New professional link with our colleagues at Gloucester.

Stroud Sports Clinic Ltd are pleased to announce our new affiliate link with Hardwicke and Quedgeley Chiropractic Clinic. 

The professional team from Hardwicke will be referring patients direct to our Clinical Exercise specialists where ongoing, functional care can be provided from either of our sites.

Massage. What to expect after the treatment.

Post Massage Advice

People are often concerned about what the next day may hold for them after receiving therapeutic massage. Of course different techniques and styles will vary from one therapist to the next as will each individual massage. One must not forget to include the clients health, pressure tolerance. prior or current injuries to the affected areas. The context of what is “Normal” for post massage effects varies tremendously, however; there are some common reactions.

PNF Stretching.

PNF stretching, the therapists choice

PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) stretching is a sports therapy procedure designed in the 1940s and 1950s to rehabilitate patients with paralysis.

Stretching

• Source: 
• Active stretching
• Passive stretching
• Motion: 
• Static stretching
• Dynamic stretching
• Ballistic stretching

It is often a combination of passive stretching and isometrics contractions. In the 1980s, components of PNF began to be used by sports therapists on healthy athletes. The most common PNF leg or arm positions encourage flexibility and coordination throughout the limb's entire range of motion. PNF is used to supplement daily stretching and is employed to make quick gains in range of motion to help athletes improve performance. Good range of motion makes better biomechanics, reduces fatigue and helps prevent overuse injuries. PNF is practiced by physical therapists, sports and massage therapists, athletic trainers and others.

Lower back pain, the facts.

Lower Back Pain Essentials

by Anthony Carey

With such large numbers of people affected by lower back pain (LBP), it is no surprise that myths and misnomers run rampant. When it comes to musculoskeletal pain, the lower back reigns as king. Approximately 80-85% of people in the industrial nations will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. In a 2005 survey by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work,¹ 24.7% of respondents reported lower back ache as a result of their work. The same report names lower back ache as the most prevalent work-related health problem.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services,² in 2008 there were 3.4 million emergency room visits – an average of 9,400 a day for back problems. You are either working with a client who has lower back pain, has had lower back pain or will have lower back pain.

LBP is generally classified as either chronic or acute. Chronic pain from any source is historically defined as pain lasting greater than three months. This definition is based on the general healing time for tissue of 8-12 weeks. An acute episode of LBP has a rapid onset and progression and is usually the result of a trauma (such as a muscle strain) or impact.

Plantar fasciitis: identify & overcome

The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue (rather like a ligament) which runs from the heel, along the bottom of the foot to the base of each of the toes. It fans out from the heel as it moves forwards to the toes and is a tough, fibrous structure. Its role changes depending upon at what part of the gait cycle your foot is in contact with the ground. Initially at impact it helps shock absorption and it stabilizes the metatarsals as you absorb shock by pronating your foot. Then from mid-stance to push off it its helps to re-supinate the foot to make it more of a rigid leaver to improve the mechanical leverage to help propel you forwards.

Enhancing Sports Performance

Introduction

Olympic lifts and their variations have long been used as a strengthening technique to enhance sports performance. The use of Olympic weightlifting is evident as regular practice by professional strength coaches, and supported in journals. As we become more knowledgeable and skilled in designing sport specific programs, more information regarding Olympic lifting is necessary in order to help best serve athletes. Before designing an Olympic lifting program, it is important to understand the scientific rationale and effectiveness of Olympic lifts.

Over the Counter Drugs

Here is a suggestion of some drugs that are useful to keep in the home for occasional use. You can buy the following from pharmacies without a prescription.

Note: Before taking a drug, always read the packet label. This is for instructions on how to take the drug, who should not take the drug, and for a list of possible side-effects.

Custom Foot Orthotics

Thermo Formed and Finished While You Wait!


Using the latest silicone molding technology we can create corrected impressions of your feet and use this information as the basis for a large range of heat moldable specialist shoe inserts.

When the inserts have been ‘thermo-formed’ to the shape produced in the impression pad, they are strengthened with light but robust EVA and finished to fit the shoes in question. So you can walk away in comfortable, corrective orthotics – the same day!

Unique Partnership

Stroud Sports Clinic Ltd and Batemans of Stroud have established a unique partnership for all of our patients. The long established sports shop in the centre of Stroud will be providing all of the clinics needs from professional braces, prescribed running shoes, heart rate monitors and lots more. We are extremely pleased to link up with local businesses,thank you Batemans for supporting our Stroud clinic.

Mechanical Massage

Stroud Sport Clinic Ltd can offer Mechanical massage along with the traditional hands on approach.

G5 is a widely used instrument which has significant benefits when incorporated by the professional to maximise treatment outcomes.