Fix Director & Physiotherapist, Helen O’Neill shares insight into working with world-class athletes and sporting injuries. She traces her time with the Canadian Ski Cross team, providing expert physio advice.
Osteo, Physio and Massage Price Increase 2022
Shoulder Pain: Using a Whole Person Approach for Recovery
Here at Fix, we use the latest research to guide our assessments and inform treatment. On top of providing evidence-based treatment for your shoulder, we will invest in you as a whole by listening to your story to understand how your shoulder pain is impacting your ability to function and quality of life.
Physiotherapy for Endometriosis
March signifies endometriosis awareness month. 1 in 10 women suffer from endometriosis in the UK. And although it’s fairly common, it takes on average 7.5 years to diagnose. Fix Women’s Health Physiotherapist, Esther O’Connor explains how physiotherapy can help with symptoms.
Client of the Month: Jane Orton
Fix client, Jane Orton gives us an insight into her online treatment with Physiotherapist, Karin Hilfiker during lockdown.
Jaw disorders: treatment with physical therapy!
Practitioner Spotlight | Sarah Trost
C-section Scars and Self-massage for Optimal Healing
Practitioner Spotlight | Michelle Lee
Pelvic Floor - Debunking the myths!
We asked FIX Yoga Teacher, Bryony Hughes to debunk some myths about the Pelvic Floor!
•Myth #1
-Pelvic floor exercises are only for women.
A study by Mamidi & Gupta (2013) found that the regular practice of Mula bandha (a yoga practise that involves engaging the pelvic floor) for 3 weeks improved ejaculatory control in men experiencing premature ejaculation.
Pelvic floor exercises are also beneficial for men experiencing urinary incontinence and undergoing treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer.
•Myth #2
-After having a baby, you must work your pelvic floor as much as possible.
Many women fear urinary incontinence and uterine prolapse after having a baby. As a result, they work hard on their pelvic floor exercises. While the pelvic floor is likely to be weaker after having a baby, there can be too much of a good thing!
One common mistake is to over engage the pelvic floor muscles. This can lead to spasm, muscle fatigue and pain. Learning to relax & release the muscles fully is as important when rebuilding strength in your pelvic floor.
In postnatal yoga, we use the breath to engage the core muscles and the pelvic floor as one unit. This offers an opportunity to work with the body as a whole and helps to avoid overworking the pelvic floor.
If you are uncertain about your pelvic floor technique, a women’s health specialist physio, like FIX's very own, Niamh Burn can help you out.
4 Essential Facts about the Pelvis!
The pelvis has an important role to play from enabling us to walk pain-free, to helping make space for babies to enter the world with ease.
1. IT'S A PROTECTOR!
The pelvis is the lower abdominal area in the body. It forms a basin to protect organs used for digestion and reproduction such as the bladder, uterus, and bowels and helps alignment of the body by supporting the hips joints.
2. YOUR PELVIS HAS A FLOOR!
At the bottom of the pelvis lies firm, flexible muscle called your pelvic floor. Exercises like Kegel's and Pilates can help to keep it strong.
3. YOU NEED IT TO WALK!
The pelvis forms a strong foundation for the spinal cord and legs to attach themselves to. If you injure your pelvic bone or pelvic muscles, it can significantly affect how you walk, stand & sit.
4. PREGNANCY CHANGES THE PELVIS!
During pregnancy, the ovary and placenta secretes a hormone known as Relaxin to make space for the growing baby and soften & widen the cervix. In preparation for childbirth, Relaxin encourages the ligaments in the pelvis to loosen and relax. However, relaxin can cause ligaments to relax a bit too much, causing symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD); a painful syndrome that causes the pelvic joint to become weak and unstable. Seeing a Women's Health Physiotherapist post-birth can significantly help.
Why is Prenatal Physiotherapy useful?
FIX Women’s Health Physiotherapist, Niamh Burn’s 6 points on why Prenatal Physiotherapy is useful!
We use manual therapy for tissue techniques and plenty of tips, advice and exercise to help at home.
Good for pregnancy aches and pains such as pelvic girdle pain
Pelvic floor!- we can help you to find your pelvic floor, learn how to activate it (properly), relax it and use it to your advantage when it comes to delivery and postnatal recovery.
We can teach you perineal massage technique (if you need it)
Give you advice on positioning for labour
Most women feel empowered and more aware of their pelvic health after just 1 session- not a bad thing!
Here's a list of Prenatal offerings at FIX:
°Fit for Baby Mat Pilates Class
Avoiding injury with Prehab - a conversation with Luke Selby
Avoiding injury with Prehab - a conversation with Luke Selby.
We've been seeing more and more talk about 'prehab' in movement circles lately so we decided to have a chat with Osteopath Luke Selby about what that actually means and the different ways that we can incorporate it into our physical activities and lives.
