Nottingham Massage Blog

Baby Talk #1

2011-06-16T11:13:00.005+01:00

Becoming a parent exposes you to all kinds of new vocabulary and phrases that you just don't come across in everyday life... well, I hadn't!

This is the first of series of blog posts explaining what some of those new words mean:

meconium
This is what awaits you in your baby's nappy for the first day or so. It's a black, stick, tar-like substance, not dissimilar to Marmite. Apparently it's also odour-free, so at least that's something!
colostrum
Talking of the first few days of a baby's life, colostrum is the milk initially made by the mother. It is thicker than later milk and contains antibodies essential for a baby's immune system as well as being high in protein and low in fat - sounds like a superfood!
prolactin
Also know as LTH or luteotropic hormone, prolactin is produced by the anterior pituitary gland and its main function is to stimulate milk production in the breast.
oxytocin
This hormone is produced by the posterior pituitary and has a number of functions. Firstly, it helps to control uterine contractions during labour. It also causes milk 'let-down' when the baby stimulates the nipple. The third and perhaps most well-known action of oxytocin is to help develop trust and bonding between mother and baby.
relaxin
Another hormone, this one is produced by the ovary, breast and placenta and works to allow ligaments to become more 'stretchy' by allowing collagen fibres to absorb more water. Although levels peak at the end of the 1st trimester, relaxin is most visible in late pregnancy as the body adapts to carrying a large weight and the pelvis prepares itself for delivery.

Phew, see what I mean! And that's the tip of the iceberg of the words that you'll hear. Next up we'll have the wonders of Braxton-Hicks amongst other things...

Research: Patient Satisfaction With Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Care: A Systematic Review.

2010-11-15T16:10:00.000Z

A recently published study has looked at patient satisfaction from musculoskeletal therapy and reached these conclusions:

Patients are highly satisfied with musculoskeletal physical therapy care delivered across outpatient settings in northern Europe, North America, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The interpersonal attributes of the therapist and the process of care are key determinants of patient satisfaction. An unexpected finding was that treatment outcome was infrequently and inconsistently associated with patient satisfaction. Physical therapists can enhance the quality of patient-centered care by understanding and optimizing these determinants of patient satisfaction.

You can read the full article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21071504.

Website Update

2010-10-29T18:45:00.003+01:00

To improve the online booking facility on my site, I've created a whole new calendar which now lets you select the length of appointment as well as the day and time.

Check it out here: http://www.supersaas.com/schedule/Nottingham-Massage/New_version

If you've got any ideas for how this could be improved, please let me know.

New Testimonial

2010-10-20T20:18:00.001+01:00

It's always nice to get feedback from a satisfied client:

From my own experience I can testify that to seek Rich Moore's expert help is to put yourself in the hands of a skilled practitioner.
His professional qualifications apart, one of Rich's strengths is the care he takes to listen to what a patient says before ever suggesting what treatment he believes best for you.

Like me I'm sure you'll be glad you made an appointment.

Thanks Colin

Tai Chi helps ease the pain of Fibromyalgia

2010-08-19T13:34:00.004+01:00

A recently published article by Wang et al in the New England Journal of Medicine claims that practicing Tai Chi can help to ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

66 fibromyalgia sufferers were randomly prescribed yang-style tai chi or standard care, consisting of wellness education and stretching twice a week. After 12 weeks, it was found that "the 33 in the tai chi group had clinically important improvements in the FIQ (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire) total score and quality of life." This prompted the researchers to conclude that "Tai chi may be a useful treatment for fibromyalgia and merits long-term study in larger study populations."

The complete article can be read at the NEJM website.

If you'd like to learn more about fibromyalgia, the symptoms and treatment visit the Health Network website.

Follow us on Facebook!

2010-08-08T22:30:00.001+01:00

I've just created a Facebook page to promote the latest offers and news from Nottingham Massage.

Become a fan to be kept up to date: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nottingham/Nottingham-Massage-Therapy/104243239632999

Robin Hood Half Marathon Update

2010-07-18T22:50:00.002+01:00

So, I'm running the Robin Hood Half Marathon in Nottingham on 12th September and now have a sponsor, Nottingham Hospice.

If you've got 5 mins and a spare few quid I've setup a Just Giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Moore-Robin-Hood.

Training is going well so far, running about 20km a week and managing 10km fairly comfortably. Hoping to get upto 15km in the next couple of weeks and clear 20km before the big day.

Cheers guys, any donations VERY gratefully received.

Rich

Summer appointments

2010-05-27T15:41:00.002+01:00

It's been a while since my last blog post but things have been so busy, I've not had a chance to stop and write for quite some time...

As most people realise, I'm currently studying part time at Oxford Brookes for a degree in Osteopathy and June is exam month! As a result, I'm only working one evening a week through June and early July so available slots are going fast. The days are varied so as to give everyone a chance of finding some availability but please let me know as soon as you can if you'd like an appointment as a lot have already been snapped up.

Enjoy the weather and hopefully I'll see you soon

Rich

Congrats to London Marathon runners!

2010-04-28T16:05:00.002+01:00

Just a quick note to say congratulations to Mike, Sally and Carl who all completed the 2010 London Marathon this weekend. Glad that my treatment(s) could help as part of your pre-race preparations.

I'm so inspired that I think I'll run the Nottingham one in September! Well, the Half Marathon anyway..!

Well done everyone

Rich

Graze.com - my new favourite website!

2010-04-19T15:07:00.001+01:00

The internet is full of great ideas, often fairly simple concepts with make your life that little bit easier whilst bringing something extra to your daily life. One such site is www.graze.com.

The concept is very simple but the execution is truly excellent.

I'm terrible for snacking throughout the day and despite my best intentions, often end up eating less than ideal foods at my desk. Graze helps to improve your snacking habits by delivering to your door a box of nuts, seeds, dried or fresh fruit based on your personal preferences. You can choose to have one a day, one or more a week or just one every now and again. It's entirely flexible.

Beyond the basic concept though, is the excellent execution of the website, branding and food box that arrives in the post. From start to finish it really is slick, professional and above all great value for money.

I've set mine up to deliver a fresh box every Monday morning - what a great start to the week.

Give Graze a go for free by using discount code 171DBLP. you'll get your first box free (worth £2.99) and then your second box at half price. Bargain.

Portable Massage Couch Offer

2010-02-05T17:15:00.004Z

Whilst on the lookout for a new portable massage couch, I came across this one: Portable Massage Couch

Looks really good value, down from £269.99 to £189.99 with a free bag is only 34kg. Decent specs too:

Colour: Blue
Material: Heavy duty aluminum, leather style vinyl
Height Adjustment: 7-level height adjustment
Adjustable Back: 7-level adjustment
Item Name: Aluminum Massage / Salon Table
Weight: 15.2kgs (34lbs)
Width: 62cm (24 1/2")
Working Weight: 227kgs (500lbs)
Static Weight: 908kgs (2000lbs)
Material: Heavy duty Aluminum frame with leather style vinyl
Foam Thickness: 51mm (2")
Height Adjustment: Range of 66~81cm
Setup Dimension: 184.5cm (L) x 62cm (W) x 66~81cm (H)
Carry Bag: Included

New year, new look!

2010-01-14T21:26:00.005Z

As it's a new decade, I've decided to refresh the website to bring it a bit more up to date and add a bit more information. Check it out here: www.nottingham-massage.com.

I've also taken a few pictures of the treatment room (radiator & fan heater just out of shot!):

Just need to take a few more photos of your truly in action and then I think it'll be just about there...

