Physiotherapy has come a long since I finished my training (too long ago to talk about), new techniques and new tools mean it can fix a LOT more problems a LOT more successfully. But, it has it’s limitations. One of the most exciting things for me when I started using Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MRT or MBST) was finally being able to offer a solution to those of my patients who…
One of the hardest parts of the MRT is the waiting. While some people (especially knees!) get results almost instantly, before treatment is even finished, others take a little longer. Lower backs seem to be slower, often it can take a few weeks before patients notice a significant improvement. This is one of the reasons why I always do follow ups and review (for patients in Spain at least! Patients…
Long term wear and tear after playing sports, compounded by multiple operations that didn’t make a significant difference . . . it’s easy to feel that there’s no route forward. Often, by the time people get to me they feel like they have “seen everyone” and are left in pain. One of the best things that I get to do is help people find a route forward so they can…
Many of the testimonials I receive are by email, often just a couple of lines in reply to my follow ups. A quick “Yup all better thanks” as people get on with their lives. Brilliant for me as I know their history, have been in touch several times and know the “story”. But occasionally I get patients like Joe, who set out to write a detailed explanation for future patients.…
One of the most important points about clinical medicine is proof. No therapy or medication can be used on a patient without conclusive evidence that it works and that it causes no harm (or at least that the benefits outweigh the potential negatives). I am a clinically, classically trained physiotherapist and, sometimes, a little old school. And scientific proof that a treatment works is hugely important to me. I spend…
Most people don’t want to take a lot of time off from their life when they get an injury. Rest is probably the most loathed treatment option, certainly here on the Costa del Sol where many of my patients are involved in sport! While patients generally want to get better as quickly as possible most people don’t have quite such a tight deadline. Carlos injured his hamstring playing football and…
Many of the people I see here on the Costa del Sol aren’t full time residents. Some aren’t even part time! Often I have to cram as much treatment in as possible in the limited time window that people are here. Travel can cause all kind of old injuries or new problems to flare up. And travel by plane, train or automobile is made 100 times worse when you have…
As one of the many options that I offer my patients is orthotics or prescription insoles, I’m often informed by my patients that “they won’t work as I have one leg shorter than the other”. To which I reply as nicely as possible, “I doubt it! Did they check you?”. The answer is No depressingly often. True leg length discrepancy is rare, but what is common is a tilted pelvis…
As one of the many options that I offer my patients is orthotics or prescription insoles, I’m often informed by my patients that “they won’t work as I have one leg shorter than the other”. To which I reply as nicely as possible, “I doubt it! Did they check you?”. The answer is No depressingly often. True leg length discrepancy is rare, but what is common is a tilted pelvis…
The greatest thing about doing a show like the Over 50’s Show at the beginning of the month is the opportunity and time to speak to lots of new patients. To find out what people are actually interested in and what their questions are. The downside to being so passionate and involved in what I do is that I don’t always see things from the same perspective as my…