Author: Premier Clinic

Shoulder Pain

Posted on by Premier Clinic

SHOULDER PAIN ISN’T SOMETHING YOU JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH

When your shoulder hurts, even the simplest parts of everyday life can become difficult — getting dressed, washing your hair, reaching into a cupboard, driving or finding a comfortable position in bed.  Shoulder pain can develop gradually through repetitive movement, work, sport, posture or age-related changes. It can also begin suddenly following a fall, strain or other injury.

Common shoulder conditions include:

✔ Rotator cuff tendinopathy or tear
✔ Shoulder impingement and subacromial pain
✔ Frozen shoulder
✔ Shoulder instability or dislocation
✔ AC joint arthritis
✔ Biceps or calcific tendinitis
✔ Labral tears
✔ Shoulder bursitis
✔ Muscle strains

Although these conditions can produce similar symptoms, they may require very different approaches to recovery. That is why a thorough assessment matters.  Signs that your shoulder may need professional attention include:

⚠️ Pain when lifting or reaching overhead
⚠️ Weakness in the shoulder or arm
⚠️ Increasing stiffness or restricted movement
⚠️ Pain that interrupts your sleep
⚠️ Clicking, catching or a feeling of instability
⚠️ Difficulty working, exercising or completing daily activities
⚠️ Symptoms that are not improving after a few weeks

At Premier Clinic, we look beyond the painful area to understand how your shoulder is moving, what may be contributing to the problem and how it is affecting your everyday life.

Depending on your individual needs, physiotherapy may include:

💙 Pain management and manual therapy
💙 Joint mobilisation
💙 Rotator cuff strengthening
💙 Shoulder-blade stabilisation
💙 Stretching and mobility exercises
💙 Postural and movement correction
💙 Taping or dry needling, when clinically appropriate
💙 A personalised rehabilitation programme
💙 Support returning safely to work, sport and normal activities

There is no single exercise or treatment that is right for every painful shoulder. Your rehabilitation should reflect your condition, symptoms, goals and current level of movement.

Early, evidence-based physiotherapy can help reduce pain, restore strength and mobility, improve shoulder function and reduce the risk of the problem becoming persistent.

Don’t just put up with shoulder pain. Let’s find out what is happening and help you move forward.

📞 Book an assessment: 01254 677341
📧 info@premier-clinic.co.uk
🌐 premier-clinic.co.uk

Seek urgent medical attention following a serious injury, visible deformity or sudden inability to move your arm.

#PremierClinic #ShoulderPain #Physiotherapy #RotatorCuff #FrozenShoulder #ShoulderRehabilitation #SportsInjury #PainManagement

Skin Colour Check List

Posted on by Premier Clinic

Why Skin Colour Changes Should Never Be Ignored Skin colour changes in the feet can be an early sign of serious underlying problems—especially in diabetes.

Colours like pale, blue, purple, red, or darkened skin may indicate poor circulation, pressure damage, or even tissue death.

Stage 1 – Reduced Blood Flow Begins Skin may look pale or slightly discoloured due to decreased circulation.

Stage 2 – Impaired Blood Flow / Pressure Stress Ongoing pressure or poor circulation leads to worsening discolouration and tissue stress.

Stage 3 – Deeper Tissue Damage Skin may turn dark, purple, or develop wounds—signalling more serious damage below the surface.

What Different Colours May Mean • Pale → reduced blood flow • Blue/Purple → low oxygen levels •

Dark/Black → possible tissue necrosis • Persistent Redness → early skin breakdown or pressure injury Prevention Tips •

Check your feet daily • Do not ignore new discolouration • Reduce pressure on painful or dark areas • Wear properly fitted shoes • Seek medical care if changes persist or worsen skin colour changes are early warning signs—fast action can prevent serious complications.

#Diabetes # Premeirclinicblackburn # Podiatry

For further information or to book an appointment, get in touch, and we will be happy to advise/assist

www.premier-clinic.co.uk

Tel: 01254677341

Email: info@premier-clinic.co.uk

Football Injuries

Posted on by Premier Clinic

Football Injuries!

Now the new football season has well and truly kicked off it’s the time of year where we start to see people suffering from a variety of different injuries. Football, like any contact sport, can end up bringing a lot of casualties to our clinic, most of whom are desperate to get back out on to the pitch as soon as possible.

Whilst we can provide treatment and advice for dealing with any type of injury, these are the five that we see quite often as a result of football.