Book Review: Fibromyalgia by Leon Chaitow

2010-01-10T15:22:00.003Z

Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Practitioner's Guide to Treatment (3rd Ed)
by Leon Chaitow
Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier 2009

An extremely thorough investiagtion into a potentially baffling condition.

As a third year student at Oxford Brookes University on the five year 'part time' pathway, I'm beginning to treat patients regularly in clinic and learn about specific pathologies and conditions and their associated treatment modalities. One condition that I have come across a number of times already is Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia or Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is said to affect up to 2% of the adult population so is something that every healthcare practitioner should be aware of.

Chaitow has done a fantastic job of bringing together a wealth of information about the subject to provide as comprehensive a text as you could imagine regarding this condition. Wonderfully presented and clearly broken into relevant sections, this book deserves to be read by everyone dealing with patients suffering from this condition.

Scope of the book

Quite rightly beginning with the history of fibromyalgia and how perceptions and views have changed since it was first recognised in the late 16th Century as 'rheumatism' it looks at the changes that have reflected upon the condition and then comes bang up to date with research published in 2008 demonstrating the latest thinking. This superbly sets up following chapters on recognising and differentiating the condition, essential for any practitioner.

The book really comes into its own from this point onwards as it looks at conditions associated with FMS and also potential treatment modalities.

As the condition is so complex, there are many other related illnesses that will often be seen in clinic from IBS to TMJ dysfunction to depression/anxiety and many more. The book does an excellent job of covering as many of these conditions as you'd hope for, offering an insight into how they are related and how they can be treated as a whole.

Accompanying DVD

The book is accompanied by a DVD-ROM that features the entire book in digital format as well as around 20 videos covering various aspects of diagnosis and treatment, ably demonstrated by Mr Chaitow himself. This really helps to bring the subject to life and helps with the detailed treatment options and modalities described in the text.

My only criticism here is that the content is presented as a DVD-ROM rather than DVD meaning that it must be watched on a computer rather than television. I also had some difficulties using the disc on an Apple Mac. It was possible to access the content by this needed to be done by finding individual files, not ideal.

Conclusion

This really is a comprehensive text. It covers everything from the diagnosis to the treatment of the condition which is exactly what a healthcare practitioner, be it osteopath, massage therapist, whichever, is looking for. However, it goes far beyond this to look at the history and conflicting theories about the condition, giving a valuable insight into all elements of the condition.

I feel that the DVD is a bit of a missed opportunity but the supplied videos provide some extra insight.

As a whole, highly recommended.

Locations of the pulses

2010-01-05T16:24:00.003Z

As part of my 3rd year practical exams I'll be examining the cardiovascular system. A part of that involves identifying, recordign and interpreting pulses.

Found this handy little video describing the locations of the major pulses:

Muscles, Bones & Joints:
Pulse Locations

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2009-12-18T11:54:00.002Z

I've finished all my appointments for 2009 and am very happy to report a 46% increase in patients compared to 2008, which is amazing.

So a big thank you to all my current and past patients for your support.

All it leaves me to do is to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and happy, healthy New Year. I look forward to more successful treatments and happy patients in 2010!!

Rich

Osteopathy Study Aids Now On Sale

2009-12-17T10:35:00.003Z

We've now added a range of osteopathy study aids to the site, which is going to be added to as time permits. These have been designed especially for students of osteopathy to help with learning some of the more fundamental topics.

Firstly we have tools to help you learn the brachial plexus as well as some recommended books which will really help your studies generally.

Enjoy!

How does inflammation work?

2009-12-12T12:16:00.001Z

Congratulations again to Dan Hardy!!

2009-11-15T17:50:00.003Z

Big big congratulations to Dan Hardy, one of my long term clients, on his latest UFC win over Mike Swick yesterday. Not only a great win, it opens up a title shot with Georges St-Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship in 2010.

I've worked with Dan for a few years now and he's always impressed me with his drive, professionalism and self belief. Great fighter that GSP is, I wouldn't bet against Dan in their fight if I was you!!

Here's Dan's testimonial for my work: http://www.nottingham-massage.com/client-testimonials/ and here's the fight report on the official UFC site: http://uk.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=26152

Osteopathy on TV

2009-11-13T10:04:00.002Z

One of the things that concerns me as a trainee osteopath is that I'll not only need to sell myself as a practitioner but also to sell osteopathy as a profession, so it's really good to see the BOA being proactive and getting on the TV.

Here's the video of Danny Williams on GMTV talking about back pain in relation to handbags:

In my mind, any publicity like this is a good thing and I'm fully behind it. The more that osteopathy is part of everyday language, the more likely we are to be able to make a successful career out of it.

Updating the blog from my phone

2009-11-11T15:44:00.001Z

this is a test message to see if I can update the blog from my phone...

Reflections on Year 2

2009-08-03T21:47:00.002+01:00

So, another year down! Only 3 more to go!

In many ways, Year 2 was a much harder year for me. Outside of the course, there's been a lot going on which has made it hard to focus on study at the level it deserves. The course content was a lot tougher at times too. I've always found neuroanatomy quite challenging and this was a large part of the content for this year. It was only towards the end of the year that it really clicked for me, especially as we looked into pain perception and management.

On a more positive note, this year felt far more involved than the first year which was very much a foundation year. Although the practical element seemed to make up a fairly small part of this year's modules, it seemed far more aimed at offering a better quality of treatment than just a mechanical method of learning.

Perhaps most pleasingly, I've noticed that my massage treatments have become much more confident as the year has progressed. I'm incorporating many of the techniques that we've learnt into my treatments and am also taking the case histories in as osteopathic a way as possible! Of course, this is great practice for me too.

So, 3 years to go and I'm really looking forward to Year 3. Finally get a chance to actually treat some clients!!

Rich

P.S. 8 As and 2 B+s across the first 2 years isn't bad is it? ;)

NICE Guidelines - massage & osteopathy

2009-06-18T16:15:00.005+01:00

Much has been made of the latest NICE Guidelines for Treatment of Low Back Pain, particularly in the massage and osteopathy fields. The full guidelines can be found here but to summarise:

The 4 Principles of Management for all Patients are described as:

1. Keep diagnosis under review at all times
2. Promote self-management/advice
3. Offer drug treatments as appropriate
4. Offer a range of alternative treatments including exercise, acupuncture and manual therapy.

Manual therapy is then further identified:

The manual therapies reviewed were spinal manipulation, spinal mobilisation and massage. Collectively these are all manual therapy. Mobilisation and massage are performed by a wide variety of practitioners. Manipulation can be performed by chiropractors and osteopaths, as well as by doctors and physiotherapists who have undergone specialist postgraduate training in manipulation.

So that's pretty conclusive, patients suffering from low back pain can and should be referred for massage and osteopathy, amongst other treatments. The guidleines recommend up to 9 treatments over up to 12 weeks.

This has got to be good news for both fields of treatment, hasn't it? The question is, how are we practitioners going to make our presence felt? Should the GPs be actively looking for us or should we target them? And how responsive will GPs be to sending patients off for manual therapy as opposed to physiotherapy or drug treatment?

What do you all think?

Hope with anatomy revision

2009-06-12T19:28:00.003+01:00

The second year exams are but a few weeks away and we're all getting into the tough revision that we're got to endure, so it was good to see that no matter how poorly prepared I feel, there are others out there who know even less!

A team at King's College London found public understanding of basic anatomy has not improved since a similar survey was conducted 40 years ago. Less than 50% of the more than 700 people surveyed could correctly place the heart, BMC Family Practice says.Under one-third could place the lungs in their correct location, but more than 85% got the intestines right.
There are concerns that a poor grasp of anatomy could potentially compromise patient care.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8092930.stm

Now treating in 2 venues!!

