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

Time and Muscle Degeneration

Ageing is associated with decreases in both muscle bulk and strength, varying with different muscles in the body and with which side is the dominant one. The loss of the capacity of muscle is greater in men than in women and also in people who are less active physically. Hormone changes, reduced rates of protein production and poor dietary intake can all contribute. Physiotherapists can reverse this process by instituting a resisted exercise programme at the higher intensity level. Older people can respond to muscle training although older muscles do react less strongly to stimulation and take longer to recover and strengthen after exercise sessions.

Older muscles also suffer from a variety of other changes: a reduction in the ability to use energy to produce force; an increase in the fibrous tissue content which can increase stiffness. Along with the reduction in the ability to know where the joints are at any one moment the elderly suffer from slower reactions and poorer muscle control, with weaker and more easily tired muscles. This can lead in very elderly people to a loss of independence and increasing frailty. Perhaps because of its good blood supply, muscle is mostly able to regenerate itself and remain strong.

The Development of Chronic Neck Pain

Long term neck pain and disability is a difficult and perplexing problem, leading to high degrees of pain, suffering and loss of function in some patients. There are a serious of beliefs which may go with a higher risk of developing chronic pain after neck injury such as: the belief that the pain is due to a serious injury or tissue damage; resisting reassurance; equating hurt with harm and believing the pain will lead to disability; avoiding activities and movement due to the fear of damage; resting and remaining inactive whilst waiting for the pain to settle; expecting someone to cure the pain rather than taking on the responsibility oneself; withdrawing from social contact and becoming depressed.

These tendencies are referred to as .yellow flags. and predict to some extent the likelihood the person will suffer work loss and disability from their pain condition. These problems may develop steadily and without the person being aware of them, so they need identifying and dealing with as soon as possible. If a person is off work for a month with their neck pain then there is a risk of developing long term problems and a ten percent chance of still being off in a year.