The BSJC physiotherapy department contributes to our multi-disciplinary team and forms an important part in the management of patient conditions. The role of the physiotherapist is not only to conservatively treat neuro-musculoskeletal conditions but also to liaise with our GP practice and various consultants. Quite often, the physiotherapist is the first line of treatment as Read More

Barefoot running, or running with ‘minimal’ footwear, has become very popular since the publishing of a book by Christopher McDougall (2009) called “Born to Run” [1].  This details the way in which a tribe of Tarahumara Indians from Mexico have the ability to seemingly run hundreds of miles without rest or injury.   Indeed, these observations Read More

Frozen shoulder is a common condition, which may develop following an injury but it may also appear with no warning or trauma. The term Adhesive Capsulitis describes the characteristic adhesions and contracture of the fibrous capsule that surrounds the shoulder. The cause of this condition is still not clear although it has been linked to Read More

  The knee is probably on the most stressed joint in the human body. Therefore it is also one of the most complex. All joints have bones, cartilage, tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels to allow its function. The knee relies on 12 muscles at least to perform its function. It also has the Read More

There are two fundamentally different approaches to acupuncture. Acupuncture as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an ancient system of medicine originating in the East two thousand years ago. This is based on the belief that energy (or Qi, pronounced ‘chee’) flows throughout the body along Read More

Structure: The medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee is a 10-12cm long structure situated on the inside of the knee formed of collagen fibres. The tensile and elastic properties of ligaments are important to stabilise joints (bone-to-bone) but also allow movement. The MCL protects the knee from valgus stress – outward movement of the Read More

Swimming is widely recognised as an excellent form of exercise for maintaining flexibility in the spine and strength whilst minimising strain or pressure on the spinal structures present in weight-bearing activities.  In effect the water acts as a supporting structure so light swimming is often recommended as part of an exercise therapy regime.  However, the Read More

Lower back pain (LBP) affects 80% of adults during their lifetime with varying causes and therefore treatments (Papageorgiou et.al, 1995). The most common causes are heavy lifting or increased frequency of load lifting, age, female and poor general health all being strong predictors of LBP. However altered lower limb biomechanics are also considered a factor Read More

It is rare when something comes along for it to offer both a system of diagnosis and a protocol for treatment. The painstaking work that has gone into the development of the MAST Medical, and in particular by the director Dr Hanne Albert, is very welcome. The new MAST Medical treatment provides help for a Read More

At some time or other most people with low back pain wonder if a lumbar support belt might help their symptoms. Whether you need help with a current bout of back pain or be interested in preventing future episodes of back pain, I hope this summary of the current thinking helps you make up your Read More