the blog of balance performance physiotherapy » treatment

Winston Gordon hopes for last laugh!

scott — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:16:33 +0000

Winston Gordon the current GB Judo number one in the middleweight division and one of Balance’s Olympic Ambassadors has just been featured in the Telegraph!

The Balance team have now worked with Winston for over ten years and have helped him return from several potentially career ending injuries. We are still working very closely with Winston to reach 2012.

As Winston says himself:

“Balance is a great asset and an excellent team to work with. I would recommend them to anyone who has sustained a sports injury. I thank them all for all their help and support in enabling me to pursue my Olympic dream”

To read the whole article:

Winston Gordon-judo-telegraph-190412

Winston Gordon Team GB No.1 Middleweight Judo talks to ITV news about how Balance have kept him in peak condition and at the top of his sport for over ten years

scott — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:24:19 +0000

Winston Gordon Team GB Judo and current UK number one middleweight was interviewed in the dojo at Ernest Bevan School in Tooting by ITV news this week about his preparation for London 2012 and how the team at Balance Performance Physiotherapy have not only helped him overcome several potentially career ending injuries but also improve his performance through strength, conditioning and movement drills.

Jason Progl from Balance training Winston and the boys at Ernest Bevan

It was a fantastic afternoon where Winston was filmed putting some of the pupils through their paces in the dojo, they thought that was hard until Jason Progl from Balance took over and tested their ability to really move.

Graham Anderson our Clinical Director has now worked closely with Winston for over ten years as Graham used to be the physio for Team GB Judo. With Graham’s and the team at Balance expertise and Winston’s hard work massive obstacles have been overcome in terms of injury. To be the current UK number 1 and hopefully soon to qualify for the Olympics is a massive achievement for Winston and everyone who has worked with him as Winston says himself

“ Balance is a great asset and an excellent team to work with. I would recommend them to anyone who has sustained a sports injury. I thank them all for all their help and support in enabling me to pursue my Olympic dream“

Balance team at the 2011 Virgin London Triathlon

scott — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:44:11 +0000

The Balance team of Martina, Keith and Scott were at it again at this weekends Virgin London Triathlon working closely with KT Tape Europe to help the athletes with advice and taping any problems that they may have. The Balance team are becoming old hands having helped athletes at the 2011 Virgin London Marathon and 2011 Edinburgh marathon. KT Tape is the best kinesiology tape as far as the Balance team is concerned which is why we are hosting KT Tape education courses at Balance from September the 7th onwards to train other physios, osteopaths, sports therapists and chiropractors on how to use it and share their expertise. The courses will then be appearing throughout the UK.

The in-depth and highly practical courses will be over two days and cost £279. It will consist of an introduction to kinesiology tape before moving deeper into more advanced uses and taping techniques.

To book online follow the link below or to find out more speak to Scott Morris at Balance on: 020 76272308.

http://www.shop.balancephysio.com/collections/services/education-workshops

elite athletes suffer many of the same sports injury problems

JonathanLewis — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:49:28 +0000

Tight hip flexors and imbalances, weak gluteals – does this sound familiar? It happens to elite ATP pro tennis players as well as the recreational athletes we see from Clapham, Stockwell and Brixton.

Graham at 2010 Commonwealth Games – Delhi

JonathanLewis — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 01:01:27 +0000

Director and Sports Injury team physiotherapist Graham Anderson is now installed in Delhi for a month for the whole of the event and currently setting up the medical clinic for the welsh team. graham is no stranger to event sports injury management with 4 Commonwealth and 3 Olympics games to his name. Fortunately Balance has depth in its team and breadth of experiences that span the sports, performance and professional spectrum so whilst we miss Graham dearly we are not left short of expertise.

Graham in Delhi ahead of the athletes to set up medical clinic

Meanwhile Raphael continues his work in athletics, Fran with cyclists (running our joint Cycling and Fitting clinic at CycleFit Covent Garden) and Paula as author of Running Repairs obviously has many runners beating a path to her door. Of course we dont just work with those engaged in our “specialist” sports area and everyone on the sports injury team sees the countless number of combat athletes that come to our London facility. Including our team of athletes on the “Fighters Development Programmee” (Brazilian Ju Juitsu, Boxing and MMA all represented )

Trigger point therapy results continue to impress and TPT products continue to get great reviews

JonathanLewis — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:15:02 +0000

Not only does the team at Balance deliver trigger point therapy but we also educate our clients about TrP therapy and how they can do it themselves using Trigger Point Performance kits and individual products.

The more we do it the better the results our clients can achieve for themselves and gain independence with the tools we recommend.

Here is just one comment directed at the TPT page on Facebook:

“Your Ultimate 6 kit helped get me through Boston [Marathon]. Sciatic pains for 2 weeks before. Ran pain free. Thank you!”

Having been at the TPT HQ in Austin Texas a couple of weeks back I have been able to pass on some additional teaching points to Kellie and Trevor (the Balance sports massage team) and Jason Progl (movement, strength and conditioning coach) so they can educate even more effectively the benefits to be had by their clients inducing trigger point release on themselves.

Trigger Point Performance HQ, Austin, Texas

To see the Trigger Point Performance Products online CLICK this underlined link TPT Kits.

for more info contact Jonathan Lewis via our contact page, Twitter, or feel free to look me up on facebook.

Shoes may have changed how we run – piece from BBC Science journo

JonathanLewis — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:09:47 +0000

BBC Science Reporter Victoria Gill’s article is linked to below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8483401.stm

It describes research that came to the obvious conclusion that if you give a human the chance to take the path of least resistance they will take it, even if the consequences are a down turn in long term efficiency. Well thats my interpretation, but to be true to the article here is the opening paragraph:

Wearing cushioned running shoes may have changed the way in which many of us run, new research suggests.