1 – Dislocated shoulder
This happens most often as a result of a collision with another player. At the point of impact the patient’s arm is pulled, or forced out of its joint, thus dislocating. In some instances it is easy to simply “pop” back in place; however, in others you may have to attend A&E, or even require surgical stabilisation. This essentially fixes the initial problem, but there are on-going concerns that need to be taken in to account. Once you have dislocated a joint there is an increased chance that it could happen again. As a result it’s important to start work on strengthening the area to reduce that risk. Recovery can take anywhere between 2 and 6 months, depending on the type and severity of the dislocation.

2 – Groin strain
A groin strain occurs when the abductor muscles on the inside of the thigh are over stretched (often during a tackle) and the muscle tissue tears as a result. It can be exceptionally painful depending on the severity, which is measured in three different grades based on the percentage of muscle fibre damaged. Immediate treatment should be offered which focuses on protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation. The purpose of this approach is to reduce the bleeding and swelling surrounding the injury, and will help reduce pain. They say time is a great healer, and this is the case with a groin strain (usually between 3 and 6 weeks), but it is essential to start a physiotherapy regime as soon as practical. This will include gentle stretching and muscle strengthening. It is important to speak to a qualified physiotherapist who can provide a full routine for recovery, which will go a large way to reducing the chance of a repeat injury in the future.

3 – Hamstring strain
It doesn’t matter if you don’t follow football; the chance is you’ve heard of this type of injury. Your hamstrings are a group of four muscles at the back of the thigh that are used to bend the knee. As with a groin strain, when the muscles are overstretched (often as a result of sprinting) they can tear, which leads to the injury. The recovery process and time is much the same as with a groin strain, and again it’s important to keep follow-up appointments with your physiotherapist to reduce the chance of further injuries.

4 – Anterior cruciate ligament
Most commonly referred to as an ACL injury, the cruciate are the supporting ligaments in the knee joint that enable twisting and turning movements. During a tough tackle, or if the knee is twisted during an awkward fall, the cruciate can tear or rupture completely. Unlike other injuries the rehabilitation for an ACL can be slow and intensive. The initial repair is done via a graft, and it is essential that this is not caused to fail as a result of early stressors. Initial treatment can involve hydrotherapy, muscle stimulation, acupuncture and exercises and stretches based on increasing flexibility. It is vital that recovery is monitored closely by a professional so as to avoid excessive strains being placed on the knee, and resulting in further injury or delayed recovery.

If you want to find out more about the services we offer for these injuries, or any other injury please get in touch on 01254 677341.

Ergonomics and Pain

Ergonomics and Pain

Posted on by Premier Clinic

Often people assume you only visit a physiotherapist, or even a chiropractor as a result of a one-off physical injury. It’s easy to assume it might be a trip or fall, or perhaps even a sporting injury. However, for many people, they need to seek professional help for injuries that have been caused as a result of many little stressors, which have built up over the course of time.

Obviously a large part of our job is to ensure people are able to suitably recover from their injuries, and are able to return to work or the activities they love. However, an additional part of our role is to make sure that further injuries are avoided. Or at the very least, the risk of additional pain being caused is reduced.

Ergonomics

When it comes to the workplace and how it impacts on our day to day health, we start to enter the world of ergonomics. Essentially this is the science of matching the job to the worker, or a product to the user. This is a fancy way of saying applying common sense to every day working situations.

A good example would be when a worker, regardless of the task they’re doing, starts to experience pain as a result of leaning on a hard surface. Over time, that pain is going to get worse, and could cause them to take time off, or become slow and delayed in their movements (which could have a negative impact on their productivity). Rather than ignore this issue, it’s important to look at the cause, and find ways that you can reduce the impact.

A good way to do that in this particular instance would be to provide a padded wrist support. The same work and movements are being undertaken, but now there is a degree of support which will reduce the end pain and discomfort. There are so many things that need to be taken in to account when looking at the potential impact a work environment and situation might be having on a worker. For example, does a task require the use of force, and if so, how much? Is there vibration, and is it constant or occasional? How long does the task take to perform, how often is it repeated and is there any opportunity to rest before starting again?

The answers to these sorts of questions allow the identification of risk factors which can lead to the identification of strategies to help mitigate them. Ultimately it benefits everyone: employers who want a happy, healthy and of course productive workforce; and employees who don’t want to be left in pain after doing a good day’s work.

