Uncategorized Archives - Hallamshire Physiotherapy

PD Warrior is a unique programme of exercise to help people newly diagnosed with Parkinsons. It originated in Australia and was developed to help people to slow down the progression of their disease.

PD Warrior is an advanced exercise programme that incorporates both physical and cognitive activity for people in the early stages of Parkinsons. It is an intensive circuit programme designed to fight the symptoms. PD Warrior is supported by a growing body of evidence that shows that intensive, high effort, complex exercise has the potential to slow the progression of your symptoms by using neuroplasticity - your brains natural ability to re-organise its pathways and connections, much like rewiring. The key to achieving this re-wiring includes being consistent and using the right exercise prescription.

It is important not to wait for symptoms to impact upon daily life before taking up the correct type of exercise.

If you want to find out more, please contact Karen Hodgson at Hallamshire Physiotherapy on 0114 267 1223 or email info@hallamshirephysiotherapy.com

If you have been newly diagnosed please don’t delay and begin Living Brave with Parkinsons.

Dizziness and disorientation can have damaging effects on our lives, whether that be through increased anxiety and decreased confidence to do our normal activities or stopping us from doing the things we love such as sports and socialising. The symptoms can even affect us when lying down, interfering with our sleep and our mood.

You may feel helpless to manage these symptoms and unsure of what may be causing them, and there does not appear to be much help or support available from immediate healthcare services.

Fortunately, there is often an explanation for these symptoms and at Hallamshire Physiotherapy, our specialist clinicians are trained in diagnosing and treating vestibular conditions that can interfere with our balance systems, leading to dizziness or other similar symptoms.

If you want to have a chat about whether Vestibular 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.

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.”

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.