FAQs

Physical Therapy

• Sports Massage

  How do I know if a Sports Massage is safe?

  Before the treatment the massage therapist will take some brief medical details from you and check that you have no contraindications (i.e. conditions where treatment must not be applied).

  If I don’t play sports can I still benefit from a Sports Massage?

  Yes, the massage is a natural therapy involving a range of techniques in order to relieve tensions, increase blood and lymph circulation, break down scar tissue, rebalance strong and weak muscles and enhance recovery. Therefore it is not just sports persons, but in fact everyone who can benefit from this remedial treatment.

  Does Sports Massage hurt?

  Some forms of massage are very superficial and can be very relaxing. A sports massage is generally applied deeper to manipulate muscle tissue more effectively. This can induce a deeper relaxation although at the time some techniques (not all) may border on the uncomfortable.

  However, in certain situations such as pre and post event treatments the massage will typically be much lighter to either stimulate, relax or aid recovery.

  What are the benefits of Sports Massage?

  Sports Massage can help with many musculoskeletal problems including assisting with the prevention of and speeding up the body’s recovery from injury, increasing performance, correcting postural imbalances, as well as generally relieving aches and pain through relaxation.

  What is Sports Massage?

  Sports Massage is a natural therapy that employs both relaxing and deep techniques to massage and manipulate the body’s soft tissue.

• Physiotherapy

  What is Physiotherapy?

  Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession which aims to both target and maximise an individuals functional movement and physical potential, through the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of neuro muscular-skeletal related instabilities.

  Indeed, physiotherapists can be found working within a wide variety of health settings; including intensive care, mental health, stroke rehabilitation, care of the elderly and as perhaps as more commonly acknowledged, within the area of musculoskeletal injuries.

  What are shin splints?

  Shin splints is a term used to describe an overuse injury, broadly characterised by a dull nagging pain located around the inside / outside of the shin bone (tibia). It is commonly caused by repeatedly loading the front of the lower limb and is often a result of:

  • Poorly prescribed training shoes with inappropriate shock absorbing properties
  • Limited preparation prior to training (eg:  not warming up properly)
  • Over-training
  • Poor running technique
  • Training on hard / uneven surfaces (eg: the camber of the road and or running track)
  • Bio-Mechanical related problems - caused by an instability in the foot, ankle, knee and or hip

  What is ITBFS?

  ITBFS (Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome) is an overuse injury commonly associated with athletes such as long distance runners and cyclists who perform highly repetitive movements - which lead to symptoms of localized pain just above and to the the outside of the knee joint line.

  Treatment options often include mild to moderate adaptation of the specific exercise, bio-mechanical retraining and strengthening of any muscular instabilities, a stretching programme and treatment of the inflamed soft tissue.

  What can Physiotherapy do for Back Pain?

  Whilst back pain is often related to muscle spasm,  additional bio-mechanical (eg: skeletal and neurological) and social factors can also play an significant role.

  Consequently, a physiotherapists knowledge and understanding of the physical and psychosocial factors often linked to back pain, allows these rehabilitation specialists the ability to assess, diagnose and treat the vast majority of symptoms associated with back pain.

  Additionally, aside from tailoring a series of gentle exercises, stretches, strengthening exercises and manual techniques, your physiotherapist will often also include a number of educational tips to help in the resolution of your back pain symptoms - which when combined with the overall treatment plan, could help to reduce further episodes of your back pain.

  What is Injury rehabilitation?

  Injury rehabilitation is an integral facet within the physiotherapy programme.  It involves taking an active part in your recovery process.  At this stage a targeted remedial exercise programme is one of the best forms of treatment.

  How often should the rehabilitation exercises be done?

  This is at the discretion of the rehabilitation specialist. Some stretches must be done on a multiple times daily basis, where other exercises may be carried out 2/3/4 time per week.

  What is an Injury Rehabilitation Specialist?

  An IRS is someone who speicialises in the active rehabilitation from injury.  They are trained specifically in this field to work side by side a physiotherapist.

Fitness

• SGX - Exercise Classes

  Am I too old/unfit/weak for Pilates?

  You are never too old! Pilates exercises can be gentle yet challenging in a safe and non-threatening way. As we get older, we tend to develop habits and postures which over time become so ingrained that normal movement becomes impinged. Pilates will help combat osteoporosis, as well as encourage movement through all planes and safe ranges to keep your body ticking over and healthy!

  It is important to know that Pilates is not an aerobic activity, so although you will at times work quite hard, you won’t be running a marathon! No matter what your levels of fitness, I will work within your limits, pulling back where necessary or where you are making gains, challenging you further.

