Specialist in Neck, Back & Sports Injuries

Do you have a biceps rupture?

The biceps muscle is located in the front of your upper arm. It is attached to the bones of the shoulder and elbow by tendons — strong cords of fibrous tissue that attach muscles to bones. Tears of the biceps tendon at the elbow are uncommon. They are most often caused by a sudden injury and tend to result in greater arm weakness than injuries to the biceps tendon at the shoulder.

Once torn, the biceps tendon will not grow back to the bone and heal. Other arm muscles make it possible to bend the elbow fairly well without the biceps tendon. However, they cannot fulfill all the functions of the elbow, especially the motion of rotating the forearm from palm down to palm up. This motion is called supination.

If you tear the biceps tendon at the shoulder, you may lose some strength in your arm and have pain when you forcefully turn your arm from palm down to palm up.

Many people can still function with a biceps tendon tear, and only need simple treatments to relieve symptoms. If symptoms cannot be relieved by nonsurgical treatments, or if a patient requires complete recovery of strength, surgery to repair the torn tendon may be required.

On our Instagram page (@rainhamphysiotherapycentre) we have a video that showcases a few exercises which can be used to try and restore normal movement to the upper arm. We do however recommend seeing a physiotherapist before any exercise is carried out to confirm the injury and severity of the injury.

Feel free to call us at Rainham Physiotherapy Centre on 01634 377638 to book in for a consultation on any issues you may have.

Do you suffer from RSI?

What is RSI?

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is a general term used to describe the pain felt in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse.

It’s also known as work-related upper limb disorder, or non-specific upper limb pain.

The condition mostly affects parts of the upper body, such as the:

  • forearms and elbows
  • wrists and hands
  • neck and shoulders

We will focus on the wrist on this post.

Symptoms of RSI

The symptoms of RSI can range from mild to severe and usually develop gradually. They often include:

  • pain, aching or tenderness
  • stiffness
  • throbbing
  • tingling or numbness
  • weakness
  • cramp

At first, you might only notice symptoms when you’re carrying out a particular repetitive action.

But without treatment, the symptoms of RSI may eventually become constant and cause longer periods of pain. You may also get swelling in the affected area, which can last for several

What causes RSI?

RSI is related to the overuse of muscles and tendons in the upper body.

Certain things are thought to increase the risk of RSI, including:

  • repetitive activities
  • doing a high-intensity activity for a long time without rest
  • poor posture or activities that involve working in an awkward position

Cold temperatures and vibrating equipment are also thought to increase the risk of getting RSI and can make the symptoms worse. Stress can also be a contributing factor.

If you feel you have RSI, book in for an initial consultation by calling us at Rainham physiotherapy centre on 01634 377 638.

Do you suffer from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?

DO YOU SUFFER FROM THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME?

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed. This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers.

Common causes of thoracic outlet syndrome include physical trauma from a car accident, repetitive injuries from job- or sports-related activities, certain anatomical defects (such as having an extra rib), and pregnancy. Sometimes doctors can’t determine the cause of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms can vary, depending on which structures are compressed. When nerves are compressed, signs and symptoms of neurological thoracic outlet syndrome include:

  • Muscle wasting in the fleshy base of your thumb (Gilliatt-Sumner hand)
  • Numbness or tingling in your arm or fingers
  • Pain or aches in your neck, shoulder or hand
  • Weakening grip

Signs and symptoms of vascular thoracic outlet syndrome can include:

  • Discoloration of your hand (bluish color)
  • Arm pain and swelling, possibly due to blood clots
  • Lack of color (pallor) in one or more of your fingers or your entire hand
  • Weak or no pulse in the affected arm
  • Cold fingers, hands or arms
  • Arm fatigue with activity
  • Numbness or tingling in your fingers
  • Weakness of arm or neck
  • Throbbing lump near your collarbone

If you experience some or all of these symptoms and would like to get booked in for a consultation, book in with us at Rainham physiotherapy centre by calling 01634 377638 and we’ll be more than happy to help!

Office Mobility Workout

Today’s Fit tip is for anyone who sits a lot during their work day, whether it be at a desk or in a car.

If this is you and you feel like your back and shoulders get stiff, try to perform these stretches every 30 minutes or so, and try to get up and walk during that time too if possible.

Give these a try and let us know how you get on, on our facebook and instagram pages! (@rainhamphysiotherapycentre)

Is this why you’re not losing weight?

FOCUS ON NEAT FOR FATLOSS!

 

When it comes to fat loss, it’s paramount to focus on calories. In order for any fat loss to take place, you need to burn more calories than you consume on a daily basis.

With that in mind everyone’s first response is usually, do cardio at the gym and eat less… Perfect right?! Yes, quite honestly this is a great place to start but where some fall short with this is they don’t focus on any other movement throughout the day and don’t realise the possible effects on their energy levels in doing this.

Adding cardio and dropping calories is fantastic but if you used to perform 13000 steps a day and now it’s dropped to 4000 because you massively lack energy that’s a big drop in calories burnt through your NEAT ( non exercise activity thermogenesis ). 10000 steps a day causes people on average to burn 400-500 calories. If your daily steps drop dramatically because you burnt 300 calories on the treadmill for 20 minutes, then you’re worse off.

I’m not saying cut the gym out of your routine, it’s amazing for your overall health, but make sure you keep active throughout the whole day to really maximise your fat loss results!

Healthy food shopping mistakes

USE THESE 10 TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER FOOD SHOP!

