Our Services
New Injury
Injury is a fact of life when we are active, fit or sporty. All of our Chartered Physiotherapists are experts in assessing and triaging sporting or soft tissue injuries. On your first appointment your injury will be assessed and treated as appropriate. If the Physiotherapist suspects a major injury investigations (xray, MRI) or specialist referrals (e.g. orthopaedic specialist) can be arranged.
Why see a Physiotherapist?
In the instance of an acute injury physiotherapy can help by minimising tissue damage and provide for a quicker return to active sport and active living. Clear and simple expert advice on your injury in the first few days can save you time, reduce frustration and lead to a better outcome for the healing tissue.
If you have had an acute onset of pain it is possible that there may have been minor soft tissue injury that has occurred and is contributing to your discomfort. Once soft tissue damage has occurred there is a well-recognised healing process. Soft tissue healing can take up 6-12 weeks. With the right advice and approach it is found that for the majority should experience a full recovery within 12 weeks. An early well-informed opinion by any of our Chartered Physiotherapists can help you to return faster to the things that matter. Chronic or reoccurring injuries can be prevented with the correct advice. Our physiotherapists are excellent in identifying casual factors that may have ‘primed’ for the injury to occur. Our physiotherapists are experts in analysing risk factors of injuries and advicing on prevention methods on reoccurrence of any such injuries. This is vital to ensure a quick return to sport and to prevent a similar injury in the future.
Acute management injury. What can I do to assist my injury?
Over the years rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries are given acroymns guiding their management. We have all heard of RICE (rest, injury, compression and elevation) advice around acute injuries. The current guidelines highlight the advice for the acute (PEACE) and subacute management (LOVE) of a musculoskeletal injury. This applies to musculoskeletal tissue including muscle, ligament and joint tissue such as joint capsule or disc.
| P | PROTECTION
Avoid activities and movements that increase pain during the first few days after injury. |
| E | ELEVATION
Elevate the injured limb higher than the heart as often as possible. |
| A | AVOID ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES
Avoid taking anti-inflammatory medications as they reduce tissue healing. Avoid icing. |
| C | COMPRESSION
Use elastic bandage or taping to reduce swelling. |
| E | EDUCATION
Your body knows best. Avoid unnecessary passive treatments and medical investigations and let nature play its role. |
| & | |
| L | LOAD
Let pain guide your gradual return to normal activities. |
| O | OPTIMISM
Condition your brain for optimal recovery by being confident and positive. |
| V | VASCULARSATION
Choose pain-free cardiovascular activities to increase blood flow to repairing tissues. |
| E | EXERCISE
Restore mobility, strength and proprioception by adopting an active approach to recovery. |
In treating acute injuries our Chartered Physiotherapist use a range of therapies, education and advice to help your recovery:
At Blackpool Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic, our Chartered Physiotherapists are highly qualified and trained in the assessment and treatment of all types of acute injuries. We have a comprehensive knowledge of biomechanics, tissue pathology and tissue healing. Please contact us for further information or to book an appointment.
Persistent pain
What is persistent pain?
At Blackpool Physiotherapy Clinic, we regularly see people who describe their pain as ‘chronic’. A lot of people think this is bad or severe pain but it really means pain that goes on longer then we expect it to. Chronic or persistent pain is pain that lasts longer than normal healing time. It does not mean ongoing damage even though it may feel like that. In the clinic, we regularly meet people who are frustrated, anxious and have lost hope because of the continuous pain they experience. “Coping with pain” or “feeling you’ve developed a high tolerance for pain” takes strength but often we see it leaves people debilatated, feeling isolated from others and suffering in silence.
What is pain management?
Up to one in eight people in Ireland are found to suffer with some form of persistent pain. The sheer number of people affected by this condition shows you are not alone! Many of these live with some form of symptoms 24/7. At Blackpool physiotherapy clinic when we meet people with persistent pain we often find their pain is unpredictable and pain has taken control of what they can do and how they feel. At Blackpool Physiotherapy Clinic, our experienced Physiotherapists are here to help. We simplify and take a pragmatic approach to the best and current pain science and research to help you best understand what might help you to move forward. We have helped many people to feel more confident to move, gain a better understanding of their pain and learn new techniques for managing their pain.
