John Hunter-Holmes, Author at Lucerne Clinic in Notting Hill Gate

Acute and chronic Knee pain

By John Hunter-Holmes24 September, 2015Uncategorized

We can all suffer from acute knee pain at any stage of our lives. If one plays sport this is often as a result of trauma, caused by collision in contact or a twisting movement following an abrupt change in direction.

Cartilage tears (meniscus, floating moon shaped pieces of cartilage that help cushion the knee joint), internal and external ligament strains are often the damaged tissue causing the pain. In middle age, the meniscus is more often than not the problem and can become damaged after excessive periods of time spent with a bent knee (gardening, DIY and activities when one is often bent down, such as dinghy sailing, skiing etc..).

MRI scans will quickly and efficiently reveal the damaged tissue. So what happens post diagnosis? Historically the go to treatment would be an arthroscopy (keyhole surgery performed with a small camera), the offending tear or loose body removed. This involves multiple visits to a GP, physio and then consultant if going through the NHS and long delays for hospital appointments and the subsequent risk associated with surgery.

Recent research has now discovered that meniscus tears are normal degenerative changes that occur within a knee, particularly in active individuals from approximately the age of 30 onwards. Therefore, unless there is a loose body floating around, causing irritation and as a result inflammation, then the meniscus should be left well alone. Removal and shaving of the meniscus can dramatically increase risk of early arthritis and pain resulting in poor knee function and cessation of any strenuous or sporting activity.

Conservative treatment including, RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation), a course of anti inflammatory medication (seek advice from a medical professional) manual therapy and appropriate exercise rehabilitation, will have one pain free and back to full function.

Please call or email us at www.lucerneclinic.co.uk ph 020 71682471 if you have any questions or would like to discuss your knee problem.

benefits of dry needling

By John Hunter-Holmes01 September, 2015Uncategorized

The benefits of dry needling can go beyond the treatment of myofascial pain, back pain and joint dysfunction. Although dry needling is a very effective way of treating trigger points and can substantially reduce pain when other techniques have failed, we have found that many people report other benefits. Beyond reduced pain and better function patients have reported improved energy levels, better appetite and sleep as well as an overall sense of enhanced well being.

By emailing us (info@lucerneclinic.co.uk), please let us know if you are a patient that has benefited from dry needling other than from reduced pain and better function.

Dry Needling and it’s effect on pain

By John Hunter-Holmes04 August, 2015Back Pain

We’ve started using dry needling at the Lucerne Clinic over the last few weeks. After only a few sessions we have already had some great results with patients presenting with many different problems, aches and pains.

Some of the best results have been with chronic, long term sufferers of pain. Dry needling can help kick start the local tissue repair process, by creating a local reaction, which re ignites the body’s self healing mechanism. Additionally the act of dry needling has an effect on the central nervous system and the areas where pain is processed in the brain.

Make an appointment at Lucerne Clinic Notting hill gate to have your pain pathways re booted!

Dry Needling and Back Pain

By John Hunter-Holmes20 July, 2015Back Pain, Lucerneclinic

Lucerne Clinic, Notting Hill Gate, will shortly be offering ‘Dry Needling’ as an additional technique to help relieve the pain patients present with.

What is Dry Needling?

Dry Needling involves multiple advances of a filament needle into the muscle in the region of a “Trigger Point’. The aim of Dry Needling is to achieve a local twitch response to release muscle tension and pain. Dry needling is an effective treatment for chronic pain of neuropathic origin with very few side effects.

What is a “trigger point”?

A myofascial “trigger point” is a hyperirritable point in skeletal muscle that is associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule, or “knot”. This area becomes painful at the site and can also “radiate” in predictable patterns.

Who can benefit from Dry Needling?

A variety of musculoskeletal problems including, but not limited to: Acute/Chronic injuries, Headaches, Neck/Back pain, Tendinitis, Muscle Spasms, “Sciatica”, Hip/Knee pain, Muscle strains, Fibromyalgia, “Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow”, PFPS,Overuse injuries, etc.

Posture tips to help back pain

By John Hunter-Holmes24 June, 2015Back Pain, Lucerneclinic

In the last couple of posts we discussed different types of posture and the effect bad posture can have on back pain. The Mayo clinic has a good guide to healthy posture and some easy tips on how to evaluate your posture at home. Please follow the link below for additional information.

If you’re unsure about how good your posture is and what would be the best exercises to maintain a healthy posture then why don’t you book an appointment at the Lucerne Clinic in Notting Hill Gate. Our Osteopaths have many years of experience in dealing with postural problem.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/multimedia/back-pain/sls-20076817?s=1

Back pain & posture

By John Hunter-Holmes15 June, 2015Back Pain, Lucerneclinic

It is unlikely that we will all go through life with a perfect posture, all of the time. As a result we may suffer from back pain at some point. It is far more likely that our posture will be somewhere, on a scale, away from perfect. The illustration above shows some common postures that we see at Lucerne Clinic. More often than not, we see a combination of the those depicted, such as a hollow back with a high hip or a flat pelvis and a head tilt. Any of these variations can cause back pain.

Postural variations are often defined as structural or functional. Structural implies that it is as a result of a structural change to the musculo skeletal system, this can be as a result of a genetic mutation, a birth defect or trauma.

Functional variations to posture can broadly be described as repetitive strains or muscle imbalances, that affect the musculoskeletal system. Functional variations often occur during childhood and youth, when the skeleton is still growing. Functional variations that are not addressed can, over a period of time, become structural.

Structural variations are irreversible, in extreme cases surgery can be sought. Osteopaths are very interested in the posture of children and youths because these are the ages at which we can diagnoses the stresses causing the variations. We can then treat and help rectify them.

Back pain & Primal Posture

By John Hunter-Holmes09 June, 2015Back Pain, Lucerneclinic

Back pain is likely to affect most of us living ‘western’ lifestyles at some point or another. For some people it is debilitating and will be a life long problem. How many such cases are down to posture? In parts of the world where humans still lead indigenous lives, back pain is virtually unheard of. Why?

Please find a link to an article by Esther Gokhale that we would to share with you. She discusses ‘Primal Posture’ and also includes some helpful tips to achieve better back posture.

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/06/08/412314701/lost-posture-why-indigenous-cultures-dont-have-back-pain

All the osteopaths based at the Lucerne Clinic in Notting Hill Gate are trained to assess posture. We can design a bespoke program to help you achieve a better posture and less back pain.