A friend of mine, a very good golfer, has a lot of lower back pain (facet joints) as a result of playing and training a lot.
Manual therapy increases the symptoms. Is treatment on a traction table a possible solution?
Mark Chen, Physiotherapist:
Thank you for your question.
I personally do not consider a traction table as a ‘solution’. It can, however, provide a good relief of the discomfort and can therefore help as a way to start the recovery.
Traction works by relieving pressure on the facet joints. It ‘pulls’ the vertebrae ‘apart’ and gives space, so to say.
This can certainly provide some relief, once it has been determined that pressure, or ‘compression’, plays a significant role in causing the symptoms.
So it’s mainly a matter of trying. If there is no clear change in symptoms after 3-4 times, I would consider another method. It’s also worth noting, that it is fairly easy to create traction on the lower back yourself. For example, you can hang on a horizontal bar or use a Gym ball and lie down on it face down.
With both methods it is important that you fully relax the muscles.
Finally, I would advise him to have a good look at the mobility of the spine. Golf is, after all, a fairly one-sided sport that therefore loads the body (and especially the hips and spine) in an unbalanced way. With a view to the long duration, it is certainly advisable to follow an exercise program that keeps and maintains a muscular balance on the spinal system through flexibility and stability training.
I can help with that via online guidance, but there are of course plenty of Physiotherapists / Personal trainers who can help with that!
Hopefully this will help your friend!
Physio-Fitness is a way for you to work on your physical discomfort or injury under supervision of a professional .
After a personal consultation and assessment , the therapist will design and instruct a corrective exercise program for you.
During the Physio-Fitness classes, you will be able to exercise and get instant feed-back and answers to your questions.
This class is perfect for:
- Posture correction (anybody with an office job)
- (chronic) Low back/ hip / shoulder pain
- When you have tried any sort of therapy except training
- When you find it difficult to create the time to do your exercises at home
- If you want to get started with fitness, but have some weak points to work on
Currently, the class is on Monday 12- 1 PM. - Please note the maximum attendance is 4 pax per class (currently 3 attendees)
- if you don’t require the full hour, coming in late or leaving early is fine
- Class is only available when you have a program designed for you
- Monthly Fee (1x pw basis) 60$
- Drop- in 20$
You can go here to make an appointment for a (free) Assessment
Question:
“Hey,
My name is Priscilla and I am 26 years old.
I recently discovered that I have hypermobility syndrome.
And my question was what are the best exercises to keep up with my body?
Because you are told and that’s it.
I don’t know how ,what ,where from now.
How can I best keep track of my body, what is best to do, how to prevent things, what resources are helpful to me in daily life?
I really hope you can answer me
Sincerely,
Priscilla”
Answer:
Mark Chen,
Physiotherapist / Personal Trainer / Nutritionist
“Hi Priscilla
A very good question and coincidentally one that I recently encountered.
This lady had been complaining about hypermobility for more than 10 years, even while she had followed the advice she had received.
“Do not train too heavily, but focus on low-stressing exercises such as swimming and yoga”.
She particularly enjoyed Yoga, but it had no positive effects on her symptoms.
For me, that is a lot less surprising than for her for a very simple reason. Hypermobility means increased mobility of the muscles and joints. In those cases, flexibility is the problem!
Then why would you focus on Yoga, which is specifically designed to increase mobility?
I advised her to (completely) stop Yoga for the time being and fully focus on stability. As soon as she can support her own body in the right way, it is time to carefully start Yoga again.
She followed a strength/stability schedule for 12 weeks with a strong focus on gymnastics and is now completely free of pain for the first time in 10 years. So this is very possible with the right approach.
Of course, that is where the challenge lies, and you will have to find someone who can guide you through this. If there is nobody around you who can do that, then the new video guidance I offer might be something for you!”
Good luck,
I just had a procedure done ( a herniated disc between the sixth and seventh vertebrae.) The bulge has been removed at the back of the neck. I had nerve failure in my left arm because the nerve was blocked by the herniation. Now I have one problem: I walked an hour two or three times a week, but according to the GP that is not so good for my neck, because I have osteoarthritis between my sixth and sixth cervical vertebrae (strongly narrowed intervertebral space with slight disc herniation and the other neck vertebrae have a small disc protrusion).
My question now is, whether it is wise to buy a cross trainer and keep my fitness level, or are other sports suitable? I mainly did fat burning and endurance. I am 50 years old and still want to be active.
-Christine
Mark Chen, Physiotherapist
I think it is certainly a good idea to keep the condition maintained with a cross trainer. I would also put the advice of the GP to the test. The idea that osteoarthritis should be a reason to be careful is very old-fashioned.
Recent scientific research has tested the causal relationship between abnormal findings and pain by allowing people without symptoms to take an MRI scan. These studies show that there is a huge percentage of deviations that in these cases are totally unpaired with pain or discomfort. For example, for a disc protrusion or a “bulging” as you describe, 87 percent. For degenerative changes of the discus, such as dehydration / narrowing, as many as 96 percent of the older population. This group, please note, does not experience any complaints.
This should be a reassurance. The findings in your neck are normal, and not necessarily responsible for any complaints. Of course, from my position, I can not determine whether there is actually a connection!