2009-04-25T11:41:00.002+01:00

I'm very excited to announce that I'm now offering professional sports massage in two prime locations in Nottingham City Centre. Tuesday appointments will now be taken at Elite Martial Arts, based at the High Pavement Business Centre in The Lace Market, Nottingham. This new facility is directly opposite the famous Pitcher & Piano pub, so is in a perfect location for those based in the city centre.

Thursdays will still be at Bushido MMA, the number 1 location for MMA, BJJ and Muay Thai boxing in Nottingham. Home of the Rough House Team featuring some of the best MMA fighters out of the UK including Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy, Paul "Semtex" Daley, Jim Wallhead, Lee Livingstone and many more, it has established itself as a top martial arts training location in the East Midlands.

Appointments are available from 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with other times and home visits available on request. If you would like to book an appointment at one of these great facilities, give me a call on 07990 548519.

Chest pain, coughing up blood...

2009-04-15T17:47:00.002+01:00

... I think you've got a tree growing in your lung!!

Saw this amazing news article today about Artyom Sidorkin, a 28 year old Russian chap who presented to his local hospital with agonising chest pain and hemoptysis (coughing up blood). Convinced that he had lung cancer, he was taken to x-ray which showed what appeared to be a tumor. Straight into surgery where a section of his lung was removed and biopsied.. to reveal a 5cm spruce tree!!

Apparently he had inhaled a seed which then took root in his lung and began to grow! Read the full story here: http://tinyurl.com/cng9pw

And here's a nice little picture!

Footballer's Ankle

2009-03-28T18:05:00.004Z

Whilst in clinic this week, I observed a young man being treated for neck and shoulder pain, alongside which he had a suspected Footballer's Ankle.

What is Footballer's Ankle?
This is a pinching or impingement of the ligaments or tendons of the ankle between the bones, particularly the talus and tibia. This results in pain, inflammation and swelling.

A common cause of anterior impingement is a bone spur on anklebone (talus) or the shinbone (tibia). Repeated kicking actions can cause the anklebone to hit the bottom of the shinbone, which can lead to a lump of bone (or bone spur) developing. This bone spur may then begin to impact on the soft tissue at the front of the ankle, causing inflammation and swelling.

The condition is most common in athletes who repeatedly bend the ankle upward (dorsiflexion), such as footballers, hence the name.

What are the symptoms?
- pain and tenderness over anterior ankle joint
- pain on dorsiflexion and plantar flexion
- band of pain across anterior ankle when kicking a ball
- palpable bony lump on distal tibia or superior talus

How can it be treated?
- soft tissue techniques to stretch muscles crossing the ankle to relieve tension
- mobilisation of ankle joint
- steroid injection to tackle inflammation
- surgery to remove bony spurs

Ref: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/ankle/footballersankle.htm & http://www.simonmoyes.com/trt_ankle_football.php

New testimonial!

2009-01-19T17:54:00.003Z

Just received this really nice testimonial from one of my clients:

I have a huge thank you to say to you for giving me the confidence to allow someone to treat me for my back problem. Without you I would not be where I am today. I am still being treated for my back problem at an oesteopath in Belper but am down to monthly treatments now. Thanks for your support. If I lived closer to Nottingham I would still be making appointments with you today.

Without sounding overly sentimental, this kind of comment really does make it all worthwhile - Thank you.

Muscle a day #2: Omohyoid

2009-01-13T21:59:00.004Z

Revising the triangles of the neck at the weekend, I realised that I knew very little about omohyoid, an important muscle which defines some of the sub triangles of both the anterior and posterior traingles. So here's some more information:

Omohyoid
This muscle is an infrahyoid muscle found in the anterior neck, deep to sternocleidomastoid.

Attachments
Upper border of scapula and occasionally superior transverse scapular ligament (crossing scapular notch).
Lower border of hyoid bone, lateral to insertion of sternohyoid.

Innervation
Ansa Cervicalis (C1-C3) (branch of cervical plexus)

Action
Depresses, retracts, and steadies hyoid bone

Notes:
The omohyoid has 2 bellies connected by a tendon and is one of the infrahyoid muscles. It passes anteriorly and superiorly from the scapula, passing behind sternoclediomastoid where it takes a steep redirection superiorly towards its attachment to the inferior hyoid.

The central tendon is attached to the first rib and clavicle by the deep cervical fascia.

Vitamin B and Nerve Health

2008-11-28T18:32:00.003Z

I've been suffering a little bit recently with some low back pain and some transient parasthesia in my hands and feet, so thought I'd visit my local osteopath for a treatment and some advice.

Numerous tests and treatments later I'm feeling much more loose and relaxed but the pins and needles are still a bit of a mystery so he's recommended taking some B vitamins to improve the health of my nerves. I've started taking B Complex every day now but have done a little bit of research into exactly what I'm taking. The 2 B Vitamins of particular interest are B12 (Cyanocobalamin) and B6 (Pyridoxine).

B12 is necessary for processing carbohydrates, proteins and fats is found in all the blood cells. It is also essential for the maintenance of the nerve sheaths. It is stored in the liver and is absorbed through the small intestine in normal function but deficiency can occur when the body is unable to absorb the vitamin - a condition called pernicious anaemia. This is characterised by muscle weakness, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, digestive abnormalities such as diarrhoea, constipation, jaundice and many other symptoms.

B12 is found in liver, meat, egg yolk, poultry and milk.

B6, also known as pyridoxal phosphate or pyridoxamine is found in liver, organ meats, brown rice, fish, butter, whole grain cereals, soy beans and many other foods. Again it is required to breakdown carbohydrate, fats and proteins but is also used for erythropoesis (red blood cell production). Deficiency is rare due to the abundance of the vitamin in various foods but can be found in alcoholics and presents itself with skin disorders, neuropathy, confusion, poor coordination and insomnia.

From the sounds of this, B12 deficiency sounds like a more likely diagnosis, so I'll keep taking the vitamins and see what happens... watch this space!

Where's my site gone?

2008-11-24T23:04:00.002Z

So, I had a few hosting issues last week and as a result my site was down for a few days. It seems that the Googlebots tried to visit my site during this period as www.nottingham-massage.com has dropped out of the rankings for my search terms in Google.

The site is very much live and kicking so just in case you were wondering why I'm not at the top for "nottingham massage" or 'sports massage in nottingham", don't worry, it'll hopefully be back up there soon!

Cheers

Christmas is coming very soon..!

2008-11-22T14:00:00.007Z

I'll be posting very soon about my Christmas appointments and when the last sesion for 2008 will be but I thought I'd write a quick blog post about Christmas gift ideas that are out there with a health or fitness emphasis.

One thing that i've been seriously considering is the Wii Fit which is set to be one of the hottest presents this year. I've been thinking about getting a Nintendo Wii or a while but am not sure that I'd time for using it, with my studies and training etc but the Wii Fit could be the answer. This blurs the line between game and fitness and could be an effective alternative to the traditional gym. Plus, a few guys at work have the Mario Kart + Wii Wheel which they play online so I could join in that too!

I must admit that I'm not sure what other games are out there but I think I'd probably stick to these ones anyway... except perhaps a snowboarding game... or two!!

How to choose a massage school

2008-11-20T17:51:00.003Z

Although I'm studying to be an osteopath at the moment, I'm still very interested in remedial / sports massage as a therapy and really do believe that it works. As such, I'm always on the lookout for new developments in the massage field and came across this massage school website which gives all kind of advice about what to expect from a massage therapy career.

