Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow. It is clinically known as lateral epicondylitis and occurs following overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, near the elbow joint.

You may notice pain:

• on the outside of your upper forearm, just below the bend of your elbow
• whilst lifting or bending your arm
• when gripping small objects, such as a pen
• if twisting your forearm, such as turning a door handle or opening a jar

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

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Really proud to have witnessed our patient Sarah’s new project today.  She had her second go in a ReWalk Robotic Exoskeleton and was amazing. She has really grasped the basics quickly and managed over 2000 steps.  Sarah has already learned to stop, and change direction and has been designated Star Pupil status.    ‘Bigger steps’ and ‘Faster’ comments already prove that her determination is outstanding.  Uneven ground and slopes were a little more challenging but won’t beat her.

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Plantar Fasciitis /Heel pain is a common foot condition. It’s usually felt as an intense pain when using the affected heel.
Heel pain usually builds up gradually and gets worse over time. The pain is often severe and occurs when you place weight on your heel.

What is the Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a tough and flexible band of tissue that runs under the sole of the foot. It connects the heel bone with the bones of the foot, and acts as a kind of shock absorber to the foot.  In most cases, only one heel is affected, although estimates suggest that around a third of people have pain in both heels.

Most cases of heel pain are caused when the Plantar Fascia becomes damaged and thickens.
Plantar fasciitis is the medical term for the thickening of the plantar fascia. The pain is usually worse first thing in the morning, or when you first take a step after a period of inactivity. Walking usually improves the pain, but it often gets worse again after walking or standing for a long time.

Some people may limp or develop an abnormal walking style as they try to avoid placing weight on the affected heel.

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There is a lot of information about OA knees below, but the long and short of it is…. exercise is the answer! Do have a read, it is quite interesting…..

What is Osteoarthritis (OA):

Osteoarthritis: Osteon means bone, Arthro means joints, Itis means inflammation. This terminology is technically incorrect and OA is actually not an inflammatory condition by nature. This is why some people now call it Osteoathrosis instead. The Osis part actually means degeneration, which is more accurate. Essentially, breaking down the word tells us what it is – degeneration of the joint. More specifically it is degeneration of the articular cartilage of the joint. This is essentially damage and loss of cartilage until the joint is “bone on bone”. The bone actually starts to thicken and wear in response to the extra load on it, which causes bony outgrowths to form, called osteophytes. The synovium around the joint also thickens and produces extra fluid making the joint swell up.

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So you just found out you got a place in the 2017 London Marathon…. don’t panic!!

London Marathon ballot results were out recently, and for those amongst you fortunate enough to get a place in next year’s marathon, there may well be a feeling of mixed emotions right now! I’m sure that the anxiety is creeping in alongside the elation at this stage.  If you are wondering if you will ever be able to make the distance without injury, and then have a look at a few of these tips to help you through the next six to seven months. It’s not all about physio you know..

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New patients who have never had physio before are often filled with a little trepidation when coming through our door as they have no idea what to expect.  I thought that I would you share with you what you SHOULD expect from a visit to the physio…
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