My Blog

National Press Coverage

03/05/2012 17:41:00

LD Sports Therapy was asked by national newspaper The Sun for expert guidance on the prevention and treatment of running injuries. Read Laura's article here:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/4167313/How-to-avoid-training-injuries.html

Article in Hemel Hempstead Gazette

02/05/2012 15:46:00

Write your post here.

First Day at London Location

01/17/2012 15:01:00

Yesterday was the first day in the London location for LD Sports Therapy. The clinic is finished to perfection and we have everything we need to provide sucessful injury rehabilitation and sports massage. LD Sports Therapy is only in London every Monday so book early to avoid disappointment, a lot of January is booked already.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Laura

www.lsetreatmentclinic.co.uk

07946 750265

PS: The newly refurbished building is so modern it has electronic fobs to get through each area including the clinic, I made it through day one with only one lock out resulting in grovelling to the practice manager to let me back in!

London Location Opens Next Week!

01/03/2012 17:23:00

I am delighted to be opening the London location of LD Sports Therapy next Monday! For more information and to book an appointment please visit:

www.lsetreatmentclinic.co.uk

Working With Hemel Storm

09/28/2011 17:18:00

This summer I took the decision to leave Tring Rugby club. I thoroughly enjoyed my year with them - seniors and juniors but after two and a half years working on a cold rugby touchline, its time to warm up, take a bit more time off for my own sport, and rejoin Hemel Storm Basketball team for a second season.

The 2011/2012 season has begun and in true Storm fashion, I'm currently working with approximately five out of fifteen players. Two are ruled out of training and matches completely as they recover from a serious ankle sprain and a suspected stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal. The other three are working through tight hamstrings, an irritated ITB and inflammation of the achilles tendon sheath.

This season I have two students on their third year placements with me at Storm so am looking forward to having two more pairs of hands around and doing some teaching. The reality of working with a sports team is often very different to what you are taught throughout your degree so I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences with the students.

Last Saturday at Hemel Sportspace, Storm took on Ipswich (and won), below are some pictures of the pre match work with the players.

Below I'm working with Rich Wellings who sprained his left ankle almost four weeks ago. Rich damaged the front two out of three ligaments on the outside of his ankle. He also damaged a muscle called peroneus brevis which runs down the outside of the ankle and foot. He has been completing a programme of rest and ice initially, then range of movement exercises, balance and strengthening. Rich is now at the "aggressive" stage of his rehab where we're constantly pushing him to the point of soreness to retrain the damaged soft tissue. Rich is expected to return to training next Tuesday with the possibility of some court time on the 9th October, providing he completes the fitness tests.

The next pictures are of Simon "Spud" Kearney having his hamstring and gluteal muscles loosened up pre game. Spud tore his left hamstring near the end of last season, he was under pressure to play the remaining few games and so undertook a fast track rehab programme which does carry a risk of re injury. Spud is currently still working on strengthening the muscle but suffers from tightness due to scar tissue that has remained in the hamstring over the summer. Regular massage and stretches will gradually remove this allowing him to regain full range of motion and strength in the muscle.

Below are pictures with Dru Spinks. Dru rolled his ankle in July this year but played through the niggling pain he felt. In September as the training load increased he felt more pain and had to stop. After assessment a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal was suspected. Dru had an Xray and although no fracture showed, a dark patch on the bone indicated a possible area of healing. Since then Dru has been feeling continued pain and aching. He has been on a period of rest, the only way to allow a stress fracture to heal, but is finding it increasingly frustrating. We have been working on loosening any muscles and tendons causing pressure on the bones in the foot but for now must play a waiting game and then gradually increase training loads.

Photos courtesy of Tash Painter.

More updates to come or follow Storm at www.stormbasketball.net

Beware of Misdiagnosis!

05/16/2011 17:05:00

Beware of Misdiagnosis!

Just a quick blog post to raise awareness of the consequences of receiving a misdiagnosis for a musculoskeletal injury. A musculoskeletal injury is an injury to either muscle, bone, ligament, tendon or fascia and includes strains and sprains. Recently I have treated a growing number of injuries that have come to me about 8 weeks from the point of injury. Clients have often not considered they may have torn a muscle as the symptoms such as severe bruising, loss of movement and high pain can mirror those of other problems.

Not seeking treatment within the first week of injury can delay the healing process. Often the body will eventually fix the problem and the pain and other symptoms will cease. What gets forgotten is that when a musculoskeletal injury heals and usually leaves behind it a certain amount of scar tissue. This is a substance that is much less elastic than muscle, tendon or ligament and therefore, if left alone will leave the area much more prone to re-injury as it cannot withstand the same forces as muscle, tendon or ligament. There are several modalities than can help with removing scar tissue. Massage is the most useful but acupuncture used in conjunction with massage is particularly good for chronic cases.

Also necessary for a musculoskeletal injury to heal properly is weight bearing, functional exercises. This can be as simple as stretching or more specific strengthening or proprioceptive exercises may be prescribed depending on the injury. Every injury is different and it is important to remember most cannot heal without force being put through the area so rest is not always the best course of action.

If you would like to talk to Laura about your injury or book an appointment get in touch today.

Watford 10K Run for Mencap

05/02/2011 19:47:00

LD Sports Therapy was at the Watford 10k Run today in Cassiobury Park.

There were lots of post race massages and injury advice and met lots of runners. We helped raise extra money for Watford Mencap as each runner donated to have a massage. Pics below.

Latest News

04/25/2011 21:31:00

Check out the new photos on the website of the clinic, courtesy of Hannah Chapman!

Look out for LD Sports Therapy at the 10k Watford Charity Fun Run on Bank Holiday Monday for a massage at the end of the race to raise money for The Round Table and Watford Mencap.

http://www.watford10k.org.uk/

March Update

03/14/2011 18:28:00

Somehow it is already March, the past 8 weeks have been very busy with Tring Rugby, Hemel Storm and work in the clinic.

Tring Rugby have had some good results recently and not too many injuries.

Hemel Storm have had a great few weeks winning the Patron's Cup final in Manchester, beating several league front runners and putting themselves in a strong position for the playoffs. There have (as always) been lots of injuries to manage ranging from more ankle sprains, hamstring strains and back problems.

The aim is to get the players through the last few weeks of the season before a well deserved rest, then pre-hab can begin for next season!

Latest News

01/20/2011 19:17:00

It's been a busy start to 2011 with lots of clients in the Berkhamsted High Street Clinic and also on Fridays at The Lifestyle Centre in Ashridge.

Tring Rugby have finally had some matches after a snowy December and unfortunately have had a few injuries already to be dealt with.

Hemel Storm appear to be the most injury stricken team I have ever worked with, at least one a week! It ranges from severe ankle sprains to hamstring and quadricep strains and even a bruised jaw with a concussion. Several of the players are working their way through rehab programmes whilst some are still resting before this can begin.

The only upside of so many injuries is that I continue to learn and develop rehab techniques to find the best results that I then bring to my clinical work.

If you are concerned about an injury you are carrying feel free to email me with any questions about what might be the right course of treatment for you.

Have a great 2011,

Laura

laura@lauradentsportstherapy.com