Sports Physiotherapy Established in 1989, ACTIVE VIII is a renowned Centre of Excellence for Sports Physiotherapy.

Sports physiotherapy combines the expertise of a Chartered Physiotherapist, with sports specific knowledge and the biomechanical approach of a sports scientist. Our Sports Physiotherapists have undertaken additional qualifications to achieve this level. This includes some of the highest qualifications obtainable, such MSc or Post-Graduate Diplomas inSports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy, BSc in Remedial Science and Biomechanics, Diplomas in Injection Therapy (for pain relief), Sports Science, Sports Podiatry and diplomas in Sports Emergency Medicine, First-Aid and Pitch-Side trauma management (recognised standard for Olympic level). Why come to Active VIII ? "Elite Sports Physiotherapy Centre established 1989

Sports injuries - Olympic to recreational level Top 15% of UK physiotherapy practices Accredited Practice Fast track diagnosis of your sports injury Fast track treatment, rehabilitation and preventative care for all your musculo-skeletal problems

Specialist Services:

Sports Physiotherapy all musculoskeletal therapies including manipulation Sports & Therapeutic Massage Rehabilitation and return to Olympic or recreational level Acupuncture & Electrotherapy for pain relief

Joint and Soft tissue injections for pain relief Sports Biomechanical Solutions and Podology analysis and bespoke management of your injuries Prescription insoles, orthotics, braces Cybex Isokinetic analysis of muscle strength/power Measurement of cardio-vascular fitness, speed and agility Hydrotherapy and aquatherapy to advanced level Sports Pilates - Dynamic Reflexology Nutrition advice

Get Active Call ACTIVE VIII. A safe pair of hands Active VII has elite Sports Physiotherapists at Olympic, GB, England and/or Club level. They have been involved with a number of sports teams and individuals. They are, or have been involved with GB rowing, hockey, triathletes, lacrosse, motorcross, cycling, skiers, England Students Rugby and so on. Many of our physiotherapists have attended Olympic, GB, World, European, International or National sporting events. Sports Physiotherapy is concerned with the early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of musculo-skeletal injuries. The treatment goal is to rehabilitate the injury as quickly as possible and ensure an early return to functional activity or sport. Sports physiotherapy also has a role in the prevention of injury. We receive referrals from the British Olympic Association and English Institute of Sport, Sports coaches and Consultant Orthopaedic surgeons for the biomechanical assessment of sports injuries. Many Olympic and GB athletes recommend us. They include for example - Olympic Rowers - Sarah Winkless, GB Triathletes - Jeremy Laming, National legend, Downhill Mountain Biker -Rob Warner, former Olympic Hockey player -Tammy Miller, England students Rugby players, GB Skiers and so on. We

also receive referrals from GB and England doctors, sports coaches and physiotherapists. Our centre offers a wide range of specialist services and facilities to suit the needs of sports men and women with levels of sports participation ranging from recreational to the elite athlete. Active VIIIs philosophy is to systematically look at the cause of your injury, clinically diagnosis your problem, provide you with immediate treatment and rehabilitation to alleviate your symptoms, improve your performance and to reduce injury risk and rate by improving how you move. Regardless of your sport we know that improved movement control, balance, strength power, endurance, speed and coordination will lead to improved performance. We have the very best diagnostic and therapeutic systems at our disposal to help in this process. This includes: 1. Biomechanical analysis laboratory Motion capture and motion analysis systems and force plate analysis 2. Gait and Posture analysis systems 3. Diagnostic Ultrasound to assist our diagnosis 4. Cybex Isokinetic analysis and rehabilitation of muscle strength, power and endurance 5. Concept2 Rowing and Taxc Bushido Bike ergometers with diagnostic programmes. 6. EMG Muscle performance analysis during sports activity and biofeedback systems We have also developed a range of tests and movement screens which are specific to each sport or injury so that we can target the cause of your problems. Even for the most demanding of athletes, our highly specialised and elite sports physiotherapists can provide you with fast track resolution of your injuries.

Physiotherapists also advise on appropriate sporting and everyday equipment, providing protection, supports, splints and appliances for optimal performance and safety. ACTIVE VIII has an extensive range of supports for the wrist, elbow, back and knee including splints and braces, in addition to Kinesio taping for pain relief and competition. Also available are off-the-shelf orthotics and shoe insoles for sport and every day wear.

