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Health tips from our North London Clinic
Arthritis All of us develop normal wear-and-tear of joints as we age - this is osteoarthritis. But it does not mean that we have to be in pain. Exercise is the key to keeping your joints as mobile as possible, for example, gentle stretch and tone classes. A Chartered Physiotherapist at the Oakwood Physiotherapist Clinic can suggest specific exercises for individual joint problems. And don't forget about an appropriate diet. Massagecan help to relieve the muscle tension that can build around stiff or inflamed joints, and improve the circulation. Heat can be comforting and soothing - try placing a hot water bottle containing warm water over the affected area to feel if it helps. If it does, you may benefit from seeing one of our Chartered Physiotherapists and trying a deep heat treatment or moist steam packs combined with exercises. We strongly advise that if you are suffering from pain or discomfort that you consult your doctor or other appropriate professional medical personnel before commencing any self-administered courses of treatment or activity. Shoulder pain Shoulder pain can be caused by poor posture! If you have rounded shoulders and slouch too much your shoulder joints cannot work normally and will give you twinges and aches. It may become sore to lie on your shoulder or to reach out, particularly to your side. A cold compress made from a few ice cubes wrapped in a damp cloth and applied to your shoulder for a few minutes may give temporary relief. Remember to think tall, check your seating position and get advice on the way in which your computer keyboard and monitor are set up and your driving position. Avoid activities that hurt, but don't stop using your arm completely. If in doubt, it may be best to get a professional opinion from your doctor or a Chartered Physiotherapist or Osteopath. Sometimes the source of shoulder pain is actually in your spine or neck. If this is the case you may benefit from physiotherapy or osteopathy to ease the pain and teach you preventative exercises. We strongly advise that if you are suffering from pain or discomfort that you consult your doctor or other appropriate professional medical personnel before commencing any self-administered courses of treatment or activity. Knee pain Knees are complex joints that bear your body weight and allow lots of movement. As we age knee joints are prone to osteoarthritis: wear-and-tear of the joint surfaces. This causes the joint to stiffen up. Treatment is usually aimed at easing pain using various methods such as stretches, electrotherapy, acupuncture and manipulation. Perhaps more importantly, treatment will also be aimed at strengthening the muscles around the joint to slow down the process of degeneration where possible. Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces - use a cushion, and be kind to those hard working knees! We strongly advise that if you are suffering from pain or discomfort that you consult your doctor or other appropriate professional medical personnel before commencing any self-administered courses of treatment or activity. Hip pain Hip joints, like knee joints, carry our body weight and are therefore prone to osteoarthritis. This causes the wearing out of the cartilage lining the joint and can make your joints stiff and 'creaky'. Stretching in the right way is very important. It is interesting to note that osteoarthritis is much less common in people who squat instead of sitting upright in chairs. The correct stretching of a joint helps to boost the natural oil levels within a joint that then nourishes the cartilage and slows down the wear and tear. Hip joints can cause pain in the groin area but rarely in the buttock or flank. If the pain is not in the groin area you may have a different problem such as a low back injury. We strongly advise that if you are suffering from pain or discomfort that you consult your doctor or other appropriate professional medical personnel before commencing any self-administered courses of treatment or activity. 93-95 Green Road, Telephone: 020 8440 3629 |
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|Home | About us | Find us | Physiotherapy | Osteopathy | Cranial osteopathy | Massage | Chiropody and Podiatry | Complementary therapies | | Back pain | Neck pain | Sports injuries | Whiplash | Arthritis | Shoulder pain | Knee pain | Hip pain | Occupational Health| Contact us| Created and maintained by Xanthos |