The trouble with massage is that there is little or no regulation from practitioners or each massage therapist school. My advice would be if you are serious about learning massage, do some local research and talk to successful therapists about which schools are worth training it. It's also important to make sure that your chosen school teaches a version of massage that you are happy with. For example, if you are looking for sports massage but attend the successful local massage school which in reality focusses on aromatherapy or beauty work, you will ultimately be disappointed. So be careful.

That said, massage is an extremely rewarding career and one that I would strongly recommend. But do your research, find a good school, research your local therapists and then start your study. A little preparation goes a long way!

Whiplash Injury Claims Rise

2008-11-17T11:17:00.005Z

According to the BBC website, the number of whiplash claims been made to personal injury solicitor businesses has rapidly increased to around 1200 per day. This is generating business worth £2bn for these solicitors and is costing the NHS and estimated £8bn per year.

The major cause of whiplash is car accidents where the patient's car is hit from behind by another driver. This causes a rapid backwards bending of the neck immediately followed by a rapid forward bending which can damage the muscles and ligaments of the neck and cervical spine. In particular it is the anterior longitudinal ligament which is affected. This long ligament attaches to the anterior vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs along the entire length of the spine.

The most effective way to protect yourself form the potential of this kind of injury is to adjust the headrest of your car to the corrent height whenever you drive your car and amke sure that you drive a safe distance behind the vehicle in front. To quote Edmund King of the AA:

Drivers can avoid inflicting whiplash on themselves and others by keeping a safe distance - at least two seconds - from the vehicle ahead.

If you have had a car accident where your vehicle was hit by another driver, who is at fault and has caused you injury, my advice would be to call a whiplash claim specialist such as Recover! who are based in the East Midlands. Their website is http://www.recover-compensation.com/.

Whether this increase in whiplash claims is a result of more car accidents or simply more litigation and compensation, is open to debate. My feeling is that it is a result of more awareness of how to make a road accident claim rather than an increase in accidents themselves...!

National Association of Massage and Manipulative Therapists

2008-11-13T18:03:00.003Z

Just a quick note to say that I'm now a registered member of the NAMMT (National Association of Massage and Manipulative Therapists).

This is in place of the register owned and maintained by the Midlands School of Massage, who have adopted the NAMMT as their official partner.

To find out more about this group and how to become a member, visit their website: www.nammt.co.uk .

What to Expect From Sports Massage

2008-11-06T16:27:00.002Z

More and more, athletes of varying degrees of skill and intensity are turning to sports massage as part of their training regimen. Sports massage has rapidly become an integral part of many professional athletes’ training routines and has many benefits for those engaged in active lifestyles. What can be expected when you decide to make sports massage part of your training regimen? Read on for the answers to some of your sports massage-related queries.

Needs Assessment
If you decide to make regular sports massage part of your training regimen, you will first need to meet with a therapist to discuss your needs and history. Expect to give a full account of what your training regimen entails. It is important to be as thorough as possible during this initial phase, as sports massage differs from traditional or full-body massage in several ways.
Full body massage involves working on all of the muscle groups in your body, with additional time spent on problem areas and working out knots resulting from pent up stress or tension. Sports massage focuses on specific muscle groups related to the activities you participate in.
Therefore, if you are a cyclist, your therapist will most certainly spend time on your legs rather than neck and shoulders. Working on isolating the muscle groups directly affected by your training is going to be your massage therapist’s number one goal. Naturally, if you are experiencing pain in other areas, he or she will help correct that as well. Your movement and the way you work out may need to be examined and pointers may need to be given regarding your specific movements to minimize future pain, instability, or injury.

Treatment of Specific Muscle Groups
Once your treatment program has been established, expect your sports massages to be directly related to the muscle groups you use the most. Focusing on these muscle groups will help you during the recovery and rebuilding stages after you tear down muscles during your workout. It is going to be very helpful indeed for these muscles to be worked through thoroughly, as this will increase blood flow, reduce pain, and ultimately help you to heal faster after strenuous workouts.

Benefits of Sports Massage
After incorporating massage into your training regimen, you will begin to notice many different things happening within your body. You will be less likely to get injured during routine training. You will experience less down time during the recovery phase after workouts. You will feel more flexible and have more mobility as a result. All of these benefits are likely if you incorporate sports massage regularly during your training.

This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of massage therapists. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com

Muscle a day #1: Adductor Pollicis

2008-11-03T18:36:00.004Z

As a way of revising muscles, I'm going to add a post here every day, or however often I can, to highlight a particular muscle relevant to my studies. The first on which came to the fore yesterday whilst working on the hand is...

Adductor Pollicis
This muscle is found on the palmar aspect of the hand and adducts the thumb. It has two heads: transverse and oblique.

Attachments
Oblique head: slips from capitate, bases or 2nd and 3rd metacarpals, intercarpal ligaments and sheath of tenson of flexor carpi radialis.

Transverse head: lower 2/3 of plamar 3rd metacarpal

Insertion: ulnar side of the base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb

Innervation
Deep branch of ulnar nerve

Notes:
The radial artery passes between the two heads, travelling from the back of the hand into the palm, where it forms the deep palmar arch

Good luck Dan Hardy!

2008-10-17T18:12:00.003+01:00

Just a quick note to wish Dan Hardy, one of the UK's best MMA fighters and a long term client of mine the best of fortune in his debut UFC fight tomorrow against Akihiro Gono in Birmingham.

I gave Dan a pre-fight tune up on Tuesday and I must say that he's in very good shape, physically and mentally right now. Gono is a tough opponent but there is no way I would bet against Dan when he's as focussed and determined as he is right now.

Not that you need it, but good luck mate, I'll be cheering you on from the crowd.

Whiplash Compensation Claim: Follow Up

2008-10-13T09:14:00.002+01:00

I posted a little while ago about whiplash injuries and how to make a whiplash settlement claim through a personal injury solicitor such as Recover!, who are local to me in Nottingham.

I've since received this email:
In November 2007 I herniated a disc in my neck from a Whiplash neck injury. The MRI showed 2 additional bulging cervical discs and 3 bone spurs. 11 months on and my condition has only improved slightly. If you have existing conditions such as bone spurs is this likely to effect a compensation claim?
Now obviously, I'm coming at this more from a medical standpoint than a legal one but here's my opinion. I would suggest that it really depends on what caused the whiplash injury. If it involved another party or was a result of another party's negligence then yes, you can claim. Pre-existing conditions such as bone spurs which would not have increased the severity of the injury itself, should have no real impact on your claim.

My advice would be to give Recover! a call on 0800 093 0531 and talk to one of the advisors would would be able to identify whether this was a 'winnable' situation. Good luck!

The Scalene Muscles

2008-09-29T13:50:00.018+01:00

We've had one weekend back at Oxford Brookes and have dived straight into the anatomy of the neck, which on first look is quite a tricky area as there is literally so much happening in this region. The support and movement of the head is obviously extremely complex so the structure of the muscles of the neck along with the related viscera can be quite involved...

The scalene muscles are key movement and positioning muscles and have significant clinical importance. I have already seen this first hand in clinic and worked to reduce hypertonicity in these muscles to relieve symptoms radiating into the upper extremity.

Anatomy of the Scalene Muscles.
There are 3 scalene muscles in either side of the anterior neck: the anterior scalene, the middle scalene and posterior scalene.

The anterior scalene arises from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the C3 to C6 vertebrae and extends down the anterior neck to attach to scalene tubercle on the inner border of the first rib. It is innervated by the ventral rami of cervical nerves C5 to C7.