Here are some resources that others with persistent pain have found insightful. Please take your time to have a look and please feel free to contact our Chartered Physiotherapists with any questions you may have.
Sports and Performance
At Blackpool Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic, our Chartered Physiotherapists are passionate about sport. We have personal experience of running marathons, playing team sport and enjoying all shapes and forms of regular exercise! We understand how much your sport means to you and how quickly you want to return to full fitness.
Why choose us?
At Blackpool Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic, our Chartered Physiotherapists have a comprehensive knowledge of biomechanics, tissue pathology and tissue healing. Several of our physiotherapists have completed post graduate level education specifically in Sports Physiotherapy. These programmes provide in-depth knowledge, evaluation of the sports science literature and create an in-depth understanding of the implications of injury for the athlete and others around them. As Physiotherapists, we strive to promote an active lifestyle and athletic excellence.
We can broadly classify our sporting clients into four major categories.
Injury Prevention
Sporting activities place specific demands on the body. Regardless of the level of preparation or participation, these demands make the athlete susceptible to injury. While there is a risk of injury with any sport, this risk is far out-weighed by the benefits of activity e.g. exercise can protect against heart problems, prevent obesity and reduce the risk of osteoporosis by increasing bone density. Our Physiotherapists assess the risk of injury associated with your sport or physical activity. Our aim is to reduce the risk of occurrence and reoccurrence of injuries. Our advice on injury risk often involve evaluation of issues such the demands of your sport, your physical and psychological profile, any co-morbidities/ pre-existing injuries that you may have and current recommendations from the scientific sports literature to name but a few.
Acute Intervention
In the instance of acute injury physiotherapy can help optimise the rate of recovery and lead to a quicker return to active sport. Our physiotherapists provide a thorough clinical examination, referral to medical imaging/testing/specialist where appropriate, a clinical opinion and advice on returning to exercise and/or sport depending on the injury.
Sports injuries can be broadly classified as either traumatic or overuse injuries.
Traumatic injuries are most common in contact sports such as soccer, Gaelic games, basketball and rugby because of the dynamic nature of these sports. The most common traumatic sports injuries are knee and ankle ligament sprains, calf and hamstring muscle strains, quadriceps muscle contusions (dead leg), Achilles tendon injuries, fractures and dislocations. Sports injuries left untreated can lead to furthermore complex and chronic complications down the line so seek help from your Chartered Physiotherapist early.
Overuse injuries such as shin splints, ITB syndrome, Tennis Elbow etc. are more common in sports that involve continuous repetitive movements such as running, cycling, swimming, tennis, golf etc. Identifying the root cause of such injuries is vital to ensure a quick return to sport and to prevent a similar injury in the future.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation occurs from the time of injury until you return to your optimal level of participation in your sport. Our physiotherapists use clinical reasoning and therapeutic skills to assess your injury and design and implement evidence based interventions and exercise programmes to ensure your safe and timely return. Rehabilitation we find can never follow a recipe as time commitments, support, the stage of healing and sporting goals all have a part to play in recommending the right ‘programme’. Our aim is to get you back participating at your pre-injury level of performance. Once you have successfully returned to participation in your sport, rehabilitation can adopt a preventative approach.
Performance enhancement
Our Phsyiotherapists provide advice or interventions regularly with those who request assistance to improve their performance in their specific sport. In recent years, this branch of sports medicine has advanced significantly as it has been investigated more to separate fact from fiction. We regularly see people for recovery, cross training and athletic/ performance screening.
Pre and post Operative Physiotherapy
Whether you are seeking pre-surgical (prehabilitation) or post-surgical (rehabilitation) physiotherapy, our Chartered Physiotherapist’s are at hand to support you through your journey back to full function. For many injuries or illnesses, surgical intervention is required to ensure a full recovery, or recovery to the maximum extent possible. For injuries, this often involves the repair or replacement of damaged structures (such as tendons or ligaments), or debridement (cleaning up) of tissue that may be causing pain or mobility issues.
