Let’s be real: we all love a good nap, but sleep is way more than just a break from life. Whether you’re an adult juggling work, family, and a million other things, or a kid dealing with school and developing, sleep is your secret weapon for recovery. And trust me, this isn’t just about feeling […]
As one year draws to a close and another begins, people often see the opportunity to improve their health after the festive indulgences. Couch to 5k is a popular choice. I am fan of anything that gets folk moving their bodies, especially if it is outside. But. Come Jan/Feb I see loads of people injured […]
Managing Holiday Stress: Coping with Christmas Anxiety It’s that time of year again where a great many of my patients confide that they are absolutely dreading Christmas. Comments this year so far include ‘it’s the fake happiness’ ‘forced fun’ ‘the expectation for everything to be perfect on one day’ As well as all the anxiety […]
Small Steps For Success! I think it’s fair to say that most of us, when it comes to health improvements or injury rehabilitation would love to snap our fingers and get to the end goal. Sadly it doesn’t really work that way. And the best way to make progress is with small, sustainable, incremental changes […]
We are fast approaching the festive season! My last clinic day for this year is Dec 20th and the clinic will be closed until January 3rd. Appointments are filling up for December so if you need those injuries looking at I’d recommend booking in sooner rather than later so you can really enjoy Christmas. Also…a […]
Just a heads up that tomorrow is my last working day in clinic before a much needed week off for half term. I am back in work from November 4th and my next availability is November 11th with slots filling fast that week. So if you have niggles and injuries that need looking at it’s […]
What is Tendinopathy? Ever had that nagging pain in your tendons that won’t go away? That’s probably tendinopathy! It’s when the tendons, tough bands that connect muscle to bone, get overused or injured. This can happen with repetitive activities like running, typing or lifting. Often if you build up a bit too quickly or start […]
Identifying Reliable Health Information Online We live in age of information overload and most of us have a mini computer in our pockets. I think it’s only natural that people look online for health information and actually I think it’s a good thing. The more you understand about your body and your health, the more […]
And so begins, the Paris 2024 Olympics! I am so lucky to have a job I love, that has evolved over the years as I have. Whilst I’m glad to have my weekends back and to spend much less time in airports these days….without doubt travelling the world working in elite sport and working at […]
So here's something that has been on my mind lately: the obsession with productivity. Yep, you heard me right. It seems everywhere you turn, someone is preaching about hustle culture, optimizing every second of your day and squeezing out every drop of energy in your system in the pursuit of progress. The endless message is […]
What’s the best way to book an appointment? The clinic is super busy at the moment as we are in full spring marathon training swing, so it’s best to get those niggles booked in if you can, before they get worse. The quickest and easiest way to book is to call 07810 182876. I have […]
When is a niggle just a niggle? As we go through life we all get aches and pains. Sometimes it’s associated with starting a new activity or a change in habits. And sometimes they appear for no obvious reason. Very often pains go away by themselves in time. If we ran to the Dr or […]
The diary is chocca block this week until Friday when I finish for Christmas. So a couple of little requests from me…. First up, it’s a busy time. I understand that. But if you need to cancel your appointment please give me as much notice as possible. This gives me chance of moving forward one […]
Christmas Opening Hours I know, I know….it’s only November. But I need to mention the ‘C’ word! The clinic will close on Friday 22nd December until Tuesday 2nd January for the Christmas break. The diary is looking pretty busy over the next couple of weeks already, so if you have injuries or niggles you need […]
Why Rest Is Not Always Best For Musculoskeletal Injuries. So, you've sprained your ankle, tweaked your back, or done something equally delightful to your muscles and joints. Your first instinct? Rest, right? Well, hold onto your crutches because I'm here to tell you that sometimes, rest is not always the best prescription for MSK injuries. […]
Musculoskeletal Pain During Menopause: Understanding and Managing the Unseen Challenge Menopause is a significant phase in a woman's life. While hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances are commonly associated with menopause, one often-overlooked symptom is musculoskeletal pain. This blog aims to shed light on musculoskeletal pain during menopause, its causes, and effective management strategies […]
When you think of sports that cause injuries, often the contact sports such as rugby and football are the first to spring to mind. But cricket has a surprisingly high incidence of injury with an average of 102 injuries per 1000 days of play across all formats at the elite level. One-day cricket has the […]
The causes of sports injuries are often complex and multifactorial. But training error has to be one of the most common contributing factors. These errors are often easy to spot with hindsight but being aware of them at the time can save you a lot of pain and frustration. Here are a few of the […]
Health Coach Training Most people who work in healthcare understand that our health is interconnected between bodily systems, particularly when it comes to chronic, non communicable diseases like heart disease, diabetes and musculoskeletal pain. The big problem is delivering integrated and personalised care. The knee specialist looks at your knee, the heart specialist look at […]
