Balance is delighted to announce that we now have a Computrainer. Bring your bike down to Balance hook it up to the trainer and ride up the Alpe d’Huez!

The Ford Ironman World Championships in Hawaii provided fantastic results for CompuTrainer pro riders. For the second year in a row 8 of computrainer trained athletes made it into the top 10 (5 women and 3 men). Even more exciting was the fact that 3 of those ladies made it into the Top 4 – Mirinda Carfrae (2nd), Leanda Cave (3rd) and Rachel Joyce (4th).
Pete Jacobs from Austaralia is quoted to say:

“On the Computrainer, Your legs don’t get a break. It’s not like doing four hours on the road. You are not getting a break and you are doing constant wattage and when I feel good I pop the wattage up and when I feel lousy I just cruise but I’m still getting really good cadence and muscle memory. Much more than on the road. ”

Take your indoor bike training to a new level with the CompuTrainer – a state-of-the-art indoor bicycle training technology that improves cycling performance while keeping the indoor rider challenged and happy. The CompuTrainer is the leading electronic bicycle ergometer for maximum performance improvement, testing, and enjoyable indoor training.

Benefits of the CompuTrainer:

Increases your cycling power by 20 to 30% and your speed by 2 to 4 MPH. Whatever your starting point, you’ll improve significantly.

It sets the industry standard for accuracy (± 2.5%), power (1500 watts), quality, and service lifetime (10+ years).
Exclusive performance features like SpinScan™ electronic pedal stroke analysis and Adjustable Aerodynamic Drag Factor are unique to CompuTrainer.

Call Balance on 020 7627 2308 to inquire about using the Computrainer.

Sports injury and orthopaedic rehab at Balance Performance Physiotherapy

If you’re unfortunate enough to suffer an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture as Lucas Leiva did last week – the Brazil international will miss the rest of the season having injured his left knee during Tuesday’s Carling Cup quarter-final victory at Chelsea – as a professional footballer reconstructive surgery is essential to return to the game.

If you’re not a pro but the injury results in your knee continuing to irregularly give way, an operation to reconstruct the ACL is really your only option, especially if you aspire to have an active lifestyle. At Balance of course we actively encourage you to ask for more and expect more from yourself. However whether pro athlete or not the operation is only effective if followed with quality rehabilitation executed with discipline and patience. Ensure your rehab guides you far enough down the road for you to achieve a complete recovery, give you absolute confidence to return to your sport and has provided you with resilience to future injury (either to the same knee or another structure that becomes vulnerable due to inadequate rehab). Of course there is no such thing as invulnerability in a human but to reiterate – you should be asking more of yourself and more of your physio or sports therapist. Do not pull up short!

Hamstring grafts are the grafts of choice these days but patella tendon grafts can also be used and do well.

Here’s the kind of schedule you’d expect going into rehab post operatively, which is initially quite straightforward:

Weeks 1-4 focussed on range of movement.

Return to sport at 5-6 months and contact sport soon afterwards.

This timeline is dependant on the quality of rehab, the individuals discipline and motivation, their unique circumstances and complications.

Most surgeons would like to see their work relatively protected for 9 months post op.

Balance got world class judo player Winnie Gordon competing in European champs at 5.5 months but that is rare. He went in to surgery on with a good level of preinjury knee strength which gave him a useful functional reserve.

Like every injury ones success is dependent on quality of training, movement, control and motivation.

At Balance we use tools that provide results, consequently we have a vast array of “toys” to work on specific weaknesses identified in our clients. There are some tools that we use over and over again, equipment that makes rehab more effective for a variety of reasons. one such reason is the ability to introduce something as early within the rehab process as possible to familiarise a client with the tool and also because we use equipment that is scalable – it can be used with more or less intensity depending on the stage of development a client has achieved.

For example Trigger Point Performance Therapy (TPT) and Alter-G partial weight bearing treadmill are used at very early stages in ACL rehab, CrossCore180 and kettlebells arent far behind. We make use of all of our available space: in Clapham and Fulham we have 1,000s of square feet of space to utilise and matted areas for essential ground work.

When an individual has focussed on prevention (prehab) prior to their current injury (remember there is no such thing as invulnerable) their subsequent recovery is much faster. Such prehab involves a mindful approach to movement skills, joint mobility, intelligent recovery following practice/training/competition: sports massage, self massage (Trigger Point Performance Therapy), hydration and nutrition, good quality sleep, stress management (mental and emotional).

As for Lucas, he and Liverpool are now considering when last season’s player of the year should undergo surgery.

Balance Performance Physiotherapy is now in Fulham SW6. Several members of our strong team are working from Fulham including our Clinical Director Graham Anderson and founding members Dr Lucy Goldby and Jonathan Lewis.