What is sports injury physiotherapy? I bet you're thinking massage... ...you wouldn't be alone, and yes there is massage involved. But it's only a small part of the therapist's job. Well it's probably one of the few things that is totallydown to the therapist. Other forms of treatment include: Research based exercises Click here to see easy physiotherapy exercises for pain in your foot, knee, back, shoulder or neck. Joint manipulation and taping Heat therapy and cryotherapy (cold therapy) Electrotherapy Hydrotherapy Ultrasound Click here to see what these physiotherapy treatments can do for you.

Treatment obviously comes after your medical history is taken and the initial assessment by the physio. This will pinpoint the exact injury and then he/she will plan your sports injury physiotherapy treatment with you.

When do you need sports injury physiotherapy? Sports injuries can be classed as: Acute - injury that occurs rapidly, usually unforeseen. Such as a broken leg from a bad football tackle. Severe acute injuries tend to need medical attention first. Your doctor will advise on whether and when you need to see a physio. Minor acute injuries may not trouble you as much but they are just as dangerous if untreated. For muscle injuries definitely use R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) immediately. If there is no improvement after 1 to 2 days I would recommend medical attention. For ligaments and suspected fractures it's not worth the risk waiting to get an x-ray. Chronic - injury that occurs over time and/or is recurrent. Usually caused by poor technique or overuse of a specific action. In recurrent injuries the culprit is usually a premature return to action. For all chronic injuries I would suggest seeing a physio as soon as you start to feel discomfort. Don't ignore pain. It's best to isolate the cause early to prevent further serious injury. Click here to see the top ten injuries in sport and how to prevent them.

This is a team effort. You, your physiotherapist and other healthcare professionals all work together to get you recovered as soon as physically possible. Well that's the idea anyway. It doesn't always work like that. It didn't for me, not at first. Over the years I've been treated by many physios, mainly for a recurring knee injury. The very first physio was ok. The sports injury physiotherapy treatment was standard but nothing more. I didn't know exactly what the idea of a physio was at that time. I expected him to do all the work for me. Magically make me better. How wrong was I?! My mind frame was totally wrong. The end product was that 8 months later that same injury occurred. Mainly because I hadn't built up the thigh muscles surrounding my knee fully enough to get back into sport. I had definitely learnt my lesson. But by then I was on a downward spiral mentally and physically. I don't want you to make the same mistake with your sports injury physiotherapy.

Mental attitude towards injury.. After the injury recurred, I had almost given up hope. I was recommended for knee surgery and knew it would be a further year before I was back into sport. I was devastated.

Being told I risk being wheelchair bound if I did the injury again was not easy to take. I was advised not to play football (soccer) again. Bummer hey? Well of course yes it was! And I'm sure many athletes have felt that pain. It will tear even the hardest of hard down. It's a natural reaction to something you love. Something you base your life around. BUT..that's just it, it's natural to react like that. No matter how strong, how fit, how careful you are, it's one of those things. If you are a true athlete, and you play hard every game, give it your all, at some point you are bound to face an injury. But we wouldn't have it any other way, would we? It's in our blood to give our all for something we love. This is what I came to terms with. With advice from coaches, family, friends and subsequent other physiotherapists. I grew a bond with each physio because I had sorted my mind out. And that was the major factor in my recovery from the operation. Belief is a powerful tool. With belief you have hope, and with hope you can achieve anything. My best advice is if you are stuck in a "no hope" rut, then go and talk to someone detached from sport and that you are comfortable talking to. It's a wonder how people with different priorities to you, have a way of setting you straight.

Surprisingly, realising that yes there are other things out there in the World, can help you focus on the one thing you really love, sport. And then you can really get down to the rehab with your sports injury physiotherapy. Click here for more advice on coping with sports injury.