The middle scalene sits posterior to the anterior scalene and arises from the posterior tubercles of the TPs of C2 to C7, attaching to the upper surface of the first rib, behind the groove for the subclavian artery. It is innervated by the ventral rami of cervical nerves C3-C8.

The third of the scalene muscles, the posterior scalene arises from the posterior tubercles of the TPs of C5 to C7 and attaches to the outer surface of the second rib. The innervation of this muscle comes from the ventral rami of cervical nerves C7 and C8.

Primarily the scalenes are a muscle of breathing, elevating the upper ribs in deep inspiration but they also flex the neck when they act together. Individually they laterally flex and rotate the neck.

Of clinical interest, the brachial plexus and subclavian artery pass between the anterior and middle scalenes whilst the subclavian vein sits anterior to the anterior scalene. Tightness or spasm of the scalenes can cause compression on these structures contributing to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, resulting in symptoms such as:

- numbness of whole arm and hand which can be constant or intermittent
- deep ache or pain into arms and/or shoulders
- pain can be worse in bed causing a disruption to sleep patterns
- feeling of the circulation to the arm being cut off
- if the circulation becomes restricted, the hands and fingers can become white and even blue and feel cold
- tight muscles in the neck can also lead to compression of the vertebrae making the neck stiff and difficult to tilt or rotate
- extreme tightness of the scalenes may also cause the upper ribs to be elevated affecting breathing

Luckily, treating tight scalenes is possible using manual techniques... but that's another post for another day!

Cryogel back in stock!

2008-09-22T17:53:00.003+01:00

Just a quick note to say that I'm fully stocked up with Cryogel again so if you're looking for 120g tubes of blue, green or lavendar formula just visit the Buy Cryogel page on my main site. Tubes are £7.95 each.

Or if you want to try Cryogel out for free, I alse have Free Cryogel Samples available. You just pay postage and get a couple of freebies to be getting on with. I'm sure you'll be as impressed as I was when I first used it.

Cheers

Reflections at the start of the second year

2008-09-18T18:03:00.002+01:00

I start the second year of my osteopathy degree at Oxford Brookes University on Saturday and thought I'd spend 5 minutes reflecting on the first year and preparing for Year 2.

Overall, I think the experience has been a very positive one, stressful at times, exciting at others but always interesting and thought provoking. The subject itself is immense and working alongside some of the tutors, particularly in clinic has really opened my eyes to what can be achieved and what level of knowledge can be gained. Very inspirational indeed.

My overriding memory of the first year though is the amount of time and effort it has taken to get through the year and pass all the exams. I've been lucky in that probably 60-70% of the content has been revision from my studies at the Midlands School of Massage here in Nottingham but even that has been hard work sustaining and growing upon what was already 'in there'.

I'm expecting the second year to be an extension of Year 1 but also anticipating the level to elevate as we get deeper into certain subjects. The nervous system, anatomy of the head and in particular the dreaded cranial nerves all appear this year so I anticipate that this will be a generally harder year with more expectation in clinic and tougher coursework (not to mention exams...). That said, I've been exposed to some very complex ideas already and can't be afraid to go even deeper.

Fingers crossed that this time next year I'll be writing a very similar blog post, looking forward to Year 3. But let's not jump too far ahead...!

Building an online reputation

2008-09-16T16:56:00.005+01:00

An interesting thing that I've recently noticed is that the more popular your blog or website, the more people are interested in either advertising with you or asking for links back. I've been getting a lot of interest from sites in the USA and Europe and even as far afield as Australia!

One such site is Cliffside Malibu, a drug rehab center in Malibu, USA. Its a good looking site in a very slick, American way but does actually offer a lot of interesting information both about Drug Rehabilitation and Drug Treatment. We've not covered much about addiction and its effect on the body and psyche but I'm hoping we're go into it in a bit more depth in years 2 and beyond as I personally think it's a very interestinf subject.

Talking of which, back to Oxford this weekend for Year 2! I'm looking forward to it in a way but will miss all my free time at evenings and weekends... never mind!!

More slimming pills info!

2008-08-27T13:21:00.003+01:00

Seems like I've opened a bit of a can of worms by starting to talk about diet pills as i've been bombarded by opinion, information and propaganda from all kinds of sources!!

The latest product to hit my inbox is extreme acai berry pills! Now, I've come across acai berries before as another in a long line of superfoods such as blueberries, pomegranate etc but now it appears that it is being harnessed as the next best thing in dieting...

As always, I remain skeptical but after some research on the net for extreme acai berry review I came across the really helpful (and honest) Sybervision which is surprisingly frank diet pills review site covering the range of diet pills and potions out there. To quote:

"Extreme Acai Berry is the new diet pill that offers absolutely no inoformation about their product. Seriously. None. Their website consists of one page. No contact info, no guarantee, and the fact that the only way you can order this Acai Berry supplement is to order their "14 Day Trial" raises many suspicions."

I like the approach that they're taking here - very refreshing! As always, I recommend that you stay skeptical and consult your GP before starting to use any products like this.

Slimming pills and weight loss: Phentermine

2008-08-25T16:21:00.000+01:00

There's been a lot in the press recently about slimming pills and crash dieting with professional advice difficult to come by on the internet. From what I've seen, there are just as many sites offering bogus advice as those which offer proven medical facts and realistic advice.

Phentermine is a popular drug, particularly in the USA which acts as an appetitie suppressant. The name is short for phenyl-tertiary-butylamine and has proven to be effective for weight loss in obese pateients when combined with exercise and behavioural modification. But would it work for you?

I'd always recommend someone considering taking drugs like this to talk to their GP before making any serious decisions but a good starting point could be one of the many websites focussed on the Phentermine Diet. There are lots out there so be careful but ones like Consumer Price Watch are popular and probably one of the most relaible sources of info.

Claiming Compensation for Whiplash, Neck and Back Injuries

2008-08-19T15:05:00.000+01:00

Although the causes of back and neck pain are many and varied, soft tissue injury following a car accident commonly affects the back and surrounding tissues. Whiplash is a common injury that affects the anterior longitudinal ligament and can result in a chronic pain state.

Probably the easiest way to investigate whether you can make an accident compensation claim is to contact one of the many many no win no fee solicitors specialising in this field. How successful you will be is dependant on a variety of factors but it seems the golden rule is if you can blame someone for the accident/condition/pain you are likely to have some success.

Local to me in Nottingham, UK is a group called Recover! which I have dealt with in the past over a whiplash claim and neck injury compensation. Their website http://www.recover-compensation.com/ has lots of information about what you can claim and how much you may be likely to receive, using a snazzy little compensation estimator.

Before seeking financial remuneration I would always recommend visiting a professional to assess the extent of the injury and what the prognosis may be as this will influence how much can be claimed if anything.

Watch Your Own Heart Attack - the full TV commercial

2008-08-12T15:30:00.001+01:00

Finally, here it is. After much promotion and teaser campaigning, the ad finally aired on Sunday... and very impressive it is too.

Overall, the thing that really hits you is the quality of the production and the thought that has gone into it. The content itself is a little bit light in medical terms but that just helps the measure come across as strongly as possible. I particularly liked the approach of tackling people who might be embarrassed about calling an ambulance - how very British!

A bit disappointed that it didn't mention the other symptoms of a heart attack particularly in women, but the accompanying website has much more info http://2minutes.org.uk/, check it out.

However, the most pressing (or should that be 'squeezing') question is really: what is more scary, a heart attack or Steven Berkoff?!