Our practice in Fulham is a large studio based in Fitrooms Gym on North End Road. It is easily accessible from Fulham Broadway, Earls Court and West Brompton tube and overground stations. It is also easily accessible if you are coming from Hammersmith, Shepherds Bush or West Kensington.

We have a fantastic studio which is a great space to move in. We also have access to the whole gym so it is a fantastic venue to complete your rehabilitation in.

To book into our Fulham practice call: 020 7627 2308

Much focus has been placed on the recovery needs of triathletes, cyclists and marathon/ultradistance athletes when it comes to TP therapy but the reality is that EVERYONE can benefit from increased confidence in their movement capabilities and an effective approach to recover and offset the stresses (physical, mental and emotional) we all experience. From sedentary office workers with upper limb tension problems and/or headaches to the very active professionals in the military, or dancers who are equally vulnerable to overuse issues.

Its important to acknowledge and understand history. The history behind Trigger Point Performance Therapy is that the creator of TPT tools, Cassidy Phillips, did so out of a need to combat his own pain and dysfunction and return to the activities that were most important to him. For Cassidy, although he had a background of BMX and other extreme sports, it was Iron Man Triathlon. Consequently much of the early focus was on the endurance athlete community.

Just as kettlebells and CrossCore 180 were not a fitness industry boardroom invention, TPT also has the integrity of being born out of a need for greater effectiveness not making a quick buck. The common denominator for these high quality tools is not simply a good product/tool/brand but also high quality and ever evolving education.

Balance Performance has since its beginnings in 2001 strived for our clients to understand that their best hopes lay in learning strategies that empower them to take care of themselves. We continue to work at improving the way we communicate this message of gaining a long term perspective and taking control of ones own rehab, recovery or performance. Having some exceptional tools at our disposal makes it easier than ever for our clients to introduce new habits of movement, recovery, strength and conditioning.

Balance holds 2 classes per week in Clapham using Trigger Point therapy tools http://bit.ly/fbbYKr, one focussed on the Ultimate 6 (areas of the body that are most influential on the way that we move) and the other focussed on the trunk and upper limbs. We will soon be adding 2 more Ultimate 6 classes, one in Fulham (FitRooms SW6) and another in our South London (Lambeth) facility.

Balance was the first facility to introduce such a recovery class to the UK but we’d like to see many more spring up around the UK so that those who recognise the value of TPT can maximise on their investment and understand more about the tools at their disposal. To do this needs Ultimate 6 education providers – and this is why Jonathan is providing regular U6 education workshops for coaches and trainers to be confident to teach and empower their clients and members of the public the powerful results one can achieve using Trigger Point Therapy.

The next workshop in London will be September 16th (Friday afternoon) and held in Fulham, London, SW6. Following this there will be dates in Scotland, the North East of England, and hopefully Brighton and Bournemouth.

for more information and to book on to the 4.5 hour workshop go to the Balance Performance shop site:

Trigger Point Therapy for recovery and performance

MOVE is the brainchild of some of London’s most dynamic movers and shakers in the field of Natural Movement.  MOVE is a two hour mixed movement session, born from the desire have a regular Natural Movement group in the heart of the city.

MOVE will not only push you physically but mentally as the highly fertile minds of the coaches continue to find ever more immaginative ways to MOVE,  with the emphasis on play and having fun it is open to all ages (16+) and abilities. The MOVE team are all exceptionally gifted and experienced athletes and coaches in the field of Natural Movement check out some of their backgrounds:

DARRYL EDWARDS: http://www.TheFitnessExplorer.com/
ROLLO MAHON: http://www.corenergy.co.uk/
CEDRIC HENAUX: http://runningengineer.com/runningengineer-testimonial-iron-man-cedric-henaux/
NAEEM AKRAM: http://runningengineer.com/
JONATHAN LEWIS: Strength & Conditioning Director at Balance Performance Physiotherapy

MOVE meets at Balance Performance Physiotherapy on the first Sunday of every month at 10am, next session is on Sunday 3rd of July. You can pre-pay by following the link below or pay £25 cash on the day. 

http://runningengineer.com/services/natural-movement-community-london/

Or add yourself to the event on facebook or request an invite from Naeem at naeem@runningengineer.com:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191267770913787

This fascinating course is aimed at anyone who wants to use Trigger Point Therapy in their professional capacity. You might be a Physiotherapist, Osteopath, Chiropractor, Sports Therapist, Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, Sports Coach or even an Athlete. If you work with people who want to perform better, recover faster and prevent injuries from occuring then this course should be on your radar.

