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Osteopaths in Sussex, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill
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Don’t stop now if you want to keep going

Here’s the second blog from osteopath Adam Wilson in his series on managing the aches and pains that can creep on when we’re past out prime!

It might sound counter intuitive but if you’ve suffered some sort of injury, it’s often better to keep moving than to stop and rest, especially if you’re a little bit older. But the real fast track to recovery is to keep moving but not overdo it and set yourself back, so here’s our quick guide to getting it right.

 

Ignore advice!

When you suffer an injury, people often advise you to ‘get some rest’. But while taking the weight off or not using the area might relieve the pain in the short term, it also stops you from being able to do your other day-to-day activities. Unfortunately as the body heals more slowly as we get older, what might have just involved a week of rest in your 20’s could be 2 or even 3 weeks if you’re in your 60’s, too long if you want to keep fit and active.

What’s worse is that even in 2 or 3 weeks, it’s possible to lose a noticeable amount of muscle strength, which means when you return to your normal level of activity, you may not have the ability to work or play as hard as you used to.

 

Doing nothing is a vicious circle

Lack of exercise also quite often leads to reduced energy levels. Quite simply, as you aren’t doing as much, the body adapts to not using as much energy which can leave you feeling tired, and not up to what you used to do. Not to mention the frustration of not being able to do the gardening, go for a walk or play golf or other sports, which can all make “rest” seem a bit of a bore.

 

But why move?

Why is moving good for an injury? Well (and yes, here comes the science bit), all the fibres in your muscles and ligaments run along the direction of stress or work that the tissue does. When you rest, this stress is not present, so any new tissues that are being laid down as repair do not have the forces needed to align them properly. As a result, sometimes the new tissue is not as strong as it could be: the fibres are all over the place, and some run across the lines of stress and not with them. By using the tissues as they repair, these fibres are aligned correctly. In other words, it’s a better and stronger repair.

Movement also encourages blood flow. Think of muscles as a sponge in water: if you squeeze it, the water comes out, then when you let go more water flows in. Blood is pumped through more quickly when you exercise and it’s the blood that carries all the oxygen and nutrients that tissues need to grow and repair. It also maintains that muscle strength, which may otherwise be lost.

Finally, moving can also help you achieve small targets on your journey to recovery. If walking is problematic, aim to build up from a few steps to walking for a few minutes. Stairs causing issues? Start with a couple and then aim for the whole staircase. It gives you a measurable indicator of your recovery which can motivate you, and can also stop you from being stuck at home.

 

But don’t over do it

The important thing to remember is that pain is the body’s indication that something is wrong, so all activity should be done without pain. Be careful not to push things too far too early and don’t let a moderate improvement persuade you in to returning to your everyday life and routines. More often than not, this will cause things to take a turn for the worse. The best way to recover is by gradually increasing your activity. If you used to swim 20 lengths easily, aim to start with 5 and see how it feels. If it causes no problems, increasing by 2 lengths each time is better than jumping straight back to 20! Listen to your body and work with it, not against it.

 

Keep going

The good news is that by making these fairly small adjustments to how you do things, most activities can be carried on to a decent level. But remember, if you are still struggling with pain or are still not sure how to manage an injury, just get in touch. We can provide you with treatments to ease the discomfort and talk you through exercise regimes to help you back to recovery and prevent it from happening again. We’ll make sure we work at your pace, and you’ll enjoy visible  improvement throughout the process.

 

You’re too young to stop moving!

Call Adam Wilson today to arrange your free 15 minute consultation

Or get moving and book your appointment.

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  • “I went to see Adam after my Chiropractor closed her clinic to raise her family. After an initial chat I realised that Adam would be able to carry on where my excellent chiropractor had left off. His treatment has helped me enormously & his methods & personality work well for me. Highly recommended.”

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  • “Adam, has for the past two years, kept me fully functional and prepared for each American Football game throughout the summer then Rugby match throughout the winter. I had a previous shoulder injury which I was assured would need surgery, however, 5 session later Adam had it sorted. Cannot praise higher! Thank you!”

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  • “Following major orthopaedic surgery I was recommended to see Adam by my case manager. I was impressed with his professional ability and considerate attitude which gave me the confidence to entrust him with my health care and rehabilitation. Adam did a great job in helping speed my recovery and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone in similar circumstances.”

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    Sugworth Farmhouse
  • Suffering as I do from fibromyalgia/CFS and suspected rheumatoid arthritis, health professionals are an important part of the battle in dealing with my varied symptoms! I have tried several osteopaths over the years but then I found Adam. He is a highly skilled and intuitive osteopath and also has that rare thing: excellent interpersonal skills – important since I also have Asperger’s Syndrome (a high IQ type of autism). If you have these kind of conditions and/or have a stressful job as I do – Adam’s your man! Once he’s treated your back, you feel taller and like the world doesn’t weigh so heavy on your head and shoulders. Just go see him. Now.

    Didi Barnes
    Chief of Business Operations, First Base Technologies
  • Adam has been treating me for whiplash injuries. A few days before I was due to underake a long drive, my neck and back began to lock up. The day before the drive, my neck became almost unmoveable. I went to see Adam who saw me during his afternoon break as he was fully booked for the rest of the day. In this short space of time, he got my neck and back mobile again and I was able to make the long drive north the next day. This is the kind of caring and understanding attitude that Adam shows to his patients which is very reassuring when you need his expert help.

    Mr G Alder
  • I came to see Adam about 3 months ago as I sustained a whiplash injury several years ago and found that Physio had not given me the improvement I was looking for. I saw an almost immediate improvement and after just a couple of sessions noticed that my pain and discomfort had almost entirely subsided. Adam knew how to treat my injury and is a friendly and informative guy. I would recomend him to my friends and family.

    Keith
    I.T. Consultant
  • I have old sports injuries that were producing me pain and discomfort, affecting my quality of life, despite having been treated by several specilists. When I tried Mid Sussex Osteopaths, Adam was able to identify and treat the source of my problems, already producing a great improvement after the initial session, and it has only got better afterwards. In addition, he has been happy to accomodate my stringent working and travelling schedule by offering early morning and late evening sessions that made possible for me to continue the treatment, which has made a big difference in my wellbeing. Definitively recommed it to anyone!

    Mr A Herraiz
  • Adam Fiske has always been very professional and is a very likable person. He has been treating my poor back for a few years now and I must say how happy I have been with the treatments. He knows exactly what’s needed and has relieved me of some awful pain and is always happy to provide sound advice. I would recommend Adam to anyone in need of an Osteopath.

    Mrs C Chilmaid
  • We run a successful martial arts club and have used Mid Sussex Osteopaths for some time now and we have been exceptionally impressed with the professionalism in which Adam both diagnoses and treats any niggles we may have. Even though we have approached him with such a variety of problems, he has been able to get us back on our feet quickly, resolving any issues we may have – which is vital in our business. We would quite happily recommend Adam at Mid Sussex Osteopaths to anyone and everyone that requires treatment.

    David & Ian
    Soo Bahk Do Martial Arts Club

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    Clover Court, Church Road
    Haywards Heath
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  • Breathe Easy!

  • Dreaming of a good sleep?

  • Working from home? Here’s how to keep it comfortable

  • Coronavirus update #2: we’re taking things online

  • Corona Virus Update

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