How to spot the symptoms of a heart attack

2008-08-05T21:38:00.000+01:00

ITV (in the UK) is showing a special advert this coming Sunday (August 10th) at 9:17pm designed to dispell some of the myths about the symptoms of a heart attack. I'll definitely be watching on Sunday but thought I'd do a bit of pre-reading ;)

According to the British Heart Foundation, almost 250,000 people suffer heart attacks in the UK each year with a third dying before they reach hospital because their symptoms weren't caught quickly enough.

So what are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Not many people realise that they can be quite different between men and women:

Classic Symptoms
- tightness or pressure in chest
- shortness of breath
- sweating
- dizziness or loss of consciousness
- pain spreading to shoulders and arm, particularly on left side

Symptoms more likely in women
- indigestion or gas-like pain
- unexplained weakness or fatigue
- discomfort/pain between shoulders
- sense of impending doom

I wonder if the BHF advert will cover this gender difference? I imagine that this will be a very high quality film and be extremely informative, so no doubt it will echo this information quite closely. I know I'll be watching...

10% off at Aspetto!

2008-08-05T10:17:00.000+01:00

A little bit off topic but a friend of mine has just given me a discount code for his website which sells all kinds of male grooming, shaving and body care products: www.aspetto.co.uk

Just enter it into the basket at checkout for 10% off:

Summer2008

Enjoy!

Website Update

2008-08-04T18:11:00.000+01:00

Actually had five minutes to sit down and make some tweaks to the main Nottingham Massage website today, nothing significant but a few overdue changes:

1. added a couple of new testimonials:

"My back is so much better. Thanks for all you have done for me. I will recommend you to anybody who could benefit from your expertise." Andrea M

"I believe I could not have done this (100 mile charity bike ride) without the sports massage, most of my pains had gone by Saturday. I recommended you to our club." Martyn C

2. added link to my Piriformis Syndrome Advice Blog

So, nothing too exciting there but it's been needed for a while now. Hopefully some photos coming soon...

Working with Piriformis Syndrome

2008-08-04T13:20:00.000+01:00

Many people come to see me with sciatica symptoms, pain deep into the buttock and tightness in the lower back. Very often this can be traced back to a tight piriformis muscle.

Over time I've developed a routine to release this muscle and the surrounding tissues in a wuick, pain-free and effective way. I work on:

1. Piriformis muscle itself
2. Quadratus Lumborum
3. Gluteus Medius
4. Iliopsoas / Psoas Major

I've detailed my personal routine in my other blog, so click the link to read more: Piriformis Syndrome Advice and Treatments Blog.

End of Year One exam results are in!

2008-07-28T17:48:00.000+01:00

So, the results are in...

From what some other students have told me, the first year is arguably the hardest as you are learning a lot of new principles and need to adjust to learning again, albeit on a part time basis. I must admit that even though I was given an excellent foundation by Michael, Andrew et al at the Midlands School of Massage, it is the balance of work/life/study that has been the hardest. I'm hoping that this gets a little easier as I settle into the course.

That said, it has been fun and I have worked very hard, which thankfully has reflected in my results: 4 x A grade for each of the subjects; Anatomy, Physiology, Professional Practice and finally Diagnosis and Practice.

A hard first year but I am very pleased with those results!! Looks like I'll be busy come September time then...!

Eddie Izzard explains the difference between osteopaths and chiropractors

2008-07-09T17:00:00.001+01:00

Diabetes and Diet

2008-07-08T17:28:00.000+01:00

After recently coming across Your Sweet Shop, a website that sells all kinds of chocolate and sweeties alongside a whole range of sugarfree sweets and diabetic chocolate, I thought I'd look into the importance of diet in diabetes.

There are 3 types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus accounts for around 10% of cases of diabetes and is caused by a lack of insulin producing cells in the pancreas, leading to a deficiency of insulin. It is dubbed "juvenile diabetes" as it is commonest in children. Type 1 diabetes is typically treated with daily insulin injections.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is also characterised by a deficiency of insulin but is accompanied by a resistance to insulin or reduced insulin sensitivity within body tissues. A predisposing factor to Type 2 diabetes is obesity which is a factor in over half of all diabetes cases. It can be controlled, to a degree, by careful monitoring of diet, exercise and weight loss. If necessary, this can be followed up with oral medication.

The third type, gestational diabetes is a rarer form, very similar to Type 2 that occurs in 2-5% of pregnancies.

As mentioned above, Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by careful monitoring of diet, in particular the consumption of carbohydrates. To help make this more palatable, Your Sweet Shop sells a range of low carbohydrate, sugarfree sweets and sugar free chocolate so that you can treat yourself without risking your health. Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before changing your diet.

To find out more about tailoring your diet for diabetes, have a look at these websites:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-diet/DA00027
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diabetes/managing/diet_and_diabetes_000686.htm

New blog launched - Pirifromis Syndrome

2008-07-04T12:15:00.000+01:00

In my clinic I treat many people with lower back pain and pain referring down the legs. Almost every time, the piriformis is tight on one or both sides and needs to be released to reduce the pain and increase mobility. As this has become such an important part of my treatments, I've decidd to start a new blog dedicated to it!

Piriformis Syndrome Advice is going to be stuffed full of heplful advice, treatments, useful techniques and discussion about this common yet painful condition. I've already found some facebook groups about piriformis syndrome and some websites dedicated to it too, so I think there will be plenty to talk about:

http://piriformis-syndrome-advice.blogspot.com/

Osteopathy Study Aids

2008-07-02T13:39:00.000+01:00

So, rather than sit around idle over the summer, I'm going to develop a whole host of osteopathy study aids focussing on different anatomical or physiological concepts to help make studying this subject, hopefully, that little bit easier...

I've setup an Osteopathy Study Aids page on my site and have started off with the "learn the brachial plexus" diagram but am hoping to have some new stuff on there soon.

Keep 'em peeled!

New Affiliate Scheme - Powerballs!

2008-06-30T23:00:00.000+01:00

I know some people who absolutely swear by Powerballs as a way of building strength for sports like climbing and weightlifting but after looking at the website it seems that Powerballs are useful for reahbilitating injuries including tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. Read more rehab benefits here.

If you're interested and want to buy a Powerball in the UK, click the link above.

End of year one!

2008-06-30T21:27:00.000+01:00

Wow, it's all over... for a few months, anyway!

I think the whole group has really developed over the first year and compared to where we were at the exams in Jan, I know that personally I know an awful lot more and am a lot more confident. If anything, I'm a little disappointed with the practical part of the examination as we didn't get the opportunity to demonstrate anything new - passive assessment of the shoulder... again - great!

Anyway, I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be about the results and hopefully (fingers crossed) I'll make it into year 2.

So, a summer of relaxation and recuperation although I've got a few ideas of how to earn some extra pennies for next year. The Learn The Brachial Plexus diagram is just the beginning...

How cheese helps you make successful decisions!

2008-06-24T16:26:00.000+01:00

Now, I like cheese. In fact, English farmhouse cheese is one of my favourite foods of all time. Looks like now I've got a legitimate reason to eat it...

According to psychologists at the University of Cambridge, people with high levels of serotonin are more likely to succeed in delicate negotiating affecting their own interests. Serotonin is manufactured in the body from the amino acid trytophan which is present in all kinds of food including, you guessed it, cheese!

I for one am very pleased at this news. I'll stop feeling guilty about visiting my favourite delicatessen Nottingham and buying a big slab of mature cheddar... or Wensleydale with cranberries... mmm...

To read more about how to eat farmhouse cheese guilt-free, click this link.

One way to learn muscles...

2008-06-23T11:56:00.000+01:00

Are you lost trying to remember the muscles of the upper limb? Here's one approach!

I think I'll stick to using the my Atlas of Musculoskeletal Anatomy!