Walking - a much underrated health intervention For some people, getting fitter and more active feels a bit intimidating. Maybe they’ve never done sport, or lack confidence in a gym environment. Walking is often overlooked but it’s free, accessible to the vast majority of people and a 10 minute brisk walk (where you are a […]
Nuffield Health Update Evening All… Just a quick update. As of 9.12.22 I am no longer accepting new referrals from Nuffield Health. I have been a Physiotherapy provider for them for 9 years and unfortunately their fees have not increased at all in that time and is unsustainable as a business. Any current Nuffield patients […]
💥 Mythbuster 💥 Many people, sadly still including some healthcare professionals, believe that children must not do strength training. Usually this comes from a belief that it can damage growth plates or be ineffective due to a lack of testosterone. Fortunately both these things are untrue. Any sport or activity comes with a risk of […]
🚧 Morning Folks 🚧 Just to let you known there are temporary traffic lights outside on New Road at the moment meaning there is no parking available in the bays opposite clinic at the moment. Also, Stoke Road between Dick’s Smokehouse and the Co-op is also closed which may also affect your journey so you […]
Hi all, Just a reminder that I am away until Monday 22nd August and will catch up with messages then. If you need to book or rearrange an appointment in my absence please call 07810 182876 and the PA team can answer your call. Cheers Anna
So my final shift of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is done. As some of you know, I was hesitant about being involved with this for a variety of reasons. But my third major games, on the doorstep in the city where I was actually born was an opportunity I decided I didn’t want to […]
Hey Everyone, Just a little update from me…. We have an exciting and busy few weeks of sport coming up. I’ll be working at the Timberhonger 10Km on Saturday and my shifts for the Commonwealth Games start next week. This means the diary is extra busy over the next month….so if you could all predict […]
When it comes to recovering from injury or improving our mental or physical health, we have to focus on what we need, rather than what we want. Of course, a little of what you fancy does you no harm. But often making positive changes requires hard work and consistency over a long period of time. […]
“Running is bad for your knees” This is myth that refuses to die so I LOVE this post from The Sports Podiatrist. So, a little louder for those at the back. Research tells us that recreational runners are LESS likely to get Osteoarthritis (OA) knees than sedentary people. Read that again. And if you have […]
When it comes to our health most of us are more than happy to talk about our bad back, sprained ankle or tennis elbow. Certain subjects still feel awkward and taboo for many though such as bladder, bowel and sexual function. These parts of our health are equally (if not more) important too though and […]
Morning Folks! I know there is a lot going on in the world right now so I’m loathe to bring up the ‘C’ word, but just a little update….. Whilst restrictions and requirements to self isolate have been removed in the vast majority of places, what has been less well publicised is that, as yet, […]
Just a quick note of reassurance that I am still testing using Lateral Flow Tests. I have some clinically vulnerable patients and I feel very strongly I have a duty of care to ensure I protect them as much as possible, especially now measures are less stringent elsewhere. Mild for many but still very problematic […]
So after what has felt like the longest week ever, my final clinic for 2021 is done. It’s been another tough year in many ways with more changes, risk assessments, PPE, expense and hassle. And I won’t lie, I’m absolutely shattered. But as always, I am super grateful for your support. Your patience, understanding and […]
Following the PMs announcement regarding moving to Plan B this evening I just wanted to reassure you nothing has/will change in clinic. I am still wearing PPE which is changed between patients. I am still leaving a 15 minute gap between appointments to ventilate the room and prevent patients coming into contact with each other […]
✨ Finding Space ✨ We live in a world of constant stimulation and distraction. Endless messages via text, WhatsApp, email, social media. A barrage of negative news and controversy. Plus the individual stresses and pressures everyone faces in one way or another. It can all feel overwhelming sometimes. Having experienced burnout I’ve found it essential […]
How does your environment shape your behaviour? If you go for a walk along a flat, tarmac, straight path, you will likely move your body in a fairly predictable, repetitive way. If you walk along a footpath in a woodland you will have to negotiate tree roots and other natural objects to move over and […]
Morning Folks! There are 4 way traffic lights in Aston Fields from this morning. This means the parking bays opposite clinic are unavailable all week. As always there is 2 hours free parking at the old railway station (you still need to get a ticket) and pay and display in the station also. Please remember […]
Evening folks, with all the chit chat about restrictions being lifted and whether to mask or not mask I thought I’d update you on the position here in clinic. As yet, healthcare settings have had no change to the PHE guidance regarding PPE. I work in close contact with patients some of whom are clinically […]
