Tennis Elbow (or lateral  epicondylitis) affects nearly half of all tennis players at some point. Tennis actually account for less than 5 percent of all reported cases.

Golfer’s Elbow (or medial epicondylitis) is similar to tennis elbow but pain and tenderness are felt on the inside (medial aspect) of the elbow, on or around the joint’s bony prominence.

Please click here to read more information about Tennis and Golfers Elbow.

Frozen shoulder or ‘adhesive capsulitis’ is a condition which affects shoulder joint mobility with stiffness and pain and occurs usually between the ages of 40 and 60. Unaided recovery can be slow and symptoms can last for two to three years.

Click here to read more information about Frozen Shoulder.

The power of touch has miraculous effects for the very young to the very old, for the terminally ill to the marathon athlete and for the busy mother to the over-stressed executive. Massage has the power to relax and heal while helping release emotions and tension, importantly, without the aid of drugs.

When deciding whether you want to have massage, consider your health needs. This alternative, drug-free therapy may be the right treatment for you.

As an experienced physiotherapist I must say that a combination of both manual/physical therapy with therapeutic massage brings the best results!

Agata Pujsza, BSc MSc Physiotherapist: Sayer Clinics

Click here to read more information about Massage.

Sciatica is specifically nerve pain involving the posterior aspect of the thigh, calf or foot and which is caused by irritation or compression of  the sciatic nerve, the main nerve into the leg.  Pain may originate where the nerves pass through and emerge between the lower bones of the spine (lumbar vertebrae) or as the nerve passes through the Piriformis muscles in the pelvis.. There may be numbness and weakness of the lower leg muscles and loss of reflexes.

Click here to read more information about Sciatica.

At Sayer Clinics, Spinal Digital computerised X-Rays may be taken, when diagnostically indicated, while the patient stands, so that major curvatures can be discovered – most people get their back pain when they stand or sit, not when lying down. The X-Ray can also detect any disease or pressures on the discs, congenital deformities, bone cancer, osteoporosis (brittle bones in older people).

We strive to achieve minimum dose x-rays by using a DIGITAL COMPUTED XRAY SYSTEM plus close ‘ collimation ‘ to narrow the area to be x-rayed to an absolute minimum.

We take time to show, explain and discuss the images and results with the patient so that together we can devise a plan of action.

Click here to read more information about X-Rays.

Massage Therapy with Agata Pujsza,

Master of Physiotherapy at Sayer Clinic : Kensington

Massage therapy not only provides relaxation and relief for muscle strains and fatigue but also improves health with physical, emotional, and physiological benefits.

Why Have Massage?

Imagine long days sitting at a desk. Your neck and back is killing with you a sharp pain between your shoulders and your headache is throbbing.

Fatigue, muscle strain, repetitive motion or staying in one position for long periods can cause these symptoms which determine your quality of life and how you feel.

If stress, pain, tension, and fatigue could be purged with therapeutic massage would you get one?

There are many good reasons to have regular massage.

• Reduces lower back pain, muscle pain and other body aches.
• Helps soothe infants and promote digestion.
• Increases range of motion in joints.
• Decreases illness-related fatigue.
• Calms aggressive behaviour.
• Eases PMS symptoms.
• Decreases depression, anxiety and helps to promote a healthy mind.
• Helps your immunity by increasing white blood cell counts.
• Improves recovery after  surgery and is amazingly important before it!
• Alleviates age-related disorders, insomnia and sleeping difficulty as well as many emotional and physical problems.

What are the Benefits?

Gentle massage affects the nervous system through nerve endings in the skin, stimulating the release of endorphins. These are the body’s natural ‘feel good’ chemicals which help induce relaxation and a sense of well-being as well as relieving pain. Gentle techniques reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline. Massage also helps to reverse the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.

Stronger massage stimulates blood circulation to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and helps the lymphatic system to flush away waste products. It eases tense, knotted muscles and stiff joints, improving mobility and flexibility.

The most common massage techniques include:

Effleurage – a light, firm and gentle stroking;

Petrissage – firm kneading and rolling of the tissues;

Frottage – or friction – deep direct pressure to release muscle tension;

Tapotement – hacking, tapping and clapping over the muscles and fleshy parts of the body.

The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy (Qi) run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts it in others. The meridians can be influenced by needling the acupuncture points; the acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions and re-establish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatment can help the body’s internal organs to correct imbalances in digestion, absorption, and energy.

The modern scientific explanation is that needling to the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release endorphins and other chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals either change the experience of pain or trigger the release of other substances and hormones, which influence the body’s internal regulating system. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulation of the body’s natural healing abilities.

Click here to read more information about Acupuncture.

It is important to examine and assess injuries as soon as possible. Once diagnosis is made, a combination of treatment techniques (spinal manipulation, mobilisation, muscle massage, acupuncture, ultrasound) will be used to relieve the pain and prevent any long term damage to the injured areas.

At Sayer Clinic : Kensington we take computed digital x-rays of the cervical spine as well as performing  neurological and orthopaedic tests to diagnose the extent of whiplash injury. We may refer for MRI or CT scan without delay, if indicated.

Click here to read more about Whiplash Injuries.

Sayer Clinics chiropractors and physical therapists specialise in achieving Optimal Posture. It is the state of muscular and skeletal balance that protects the supporting structures of the body against injury or progressive deformity, whether at work or rest. Correct posture involves joint position and mobility to provide minimum stress on the joints while poor posture increases joint stress and damages discs and surrounding tissues.

Posture also involves the chain-link concept of body mechanics where knee pain or headaches can arise from low back joint disorders like scoliosis, spondylosis or spondlolisthesis, all of which are specifically aggravated by poor abdominal core stability and pelvic and lumbar joint arthrosis and stiffness.

The effects of posture are far reaching, involving your psychology and mood as well as physical energy, respiratory, digestive and musculoskeletal systems.

Click here to read more about Optimal Posture and how it relates to Scoliosis & Postural Correction.

My real and increasing concern is the number of coccyx and pelvic pain patients I see who are “out of it” on a cocktail of painkillers and NSAIDs, muscle relaxants and drugs like Pregabalin (Lyrica) from pain clinics. Patients may feel woozy and tired, potentially leading to lengthening time off work with their social life and interests disappearing . Many become inactive and can become overweight, fibromyalgic and depressed. Then, in some cases, antidepressants and stronger Morphine-based painkillers are prescribed. Many sufferers off work for 12 months will not work again. Rather than long waits for pain clinics and orthopaedic referrals for cortisone injections, in my opinion, these sufferers should ask their GPs to refer, and ideally fund, them quickly to experienced chiropractors, osteopaths and physical therapists to properly diagnose and to help maintain them at work with physical treatment, ergonomic advice and gradually increasing exercises. This way, more patients will do well while the few needing surgery can be referred on more quickly to orthopaedic specialists who are experienced in coccyx surgery.

Click here for more information on Pelvic And Coccyx Pain.

Michael Durtnall

Chairman : Sayer Clinics