  We recommend that you take regular exercise and follow a healthy lifestyle - to include healthy eating as a matter of course, and we can help you with that if required. Pilates will help to develop your core strength, while lengthening and toning your muscles. We will never push you too far or too soon - safety and enjoyment are paramount!

  Pilates for Parkinson's Disease

  Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological condition which affects everyday movements such as walking, talking and writing. Dr James Parkinson (1755 – 1824) was the physician who first identified it as a specific condition. The disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain (specifically the substantia nigra) which produce the chemical dopamine, used to transmit messages to the areas of the brain that co-ordinate movement.

  Symptoms of Parkinson’s are commonly tremor, which usually begins in one hand, slowness of movement and stiffness or rigidity of muscles. In practical terms, a sufferer will tend to find it difficult to initiate movements, which in turn become slower, while muscle stiffness make basic activities such as standing up or writing very difficult. Speech, swallowing and posture may also be affected. While drugs are usually prescribed to treat the symptoms (there is at present no cure), it is advisable to look at your general lifestyle to help manage the disease on an everyday basis. As movements become more and more difficult, it is easy to understand how many sufferers (not simply of Parkinson’s or any other disease, but even simply those carrying excess weight) become more sedentary – this is where exercise and a good diet are key.

  Many Parkinson’s sufferers tend to breathe shallowly, limiting the amount of oxygen that can be taken in. Pilates focusses on breathing thoracically, essentially filling all of the “space” in the ribcage and getting oxygen to the muscles more efficiently. Habitual problems such as tension in the shoulders and back, as well as the “shuffling” associated with Parkinson’s may be alleviated using Pilates exercises which encourage sound movement patterns – essentially moving the limbs well by using the muscles in the correct order. The method employs exercises to improve and challenge co-ordination, balance and strength, using small and controlled movements. As we stretch the muscles and warm them up while exercising, the stiffness and rigidity associated with Parkinson’s may also be relieved. Posture will benefit directly from Pilates, by encouraging use of the strong core muscles and simply standing tall. There are many exercises which also improve dexterity, using tiny movements such as working the fingers and the toes. The beauty of Pilates is that there is no set formula for exercising – each client is an individual, and their experience of Parkinson’s is unique to them, therefore Pilates sessions must take their needs and weak points into account.

  For more information on Parkinson’s Disease, visit the Parkinson’s Disease Society <http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/> . Please contact the Drummond Clinic for more information on how Pilates exercises can be tailored to your needs.

• Personal Training

  How do I sign up for Personal Training?

  Please contact reception to arrange to come in for your consultation.

  We will ask for your email address so we can send you confirmation of your appointment and also a pre-training questionnaire for you to complete prior to your consultation.

  Give some thought to how many sessions you want to sign up for. When you come in for your consultation you can discuss this with your trainer and we can schedule in your sessions to ensure you get the time slot you want.

  What should I wear for Personal Training?

  Please wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move, and trainers. A t-shirt and leggings, yoga pants or jersey tracksuit bottoms are ideal.

  Please also ensure that any jewelery is kept at a minimum and that you have not eaten a heavy meal for two hours prior to exercising.

  Do I need to bring anything for Personal Training?

  Bring yourself!

  We will provide any equipment such as weights, resistance bands and so on. We also have mats, towels and water, although feel free to bring your own.

  What can I expect in my first PT session?

  You will be asked to complete a client enrolment form and we will discuss your goals. If you are a beginner, your first session may involve more talking than usual, but you will be moving and learning very quickly. Please be aware that Pilates is a “hands on” method. This does not mean massage or manhandling, instead, touch is used to guide, correct and enable you to exercise effectively.

  Can I exercise if I am pregnant?

  If you have been exercising regularly, there is no reason why you should not continue to do so during pregnancy. However we do ask for you to get the go ahead from your doctor before starting a new exercise programme. Whilst being pregnant does not preclude exercise, the safety of you and your baby should always be at the forefront of our minds.

  If you get the go-ahead from your doctor, we will tailor and adapt exercises for you depending on where you are in your pregnancy and how much exercise you have done recently. You might also like to consider joining our pilates courses as these are ideal for expecting mums.

  I am training for a running event - do I need cross train?

  The short answer is YES! Running comes with a health warning…prevent injury, don’t wait for one.

  Running is a great tool for getting fitter, but like any individual sport/activity it uses specific muscles to do the task; the glutes, hamstrings, calfs and quads - the 'performance muscles’. Specific strengthening and flexibility exercises of these muscles is essential to injury prevention and to improve running performance.

