Case Study, 72 year old Ballroom Dancer. This is an interesting case of a lady who forgot her ballroom dancing hobby was also sport. She enjoys dancing so much that she doesn't think about her training load, diet preparation or recovery, because she's just having a good time! Her endurance levels for dancing are excellent - However, over several months, if not years, she has been having back spasms without ever thinking the dancing could be the cause. During our session, whilst I was treating her, we were discussing her safe return to dancing, as she was improving so well. I suggested the smoother dances first to warm up the body and the quicker Quickstep and Charleston type dances afterwards. Interestingly, this opposed how she and her partner normally danced. They would usually become excited by the faster jumpier dances and jump straight into it and take to the floor! After that, they would dance for hours with no rests! She also described an earlier breakfast to normal, before trav

Overtraining doesn’t just cause fatigue — it can directly contribute to trigger point formation and chronic myofascial pain. Signs Your Trigger Points Are From Overtraining Persistent tightness despite stretching Strength plateau or regression Deep aching pain (not sharp injury pain) Decreased explosive power Poor sleep + irritability Muscles feel “ropey” or hard Pain improves slightly with light movement but returns Rest does not resolve the problem. How Overtraining Creates Trigger Points When you train hard without enough recovery or you push yourself to go beyond your current ability eg - push to finish the race, climb to the summit of the mountain and back again despite being tired, your muscles will become fatigues and stay switched 'on' setting up the vicious cycle of trigger points: Muscle fibers stay contracted Repeated loading → tiny areas of sustained contraction, the muscles stays 'on' Reduced blood flow (local ischemia) Oxygen + nutrient delivery drops Waste products build

What Are Trigger Points? Trigger points are tight, sensitive knots in muscle fibers. A localised bundle of muscle fibres that are in a permanently switched on state. They do not relax even when you stop using the muscle. They can be associated with muscle spasm and leave the area vulnerable to further pain and injury. When pressed, they: Cause local tenderness May produce referred pain (pain felt in another area) Can restrict movement May cause muscle weakness or stiffness They feel like small hard nodules within a tight band of muscle. Trigger points cause local muscle tenderness but also pain referral patterns away from the muscle, eg down the leg giving symptoms of sciatic and leg pain or from the neck to cause headaches. Tight over active muscles can also compress nerves and compromise joint range of movement which in turn causes symptoms such as pins and needles, altered sensation or restricted joint range. What Causes Trigger Points? Trauma or injury: Trigger points can be the pr

https://youtu.be/8zDs38GDx9U?si=8nb7DfjmDRmwiXEy You can click on this link to view Jon Stead receive acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture Overview This information is intended to answer some of your questions about having acupuncture. Acupuncture involves putting fine needles into different parts of your body. This helps to stimulate or relax the body. There are different types of acupuncture: · Traditional Chinese medicine, which can be traced back as far as 1,000BC. This is based on the idea of energy flow or Qi. · Western acupuncture, which is based on the release of chemicals in the nervous system. Some of these chemicals can ease pain and encourage healing. This type of acupuncture also involves relaxing specific groups of muscles (trigger point acupuncture). Research supports the idea that acupuncture helps to manage pain. For this reason, your therapist may use acupuncture as part of your treatment plan. The information covers: · what acupuncture treatment involves · when acupuncture should not be used · when acupuncture should be used with caution · possible side effects of acupuncture · how many trea

TRAINING ADVICE - Getting fit for a race or any fitness goal is all about consistency, commitment, and smart training. Here are some steps to ensure you're ready to run the race or start training towards your goal: Assess Your Current Fitness Level: Understand where you stand currently. Assess your cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, and overall health. Have a bio-mechanical assessment with your physio to address any imbalances and promote strength and stability in the muscles needed for your sport. Ensure your foot wear is up to scratch and invest in some shoes that will support your foot mechanics, this can be checked by your physiotherapist and you may be advised use some orthotics or to see a podiatrist. Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve. Is it completing a specific race, improving your time, or simply getting healthier? Create a Training Plan: Develop a structured training plan tailored to your goals and fitness level. It should include a mix of cardiov