These two studies attempted to examine movement patterns in people with and without lower back pain, as well as how changing thought patterns around their beliefs can help their pain and function.
Exploring lumbar and lower limb kinematics and kinetics for evidence that lifting techniqueis associated with LBP (Saraceni et al 2021)
People with chronic lower back pain usually report difficulty in bending forward, in particular when attempting to lift anything heavy. This study attempted to review biomechanical movement pattern differences in manual labourers with and without chronic lower back pain (>5 years).
What they identified was that those with lower back pain used a different lifting technique when compared to those without lower back pain. Those with back pain performed more of a slower, 'squat' type lift, with a greater knee bend and straighter lumbar and thoracic spine as well as greater peak knee forces when standing. Those without lower back pain performed the lifting task with a quicker, more stooped like posture with less knee bend.
Their conclusion was that the common assumptions around lower back pain associated with movements and the forces produced during a lifting task were not observed and brings into question the current belief around safe lifting.
From protection to non-protection: A mixed methods study investigating movement, posture and recovery from disabling low back pain (Wernli et al, 2021)
This mixed method study design examined the benefit of Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) in people with chronic lower back pain (CLBP). 12 people were interview at the start of the study, identifying their beliefs about their back and the 3 movements and postures that they find most provoking. A course of CFT was delivered over a period of 12 weeks, where participants were interviewed afterwards to review their movements and their perceptions of their symptoms.
At the end of the 12 weeks, 11/12 people had reported significant improvements in their pain and function, enabling them to return to their usual activities and in some instances (7/12 people) not think about their back pain at all. The authors of this study identified two groups for both before and after the intervention which I believe is extremely useful:
Before Intervention
- Non-Conscious Protection - A lived experience of being stiff, restricted, tense, locked or seized up
- Conscious Protection - Tense, guarded, careful and cautious movements and postures due to belief of structural damage / vulnerability, fear and worry of damage, pain, future +/- diagnostic uncertainty
- Conscious Non-Protection - Purposefully relaxed, fluid, free movements and postures that reduce pain and increase function (including integration into valued activities)
- Non-Conscious Non-Protection - Automatic, natural, relaxed, fluid, free movements and postures secondary to positive experiences that disconfirm or violate previous beliefs, worries or expectations, and individualised education about their condition and the meaning of pain
So, if you are experiencing long term lower back pain, speak with me today on either enquiries@mattrossphysiotherapy.co.uk or 07814 717577 to see how I can help.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Matt Ross
As a result of increased demand I am delighted that the clinic has changed it's opening times to enable more people to receive the very best physiotherapy in Chelmsford. The clinic times are as follows:
- Monday to Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday to Saturday: 8.30am to 6pm
- Sunday: 10am to 4pm.
- Emergency appointments may be available at request - please contact directly.
Kind regards
Matt Ross
Your health, safety, and well being are of huge importance to me at the clinic and I will continue with:
- The wearing of full PPE
- Thorough cleaning between customers
- Gaps between appointment times to ensure that you do not come into contact with other customers.
- Personal lateral flow testing 2 times per week.
If you require physiotherapy and are still concerned about attending a face to face clinic then don't forget that I still offer home visits and virtual consultations.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding and please stay safe.
Kind regards
Matt
These annual Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Awards, organised by Global Health and Pharma, recognises the tireless work undertaken by companies, individuals and initiatives that contribute towards promoting the physical and mental welfare of those in need of support and I am delighted to be acknowledge by the GHP judging panel.
Since the opening of the clinic back in 2018, I have always ensured that those who required physiotherapy treatment received the very best, evidence based and holistic interventions, making sure that people fully understand their condition and how to work together to aid their rehabilitation and I'm confident that over the coming years the clinic will continue to go from strength to strength.
Lastly, thanks to all my friends and family for your continued support throughout this journey and to all my clients, old and new, for your kinds words and trust over these last few years.