  Posture and stability of the body comes from the muscles of the pelvis torso and upper body. These muscles are called upon when running to create stability to the body (core stability). Weak core stabilisers will leave the body open to the possibility of injury. Therefore, it is very important to keep these stabilisers strong to allow for the performing muscles to do their job properly.

  Don’t become an injury statistic - prevention is better than the cure. Have yourself and your running technique assessed to understand what you should be doing to perform better and stay injury free.

Sport and Health Testing

• VO2 Testing

  V02 Max Testing

  VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is one factor that can determine an athlete's capacity to perform sustained exercise and is linked to aerobic endurance. VO2 max refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. It is measured as "milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight." 

   

  This measurement is generally considered the best indicator of an athlete's cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. Theoretically, the more oxygen you can use during high level exercise, the more ATP (energy) you can produce. This is often the case with elite endurance athletes who typically have very high VO2 max values. 

  How Is VO2 Max Measured?

  Measuring an accurate VO2 max requires an all-out effort (usually on a treadmill or bicycle) performed under a strict protocol in a sports performance lab. These protocols involve specific increases in the speed and intensity of the exercise and collection and measurement of the volume and oxygen concentration of inhaled and exhaled air. This determines how much oxygen the athlete is using. 

   

  An athlete's oxygen consumption rises in a linear relationship with exercise intensity -- up to a point. There is a specific point at which oxygen consumption plateaus even if the exercise intensity increases. This plateau marks the V02 Max. It's a painful point in VO2 max testing where the athlete moves from aerobic metabolism to anaerobic metabolism (See the article: Energy Pathways for Exercise). From here, it's not long before muscle fatigue forces the athlete to stop exercising. The test usually takes between 10 and 15 minutes and requires an athlete to be completely rested and motivated to endure the pain long enough to find the true VO2 max. 

   

  Vo2 max also can be estimated. There are a variety of protocols used to estimate VO2 max, one is called the Bruce Treadmill Test, but none are as accurate as direct testing. 

  Can You Change Your VO2 Max?

  Research shows that although VO2 max has a genetic component it can also be increased through training. The two methods for increasing VO2 max include increases in both training volume and intensity. Research also indicates that the less fit an individual is, the more they can increase their VO2 max through training. In fact, novice exercisers have been able to increase VO2 max by 20 percent through proper training. Fit athletes have a harder time increasing their VO2 max, most likely because they are already so near their genetic potential. 

  Definition: VO2 max

  VO2 max is the maximal oxygen uptake or the maximum volume of oxygen that can be utilized in one minute during maximal or exhaustive exercise. It is measured as milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight

  VO2 max or maximal oxygen uptake is one factor that can determine an athlete’s capacity to perform sustained exercise and is linked to aerobic endurance. It is generally considered the best indicator of cardiorespiratory endurance and aerobic fitness.

  Elite endurance athletes typically have a high VO2 max. And some studies indicate that it is largely due to genetics, although training has been shown to increase VO2 max up to 20 percent. A major goal of most endurance training programs is to increase this number.

  Why should an athlete do a blood lactate threshold test?

  A blood lactate threshold test will determine the heart rate at which the athlete's blood lactate markedly accumulates. By knowing the heart rate at which their blood lactate threshold occurs, the athlete can either train slightly below, at, or slightly above their blood lactate threshold depending on the intensity of their workout. The blood lactate threshold, like VO2 max and heart rate, is another value the athlete can use to determine their fitness level and develop training programs.

Weight Management

Biomechanics and Orthotics

• Custom Orthotics

  How long should my orthotic inserts last?

  Depending on the reasons that the orthotics were made for, an average life span of the orthotic prescription would be approximately 14-16 months (with a review assessment at month 12).  If there a lot of factors involved the lifespan maybe significantly less.

  What type of running shoe should I wear with an orthotic?

  Many times we have heard that you can only wear a neutral shoe with an orthotic.  This is not true, we suggest that where possible the shoe should be the main influence on how the orthotic is made. i.e. if the foot heavily pronates then an anti-pronating shoe maybe chosen, so that the orthotic doesn’t need to be made too aggressively.

  Why do the price of orthotics vary so much?

  Hmmmmm….. this is a puzzling one.  I don’t know – we have come across clients that have come in to the clinic that have paid up to £500.00 plus for one pair.  For our fees please go to our fees section in contacts.

• Biomechanical Movement Assessment

  What is a biomechanical assessment?

  We have developed our assessment to include what we would deem to be the absolute necessary.  This involves taking exercise and injury history, video analysis, pressure testing and postural and flexibility appraisal.