Author: Phil Clarke

A compelling video which went viral on the Internet asks the question, what’s the single best thing you can do for your health? The answer, according to narrator Dr. Mike Evans and Physios at Penn Farm Physio, is to limit your sitting and sleeping, in other words your periods of inactivity to 23 ½ hours a day. That’s it.

Please click on this link to view this wonderful video … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F5Sly9JQao

For a specialist assessment of your aches and pain or advice on getting active please click here to book an appointment.

Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow.

It’s clinically known as lateral epicondylitis.

It often happens after overuse or repeated action of the muscles of the forearm, near the elbow joint.

You may notice pain on the outside of the elbow, which may travel down the forearm when:

• lifting or bending your arm
• when gripping small objects, such as a pen
• when twisting your forearm, such as turning a door handle or opening a jar

You may also find it difficult to fully extend your arm.

What causes tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is usually caused by overusing the muscles attached to your elbow and used to straighten your wrist. If the muscles are strained, tiny tears and inflammation can develop near the bony lump (the lateral epicondyle) on the outside of your elbow.

As the name suggests, tennis elbow is sometimes caused by playing tennis, but any activity that puts repeated stress on the elbow joint can cause it.

Pain that occurs on the inner side of the elbow is known as golfer’s elbow.

Here is a very good video regarding Tennis Elbow and its management; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOueY1l_X0U

If you would like a specialist physio to assess your elbow pain and help you manage this and speed up your recovery please click here to book an appointment.

Here at Penn Farm Physio, in South Cambridgeshire, we love to empower and inform our patients about their complaints and what their options are. Please see the flyer below for an event designed for you at the Spire Lea Hospital in Cambridge and its free!! Well worth booking a place via this email Luke.wilson@spirehealthcare.com

What is sciatica?

Are discs like Jelly Doughnuts?

Can your disc slip?

Is your nerve trapped or pinched?

Is there a best exercise?

Is surgery a good option?

Is there a quick fix? – often no.

Please click here to watch a very informative and research based video, regarding the above questions. For a specialist assessment regarding your sciatic symptoms and an individually tailored rehabilitation programme please click here to book an appointment at Penn Farm Physio.

Because of the rising popularity of media devices such as smartphones and computers, frequent users often exhibit sustained posture.

Forward head posture (FHP) is a habitual neck posture and is defined by hyperextension of the upper cervical vertebrae and forward translation of the cervical vertebrae.

Thoracic Kyphosis is a complication of the combination of slouched-forward shoulders and rounded upper back which can lead to a painful shortening of the muscles of the back of the neck, as well as loading of the neck vertebra.

Due to the increased compressive forces through the neck joints and increased muscle tension, pain is the common outcome. Some of the types of problems associated with FHP are:

Headaches

Neck discomfort

Muscle tension in the neck and shoulders

Discomfort in the mid back

Pain, pins & needles and numbness in the arms and hands

Many people develop chronic or recurrent problems and receive treatment for the pain (e.g. pain killers or anti-inflammatory medication) but never receive treatment for the underlying cause which is their FHP.

Please click here for a great video on how to optimise your posture when using a laptop.

However, please remember that no one posture is good, its about movement and changing positions frequently. Click here to make an appointment with one of our specialist physiotherapist who can provide you with an individualised assessment to help reduce your postural related back pain.