Matt
Matt Ross Physiotherapy will continue to follow strict and thorough cleaning protocols to ensure the health and safety of everyone. This includes:
- Temperature check and hand sanitiser on arrival
- With one clinic room this ensures that you will not come into contact with anyone else other than the clinician
- Full PPE worn throughout the consultation
- Following the 1 meter+ rule where able
- Lengthened time between appointments to enable through cleaning of the clinic
I understand that some people may require physiotherapy services and are unable to attend as they are concerned about the current situation or currently shielding. You'll be pleased to know that there are a number of different options available:
- Telephone and Video consultations
- Ask the Expert Q&A section
- FREE lockdown exercises
Stay safe.
Matt
Matt
- Education
- For work, if you cannot work from home
- For exercise and recreation outdoors
- For medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury of harm
- To shop for food and essentials
- To provide care for a vulnerable person.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy seek to reassure people who are seeking physiotherapy services that these shall be available to them no matter what the level of lockdown. More information can be found here at https://www.csp.org.uk/news/2020-10-28-physiotherapy-services-remain-open-across-uk?fbclid=IwAR2UohT...
Therefore, Matt Ross Physiotherapy will continue to provide appointments throughout the proposed 4 week lockdown. Your safety is and always will be of absolute importance to me and I will continue to provide the same high level of hygiene and cleanliness that has been witnessed over these last few months. These include:
- The provision of face masks and hand sanitiser
- Significant gaps in between patients to allow thorough cleanliness
- Full PPE worn by me throughout the whole consultation.
- Temperature taken on arrival
- Independent clinic means that you will not come into contact with another patient.
Continue to stay safe and look after one another.
Matt
Running has always been a popular hobby in our local community, and South Woodham Runners provides an opportunity for likeminded people to come together on a weekly basis to participate in social runs and in local competitions. Their members understand that whether they are a social or seasoned professional they need to make sure that they look after their bodies, understand the nature of any aches or niggles and have this addressed as soon as possible so they can get back to their running sooner.
As part of this collaboration, members of South Woodham Ferrers are entitled to special offers and monthly newsletters to keep up to date with the latest evidence and key exercises that they could incorporate into their exercise plan.
I am looking forward to a close working relationship in the future with all the members of South Woodham Runners, and if you are interested in joining please check out their Facebook page by clicking the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/woodhamrunners
Never has it been more important to look after our health and wellbeing. The government lockdown that was implemented at the end of March 2020 turned our lives upside down, affecting millions of people in multiple different ways. Some people sought to increase their activity levels, finding ways of keeping fit by taking up activities such as jogging, running, brisk walking and cycling, while those of a certain age or with underlying health conditions were encouraged to isolate to reduce the risk of transmission.
Thankfully, almost 4 months on, restrictions are slowly starting to lift as the reduction in transmission continues. People who have been shielding will soon be able to go out and facilities continue to open. As we start to emerge into this ‘new normal’, reports suggests that during the period of lockdown period has had an impact on our health in a multitude of different ways. There are incidences where people report pain after rapidly increasing their activity as a way of keeping fit, while others while those who have been advised to shield may have encountered deconditioning as well as potential psychological effects such as anxiety and depression which can play a large role in pain perception in a whole host of musculoskeletal conditions.
What Can I Do?
Movement and exercise is important for our physical and psychological wellbeing. However we need to be mindful in the ways we approach our chosen activity to prevent overuse injuries such as tendinopathies.
Research is continuing to examine the multidimensional impacts of COVID-19. A study by University College London report a sudden spike in reported exercise at the beginning of lockdown, with 4 in 5 people report performing regular physical activity which has remained constant since. This also correlates with a more recent study from the University of Brighton that highlights a rise of musculoskeletal injuries associated with leisure activities from 15% to 28%.
There a number of useful tips and strategies that can help reduce your risk of injury as we start to emerge from lockdown. Should you wish to engage in more exercise, it is always worth consulting with a health care professional first should you have any concerns.