Don't forget if you're struggling to learn the brachial plexus, I have a downloadable graphic on my site here.

Tennis Elbow & Orthopaedic Support Products

2008-06-20T19:49:00.000+01:00

I've come across tennis elbow a few times in clinic and found that deep tissue work to the common extensor origin along with a localised stretch of the extensors in the posterior compartment of the forearm to be particularly effective.

Accurately named lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow presents as:

pain around lateral epicondyle
pain when lifting objects or gripping
pain radiating down the forearm

Specialised tennis elbow supports can be a very effective way to manage the condition. Worn beneath the elbow around the proximal forearm, it takes pressure off the extensors allowing inflammation to decrease and the healing process to begin. I would also suggest regular massage treatments to help promote healing and drain the area of the waste products of inflammation.

I recently came across a website that sells a range of orthopaedic supports to help conditions such as tennis elbow or chronic lower back pain. The website, www.mobilitybuddy.co.uk also carries a range of disabled scooters and portable wheelchairs but it is these supports and living aids that I'm most interested in.

I wonder if I should start offering some of their products on my site... hmm...

Nice little video about natural and adaptive immunity

2008-06-14T17:58:00.001+01:00

Dancing Otter

2008-06-12T23:24:00.001+01:00

5 Steps to the Perfect Shave

2008-06-12T14:49:00.001+01:00

Ok, a little bit off topic but personal appearance is very important when dealing with members of the public face-to-face. I've just found this very helpful blog post about how to achieve that perfect, flawless shave:

http://male-grooming-uk.blogspot.com/2008/06/5-simple-steps-to-perfect-shave.html

And there's a corresponding page here with links to mens shaving products that are recommended by the experts at Aspetto. Good stuff!

Learning the Brachial Plexus

2008-05-31T17:00:00.001+01:00

As exams get closer one has to decide what to focus on in terms of revision. Some things are more obvious than others and probably one of the most obvious is learning the brachial plexus. Knowing the muscles and innervation of the upper limb is going to be essential for us future osteopaths and the way that I've found it easiest to learn it all is by knowing the brachial plexus.

To help me to learn the brachial plexus I've drawn up this diagram in Illustrator so that I've got a high quality image to revise from. Please feel free to download it and use it for your own reference.

Coming soon: learning the lumbosacral plexus...

Mobility Scooters - improving quality of life

2008-05-20T15:25:00.001+01:00

For the elderly or disabled, getting around can be a real problem and a cause of frustration and depression. Disabled Scooters and portable wheelchairs such as those from Mobility Buddy, a Nottingham-based company which specialises in motor scooters and a range of walking aids and living aids.

It's not just zimmer frames and commodes although they do sell those too! It's more about improving quality of life and allowing people some freedom of movement and independence.

They've also just created a new blog which is well worth a look: Mobility Buddy Blog.

Congratulations to Dan Hardy!

2008-05-07T22:55:00.000+01:00

I've been treating Dan for some time now and after his recent win over Daniel Weichel at Ultimate Force in Doncaster, he announced that he has signed for a 4 fight deal with the UFC. There is no one more deserving than Dan of fighting in the UFC, he's an awesome fighter and coach... and a great customer!

All the best Dan, can't wait to see you flying the flag in the UFC!

To see what Dan has to say about my treatments visit the massage testimonials page.

Client testimonials

2008-03-26T17:54:00.000Z

Just updated my testimonials page with some feedback from a couple of my clients. All I can say is thanks guys, I'm really happy that you benefit from my sessions and feel the benefits. Here are some soundbites:

"Rich is the first person I go to when I need my body working to its full potential."

"My back pain diminished significantly!"

"I have been treated by various physios and chiropractors over the years - Richard has provided the best treatment that I have found"

Thanks again guys. Read more here: Nottingham Massage Testimonials

Osteopathy progress in print

2008-03-22T19:02:00.000Z

I've kept in touch with the massage school that first taught me, the Midlands School of Massage, ever since I finished my courses there and recently sent them my thoughts and reflections after the first semester at Oxford Brookes. They included it in their March newsletter so I thought I'd include it here too:

As a graduate of the Remedial Massage and Manipulative Therapy courses at MSM, I thought I’d give a little bit of feedback as I begin the second semester of my first year on the part-time BSc Osteopathy degree at Oxford Brookes University.

The course is a very even mix of classroom-based physiology, anatomy and professional studies lectures running alongside practical sessions. These mostly focus on observation and assessment at this stage but we’re also learning some basic treatment techniques as we go. No HVTs yet, but there’s plenty of time for all that!

The course is really flying along and a lot of material has been covered but we’re all keeping up so far. Well, just about anyway…! We’ve already had one set of exams but there’s a lot more to learn before the main exams in June. Next up is the first of the two five day residential weeks so I anticipate that we’re going to cover a lot of material in that time.

In all honesty, it’s very hard work, not least in terms of going down to Oxford every other weekend but also in terms of the amount of work that needs to be done in between taught sessions. It is really rewarding though and if the MSM courses have left you wanting more, the degree course is the next logical step.

Above anything else I must say that the courses at MSM have been an amazing foundation for the study here. Not just in terms of the content but also in the way that the material is taught and the, dare I say it, “osteopathic” approach taken throughout. My thanks go out to Michael, Andrew and everyone at MSM for preparing me for the course and giving me the knowledge that I have so far.

I’ll be writing more on my website www.nottingham-massage.com as the course progresses, so if you’re interested in hearing the inside track of what it’s like at Oxford Brookes, please have a look.

Adding Youtube videos from Google Adsense

2008-03-06T14:31:00.001Z

I've been experimenting with ads on my website www.nottingham-massage.com and thought I'd try out the new video functionality which drags in videos onto your site based on keywords and channels. Here goes:

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

New Blog worth a visit

2008-03-05T18:04:00.000Z

Fellow Oxford Brookes osteopathy student (albeit a few years above me) and top European female MMA fighter Rosi Sexton has just launched a new blog which is definitely worth a read. It's still very new but already she's writing articles far quicker than me... and they're more interesting too!!

Have a look here: http://rosisexton.wordpress.com/

Exam Results and Website Development

2008-02-28T09:24:00.000Z

It's a busy time at the moment as the Osteopathy degree continues at a pace. Next up is a 5 day block week as we work toward the main exams in June. Talking of exams, we finally got our results back from the January exams last weekend. I felt that I'd done pretty well on the day and the results seem to agree:

Anatomy MCQ = 100%, Practical = 82%.

I must admit that I'm very pleased with those results and hope that I can do as well, if not better :) in the main exams in June.

Now, the other thing I'm looking at right now is making my website work a bit harder and possibly generate a bit of income from it. Obviously, that is easier said than done, but keep an eye on the main site www.nottingham-massage.com to see what tricks I have up my sleeve. I'm going to experiment with a few different ideas, some of which will be more visible than others but hopefully at least some of the ideas will be successful.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

2007-12-07T17:19:00.000Z

At this time of year, we hear a lot about SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder but most people don't know what to look for and how to treat it. Insufficient exposure to light can lead to SAD or the 'Winter Blues', who's symptoms include:

Depression - feelings of gloom and despondency
Lethargy - lack of energy, unable to carry out a normal routine
Anxiety - inability to cope
Craving for carbohydrates and sweet foods - leading to weight gain during the winter
Social problems e.g. not wanting to see people
Sleep problems, finding it hard to stay awake during the day but having disturbed nights
Loss of libido - not interested in sex or physical contact
Irregular menstrual cycle

Mark Golding, a friend and MD of Brite Box has written this article about some of the different light therapies available:

http://sad-advice.blogspot.com/2007/12/he-seasonal-affective-disorder.html

In particular it talks about the use of blue and white LEDs and their effectiveness or otherwise in the treatment of SAD.