These are all things we are more than happy to advise on, to ensure injuries do not return, and just as importantly, are avoided in the first place.

If you want to find out more, please call us on 1254 677341/01706 211419.

Benefits of The Alter G

Posted on by Premier Clinic

Benefits of the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill

Have you ever heard of the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill? This unique piece of equipment enables individuals to walk or run at a lower percentage of their body weight. This is useful in the clinical setting as it can help patients perform rehabilitation with less pain.

The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be used with patients looking to gain mobility, strength, natural movement and fitness, while also minimizing stress on the body or on injury. This piece of equipment is particularly beneficial for injured athletes, as it can assist in gaining confidence, maintaining cardiovascular condition, retraining gait without compensations from pain or injury, as well as reduce the risk of re-injury.

How does it work?

The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill uses unloading and progressive loading to achieve the aforementioned benefits. The treadmill uses air pressure to help unweight the participant. Specific shorts are worn, generally over the top of shorts or tight leggings. The patient then steps inside the chamber of the machine, similar to a large bubble, and is zipped inside. This allows the lower body to be enclosed and supported by the air pressure. Once the machine has calibrated to the individual, the body support percentage can be adjusted as desired. From there, the treadmill operates like a regular treadmill with speed adjustments for walking or running. From a clinical perspective, the sides and back of the bubble are clear to allow the therapist to observe mobility and gait mechanics for better treatment. The patient continuously maintains contact with the treadmill belt and never floats within the machine.

Who Benefits from the Alter G Anti-Gravity Treadmill?

There has been research to support the use of body assisted support systems in rehabilitation for joint pain such as arthritis, or for returning to walk after surgery or conditions like stroke. This is because the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be used to restore normal walking and running mechanics while also supporting the healing tissue. What’s more, the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill can be used to assist in recovery from fractures, stress fractures, knee or hip surgery or replacement, as well as for weight loss. Overall, the use of this machine can help facilitate rehabilitation, improve recovery times and optimize rehab.

To learn more about the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill contact Premier Clinic Ltd on 01254 677341.

How Your Gait Impacts Your Health

Posted on by Premier Clinic

Have you ever considered how you walk? Not how fast or how stylish, but in what manner? That’s called gait—your walking style—and it can have a considerable impact on your health.

The body is an impressive, interconnected system. Making it move requires coordination between hundreds of bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Proper biomechanics ensure that pressure is distributed evenly and efficiently, whether you are stepping, running, or sprinting. There’s a lot going on at once, so you can imagine the impact an imbalance or abnormality in even one part of this complex series of motions could have on your health.
In some cases, minor gait abnormalities that go uncorrected can lead to injury or chronic pain. Take overpronation, for example, a common gait abnormality. When you overpronate, you might experience pain in the foot or ankle that can even reach up to the lower back. In addition, things like misaligned bones, or differences in leg length, can create pressure points that cause pain and even injury throughout the entire body—not just the site of the asymmetry.

Think about the last time you had to stay standing for a long time in an uncomfortable pair of dress shoes. Notice how you experienced pain not only in the feet and legs but up around the lower back! Over time, these abnormalities can affect our ability to participate in certain activities or to perform at our optimal level.

Of course, there are more severe abnormalities such as ataxia, foot drop, and severe limp resulting from injury or disease. Each of these serious conditions can put certain movements and activities completely out of reach, or cause chronic pain, loss of balance, and even more serious injury. These abnormalities can arise for a variety of reasons, including genetics, neurological conditions, and major injuries.

The good news is that no matter your condition, gait can be analyzed and improved with the help of the team at Premier Clinic Ltd. It takes time, and it takes commitment on behalf of you the patient, but a normalized, healthier gait is possible for even the severest of cases.

If you think you need help then you can get a free 15 minute consultation until the end of October at Premier Clinic Ltd. Telephone 01254 677341/01706 211419 to book your slot.

Stuck in a Rut On Your Road to Weight Loss? Try Defying Gravity!

Posted on by Premier Clinic

It’s no secret that collective waistlines have been expanding over the last few decades. What may surprise you; however, are just how many extra notches we have had to add to our national belt. According to research a staggering 70.7% of adults are overweight, with 37.9% falling within the “obese” category.