My advice would be to find a passionate sports physiotherapist who can help with this process. The neck must be tested calmly to see what is and is not possible!
That way you will probably be surprised at what is possible. The idea to reduce a basic activity such as walking at such a young age (provided there is a good reason for this) does not seem sensible to me.
I hope this helps!
What’s up #KetoCorporal.
Here’s a new assignment: Breakfast options.
Goal:
Prepare a Ketobreakfast and come up with 3 other options for the week
What to make:
This is an all-time favorite when it comes to Keto breakfasts. And what’s not to love?
We’ve got eggs, bacon, tomatoes, and maybe a bit of cheese thrown in?
Delicious.
The site I’ve directed you to is awesome because it’s like a google specifically for Keto Meals. Just note what the main ingredients to a dish should be, click “keto only” and BOOM. Plenty of options.
What to do : Use the link provided to come up with 3 meals to make over the week.
Show me your commitment and inspire me by posting your favorite recipe on the page here
Goal:
Make yourself a batch of Bulletproof Keto Coffee and start the day right
Why:
This delicious coffee packs a meal-worthy 300 calories and combines the power of caffeine with healthy brain-assisting fats and vitamins from the grass-fed butter
How:
- brew a strong black coffee
- Put 2 tablespoons of Grassfed butter in a blender
- add 1 tablespoon of MCT oil (I use coconut oil)
- Pour coffee in
- Blend until thick and cream
- Enjoy!
Additional Assignment:
Start burning some fat on a cardio machine of choice and watch this video
Show me your commitment by posting 1 thing you’ve learned from the video on the Facebook Page with the tag #KetoCoffee
Ready for the next Challenge? Click here
Hi there #KetoCorporal .
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably come from step two of the Keto Diet Guide.
*If not, please go here first. It’s important before moving on.
Shopping Assignment “Preparation is key”
Goal: Making sure you have the right foods to eat
The Why:
If you only have Ketogenic foods, chances of you reaching out to something out of habit, or “not having anything Keto” is extremely diminished.
What do to:
Go Shopping! Use the list below to get enough foods for the entire week. Don’t worry about recipes too much yet. As long as you have the right items, we’re good.
I’d say the following are eggssential 😉
- eggs
- bacon
- ham
- cheese
- milk
- full fat cream
- lettuce
- broccoli
- garlic
- onion
- cooking cream
- butter (grass fed)
- tomatoes
- almonds
Let me know what you bought with a photo of your bought items on the Facebook Page
By the way, have you checked out the Patreon Page? There are Daily workout challenges over there for just 1$ per month, while supporting a person in need. Come check it out
And when you’re ready to move on and learn about how to make your morning coffee Keto and awesome, click here
“I am 64 years old and heard a ‘crack’ in my knee when my upper body turned to the left. My knee stopped and locked. I’m worried that I may have torn my meniscus, or maybe my cruciate ligament. I read on the internet that surgery is not done beyond a certain age. Is this correct? Which exercises do you recommend to have my thigh muscles take over the function of the cruciate ligament?”
The diagnosis has not yet been made, this is based on my own assumption. I lead a quiet life without sport, but I do cycle.
What should I do with a torn meniscus? My outer meniscus was removed forty years ago.”
Sent by: Ineke
Mark Chen, Physiotherapist:
Whether or not the operation is done depends more on the general health and functioning of the knee rather than on age. In order to know this for sure, you could briefly consult with the GP or the orthopedic surgeon, or who would be the designated person to perform any procedure.
You indicate that the diagnosis has not yet been made. It seems like a good idea to at least have the knee examined by a specialist and have the cruciate ligament tested. If they turn out positive then there is a considerable chance that there is actually a tear. In the case of a “crack” or a hairline tear, an intervention is probably not necessary.
The cruciate ligaments are mainly needed for fast movements and when we change direction. Think for example of tennis or football. When cycling and walking cover the largest part of your exercise activities, there is a big chance that you can continue to function completely without problems, even without a cruciate ligament.
I recommend visiting the physiotherapist to at least have the knee examined. He/she can immediately give exercises to strengthen the knee if necessary.
I hope this helps!
Ps. we have a team of experts that can help out with almost any questions related to health and fitness. Have a question? Send it in!
https://www.gezondheidsnet.nl/experts
I have lost cartilage in my knee and a little bit in the hips, can I still do spinning? I’ve been doing it for years.
-Diny
Mark Chen, physiotherapist
The advantage of spinning is that it is not a weight-bearing activity (except the standing parts , of course). That makes it a ‘safer’ option than, for example, running, in which your knees and hips have to endure huge impact for miles. So if you look at it purely from a mechanical perspective, no problem at all.
You indicate that you have been doing spinning for years.
Could it be that the amount of years and intensity have contributed to the amount of wear?
Ultimately, spinning is a very one-dimensional and repetitive form of sport. Do you clearly have more issues immediately after spinning, or the morning after? In that case you can question how beneficial spinning is for your body.
I am personally in favor of variety, not only because I like to do different things myself but also not to stress my body too much in one way. I also recommend this to the majority of my clients. Ask yourself the above questions and if spinning does indeed cause issues to you, then consider reducing or varying with a different sport.
Mark Chen
Physiotherapist / Personal Trainer / Nutritionist