Using slow-motion footage, scientists have discovered that experienced barefoot runners land very differently from runners who wear shoes.

The researchers showed that runners who have trained barefoot tend to strike the ground with their forefoot or mid-foot, rather than their heel.

At Balance we often talk about taking a long term perspective and discourage our clients from looking for the short term quick fix (whether to be pain free without concern for recurrence, getting fit, getting strong, losing weight, making money etc) but as with all aspects of life its a lot more complicated when you think it through. So once you have read this article dont throw your trainers in the bin and hit Battersea Park for a barefoot 10k using the pose running technique – at least not straight away. There are several more possibilities avaialable to you.

Have a read and if you’d like to share your opinion or ask ours get in contact with one of the team Paula (author of Running Repairs ), Mick Habgood (podiatrist and running orthotic specialist), Raph (an experienced physio in international athletics and many a “minimal shoe” runner), Frances (triathlon specialist and G-trainer expert) or Sian (currently researching MBT footwear at clinics across London). You can also contact Jonathan (the blog writer) who will happily discuss evolution, sociology, the weakening of human kind and how to prevent it! Send an email by clicking this highlighted link: Contact Page

Mick and Paula will be adding their comments here soon.

New York Times article on self-massage products

JonathanLewis — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:56:26 +0000

Just read a well balanced article from the New York Times on self-massage products. The journalist has consulted a number of sources including sports massage consumers, foam roller users, a triathlon coach, an Ironman triathlete and chiropractor, author of “Self-Massage for Athletes” Rich Poley, and the founder and creator of Trigger Point Performance Therapy products Cassidy Phillips.

The article is based around the following: “Devices for self-massage have become more common as more people compete in endurance sports and, more recently, as the recession has made professional rubdowns look prohibitively expensive. Trainers usually recommend a massage every week or every other week for people who are training for a marathon or triathlon, but the costs do add up: according to the American Massage Therapy Association, the average price of a massage is $63 an hour.”

The article’s quote from TPT founder Cassidy Phillips puts self massage and going to see a professional masseur in the context of oral hygiene. “You brush away some plaque yourself,” he said, “but you still go to the dentist for a thorough cleaning.”

Here’s the article: http://bit.ly/8lUYu2
click for the Self-massage and Trigger Point range from Balance.

Ultimate 6 package - part of Balance's range of self-massage products

Steve Cotter Guide to Kettlebell Lifting now available here at Balance

JonathanLewis — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:26:10 +0000

Its been a busy day here at Balance taking pictures to upload onto our soon to launch (at long last)online shop. We will be making available to the wider world many of the things that clients have had the opportunity of benefiting from here for many years – kettlebells, rehabilitation and fitness bands (from LifeLine and JC Santana), foam rollers, the full range of TPT trigger point self massage tools (including the grid), back care products, joint supplements, wobble cushions, gym balls and many other items.

We only offer products that the Balance Team members are 100% confident to recommend to our clients. As many of you will know Balance clients have been benefitting from kettlebells since 2003 as part of their sports injury treatments, rehab and ongoing health and sports programmes. We also have a long association with the Worlds top coaches. Since 2006 we have been working with Steve Cotter (Full Kontact and International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation) and now we are proud to finally have a book of the highest quality to go along with the high quality personal training on offer from the 5 RKC and IKFF coaches we have.

Kettlebell Guide Book and DVD

Steve Cotters “The Complete Guide to Kettlebell Lifting” can be bought here at Balance or ordered over the phone and shipped. The retail price is £59.99 but in conjunction with Steve in the US we are offering it an introductory price of £39.99 – can’t get it cheaper on Amazon! It comes as a combo set to include a DVD so you can see the drills in motion.

There will be more details and comments about the guide on Jonathan’s Industrial Strength website soon.

attention to detail in this comprehensive guide - good and bad form is highlighted

Frustration of injuries and podiatry

JonathanLewis — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:55:14 +0000

orthotics and improved mechanics allow for more intense training and preparation for running

I read this blog yesterday whilst searching to see who else was talking about the G-trainer and marathon training. I came across this Addicted to Running Blog:

One pointless podiatrist appointment then another more fruitful one!

If you’ve been reading this blog for some time you’ll know that I’ve been wearing custom made orthotics for pretty much the whole of the year. Last week I went to see a new podiatrist as I’ve still been getting a really bad blister on the arch of my left foot. This time I decided to see a podiatrist at a running track in Ashford, as I figured that I would get the best service and advice as a runner from someone based at a running track. This was a mistake!

http://addictedtorunning.co.uk/running-running-orthotics/one-pointless-podiatrist-appointment-then-another-more-fruitful-one#more-166

I thought it was a great post, we know it is often a frustrating path that is followed following an injury or episode of pain, even if you have a good team of professionals to work with.

Clients need to be upfront and forthcoming with the therapist they are working with to get the most out of the experience and make an optimal recovery. If your professional is not fully aware of your feelings it is difficult to make the subtle adjustments that may be needed or renew your confidence and focus. It may just require simple modifications or an explanation of the process to take you from frustrated to progressing.

I believe that guiding injury recovery is as much an artful process as it is an exercise in evidence based science so feedback, both good and bad is essential.

As for the podiatry (the subject of the original blog) it has made a massive difference to us that Mick came in and demanded a grinder to make adjustments to the orthotics he produces (eliminates the frustrating waiting times).