These startling statistics aren’t a simple matter of national vanity either. Indeed, we are on the edge of the precipice of a healthcare crisis, due to the rapidly increasing numbers of people suffering from obesity related conditions, such as Type II Diabetes, Osteoarthritis, and Hypertension.

At the same time, modern society is not exactly designed to promote healthy living habits. Long commutes, sedentary jobs, and readily available convenience foods all set the stage for an uphill battle for those attempting to lose weight and achieve better wellness.

The good news is that it doesn’t take much weight loss to see some of the largest benefits. Studies have shown that even a modest; 5-10 percent reduction in weight can have a major impact on cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, insulin resistance, sleep apnoea, and chronic inflammation, among other ailments.

Despite what the magazines and infomercials may claim, there is no “magic pill” or food or incantation that will shed those pounds for you. At the heart of things, weight loss comes down to a relatively simple formula: calories in < calories out. There are two variables available for manipulation here: diet and exercise. So which one should be the focus? Trick question! Both are integral to any successful and sustainable long-term health and wellness plan. Now, here Premier Clinic, we are no nutrition experts, so we will leave that piece to the pros. What we do feel eminently qualified to evangelize about is exercise! We all know that, in order to get healthy, we have to get moving! At the same time, undertaking an exercise regimen can be uncomfortable and even unsafe for those suffering from obesity. Undue joint loading, insufficient muscular strength, and lack of conditioning all combine to greatly increase the risk of injury, side-lining and undermining even the most motivated weight loss devotee. How do we get around this seemingly insurmountable roadblock? Well, we fly right over it, with a little Anti-Gravity assistance! That’s right; the Anti-Gravity Treadmill is not just for injury recovery, but also for injury prevention. In the case of overweight or obese patients, the Anti-Gravity Treadmill’s un-weighted support allows for the completion of safer, longer, more strenuous workouts, free from the pernicious clutches of injury. Perhaps an even more striking example of life-“altering” (sorry, I couldn’t resist) exercise involves the contestants of a television show that goes after EXTREME weight loss. You are likely familiar with this prime-time spectacle of endurance and inspiration, and the sheer volume and intensity of exercise that its contestants must take on in the name of competition (and health, of course). What you may not know, however, is that the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill is a huge behind-the-scenes helping hand for these intrepid sweat warriors Weight loss success stories don’t have to be distant, Hollywood pipe-dreams to the rest of us, and we must take action if we are to take back our collective health and wellness. Here at Premier Clinic, we like to think of ourselves as the catalyst for what we hope will become a worldwide wellness revolution. That means that we set you up with the alley-oop, and it is up to you to make that slam dunk. So why not get in touch with us to start your transformation to a better healthy lifestyle, and take those first steps in your weight loss journey today. Let’s get this game started; the ball is in your court. Contact us on 01254 677341 or via www.premier-clinic.co.uk we are here to help you achieve, so get in touch NOW, make that first step to better health and well-being.

Three Reasons Custom Orthotics Work

Posted on by Premier Clinic

I find that I continue to frequently recommend custom moulded orthotics, and there’s a reason. Many common foot complaints can be successfully treated with orthotics, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, neuromas, and flat feet. However, a general orthotic that you buy at the store where one prescription fits all (just different shoe size) is quite a bit different from one that is prescribed by a podiatrist/biomechanist.
If you are experiencing chronic, unresolved foot pain, custom orthotics might be right for you. Here’s why.

1. They are made for your foot, not anyone else’s

The over the counter shoe inserts (Dr. Scholl’s for example) only provide some additional cushioning and can’t compare to a prescription orthotic in arch and foot support. By the time a patient makes an appointment to see a foot doctor they have often tried one or more different store-bought orthotics without much success or relief. The process I like to use to make a custom pair of orthotics involves making a plaster mould of your feet in a biomechanically corrected/ideal position. This allows me to get an exact replica of your foot, which can be used to create an insert that is not only comfortable, but also highly supportive of any painful joints and tendons, and again, made specifically for you.

2. Technology has improved

Gone are the days of clunky, heavy inserts. I was fitted for my first pair of orthotics almost 25 years ago to treat chronic arch pain. Those inserts were not pretty, they only fit in a few shoes and must have weighed five pounds each! But, they worked great in relieving my pain and I have used orthotics ever since. The good news is, over the past 20 years or so, the technology and materials used for orthotics has greatly improved, so today’s orthotics are much lighter and thinner and can be used in a variety of athletic and dress shoes. This way, whether you are running a marathon, walking around the office, or attending a social event, your feet can have the support and comfort they need without having to be in tennis shoes all the time.