It is being taken by Jonathan Lewis (above) who is not only the Uk’s sole Trigger Point Therapy Master Trainer but also a formidable knowledge on rehabilitation and training methods to ensure that individuals develop not only agility, speed or strength but resilience which is key to the concept of Trigger Point Therapy, so you are guaranteed an afternoon of the highest quality teaching

It comprises of 4.5 hours of CPD and runs from 1pm-6pm on Friday the 17th of June. Places are obviously limited so book soon to avoid disappointment, course fees are £145. To book and reserve your place call Balance on 020 76272308

Yesterday at Balance. Jonathan taught the second “Ultimate 6″ 4.5 hour workshop in the UK for Trigger Point Performance.

After the success of Edinburgh a few weeks ago another small group of quality professionals learnt not just the highly effective techniques that provide maximum returns when using the TP tools (TP massage ball, TP footballer and TP quadballer) but the ethos of Cassidy Phillips company which is so closely aligned with that of Balance Performance. Empowering people to take care of their own health.

The group yesterday, who I hope will demonstrate their knowledge and pass their test to become certified by TPP to go on to the Ultimate 6 provider network, consisted of personal trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and Balance team soft tissue specialist and osteopathic undergraduate Trevor Speller.

There will be many workshops to come so keep a look out for dates on the facebook, twitter and news pages of balance. We are passionate and determined to see more professionals being able to teach individuals and classes in the community at large these simple often life-altering techniques.

For greater understanding of what Trigger Point Performance Therapy is about go to the main website of TP Therapy or contact jonathan @ balancephysio.com and ask for the contact details of a provider near you in Scotland, Wales or England.

Unlock your body, release your strength!

Balance Performance is all about providing sustainable solutions and empowering our London centre clients, website customers and workshop students to take care of themselves; and if they are coaches then we want them to take care of themselves AND pass on the knowledge to their clients.

Improving recovery following performance (physical training, competition, modern life in general), maximising regeneration (physical strengthening and adaptation), and increasing resilience to prevent injury and open the path for further development requires a greater awareness and perception of your body. Attention to movement with control, precision, accuracy and fluidity is essential to gaining this understanding.

We teach and encourage movement at every level, our strength and conditioning coaches put great emphasis on mobility and movement as well as strength, endurance and fitness. In the Balance team we also have 2 forward thinking and innovative movement coaches – Julien Diaz and Jason Progl – who structured what they have been doing for many years and created the Lissom technique: http://www.lissomtechnique.com.

Julien and Jason can work with you here in Clapham SW4 and in Fulham SW6 (FitRooms) as of mid-June 2011.

The video below is of a great mover called Ido Portal who we hope will be back in the UK from Israel teaching again soon – follow news on that workshop on the Simple Strength website as Rannoch Donald is organising it. http://simplestrength.com

Now enjoy this, its beautiful!

I risk going on a bit too much about the WarMachine or Crosscore 180. But it represents so much of what Balance Performance is about. Practicing movement to achieve functional movement that is fluid, flowing, accurate, precise, full of intent and purpose. Functional movement is dynamic, rotational, variable in speed and intensity: we recommend use of bodyweight, dynamic resistance (kettlebells), and bodyweight plus eg. the WarMachine.

I was asked by a journalist from Health Club Management about the difference between the WarMachine and CrossCore 180. For some WarMachine seems a bit too confrontational so prefer the name CrossCore 180. The military, MMA, combat sport and strength/conditioning coach community have few issues with the WarMachine. Schools and colleges, sports teams, commercial fitness gyms, physiotherapists, rehab facilities and pilates studios feel CrossCore 180 “Turn your Game Around” is more appropriate for their clients. At Balance Performance where we have a mix of clients following a path of rehabilitation and those focussed on improving sports/functional performance right from the outset we quickly educate them that the WarMachine that hangs in our centre is accessible to all!

Whatever label you choose the challenge of “pulling the pin” remains. Rotational movement is available once control of simple symmetrical movement has been achieved – rotation/spin/twist and turn is what the human animal does and needs to maintain and improve.

The Lissom Technique is the truly innovative creation of two exceptionally gifted specialists in human movment and part of the Balance strength and conditioning team Julien Diaz & Jason Prog.

Lissom is a free flowing movement technique that encompasses a combination of simple but challenging moves and stretches to build core strength, flexibility, balance and endurance.  The movmements used in Lissom stem from movments which have been in use for centuries through dance, martial arts and most importantly play. Lissom takes technicaly difficult moves and breaks them down into managable and enjoyable routines.

The Lissom technique  has been born out of the need to challenge both the physical and mental elements of our bodies.  Our bodies are designed to move in a free flowing and dynamic way, yet in todays society we have become very rigid in our movements as a result of the computer generation.  

Using body resisted exercises is both physically and mentally challenging.   It is this type of movement which really challenges the body’s stability and coordination and strength.  Using precise techniques to achieve good alignment through movement brings fluidity, stability, flexibility and strength.  Overall, there is a feeling of body empowerment, liberating your body and mind. 

There are two Lissom classes at Balance at 7am and at 7pm every monday, please call to book or for more information.