Post Stress Slump I’m seeing lots of people who are feeling pretty tired at the moment and can’t understand why. They feel conflicted as they think they should feel energised and excited at decreasing restrictions and more social interaction but instead they feel flat and lethargic. It’s quite common to experience a slump after a […]
BUPA Update Morning folks. Just to let you know that going forward I will be unable to accept referrals from patients wishing to use BUPA insurance unfortunately. This is for 2 reasons: 1) BUPA have stated I have not treated enough of their patients in the last 12 months to renew. I’m not alone as […]
It seems it’s grumble o’clock..... I hardly ever get any no shows usually. Unfortunately this has increased over the last few weeks. I suspect this is a combination of things opening up so folk getting busy and people having to book a few weeks in advance as I’m so busy. When you book you will […]
As grassroots sports begin to start back up with gyms following closely behind, many people will be absolutely chomping at the bit to get back to it. The feel good from exercise, the social interaction and structure are hugely beneficial for so many people. If you haven’t trained regularly for much of the year or […]
A Reflection on Behaviour Change *Disclaimer – this does not constitute professional advice for behaviour that is compulsive or constitutes an addiction. I’m not usually one for New Year Resolution hype or the “New Year New Me!” rhetoric. And whilst I think that personal/professional development and a growth mindset are positive things, the constant quest […]
Sleep – an underrated health intervention? As I have progressed through my career I have become more interested in societal and environmental factors within health and human behaviour. The environment we live and work in, the people we interact with, societal and cultural values and norms can really shape our behaviour. One thing I see […]
We know from research and experience that the solution for most musculoskeletal issues is active rehabilitation. We also know that rehab is only effective if you do it.... Following a Physio assessment, patients are sent their rehab programmes via email with videos...long gone are the days of stick man drawings! To streamline this even further, […]
COVID 19 Tier 3 Update Happy New Year All, Worcestershire is now in Tier 3. As a healthcare provider, I am still permitted to remain open under COVID safe procedures. I am still allowing 15 minutes between appointments to ensure patients do not cross over and to allow me to clean more thoroughly. As such […]
Run Streaks – A Good Idea or Not? So as January looms on the horizon after a period of celebration and indulgence, for many of us it’s a natural time to reset. We may wish to review habits, set goals, change behaviours and start the New Year on the right foot. January challenges can be […]
Fighting Fatigue How often is it that when you ask someone how they are, that the answer is ‘tired’ ‘weary’ or ‘knackered’? For me anyway, pretty common. ‘TATT’ - Tired All The Time is a hugely common reason people visit the GP in this country and can sometimes be due to certain illnesses. But often, […]
Hi everyone, Just a gentle reminder to please ONLY attend at your appointment time and not come early to clinic. I have a 15 minute gap between patients to allow me to clean down all surfaces AND to ensure patients do not crossover on their way in/out. This is to ensure not only everyone’s safety […]
Physiotherapy and Yoga bookings July 2020 Hello there, I hope you're all keeping well. I just thought I'd drop a quick update to let you know how current operations are with the Physiotherapy and Yoga bookings at present. I am offering appointments both online and face to face for physiotherapy but please be aware […]
That’s it for 2019 folks! After a busy year with its fair share of highs and lows like everyone, it’s time to rest the thumbs, put my feet up and have a good go at eating my body weight in cheese ? A huge, HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout the […]
The Benefits of Wearing Many Hats! So the time has come to write a blog about my extensive bobble hat collection…..ok, maybe that is for another time! It is often said to me “Anna, you are the busiest person I know, I don’t know how you do it!” It is true I have a pretty […]
Getting Back in the Saddle During my teenage years I could generally be found gallivanting around the countryside on either horseback or my bike. I was super lucky that some family friends had a horse that they loaned to me during those years and my friend and I would disappear for the day exploring and […]
Annnnddd that’s a wrap! The clinic is now closed until Wednesday 2nd January with Yoga classes starting Tuesday 8th January! Time to spend some precious time with family and friends and enjoy a G&T or 2! I would like to take the opportunity to say a huge thanks to all my patients, family and friends […]
10 Tips For Surviving Spring Marathon Training It’s a familiar story for me in the clinic. You turn on your TV one Sunday towards the end of April and see this…. First go the elite racers, flying along at superhuman speeds that most of us couldn’t sustain for 26.2 metres let alone 26.2 miles! Then […]
Wellness, it’s just a word, right? It is now a word with a multi-million pound industry built around it, but there is also an unhealthy side to wellness. If you look around, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you are one Avocado on Toast, expensive nutritional supplement (read pyramid sales scheme) or Yoga class away […]
So yesterday marked the 70th Birthday of the Paralympics! The Paralympics were the brainchild of a German born refugee Dr Ludwig Guttman and started at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in 1948. They have gone on to provide a global stage for the Worlds best Paralympians. I have been super lucky to work at both London 2012 […]