly use NMT when we treat
    • muscle spasms
    • muscle tension
    • aches & pains
    • trigger points
    When we have identified the problem area in your muscle, we apply pressure with our fingers, knuckles or elbows.  We often hold the static pressure for between several seconds to up to two minutes.  What we look for are non-verbal and verbal signals that the pain and tension are releasing. Is NMT Painful? When we apply the pressure, we aim for a "good pain" where you feel the right level of pressure is being applied to create the release.  Sometimes I ask clients to rate the pain on a scale of 0 to 10 to ensure that it is bearable and hence a "good pain".  

  • Hip Pain

    Hip pain is common problem, and it can be confusing because there are many causes.  The most common cause of Hip Pain is arthritis for which you will need to see your GP for them to advise on the best treatment option of you. Trochanteric Bursitis Trochanteric bursitis is an extremely common problem that causes inflammation of the bursa, which is a protective cusion over the outside of the hip joint.  There are two main bursa which protect the hip joint, the superficial trochanteric bursa and the deep trochanteric bursa.  The superficial trochanteric bursa lies beneath the tensor fasciae latae (one of the muscles on the side of your hip) and the deep trochanteric bursa lies beneath the the largest of your glutes (gluteus maximus) both of the these muscles insert in to the Iliotibial Band (ITB).  Reduced flexibility in your gluteus maximus, tensor fasciae latae or ITB can cause trochanteric bursitis, from too much cycling or running or from running on uneven surfaces.  Another common cause is some women is an imbalance between your abductor and adductor muscles.  Trochanteric bursitis can also be caused by clients altering their posture as a result of a previous back injury. In all these cases a deep tissue or sports massage can help.  However if the cause is walking with more weight going through the outside of your foot (excessive foot eversion) then your make need to see a podiatrist for personalized orthotics. Hip Flexors Illiopsoas the main hip flexor, shortens when we sit down, so prolonged sitting can cause contracture (anatomical shortening) which can cause either lower back or hip pain.  I have personally found this to be a common cause of hip pain which can be successfully treated with deep tissue or sports massage. If you experience lower back or hip pain when standing up from a seated position then rectus femoris which is one your largest quadriceps muscle make be tight and/or your gluteus maximus which is the other muscle which helps your stand from a seated position may be weak.  If you suspect you have weak glutes you can strengthen them with squats and lunges. Fractures Hip fractures are common in the elderly with osteoporosis.  Stress fractures of the hip are common in people who participate in high impact sports e.g. long distance running, treatment is usually to avoid the high impact sport and this is usually successfully. When should I see my GP about my hip pain?  

    • Inability to walk comfortably on the affected side
    • Injury that causes deformity around the joint
    • Hip pain that occurs at night or while resting
    • Hip pain that persists beyond a few days
    • Inability to bend the hip
    • Swelling of the hip or the thigh area
    • Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth
    • Any other unusual symptoms
      If you want to know if Vitality Therapy can help you with your hip pain then please email joanne@vitalitytherapy.co.uk.

  • More factors that contribute to muscle cramps

    Previously I discussed how dehydration & lack of sodium or potassium may cause muscle cramps.  I now want to explore other nutritional factors. Calcium Calcium plays an essential role in muscle contractions.  Some active people report their problem with cramping disappears when they boost their calcium intake.  This anecdotal evidence is disputed by scientists who state that when dietary deficiencies of of calcium occur, calcium is released from the bones to provide what the body needs for proper muscle contraction.  If you are plagued by muscle cramps, it may be worth trying to increase your intake of dairy or other calcium rich foods to see if it helps. Magnesium Just as muscles need calcium to contract they need magnesium to relax. Roffe et al demonstrated that magnesium helps reduce leg cramps that occur in the middle of the night.

    Reference

    Roffe C1, Sills S, Crome P, Jones P (2002), Randomised, cross-over, placebo controlled trial of magnesium citrate in the treatment of chronic persistent leg cramps. Med Sci Monit. 2002 May;8(5): p326-30.