Physiotherapists in Hassocks treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

Rest versus Activity for Neck Pain

In the past the recommended treatment for neck and low back pain was to rest flat on the back or wear a collar until the pain subsided, to allow the damaged structures to heal before going back to normal activity. More modern ideas, back by research work, recommend a day or so of rest if necessary, followed by a speedy return to normal as quickly as the condition allows. Long term resting may be the most counterproductive treatment as it has a serious of unfortunate side-effects: joints stiffen; fitness is lost; muscles lose strength; the pain can worsen; depression is common; it.s tough to get going again after.

Modern advice is that prolonged inactivity is unhelpful for pretty much any mechanical pain condition including neck pain. Patients should only rest if the pain forces them to, then get going again. The benefits of movement and activity are: increased muscle strength; maintains fitness; strengthens bones; maintains flexibility; releases the body.s natural feel good chemicals which lift mood. During episodes of neck pain it is still useful to do some exercises such as range of motion, general keep fit, tai chi or yoga and continue to pursue normal daily functional work.

Stretching and Tightness

We all have a genetically determined stretchiness or tightness to our connective tissues, the skin, tendons, ligaments and discs which are made up of collagen. It is partly the make up of collagen and partly the length of our tendons and ligaments which determine how bendy or tight we are. Mostly the length of our soft tissues is not very important as we are able to function normally with what we have got, but in some cases such as injury or pain conditions the tightness or laxness of our tissues can become an issue. In low back and neck pain syndromes certain structures can become tight and others slack, leading to imbalances in the muscular and joint systems.

Physiotherapists use stretching routinely to correct these imbalances and teach their patients very specific and controlled programmes. For stretching to be effective the action must be taken to the point of tightness, pushed a little further into the resistance and held for 15 seconds or more steadily. Bouncing should be avoided as this does not stretch well and can cause injury. Stretching should feel uncomfortable in the target tissues but not greatly painful and any discomfort should settle quickly once the stretch is removed.