For those wanting to start an activity as a means to keep fit, ensure that you gradually increase your activity over the coming weeks. An example of an excellent graded exercise programme is the ‘couch to 5k’ for runners or the ‘couch to 30 miles’ for cyclists, many of which can be found online. Gradually increasing your exercise and activity appropriately stimulates cells within various tissues, encouraging adaptations which in turn help your body become stronger as well as improving your cardiovascular system.
For those who have had a significant reduction in their weekly activities, for example those have been required to shield or those who were highly active pre-lockdown, their tissues would have gone through a period of deconditioning. A paper by Bogdanis in 2012 highlighted that this reduction in activity and adoption of a more sedentary lifestyle has a significant impact on both muscle strength and mass, particularly in the larger anti-gravity muscles such as the gluteal and quadriceps . This is reinforced in a paper by Narici et al (2020) who notes the beginning of significant muscle atrophy within 5 days, with approximately a 10% loss at 30 days and 15% loss at 60 days. Therefore it is important to understand that as restrictions start to ease, your body will find it difficult to immediately return to the sort of intensity that you capable of pre-lockdown. Start off slowly, with shorter distances or lighter weights, and continue to develop over the coming weeks.
If you are aware that a task that will require significant effort, then you can break this activity down through a process called ‘pacing’. Set yourself a time limit and have a short rest in between the activity to allow the tissues time to recover and avoid the acute overload of tissues.
However some injuries, niggle, aches and pains are unavoidable in your attempt to get fit and physiotherapy can help you get back on the right track. By helping identify the problem, providing education and management strategies as well as a specific and tailored exercise programme to help facilitate your recovery, I can help you get back to the activities you enjoy sooner, pain free, and with the confidence and knowledge to help reduce your risk in the future.
There will be a number of changes from what you would normally expect from a physiotherapy appointment, however this has been implanted to ensure that both I and patients remain safe and minimise the risk of transmission.
Why Matt Ross Physiotherapy?
Being a small family run business, there is only one clinic room meaning that you will not be amongst other people awaiting treatment. 45 minutes shall be left between appointments to ensure that the clinic can be deep cleaned and made safe for the next patient. When you attend your appointment you can be assured that everything has been performed to help maintain your safety.
What can I expect from my appointment?
- Prior to your arrival you will be sent a new patient information sheet and consent form which will contain COVID related information which you must read and sign and bring to your first appointment.
- Please thoroughly was hands before attending.
- The therapist will be wearing a mask throughout the duration of the session. Gloves will be donned when performing any hands on / physical assessment and disposed of immediately afterwards.
- Bed covers have been removed to allow easy cleaning and paper towel shall be used instead. Washable plastic pillow covers shall be used to ensure these can be safely cleaned after each patient
- On arrival, a table will be present which provides hand sanitised and your own face mask. Before entering the clinic it is important that these are addressed. Once the mask is in situ, your temperature shall be taken with a contactless digital thermometer. If you have a temperature in excess of 37.5 degrees then unfortunately your session will not go ahead.
- If your temperature is within normal limits then you can enter the clinic and your appointment will continue as normal, however you MUST wear your mask until you leave the building.
- You can still expect the same level of professionalism, evidence based practice and personalised exercise programme.
However, you MUST NOT visit the clinic if:
- You are displaying the symptoms of coronavirus which includes and not limited to a high temperature, new persistent cough and / or a loss of taste or sense of smell
- You have recently come into contact with someone who has has coronavirus symptoms
- You have been instructed by NHS111 of the NHS Track and Trace team to self isolate.
- You have recently visited a foreign country and have not quarantined for the required 14 days
As physiotherapy is a hands on profession it is impossible to maintain the 2m rule and please expect close contact however with the above stipulations the risk of transmission should be low. Online and telephone appointments are still available should you wish to have a consultation via this avenue.
Appointments must be booked in advanced so please contact me through our contact ussection.
Please continue to play your part in reducing the spread of the virus and stay alert, control the virus and save lives.
I cannot wait to welcome you back to the clinic
Kind regards
Matt