If you are a sufferer, check out his website as there is absolutely LOADS of interesting info on there, particularly in the "SAD Study" section.

http://www.britebox.co.uk/

Cheers

This is freakin' amazing

2007-11-26T20:27:00.000Z

Check out this new scanner than compiles 256 images into a rotatable 3D image of the body in a couple of seconds:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7112688.stm

Imagine the impact this would have on diagnostics.... amazing!

More student discounts

2007-10-29T12:27:00.000Z

Had a busy couple of days with the student discount search, buying a laptop from the Apple Store and some study aids from Amazon:

Macbook 2.16Ghz laptop = saving of £49.97 + free ipod nano

Netter Flash Cards = saving of £1.05 (NUS Extra)

Total brought forward = £58.72 + ipod nano

Its getting bigger! Slowly...

The joys of being a student..

2007-10-25T13:48:00.000+01:00

So, I'm 3 weekends into the Part Time BSc Osteopathy course at Oxford Brookes and it's all starting to make sense now. The formula of the weekends has settled down into a regular mixture of practical and theory lectures which are now beginning to tie together.

I will admit that the level is somewhat higher than I was expecting and some of the material is covered VERY quickly but I think that as the course progresses we'll all get better at the self-directed part of the course and be able to handle it all with no massive problems... hopefully anyway!

Right then, the real reason for this post. I have made it my personal mission to save as much money as possible using student discounts and offers in a (somewhat unlikely) bid to recouperate some of the £4000+ course fees that I have to endure every year! I may need to spend a few thousand to make any savings but hey, it all counts!

So far:

Kathmandu Kitchen, Reading: 15% off all meals = saving of £7 (meal for 2)
Broadway Cinema, Nottingham: Food + film = saving of £0.70

Total so far = £7.70

So, fairly modest savings so far but I've just ordered a Macbook! Let's see what impact that has...

Is milk better than water for rehydration?

2007-08-10T15:48:00.000+01:00

An interesting article but surely the fat and cholesterol inmilk negates it's effectiveness as a post-exercise drink...?

Click HERE for full article

"Tests at Loughborough University's school of sport showed that milk keeps the body rehydrated four times longer than either water or Powerade, a sports drink made by Coca-Cola. Physiologist Susan Shirreffs said milk is rich in sodium, potassium and other vital salts lost in large quantities through sweat.

In addition, the combination of sugar, fat and protein found in milk means it is removed from the body less slowly than other drinks. Dr Shirreffs looked at how well different drinks rehydrated a group of young men and women in their early 20s after they had trained on exercise bikes in a hot room."

So then, should we swap our water bottles for milk bottles?

Supraspinatus Tendinitis Follow-up

2007-07-13T16:20:00.000+01:00

I recently had the second session with my client suffering from a classic supraspinatus tendinitis to see how he has fared since my first treatment. To my amazement he has seen an almost 100% improvement, with almost no discomfort on abduction, when sleeping or at the insertion point on the humerus. The only residual problem appears to be a couple of knots in the mid fibres of the trapezius on the same side. An important factor in the recovery appears to be heeding my advice to rest the shoulder as much as possible and also increase daily water intake which was previously rather low.

This improvement is really encouraging as I felt that my first treatment was perhaps a little conservative and was expecting to do more deep tissue work this time with only modest initial improvement. So, I repeated the inital work (stretching, mobilisation, soft tissue work) and performed a little deep work to the body of supraspinatus, focussing on stretching it into the supraspinous fossa. Then of course deeper topical work into the knots themselves.

Next session will be in 2 to 3 weeks depending on how it holds up but hopefully the injury will continue it's successful progress so far. All-in-all a very encouraging.

Ice Baths provide no benefit after exercise?

2007-07-10T12:44:00.000+01:00

No pain, no gain, no point?

This is VERY interesting, a recent study at the University of Melbourne has produced findings which contradict the theory that an ice bath directly after exercise eases muscle pain and aids muscle recovery:

"... there was no difference in physical pain measurements such as swelling or tenderness, and in fact those who had been in the ice reported more pain when going from a sitting to a standing position after 24 hours than those who had the tepid treatment."

Hmm, interesting. I've never tried a full ice-water submersion bath after exercise but advocate a cold shower after particularly tough exercise. Maybe a tepid shower or bath is a better option?

Here's the full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6287210.stm

Supraspinatus Tendinitis

2007-07-02T13:30:00.000+01:00

I've been getting a few shoulder injuries recently in my clinic, the latest of which being a classic case a supraspinatus tendenitis. Luckily I'd recently studied Upper Limb Injuries as part of my CPD at the Midlands School of Massage (Thanks Claire!) so feel fairly confident that I know what I can do to help.

This particular patient displayed classic signs of this condition:
- pain on resisted abduction (first 15 degrees)
- painful arc between approx 60 - 120 degrees
- nagging, toothache pain which is disrupting sleep
- tenderness over attachement of tendon to humeral head

In terms of treating this condition, I have a deadline to work to as this gentleman is a Thai Boxing coach who needs to be fit in around 8 weeks as he has to prepare a fighter for an important upcoming contest.

So, how am I tackling this? Initially, I have worked on relieving the muscle tension around the upper & mid back, neck and shoulders as my client exhibited tension in these areas although the actual pain was very localised to the tendon insertion point. I'll continue to work these areas but will also begin working deeper into the tissues as time progresses. I've purposely avoided direct frictions to the insertion point so far so as not to cause inflammation.

Of course, I've been using stretches and MET as well to try to reduce the spasm in this muscle which I will also continue. I've also suggested the use of ice particularly post-training with the affected arm behind the back. Along with this, I've mentioned the use of NSAIDs such as Nurofen, taken with food to help reduce any swelling. I'm also supplying Cryogel in this case as I feel it would really help to ease the pain both pre- and post-exercise.

Longer term I intend to move more into exercising and stretching to help to rehab this injury. I'm currently drawing up a list of exercises for my client to carry out between sessions, which I will post up here as soon as they are written. I will propose a selection of both isometric and isotonic exercises to build flexibility, stretch but also strength.

Tomorrow is session #2 so I'll begin the deep tissue work depending on the results from last week. I'm hoping to see a good improvement from last week but with the toothache pain still present. Hopefully his sleep will be a little improved and the general muscle tension slightly lighter.

Has anyone had any experience of this particular condition and any advice?

Ref:
"Sports Injuries: Their Prevention & Treatment" Peterson & Renstrom
"Upper Limb Injuries" Claire Batty c/o MSM&MT

I. WANT. AN. iPHONE

2007-06-28T21:59:00.001+01:00

OK, it has nothing to do with massage, osteopathy or injuries but the iPhone looks AMAZING!!

Echinacea CAN prevent a cold

2007-06-25T09:33:00.000+01:00

"Taking the herbal remedy echinacea can more than halve the risk of catching a common cold, US researchers say.

They found it decreased the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the duration of colds by a day-and-a-half."

Hmmm, interesting. I've never really been convinced by echinacea but know people who take it almost religiously, but maybe there is some evidence to proof it works...?

Click HERE to find out more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6231190.stm

Nottingham Massage Blog

2007-06-25T09:28:00.000+01:00

Hi there
Here's my new blog which I decided to setup to talk about massage techniques, pathologies, anatomy and physiology and general health news.

Please feel free to make comments on my posts, I'd love to hear from you

Cheers

Rich