Neck pain can affect your daily life more than many other problems and can be very disconcerting. Common complaints include whiplash, postural pain or muscle imbalance, disc protrusions, spondylosis (wear and tear), acute torticolis, sprains and strains and nerve irritation. Symptoms may refer into your arms and hands in the form of pain, pins and needles or numbness. Headaches may also be experienced due to stiff joints or overactive muscles.

A full assessment will determine the cause of the problem with treatment including joint mobilisations, soft tissue massage, heat/ice therapy, muscle energy techniques, postural and ergonimic advice, progressive exercise therapy and activation of the deep stabilising muscles that are often neglected.

Whether a sporting injury or a gradual onset of symptoms, physiotherapy can help. Thomas has recently specialised in shoulder treatment and with great success.

The shoulder girdle is a very complicated collection of joints and a detailed assessment is required. Some problems addressed by physiotherapy include rehabilitation from dislocations and surgery, impingements, rotator cuff tears, muscle imbalances, sprains, osteoarthritis, frozen shoulders and scapula instability. Neck problems may also present as shoulder pain and skilled assessment will attempt to differentiate the two.

Treatment includes identifying and correcting any attributing factors such as muscle imbalance or posture, soft tissue massage, electrotherapy techniques, specific stretching and the latest research based strengthening exercises alongside joint mobilisation.

You may even be getting pain shooting or pins and needles into your legs or feet.

It is vital to achieve an accurate diagnosis enabling treatment of the causes as well as the symptoms and begin your road to recovery.  Spinal reflexes, postural observation, range of movement, core stability and nerve tests will be carried out to ensure a firm diagnosis and rule out potentially sinister problems.

Treatment is aimed at long term outcomes with the aim to give clients good strategies to deal with their sore backs. Short term, the aim is to get the pain under control as quickly as possible.

Treatment methods include spinal mobilisations, soft tissue massage, heat therapy, postural advice, ergonomic and workplace advice and progressive exercise therapy including the activation of the vital core stabilising muscles that are key to the prevention of many future problems.

Problems in your hip may also present as thigh pain, groin pain, knee pain or even back pain therefore expert analysis is vital to determine the true cause.

Treatment will include addressing muscle imbalances, joint mobilisation, soft tissue massage, specific strengthening and stretching exercises, orthopaedic referral where indicated and electrotherapy techniques.

Treatment methods include detailed analysis of the underlying causes, joint mobilisations, soft tissue release techniques, taping, stretching and muscle energy techniques, electrotherapy and progressive exercise therapy tailored to your individual needs.

Detailed history of the onset along with gait analysis, foot posture, range of movement, ligament tests and strenth/length testing will aim to provide an accurate diagnosis from where treatment can begin.

Undergone surgery recently or about to?

ACL reconstructions, total knee or hip replacements, tendon releases and broken bones are but a few of the potential surgical procedures that will benefit from physiotherapy. Many of us undergo surgery and reaching your full rehabilitation potential through a course of physiotherapy will aid in a speedy and effective recovery. An individualised exercise programme will get you back to where you want to be while any potential problems can be identified and addressed.

Being fit and strong prior to elective surgery such as a knee or hip replacement improves your chance of a fast and effective recovery. A tailored exercise programme can be designed for you so that you will achieve your full potential and get you back doing those activities you enjoy.

Thomas has competed for many years on the roads and fells of Yorkshire. Most injuries are preventable and with analysis of the body as a whole to determine contributing causes and an objective analysis of any training errors, footwear and running surfaces a firm diagnosis can be made and an individualised return to running can be begun. Common running injuries include sprained ankles, tendinitis, chondromalacia patellae, low back pain, hip pain, plantar fasciitis and so on….

Early intervention is vital to reduce time off running and prevent those niggles becoming full blown injuries.

Treatment involves rooting out the underlying causes as well as symptomatic treatment. A gait analysis will be performed and muscle length, strength, joint range of movement and muscle imbalances will be addressed. Whether you wish to run round the block or complete an iron man our aim is to get you back safely and stronger, this may be through providing a tailored training programme to maintain your fitness while out of your running shoes whether it be aqua jogging, cycling or circuits-whatever takes your fancy. You may even return to running fitter and leaner.

Where possible of course the aim is to keep you in your running shoes (as running is what runners like doing) this is often achieved through a tailored exercise programme alongside regular soft tissue release, joint mobilisation, electrotherapy, taping, muscle energy techniques and stretching.

Treatment includes modifying and correcting any attributing factors, deep tissue friction massage, electrotherapy techniques, specific stretching and progressive exercise therapy.

Scar tissue can be broken down. Scar tissue results from previous injuries and can effect muscle, tendons and ligaments limiting the range and quality of movement of a muscle and lead to a greater risk of re-injury.

Muscle tissue elasticity can be improved. Hard training can make tissues hard and inelastic which can then place stress on the tendons, joints and ligaments. This is one reason why hard training may not result in improvements. Massage helps reverse this by stretching the tissues and may help reduce associated overuse injuries.

Massage increases blood flow to tissues and dilate the blood vessels enables nutrients to pass through more easily and enhance recovery following hard exercise.