Sports and Soft Tissue Injuries Soft tissue injuries include tendon, muscle and ligaments. Most sports injuries are in fact damaged soft tissue of the body. Soft tissue therapy aims to promote and assist the healing process by increasing blood flow, reduce swelling and pain, and decreasing the formation of scar tissue. This will provide better long term results for your injury. This type of treatment can be implemented in many ways. Our physiotherapists have extensive knowledge of the different types of sports, its biomechanics, the most common type of injuries, and their effective treatment. At Campbelltown Physiotherapy, we are also equipped with the latest of electrotherapy for the best promotion of healing of soft tissue. The Chattanooga Advanced Intellect has many protocols for many types of soft tissue injuries. Some of its modules include; Ultrasound: deep and superficial Pain control: acute to chronic Oedema control Muscle strengthening

Physiotherapy Centre can provide:

Treatment for pain relief and to reduce swelling Strapping and joint supports Specialist expertise in orthotics and advice about footwear Sports massage Exercises to restore movement and strength

For immediate treatment of simple sports injuries, i.e. strains or sprains, the best method is R.I.C.E. R.I.C.E is an acronym for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Used in the first 48 hours, these can help relieve your symptoms and prevent long term damage. Rest Stop doing the activity that has caused your sports injury, even for a short time. Rest will promote healing and prevent further injury. Build up your routine gradually after an injury to prevent a relapse or permanent damage. Ice Apply ice therapy to the effected area for about 10 minutes/6 times a day. This can be reduced to twice a day when condition improves. This will help with any inflammation or swelling and should reduce pain in the area. Never apply ice directly to the skin, wrap in a towel to prevent ice burn. Compression Applying a brace or strapping to the effected joint will give support and reduce range of movement giving the joint time to heal. It will also help to reduce swelling. However, if you find that the bandage becomes too tight or the joint is throbbing, remove it immediately. If you want to reapply strapping, do so but make sure its looser.

Elevation This will help reduce swelling to the area. A good rule of thumb is to elevate the effected area higher than your heart if possible. You should see some improvement in your condition within the first 48 hours. You can use this method in conjunction with analgesics and anti-inflammatory medication. If symptoms persist longer or condition worsens, please see your G.P or local physiotherapist for advice and treatment of your sports injury.

The physiotherapist is the first port of call for sporting injuries. For example in premiership football you will see the physio straight on the pitch when a serious sporting injury is recognised. When Eduardo Da Silva, playing for Arsenal in February 2008, had a fractured dislocation of the left ankle joint including the fibula bone there was a physio that gave 8 minutes of treatment before he was stretchered off. Ann Clare as a chartered physiotherapist has been trained to assess and diagnose sporting injuries. Ann Clare has a wealth of experience, firstly in the NHS treating patients for rehabilitation. Classes were taken for patients out of plater for the type of injuries Eduardo had. Injury is the result of the application to the body or part of the body of forces which exceed the body's ability to adjust to them. These forces may be applied instantaneously or over a considerable period. Injury in sport by J.G.P. Williams

As a physiotherapist we treat patients after surgery to begin their early recovery. For example arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament repair and fracture dislocations of bones and joints.

R.I.C.E.S. for the immediate care of acute traumatic injuries. Rest diminishes inflammation as soon as the inflammation starts. Instantly in an injury inflammation is the first physiological response. Inflammation itself can cause a lot of pain and slows recovery. The ice effect is anti-inflammatory, it slows the blood flow down to begin with and then the response is opening the blood flow to take away pain. Ice ,makes swelling go or stops it forming and is known as cold and compression therapy.

Compression by bandage, taping, strapping and splinting, the firm application gives comfort. Elevation for the

ankle and for the knee rests that part of the body, there is no weight through the injury and allows the body to repair itself.

When used properly R.I.C.E.S. reduces the total amount of damaged tissue, swelling, muscle spasm and pain. Thus reducing disability time and allowing for quicker healing of the injury.

Ice packs made of gel, ice crushed in damp lint, cold compresses/limbs wrapped in cold towels, ice blocks from a polystyrene cup, immersion in cold water (in and out of cold water) are all techniques for applying ice.

Immersion in hot water, then cold water then returning to hot water and back to the cold water can be used for reducing swelling (this is called contrast bath). hot and cold towels can be applied to areas such as the back. If any supports are required to aid recovery and rehabilitation Ann Clare advises and obtains them for the patient.

Jack ACL brace for anterior and posterior ligament injury

Just introduced to Great Britain is the Jack ACL brace for conservation and post operative treatment of ACL anterior and posterior ligament injury. The device controls the safe movement for the mechanics of the knee joint. It can be arranged to preserve the ACL ligament and PCL ligament.

Relief from pain and injury casued by impact shock

Clare house physiotherapy are trained to issue orthotics for footwear. We can help with gait correction and with insoles for footwear such as sorbothane based products.