3. More comfort, less pain

Because that’s the whole point, right?
Most chronic foot pain is the result of daily wear and tear on the structures in your foot. Better, biomechanically corrected support results in less day-to-day damage and inflammation, and most importantly, less pain. So whatever your particular foot aches and pains are, there is likely a custom orthotic option for you. I would encourage you to make an appointment with our clinic to discuss what those options are. Even if you have had other inserts in the past that have not helped, I would recommend not giving up on orthotics just yet.
So come on in and discuss your options, your feet will thank you for it.

Foot Health

Posted on by Premier Clinic

Teenagers are more likely to recognize the importance of regularly caring for their teeth, skin, eyes, and bodies, but few know to care for their feet. Feet are out of sight, out of mind. Yet, foot health plays an important role in overall health and wellness. Teens, especially girls, tend to care about having attractive feet versus healthy feet.“While most individuals tend to react to foot issues later in life, the time to begin a good foot care routine is actually in the teenage years. Only about half of teens believe that feet are important to their overall health and many are living with foot pain. It’s vital that we educate teens on how to properly care for their feet and that local podiatrists are readily available to help relieve pain and avoid long term complications.”
The average person takes approximately 10,000 steps per day, which adds up to more than 3 million steps per year. They apply four to six times their body weight on ankle joints when climbing stairs or walking steep inclines. With 26 bones and 33 joints, feet serve as the foundation for the rest of the body’s structure. Feet that are painful or not mechanically sound, can affect the knees, hips and even the lower back.

Feet are still growing during the teen years. However, teens should be aware that foot pain of any kind is not normal. Whether they are dealing with blisters, athlete’s foot, or ingrown toenails, caring for feet at an early age reduces the risk of complications later.

One third of teenagers experience foot pain at least some of the time. Sports are the major cause of foot pain among teens. Half who have had pain say sports was the source. Three-quarters of high school students play a school or recreational sport, and of them, four in 10 have injured their feet. Two in 10 suffer from foot pain from uncomfortable shoes — girls more than boys. High heels are the most painful shoe choice. Although six in 10 teens have had a foot problem in their lives, most self-medicate or just live with the problem.

Fewer than two in 10 teens have visited a podiatrist. Teens that do see a podiatrist are more likely to care for their feet.
Keeping feet healthy can help avoid embarrassing and uncomfortable problems such as athlete’s foot, foot odor, and toenail fungus.

  • Wash your feet daily with soap and water. It’s tempting to just swish your feet around in the shower, but it’s important to use soap to remove germs and grime. Don’t forget to wash in between your toes.
  • Keep feet dry. Fungus, including the kind that causes athlete’s foot, loves to grow in moist, damp environments, so after your shower, dry your feet thoroughly, paying extra attention to the spaces between your toes. If your socks get wet during the day, change them.
  • Trim toenails into a slight curve. Too-long toenails not only wreck your socks and look crazy, but they can harbor bacteria. Use a pair of toenail clippers to cut your toenails to just above or at the edge of your toe. Cut straight across the nail, or a slight curve is okay, too.
  • Wear supportive, properly fitted shoes. Improperly fitted shoes with no support are a major cause of foot pain and injury.
    If you are having problems or just want to be checked out to ensure all is well then contact us to make an initial appointment.

Diabetes

Posted on by Premier Clinic

The number of people living with diabetes in the UK has soared by 59.8 per cent in a decade, according to a new analysis by Diabetes UK.

The new figures, extracted from official NHS data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework, 2004-05 to 2013-14, show that there are now 3,333,069 people diagnosed with diabetes, which is an increase of more than 1.2 million adults compared with ten years ago when, in 2005, there were 2,086,041 people diagnosed with the condition. This doesn’t take into account the 590,000 adults estimated to have undiagnosed diabetes in 2013-2014.

Diabetes UK is warning that this exponential growth in numbers reflects an urgent need for effective care for people living with diabetes, as well as highlighting the importance of prevention and that failure to act on this threatens to bring down the NHS.

At Premier Clinic we take Diabetes seriously and offer full diabetic checks/treatments within our Podiatry/Chiropody section of the clinic, looking at the effects of this condition and offering patient education and support. Contact us direct for an assessment. You can self refer.12032928_411167429083004_7751192705379493935_n