Ralf – My Apos Story

I have been an amateur runner throughout my life. However I hadn’t actually participated in races up to about 5 years ago. Approaching my 70th birthday also saw me running 10 km and even a semi-marathon in 2017.

In November 2017, training for my first dash of a full marathon I experienced terrible pain on my left knee. It did not come about suddenly but gradually grew over a few days. I stopped running since I was unable to make even a few hundred meters without feeling atrocious stabbings on my lower leg. Even walking became horribly difficult.
Not only my running life seems to have ended but daily chores involving my legs would preoccupy my thoughts for years to come.

The conclusion was evident: left knee arthritis. ‘’You have to alter your whole lifestyle. If you feel that this state affects only a quarter of your daily activity you are not ready for knee surgery. However a few more years of lowered energy and you definitely need one’’.

I was against surgery as I had heard of many cases of unsuccessful results. In May 2018, my sister, who is also a runner but definitely better than me, advised me to look into AposTherapy. She had witnessed the positive results in many of her friends who came back to run after years of forced inactivity.

The therapy started in May and went throughout the summer months, growing from 30 to 60 minutes a day. Some days when I did not find time to walk, I just put the computer on a high table and wrote standing.

In October my first baby runs took place: Only half kilometer or so. I was rejoiced by the fact that the pounding reduced although it came back after some distance. I continued every day with the therapy, even going out to the supermarket with my Apos shoes.
In November my weekly runs were up to 6 km although excruciatingly slow, taking me 1 hour when during that period previously I would have run a full 10 km.
My clearest objective for a nice start to the New Year was a Parkrun. These 5 km courses on Saturdays in parks all around Britain are great introductions for people of any age, who want to change their lifestyles by short runs.
I consistently delayed my first parkrun since even the slowest runner will finish in 45 minutes (9 minutes/km) and I was not sure the volunteers will wait for me, at about 50 – 55 minutes.

Therefore I was astounded when my first Parkrun was completed in 35 minutes. The 400 participants had probably created a magnetic field that just carried me to the end.
This was the most worthwhile gift for the New Year. I could run, respectfully. Of course there still was slight pain afterwards but the progress was evident.

It was nothing short of miraculous for me. I have to admit that Apos was not alone in this marvel. The open sea swims in summer and weekly strength exercises in my local gym were evidently helpful in reinforcing body and legs.

However first award goes to Apos. I am thoroughly happy and naturally reflect it on family and friends.

Blog post by Ralf
Apos Therapy customer

• Hear Ralf talk about his Apos Therapy  treatment on our You Tube channel
• For more information on Apos Therapy please visit https://www.ejphysio.co.uk/

Tips for running

Here are my 9 essential top tips you will need to get up and running!

Is my:

1. Face and jaw relaxed
2. Head upright, slight lean looking forwards to a point 20-40 metres away
3. Shoulders in a relaxed and comfortable position
4. Natural curves of the spine
5. Arms move in a pendulum – like movement close into the side of the body, with the movement coming from the shoulder joint
6. Elbows bent at 90 degrees
7. Fingers and thumbs relaxed
8. Hips and shoulders facing forwards, with a minimum rotation
9. Focus on keeping core strong

 

Happy Running!
Kerry
Personal Trainer & Gym Manager at Emma James Physio

The Winter Ski and Snowboard season is here!

With the snow season here and mountain holidays approaching we want to ensure you enjoy your time on the slopes with some top tips and information.

Skiing and snowboarding are physically demanding, and so undertaking a variety of appropriate exercises in advance will enhance your performance on the slopes and allow your snow sports holiday to be more fun, efficient and safe.

STRETCHING

• Key to activate your muscles before use
• Lengthen, help them recover and increase flexibility post snow slope

MUSCLES

• Calves, quads, back and hip flexors

CARDIO

• Interval training improves your sustained and shorter high energy activities
• Cycling/Running/X-trainer

STRENGTH

Compound movements targeting multi-joints and then practiced plyometrically to increase power.

Quads:

• Power muscles for the snow, hold you position and protect your knee during movements
• Squats and lunges help react to changes in extension, are good for thick snow and changing terrains
• Split squats and single leg dips help single leg strengthening ensures no weakness

Gluts:

• Usually underactive due to over reliance on quads
• Clams, step-ups, squat with theraband around your thighs
• Sideway jumps replicate fast movements on steep, narrow slopes

Calves/Hamstrings:

• Maintain your position of bent knees and promote stability along with your hamstrings
• Calf raises, hamstring curls

BALANCE AND CORE STABILITY

• Essential for posture on the slope and un-easy terrain
• Russian twists, Swiss ball crunch

PROPRIOCEPTION

• Important for being aware of your body in poor conditions and in preventing injury
• Single leg balance with your eyes closed and adding in movements

 

COMMON SKI INJURIES:

Usually lower extremity injuries and knee ligament damage 

Causes

• Twisting movements of the upper leg, while the lower leg rotates the opposite way
• Valgus forces from direction changes during falls

Upper extremity injuries to the thumb

Causes

• Ski pole being caught in snow in un-easy terrain or during a fall

COMMON SNOWBOARD INJURIES:

Usually upper-extremity injuries causing wrist fractures/sprains, elbow dislocations/contusion.  Or broken collar bones and rotator cuff injuries.

Causes

• Landing on outstretched hands with force after a fall
• Direct impact to the clavicle or shoulder

Lower extremity injuries to the knee ligaments and ankle

Causes

• Valgus forces associated with one footed chair dismounts and falls
• Compressive forces landing a jump/fall

STRATEGIES TO PREVENT INJURIES

1. Have good fitness, muscle strength and flexibility
2. Have good quality, well fitted equipment
3. Seek advice for biomechanical deformities
4. Complete a warm up and cool down
5. Adhere to ski slope rules, safety rules, stay on marked trails and ski with partners
6. Book lessons to improve you standard, knowledge and technique with a qualified instructor
7. Snowboard to your own ability and on appropriate terrain for your level
8. Ensure good conditions e.g. visibility, terrain, weather, snow quality
9. Invest in safety gear e.g. wrist/elbow guards/knee pads/impact shorts/helmet

PHYSIOTHERAPY

1. Helps with injury, illness or disability.
2. Physio also assesses the body as a whole using a variety of techniques including: personal training, sports massage, acupuncture, gait scanning and pilates.
3. These improve health, aid relaxation, prevent injury, provide education, encourage health promotion, improve biomechanical deficits and provides expert knowledge and exercises for specific sports; perfect to enhance your time on the slopes.

If you’re interested, ring us and book an appointment to find out more or visit our website for details.