Pre-Surgical Physiotherapy
Waiting for a surgery may be an anxious time. It is normal to feel like life is on hold until your surgery is completed. However, the research extensively shows that commencing a rehabilitation programme prior to your surgery can help you to manage your pain, improve physical function and improve your overall health and wellbeing status prior to surgery. Studies also show that participants in pre-surgical rehabilitation programmes achieve better long term outcomes following surgery. Surgical candidates often feel like they have been given a ‘head start’ on their recovery.
Pre-surgical physiotherapy often includes
Post Surgical Physiotherapy
It is vital to complete a rehabilitation plan post-surgery to ensure you get the maximum benefits out of your particular surgery. More and more research is showing that surgery alone is not enough to maximise your recovery. Many surgeries require a period of recovery, healing and rehabilitation to ensure that our body repairs and adapts to the surgery in a safe and effective way.
Some procedures don’t require much rehabilitation at all, whereas other procedures can take many months to achieve a full recovery. Post-surgical physiotherapy and rehabilitation services are designed to guide you through the recovery process. It allows a pathway for your body to heal and safely rebuild the mobility, strength and endurance that you will need to make the most out of your surgery and prevent that “half recovery” that can happen when we don’t rebuild. If getting back to sport is your goal we will work with you to achieve your goals with carefully guided rehabilitation exercise, input where appropriate with strength and conditioning coaching and recommendations on safe return to training and play. Our post-operative physiotherapy care will also give you strategies to prevent future injuries being sustained. You don’t need a Doctor’s referral to start postoperative physiotherapy rehabilitation. However, we do correspond with your surgeon and GP about details of your operation, your progress and management.
Experience With Post-Op Protocols
We have up experience in rehabilitation programs for multiple conditions. These include, but are not limited to:
Orthotics
Orthotics are insoles prescribed to correct the biomechanics of the foot and lower limb. Orthotic devices can vary from off-the shelf devices to personal hand-made customised insoles. Our goal is to provide you with a device that is functional, affordable and addresses your underlying problem. Orthotics are found to be effective for a variety of conditions (sporting, rheumatoid, tendinopathies etc.) and across various ages (teenagers, elderly). Our Physiotherapists have completed post graduate training in this area. We work closely with podiatrists and specialists (e.g. orthopaedic surgeons) when deciding the optimal device for your needs. As Chartered Physiotherapists with expert knowledge in pathology, biomechanics and injury we usually supply the orthotic as an adjunct to exercises and advice on the underlying issue.
Orthotics are particularly effective for:
On assessment, our Chartered Physiotherapists will advise you on your best options. Some conditions can be treated effectively with ‘off the shelf’ devices while others require ‘prescription’ orthotics. If you require prescription orthotics our Chartered Physiotherapists will perform a biomechanical assessment. We use a local professional orthotic company in Cork where your orthotics are constructed to suit your biomechanical profile.
What is Women’s Health?
Women and men have very different physical bodies and hormonal make up, that when faced with specific demands or shifts, such as child birth or menopause, reacts in a way that is specific to women. This requires a tailored, bespoke approach to rehabilitation that takes into account these differences in order to return you to full health and function.
Women’s health originally was aimed at post-natal and post-menopausal stages of life. However, now the scope of practice has expanded to include all health issues that affect women in a unique way to men. This includes
Helping women across their lifespan – from the young woman who wants to engage in sport, to the childbearing woman, all the way to the menopausal and elderly woman. Please contact reception 0852802877 for further details or to request a call back from our Chartered Physiotherapists.
What is dry needling?
Trigger-point dry needling is a form of manual therapy. All our Chartered Physiotherapist have undergone specialised post-graduate training in the application of dry needling therapy. It is a targeted technique aimed at myofascial trigger points which are hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band. These trigger points are highly sensitive, can be painful when touched, and may cause referred pain. Dry needling involves the insertion of an acupuncture needle (a very fine, solid filament needle) into tissue such as muscle and fascia. The pinprick action stimulates the oxygenation of the contracted muscle fibres and the fascia and may produce a short contraction or ‘twitch’ response of the taut band. Trigger point dry needling can be carried out at a superficial or deep tissue level. Dry needling is employed for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal pain and dysfunction including but not necessarily limited to myofascial trigger point pain and dysfunction, soft tissues, muscle tension, scar tissue and pain.
