130 Devonshire Rd
Chorley, PR7 2BY
Mon - Fri: 7.30am - 6.00pm
Sat: 7.30am - 12.00 noon
Matt Holland, Sports Therapist

Matt Holland, sports therapist, joins our team

We would like to welcome to Matt Holland Sports Therapy to the team at Devonshire Road


After an enforced break Matt has returned to business with a slight rebranding. We hope you like it!

About Matt Holland Sports Therapy.

With over 12 years’ experience in the Health and Fitness industry Matt is very passionate about what he does and ensures that his number 1 priority is the client.

Matt mainly uses manual therapy, dry cupping and various other techniques to help his clients. A big emphasis is placed on teaching you about your condition and how to help yourself.

His patient list includes elite athletes, health and medical professionals, professionals who work in sedentary jobs and chronic pain sufferers.

To book an appointment please call or text Matt on 07912 754088

5 tips for returning to the gym after lockdown

It’s easy to rush back to the gym after lockdown but diving in at the deep end could set you back weeks or months. Here are a few reminders to make it a healthy workout.


1.Take it easy! 

It’s been a while, those muscles have been a little redundant since Christmas, so respect them, build up slowly again. If you get a niggle that’s your body flashing a warning light at you. Don’t work through it. If a niggle is settling down after exercise, get it looked at.

 

  1. Warm-up

Take 5-10 minutes to get the body warmed up, the blood flowing to the tissues, which will increase their elasticity. This could be done by walking, running or cycling

 

  1. Stay Hydrated

Evidence suggests that being dehydrated after exercise can amplify the post-exercise muscle ache.

 

  1. Post Exercise Stretch

The really important bit, this is done to prevent strains, the next time you come to use those muscles

 

  1. Sleep Well

The best way for your body to recover after exercise, especially if you have not exercised for a while

What is the knee pain I get when I run?

It’s called Ilio-Tibial-Band Friction Syndrome (ITBFS) and it is quite common.

The knee is the most commonly injured body part in runners, making up 25% of all running injuries. That is quite a lot, considering around 50% of all runners can expect to sustain a running injury over a 12-month period.

Various structures around the knee can be affected; quite frequently, runners develop pain on the outside of the knee which can be caused by an irritation of the Ilio-Tibial-Band (ITB), a band of connective tissue that runs from the pelvis to the outside of the knee.  The injury is called Ilio-Tibial-Band Friction Syndrome (ITBFS).

So what exactly is ITBFS?

ITBFS is an overuse injury that generally builds up gradually, so it is not an acute strain or tear.  Repetitive friction of the tissue of the ITB rubbing over a bony prominence along the outer thigh can result in pain and localised inflammation at the friction site.

Initially, the pain may only occur during a run but it can quickly progress with each run, to the point where the pain may linger after a run and even basic activities such as bending and straightening of the knee or lying on the affected side at night can be sore.

What are the causes?

A range of factors can contribute to the development of ITBFS, for example:

  • Training errors, such as a sudden increase in training intensity
  • Hip muscle deficiencies, e.g. weak gluteal muscles and reduced core strength
  • Poor ankle and foot mechanics
  • Running inefficiencies, such as a reduced cadence (running too slow), which often results in overstriding. This can put an increased load on the knee, causing ITBFS over time, especially when running long distances.
  • Poor footwear