 

Healthy eating is easier if you plan what you buy. Select wholesome and nutritious foods and beware of packaging flaws or food that is not stored safely.
Here are some tips to help you make healthy food choices when shopping.

1. Make a list. Before you go food shopping, plan your meals for the week. This will help you stick to your diet and stop unnecessary junk food going straight in your basket.
2. Choose the low-fat option. For example, select low-fat milk, cheese, yoghurt, salad dressings and gravies.
3. Buy leaner cuts of meat. If unsure, look for the Heart Foundation tick of approval.
4. Opt for ‘skin off’. Chicken skin contains loads of calories and saturated fat, so skinless chicken breasts are a healthier choice.
5. Beware of salt hidden in processed meats. Limit your consumption of salami, ham, corned beef, bacon, smoked salmon, and frankfurts.
6. Purchase fresh or frozen vegetables. Canned and pickled vegetables tend to be high in added salt.
7. Check the date. Avoid the risk of eating unsafe perishable foods, especially chilled or frozen items. A ‘use-by’ date shows the date by which a product should be consumed, while a ‘best before’ date indicates the date until which the food will remain at its best quality.
8. Don’t shop when you’re hungry! This is key when you’re trying to stay healthy! It’s all too easy to walk past your favourite treats that are on sale and next thing you know, there’s two boxes I your trolley of food items you don’t need!
9. Look for food bargains. Bulk-buy nutritious meal ingredients at markets and supermarkets. Non-perishable options with long shelf lives include dried vegetables, beans, legumes and dried pasta.
10. Limit takeaway and convenience foods. These are expensive, high in fat, high in salt and low in nutrition, and leave you hungry again a few hours after you eat them.

Give these tips a try and you’ll be healthy food shopping like a pro in no time!

Intermittent Fasting to suit your schedule

WHAT IS INTERMITTENT FASTING?!

Intermittent fasting is having an eating window for instance, between 11am and 5pm, and only eating in that window.

In the scientific literature, it’s been found to better fat loss and cardiovascular health, it’s also shown a decrease in cancer risk, large neuroprotective effects and increased lifespan.
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Many of these benefits are independent of caloric restriction alone and the reason they believe is preconditioning stress.
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What is meant by this is that hunger is a small stressor which will help the body cope with bigger future stressors. Similar to exposing yourself to small doses of germs which can enhance immunity to them germs.
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You may also find that once settled into TIme restricted eating, your hunger will be blunted. This is because we tend to get hungry when we’re used to eating. Because you’ll have a stable routine of when you eat and fast, once in the diet, you’ll simply become accustomed to the time frames you set.
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You also shouldn’t worry about muscle loss. 4 studies independent from each other, between 2005-2006 found that up to 40hours of fasting didn’t negatively affect negative regulators of muscle mass, causing no significant muscle loss and liver glycogen was depleted by less than half and no muscle glycogen was lost anymore than normal over that time frame. Simply put, fasting won’t cause muscle loss.
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Lastly, intermittent fasting is great at actually just dropping the calories you consume. If you eat 3 meals a day with snacks here and there and struggle to be in a caloric defect, simply skipping one meal drops your daily total instantly.

Kyphosis rehabilitation.

DO YOU SUFFER FROM KYPHOSIS?!

Kyphosis is a spinal disorder in which an excessive outward curve of the spine results in an abnormal rounding of the upper back. The condition is sometimes known as “roundback” or—in the case of a severe curve—as “hunchback.” Kyphosis can occur at any age, but is common during adolescence.

In the majority of cases, kyphosis causes few problems and does not require treatment. Occasionally, a patient may need to wear a back brace or do exercises in order to improve his or her posture and strengthen the spine. In severe cases, however, kyphosis can be painful, cause significant spinal deformity, and lead to breathing problems.

The signs and symptoms of kyphosis vary, depending upon the cause and severity of the curve. These may include:

  • Rounded shoulders
  • A visible hump on the back
  • Mild back pain
  • Fatigue
  • Spine stiffness
  • Tight hamstrings (the muscles in the back of the thigh)

Rarely, over time, progressive curves may lead to:

  • Weakness, numbness, or tingling in the legs
  • Loss of sensation
  • Shortness of breath or other breathing difficulties

Specific exercises can help relieve back pain and improve posture by strengthening muscles in the abdomen and back. Certain exercises can also help stretch tight hamstrings and strengthen areas of the body that may be impacted by misalignment of the spine.

The main exercises we’d recommend are I’s, Y’s and T’s. Try 3 sets of 10-15 reps per angle to stretch then the back and stretch your chest and shoulders.

Don’t Drink Your Calories

IS THIS STOPPING YOUR WEIGHT LOSS?

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Empty calories. Whenever you look at your nutrition you should focus on nutrient density. What does this mean? You want to get the best bang for your buck — so choose food that has the most nutrients per calorie. A good example of a nutrient dense food is broccoli.

Broccoli is packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients and is low in calories. On the other hand, a vanilla latte is a good example of something with a poor nutrient density, very little consumed for a lot of calories.

 

Liquid calories do not help you feel full. Fiber, healthy fats, and protein help us feel full. Sugar sweetened drinks do not have fibre, healthy fats or protein So are just adding unnecessary calories to our daily total.

The best option I can give you is to switch to diet, zero calorie sodas and limit the amount of coffee and alcohol you consume. If you must keep drinking calories, make sure you’re tracking your calories and still staying on target, but be warned, if you drink a lot of calories in, you will feel hungry a lot more than you need to!