Lifestyle
Sciatica
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The term “Sciatica” means that you have pain radiating down your leg from your buttocks to your feet. Often, it’s not the whole way down the leg, but buttocks and thighs are commonly affected. This pain is caused by compression of the Sciatic nerve. It usually occurs on …
Vitamins
There are many Vitamins and Minerals that our bodies need to stay healthy and active. I do not usually give nutritional advice to my clients but here is a short article covering some facts about Vitamins B, C and D. These particular vitamins are very important in the break down of food to produce energy. …
Bone Health
Our bones play many important roles in the body. They provide our structure, protect our organs, provide an anchor for our muscles and store excess calcium. Although it’s important to build strong and healthy bones during childhood it’s also vital to maintain their health as we age. Low bone mass can be a major risk …
Cramps
A muscle cramp is a sudden and involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles. Almost everyone will suffer with a cramp at some point and often the cause is not known. Though generally harmless, muscle cramps are very painful and can make it temporarilyimpossible to use the affected muscle. Most muscle cramps develop in the leg muscles, particularly in …
Aqua Therapy for Back Pain
Most people with back ache are told by health professionals, including myself, to move more. The majority of lower back pain is caused by muscular tension and movement should ease that. But if your back hurts and you are feeling lethargic, a trip to the gym or pounding the streets in trainers is probably the …
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve of the arm gets compressed in a narrow tunnel passing through the centre of the wrist. This causes irritation of the nerve leading to tingling, pain and weakness. Typically, this problem affects the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Some people may also experience pain …
Pain as a result of carrying your bag on one shoulder
Many people carry their handbags, backpacks or laptop bags on one shoulder and they tend to have a favourite side to carry it on. Even if the bag is empty and light, the natural slope of the shoulder means that they have to elevate the shoulder blade to prevent the bag from sliding off. This …
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Why is lack of sleep bad for your health?
Many of us suffer from poor sleep quantity and quality. This is likely to be caused by a number of factors with stress, lack of exercise and using screens late in the day often being blamed. If you wake up feeling tired and irritable and spend most of the day longing for a nap then …
Adhesions
Adhesions are fibrous bands, formed in the same way as scar tissue, which inhibit movement between soft tissues. They are often called “knots” and can form in muscles, ligaments or tendons. Sometimes they can form between muscles and nerves which will cause a tingling feeling in arms or legs. Adhesions stop the muscle, ligament or …
Gardening
Spring has sprung and many of us will be starting to spend increasing amounts of time in the garden. Some of this time will be spent relaxing but much of it will be hard physical work. Here are a few tips that should help you to avoid too many aches and pains after working in …
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common form of head ache and many people will experience one at some point in their lives. Teenagers and adults are most likely to suffer with women suffering more than men. Symptoms include a dull head pain with feelings of pressure around the forehead, behind the eyes and in the …
High Heels
High heeled shoes have long been an essential part of smart, fashionable dress. From court shoes at work to sparkly sandals on a night out, many people wear shoes with some kind of heel for large amounts of the day. Apart from aching feet, these un-naturally shaped instruments of torture (ha ha!!!) can have a …
Old Pain 2 Go – Guest Blog by Catherine Evans
What is the difference between new pain and old pain? In simplistic terms, new pain is a way of your body letting you know that something is wrong. Your brain assesses the damage in a very short space of time and through that assessment it creates a sense of pain to bring the severity of …
Motion is Lotion
I have recently heard the expression “Motion is Lotion”. I take this to mean that the more we move, the better we move. Regular movement avoids stiffening of the joints and ensures that blood flow brings essential nutrients and oxygen to the muscles.Our bodies are not designed to remain motionless for any amount of time …
Stress manifesting as Physical Pain
Stress is the body’s reaction to potentially harmful situations. These can be real or perceived but when we feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in our bodies that allows us to act and prevent injury. This reaction is often known as the “fight-or-flight” response. During this time our heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, …
Text Neck
Text neck is the term used to describe the neck pain and damage sustained from looking down at your mobile phone or tablet too frequently and for too long. The human head weighs about 12 pounds and should be positioned directly above the spine but as the angle of deviation from this position increases, so …
Christmas Shopping Hazards
For most people, the festive season includes a large amount of shopping. This can be for food or presents and can be a hazardous pastime. Here are a few things to consider to help you survive and even enjoy this busy time. Being on your feet all day: Always choose comfortable and supportive shoes before …
Massage and Mental Health
Massage therapy of all types is becoming a popular treatment for the relief of sports injuries, muscle soreness and everyday aches and pains. However, its’ benefits are more than just physical: it is also an effective way to alleviate stress, depression and anxiety. The usual treatment for many mental illnesses typically includes taking an assortment …
Air Travel and Deep Vein Thrombosis
What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis? Deep vein thrombosis or DVT, occurs when a blood clot forms in a major vein of the body. This occurs most often in the lower legs and can develop as a result of sitting still for long periods of time. Several factors make DVT more of a threat for those …
Skin Cancer
Following on from my MASCED (Melanoma and Skin Cancer Early Detection) accreditation, I would like to share the following facts about skin cancer with you all. Skin Cancer is the UKs most common cancer and incident rates are growing faster than any other cancer. Nearly all skin cancers are caused by over exposure to the …
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where cartilage gradually thins and becomes rough. The loss of this protective cushion between bone ends can cause them to rub together and results in joint damage. The joints become swollen and painful and over time new osseous tissue is deposited on the bone ends in an attempt by …
Why is sitting for long periods bad for you?
Lower back pain is very common with office workers and drivers. Sitting all day will lead to the lower abdominal muscles becoming lazy as they do not need to support the torso. This makes them weak and inefficient. When standing, the weak Rectus Abdominis (6 pack muscle) is unable to maintain the correct position of …