In our practice, dry needling is always performed in conjunction with other techniques to produce lasting results. The evidence base for the use of dry needling across various areas of physiotherapy has increased substantially. Conditions include:
What is Medical Acupuncture?
Many people are familiar with the use of acupuncture which has been used for over 2000 years in a traditional Chinese sense. Traditional acupuncture aims to change body functions & pain through needling the bodies meridians, which are the Chinese medicine energy channels for chi or qi to flow (life energy). These meridians are points on or just under the skin that are either ying or yang energy. The western medical acupuncture is an adaptation of traditional Chinese acupuncture as it uses anatomy, physiology, pathology and evidence based medicine in its application. Some of our Chartered Physiotherapists have completed post graduate training in the use of acupuncture for musculoskeletal conditions taking a ‘western medicine’ approach. They have trained with the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in the United Kingdom. Our Chartered Physiotherapists commonly use medical acupuncture to treat musculoskeletal pain.
What’s the difference between acupuncture & dry needling?
The use of an acupuncture needle aims to stimulate the necessary points to balance the flow of ying & yang energy. Although dry needling uses acupuncture needles it differs to traditional acupuncture. Dry needling follow evidence based guidelines and recommended ‘point’ location. Both acupuncture and dry needling offers a safe, natural and effective treatment for many injuries and conditions.
Workplace Health
Occupational Health (OH) refers to the relationship between work and health. Workplace injuries and insidious onset conditions in work can cause a lot of strain on both employees and employers. Our Chartered Physiotherapists are involved in the management of occupational related ‘injuries’, assessment of return to work, functional rehabilitation programmes and health promotion activities in local workplaces.
‘Early intervention’ is something we are passionate about. We believe early access to physiotherapy prevents work related ‘niggles’ becoming bigger problems. We believe that providing workers with the knowledge to move safely and comfortably at work will improve job satisfaction and productivity, as well as preventing workplace discomfort.
Occupational injuries cover a broad spectrum ranging from traumatic injuries at one end of the scale to repetitive strain injuries for repeated use. When injuries at work occur as a result of trauma they are acutely managed in the same way as any other traumatic cases – on the basis of the tissue damaged and the functional limitations that have occurred. Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or occupational overuse syndromes (OOS) are disorders that affect any part of the musculoskeletal system. These types of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace are associated with ergonomic risk factors such as excessive force, awkward posture, static work or repetition. Symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders can include aches and pains, swelling, numbness and weakness. In both instances (traumatic and overuse) our Chartered Physiotherapists aim to identify and treat the painful structure as the first priority and then address the causative factors. The causative factors may be combinations of intrinsic mechanisms (the mechanics of the body, overall health and lifestyle factors) or extrinsic factors (work station, tools, position, time, breaks etc).
Physiotherapy has been found to be clinically and cost effective in getting people back to work. Our physiotherapists advise employees, enabling converstations with their line managers/ boss on their work and advice on transitional work arrangements where appropriate. Our Chartered Physiotherapists can provide you with guidance around planning the return to work after an injury, monitoring your progress and suport every step of the way.
Running
Everyone can run, can’t they? You really don’t need anything else to help? Many people still think this way. Running is an excellent way to keep fit and healthy. It helps clear your mind and keep body weight down. Unfortunately, it often can come hand in hand with injuries which can really slow you down and lead to frustrations, both physically and mentally. Up to 70% of regular runners will pick up an injury in a year that will stop them from running more than two weeks.
At Blackpool Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic we work with all levels of runners; from elite and competitive runners, to those starting out on a 0-5km programme and many who run regularly as part of their overall fitness regime. Most running related injuries we see in the Clinic can be broadly classified into training issues (e.g. someone starting to run for the first time or training for a marathon) or performance (e.g. increase focus on speed sessions, preparing or recovering from events/competitions).