Tag Archives: PhysioNet Bristol

Pilates balance

Pilates – why we should all be doing it?

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It’s not just physiotherapy that our partners clinics at PhysioNet Bristol can offer to help you recover from an injury or to improve your strengthen and balance.

Matt Snell at Optimus Physiotherapy is an APPI Pilates instructor as well as a physiotherapist who is championing the benefits of Pilates and why we should all be doing it.

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a method of exercise and physical movement designed to help stretch, strengthen and balance your body.  With systematic practice of specific exercises coupled with focused breathing patterns, Pilates can be invaluable. Not only as a fitness endeavour, but also as an important addition to your sports training and physical rehabilitation.

What are the benefits of Pilates?

Practised faithfully, Pilates can yield numerous benefits. Strength and flexibility, particularly of the abdomen and back muscles, and coordination – both muscular and mentally, are key components in an effective program. Posture, balance, and core strength are all heartily increased, and many experience positive body awareness for the first time.

With the ageing of our population and the increasing trend toward more mindful and moderate health practices, Pilates has become increasingly popular. It is beneficial for people of all ages and physical ability.

As the Founder Joseph Pilates once boldly quoted “I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They’d be happier.” ~ Joseph Hubertus Pilates [1965, age 86].

Gardening? Make sure you prevent injury on those sunny days

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If you thought physiotherapy was just for people with sports injuries or those recovering from surgery, think again. PhysioNet Bristol’s directory will link you to expert chartered physiotherapists in Bristol, Bath, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire that can help with common issues such a back pain not just from sporting injuries but from every-day tasks. Keith James Physiotherapy, a partner clinic of PhysioNet Bristol discusses how to prevent back injury and to avoid feeling stiff when gardening this Spring.

The sun is out, and the garden is coming back to life! It’s tempting to get out there and really get stuck in to clearing and planting. But it’s important to take things slowly and remember to look after your back when crouching and bending. Back pain and problems affect people of all ages and can make gardening a painful experience. By following some simple rules, you can make gardening easier on your back and help you stretch your muscles and prevent any injuries or pain.

Warm up before starting to garden by gently stretching your muscles, especially if it’s cold outside and wait until later in the day when it’s warmer.  Some of the best stretches take an inspiration from Yoga which give a gentle but effective stretch to help prevent injury and stiffness in your back, lower or upper and your hamstrings.

  1. Cat stretch
    Get ready to embrace your inner cat. Begin on all fours on the floor and arch your back towards the ceiling and hold. Then arch your back towards the ground and hold. Hold each stretch for 5 seconds, repeat 10 times.
  2. Touch your toes
    Bend forward from your hips, dropping your arms down towards the floor and stretch as far as you can towards your toes. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, are as long as you can.
  3. Hamstring stretches
    Begin by sitting on the floor with one leg straight, and the other bent towards your inner thigh. Keeping your back flat, lean forward from the hip to your out stretched leg until you feel stretch is behind the thigh on your hamstring. Repeat on the other leg. Hold each stretch for 10 seconds, repeat 5 times.

Some further notes

  • Avoid repetitive garden work
  • Alter your position regularly as you work, take regular breaks and drink plenty of liquid
  • Don’t lift heavy objects. If you must lift something, remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight
  • Use a wheelbarrow to move objects where possible
  • Wear belts that support your back if necessary

If you do find that your back is causing you problems, find a specialist back pain physiotherapist near you with PhysioNet Bristol’s handy postcode search to help treat your pain and prevent further injuries.

 

Exercises from home

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1st Elite Physio, a leading Physiotherapy Practice in Weston Super Mare & PhysioNet Bristol’s local practice service Weston, World and surrounding areas have provided some helpful exercises that you can do at home.

From stretching out your legs after going for a run, or simply assisting with daily stretched, you are sure to find the below videos useful to run along side your Physiotherapy treatment plan.

Are you suffering from Back Pain? Do you have injury from exercising?  Get in touch to find out how one of our specialists can help.

 

PhysioNet Bristol – We are live!

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PhysioNet Bristol, a not-for-profit organisation set up and run by Bristol based physiotherapists has launched in and around the Bristol area. The company aims to provide prompt, professional and cost-effective treatment at a time and place to suit.

PhysioNet Bristol seek to expand into the corporate, occupational and state sector Physio market. Providing a 5 star service for both clients and patients alike.

A partnership between their members, PhysioNet Bristol offer interested health organisations in excess of 300 hours of physiotherapy per week. You will deal directly with the people delivering the service and the fees from treatment go directly to the individual clinic and are not diverted off into administration and management fees, therefore our costs remain competitive and more cost effective than going through a third party service provider.

The group of 25, well established physiotherapy clinics operate from over 35 locations within the Bristol area. All clinics are run by a cooperative of well-known, independent practitioners with a shared ideology of delivering hands-on, evidence-based and effective treatment direct to the patient without the interference of insurance companies. PhysioNet Bristol provide a full range of physiotherapy services from back pain to women’s health to orthopaedics to neurological rehabilitation.

All clinics are accredited and follow a code of conduct and standard set by our professional body. Contracts or tranches of treatment can be discussed and organised with our board of directors, all hands on and active practitioners themselves.