Paul, Author at Hallamshire Physiotherapy

Being diagnosed with and living with a respiratory disease can be a daunting and lonely place to be. Alongside your medical management there are lots of treatment options available to you through Physiotherapy that can help.

At the Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic they will complete a comprehensive assessment to identify your symptoms and personal goals and then devise an individualised treatment plan to support you to achieve them. This may include techniques such as breathing control, secretion clearance, advice and education, symptom recognition, relaxation or graded exercise. The aim is to empower you to better understand and manage your symptoms long term and live as full and active life as possible.

Stephanie Blythe is one of the specialist therapists at the Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic. She is extensively trained and fully qualified in Cardiac and Respiratory Physiotherapy. If you want to have a chat about whether Respiratory Physiotherapy would be beneficial for you, please contact the clinic.

By Peter Thomason

I am a specialist MSK Physiotherapist and Director of Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic in Sheffield.

The following blogs were part of my MSc in Advancing Neuromusculoskeletal Practice at the University of Nottingham in 2022.

How I first came to question passive stretches

If stretching is the answer, then what is the question? I used to believe that treating musculoskeletal conditions was simple; strengthen what is weak and stretch what is tight. The biopsychosocial model has however proven it is not so straightforward to manage pain. But what does the evidence suggest when it comes to flexibility? Is stretching still the gold standard?

Why do we stretch?

Stretching is well known about and used worldwide. An international survey revealed 53% of physically active adults normally stretch and 80% of personal trainers in the United States prescribe it (Nuzzo 2019). We may stretch because we have been advised by a medical professional, or because it just seems like the right thing to do. But why do we actually do it?

Strengthen to lengthen

When we talk about strength training, what comes to mind? Perhaps an image of Arnold Schwarzenegger, with his large muscles and well-defined physique. But did you associate it with flexibility? Strength training has been recognised for so long as a way to improve the size and strength of our muscles. The concept that it can actually improve the length is relatively new.

Static stretching vs eccentric loading

There are a few relevant studies available that actually compare static stretching with eccentric loading for flexibility, but they all conclude the same thing; both result in significant improvements in flexibility, but there is no significant difference between the two interventions.

Flexibility

I can only recall 2 situations where my lack of flexibility has limited me (I’m not a very flexible person). The first time was during a game of twister, where I couldn’t quite reach my foot over to the blue circle. The second occasion was when I went bouldering and I was unable to lift my leg high enough to reach the foothold.

Following a rebrand last year and the launch of a new website, the Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic in Broomhill are pleased to announce the expansion of some of their private specialist treatment areas in addition to their high-quality musculoskeletal, neurological and sports injury treatments.

Director Peter Thomason explained,

“The clinic has always been a centre of excellence for physiotherapy in Sheffield since its formation in 2004 and over the years we have become recognised as Sheffield’s leading ‘specialist’ physiotherapy clinic. Recently we have experienced increased demand for both Respiratory Treatments and Balance/Vestibular Treatments for patients with dizziness issues. We have therefore expanded our team of highly skilled and approachable specialist therapists in treating, educating and advising patients in these areas.”

Hallamshire Physiotherapy Ltd, Sheffield’s leading specialist physiotherapy clinic has won the 2022/23 ‘Yorkshire Physiotherapy Centre of the Year’ awarded by the Yorkshire Prestige program.

The annual award goes to independent physiotherapy clinics who have been judged as extremely successful and hard working on a local level. This year, thanks to a nomination by a patient, the Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic won it. Many clinics were nominated with industry expert judges ultimately picking the winner.

Karen Hodgson, Director of the clinic said,

“We are obviously delighted to have won this award for our high-quality specialist treatments. Thank you to all our patients who support us, especially to whoever nominated us, and a big thank you to all our highly skilled and approachable staff.”

Click the image below to watch the short interview with Karen Hodgson.

Hallamshire Physiotherapy Ltd, Sheffield’s leading specialist physiotherapy clinic, is proud to announce its sponsorship of Olympic Crookes Football Club.

Andy Taylor, Manager of Olympic Crookes said, “We are very pleased to be sponsored by Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic and for their support this season as we aim to win promotion to the top division in the Sheffield & District Fair Play League.”

Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic have a history of supporting local community organisations, but this is the first support of a local football club at grass roots level. Sports injury, rehabilitation and massage is a growing treatment area for the clinic with specialist therapists.

Hallamshire Physiotherapy Ltd, Sheffield’s leading specialist physiotherapy clinic, has appointed Peter Thomason as a Director, to help develop the range of high-quality, specialist treatments for the future.

“I am delighted to be joining the highly skilled team at Hallamshire Physiotherapy and working with the therapists to develop the specialist areas we treat, building on the trust and outstanding reputation achieved since 2004,” said Peter.

Peter graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2015 with an Honours degree and the University of Nottingham with a Masters degree in 2022. He has also been a physiotherapist for the NHS and Sheffield Wednesday FC.