Lateral Epicondylitis, which is more commonly known as 'tennis elbow' is associated with inflammation at the lateral humeral condyle insertion. This insertion point is the starting point for the extensor muscles of the forearm and hand. The tendon of the muscle Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis is often the most commonly affected in this condition.¹ People that develop this condition often present with weakness of the wrist, pain when pressing over the lateral epicondyle, pain when bending the hand and wrist back particularly against resistance.²

There are many different approaches to the treatment of tennis elbow including but not limited to: manual therapy, injections, strengthening exercises and deep tissue release. A recent study looked at three different types of  treatment and reviewed which gave the best long-term outcomes.³ It concluded that Corticosteroid injections were effective at giving short-term pain relief. However, it was not effective at giving long-term relief and functionality, compared to manual natural therapy methods. The study even suggested that the injection was detrimental to the long-term recovery from Lateral Epicondylitis. Similar findings were reported from another recent study, looking at pain relief.⁴

The debate will continue over exactly the best method, but if you are suffering with tennis elbow it is worth thinking about whether you would prefer short-term relief or a long-term solution.

1. http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/epicondylitis.html  

2. http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/elbow-pain/tennis-elbow 

3. Snyder K.R., Evans T.A. Effectiveness of Corticosteroids in the treatment of Lateral       Epicondylosis. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 2012;21:83-88

4. Coombes B.K., Bisset L., Vicenzino B. Efficacy and safety of corticosteroid injections and    other injections for management of tendinopathy: a systematic review of randomised cantrolled  trials. Lancet 2010;376 (9754):1751-1767

Love being pampered? Love rugby? The Spine & Wellness Centre in association with Hitchin RFC presents:

Pamper Evening in support of the Hitchin RFC charitable fund! Join us on Friday the 2nd of March 2012 from 7:30pm onwards at Hitchin Rugby Club for:

• Posture checks
• Massage
• Reflexology
• Pilates
• Reiki
• Forever Living Aloe Vera products
• Many more to be confirmed!

Please contact us on 01438 355522 / 07534620332 or info@spineandwellness.co.uk for tickets and more information 

There have been several factors named within the literature as risk factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries. These include landing and pivoting, sudden deceleration, individuals with reduced knee flexion and certain hormonal influences.¹ ACL injuries also occur far more prevalently in females than males.

A recent study investigated the relationship between postural control on one leg and landing mechanics in twenty four healthy women.² The women dropped from a hang bar down on to one leg and kinematic data was collected. Postural control was measured by single-leg standing on a force platform. The results showed that the subjects with reduced postural control had much greater abduction movement at their knees and a more extended hip upon single-leg landing. Both of these movements have been cited as risk factors for non-contact ACL injuries.

This study helps to show that injury risk for certain injuries can be reduced by strengthening and stabilising certain "weak areas" of the body. 

¹ Papoutsidakis, A. Predisposing factors for anterior cruciate ligament injury. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2011;45:e2

² Durall, C.J.,  Kernozek, T.W., Kersten, M., et al. Associations between single-leg postural control and drop-landing mechanics in helathy women. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 2011;20(4):406-418

We are delighted to announce that The Spine & Wellness Centre is now the official sponsor for the Hitchin Ladies rugby team! The Hitchin Ladies team won 'Team of The Year' at The Comet Sports Awards last season and are one of the rising teams of Hertfordshire. 

We are very excited to have the opportunity to work closely with the team and with the rest of Hitchin rugby club and we will be making regular trips to the club as well as watching Jessica perform her pitchside duties for the Ladies!

If you are a member or an associate of Hitchin RFC and would like to know more details about this new partnership or the special discounts that we will be offering, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@spineandwellness.co.uk 

Why not give somebody you love the gift of health this Christmas? We have vouchers available now in £5, £10 and £15 and these are valid for all services and treatments. You could give somebody a relaxing massage, a comprehensive spinal examination, a sports injury rehabilitation session or even a biomechanical assessment as just a few examples!

Please contact us info@spineandwellness.co.uk or on 07534620332 for more details  

A six week hip strengthening regime effectively reduced anterior knee pain in female runners, in a study carried out at Indiana University. Anterior knee pain, or Patellofemoral pain, is often multi-factorial in its onset but has been strongly linked to both foot and hip abnormalities. Suffers will typically feel pain during running, which gets progressively worse until ceasing activity. The effect of this in the long-term is the possibility of cartilage being worn away, in a similar manner to osteoarthritis.

The strengthening programme consisted of two weekly sessions, lasting around thirty minutes a time, and included exercises performed with resistance bands and single-leg squats. During the experiment period, the participants continued their normal running schedule and improvement was measured subjectively by their feelings of pain and hip strength. All of the participants began the study with a pain score of 7/10 and above (this represented strong pain that would normally stop them from continuing with their run). By the end of the six week hip strengthening period, all of the runners reported pain levels of 2/10 and lower.

Although the study group was small, the findings show a very positive correlation between improving hip strengthening and the reduction of knee pain. This is most likely due to the increased strength in the hips correcting running form errors.

(Indiana University [2010, June 5). Hip exercises found effective at reducing, eliminating common knee pain in runners, study suggests.) 

There have been suggestions, in previous research, that walking backwards regularly has an improvement on balance and motor control. The most recent study looking at this was performed in healthy young boys, and consisted of balance being measured before, during and after a 12-week backwards walking training programme. The balance of the experimental group, as measured by a Biodex Stability System, was better than that of the control group after 8 weeks of the training. The study concluded that backward walking can improve balance in children, which could help with the prevention of falls. More research is needed into whether these positive effects apply to the adult population.

Hao W-Y, Chen Y. Backwards walking training improves balance in school-aged boys. Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation, Therapy & Technology. 2011;3:24

A recent study showed that people that had been suffering from anterior knee pain, for a period of time greater than six weeks, showed improvements from their symptoms with the use of in-shoe foot orthoses.

The study, which was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, looked at the effects of orthotics in both genders and found significant improvement in both pain and function within the test group compared with the control group.

The study concluded that orthoses provide greater improvements in anterior knee pain than a 'wait and see' approach.

(Mills K., Blanch P., Dev P., et al. A randomised control trial of short term efficy of in-shoe foot orthoses compared with a wait and see policy for anterior knee pain and the role of foot mobility. British Journal of Sports Medicine doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090204)

If you are interested in how orthotics can help you, please feel free to contact us