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Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00 Thursday 09:00 - 18:00 Friday 09:00 - 18:00 Saturday 09:00 - 17:00

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Complementary & Alternative Health, Ronwill Street 758 Ramsgate, Ramsgate (2026)

17/03/2026

Let's explain Stroke-Neuro Rehabilitation 🤔

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing rapid cell death. Rehabilitation is centered on "The Golden Windo", the first few months where neuroplasticity is at its peak to rewire the brain and regain lost motor functions. Understanding the types of stroke is important. Let's explain each one.

Ischemic Stroke - caused by a blockage (blood clot) in an artery leading to the brain. Hemorrhagic Stroke - caused by a leaking or ruptured blood vessel in the brain, often due to high blood pressure or aneurysms. TIA (transient ischenic attack) - a mini stroke that occurs as a warning. It is a temporary blockage that resolves but signals a high risk for a major stroke.

TREATMENT MAIN PRINCIPLES:
High Repetition - the brain requires thousands of repetitions of a movement to create new neutral pathways. Neuroplasticity - engaging the "plasticiticy" nature of the brain to bypass damaged area. Stroke 9-Step Mobility & Strength Prorocol - build on the principle of neuroplasticity the brain's ability to rewire itself.

Early Mobilization (24-hour start) - prevents lung infections and blood clots while "waking up" the vestibular system.

Mirror Therapy (visual feedback) - tricks the motor cortex into thinking the effected arm is moving, stimulating dormant nerves. Weight-bearing (affected side) - provides vital sensory input to the brain to "remap" the limb's existence.

Constraint - induced movement therapy where the brain forgets how to use the weak limb.Task-Specific Reaching - encourages functional co-ordination rather than just isolated muscle movement.

Foot Drop Dorsiflexion - targets the anterior tibialis to prevent tripping and improve walking safety. Trunk Rotation & Core Stability - strengthens the core which acts as the "anchor" for arm and leg movement. Gait Training - allows for high-quality walking practice.

IMPORTANCE OF TREATMENT AFTER STROKE:
Treatment in the first 3 months is very important for muscle/nerve recovery in order to regain lost movement, improve balance and foster independence by retraining the brain through neuroplasiticy. It prevents later complications.

Do not wait too long. Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

16/03/2026

Let's explain a TIA (mini stroke) 🤔

Many people believe mini-strokes are harmless, but a TIA (transient ischenic attach) is actually one of the most important warning signs that a major stroke may occur. A TIA occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is briefly blocked, causing temporary stroke-like symptoms such as sudden weakness, vision changes, balance difficulties or slurred peach.

Even if symptoms disappear quickly, the risk is real, people who experience TIA are nearly 10 times more likely to suffer a full stroke.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TIA AND STROKE:
A TIA is a temporary blockage of blood flow to part of the brain, the spinal cord or the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye known as the retina. This blockage may occur brief stroke-like symptoms. But a TIA doesn't cause permanent damage to brain cells or the brain.

A regular stroke causes a prolonged blockage that may lead to lasting brain damage or disability. That is how TIA differs from a regular stroke.

SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms of TIA usually last only a few minutes but it may last for up to 24 hours. No matter how long symptoms last, a TIA is often an early warning sign that a person is at risk of a stroke. Symptoms include numbness or muscle weakness, usually on one side of the body.

Difficulty speaking or understanding speach. Dizziness or loss of balance. Double vision or difficulty seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden severe headache.

IMPORTANCE OF TAKING TIA SERIOUSLY:
The key characteristics distinguishing a TIA from a stroke is that these symptoms completely resolve, often leaving people feeling as though nothing serious happened. Because these symptoms are subtle and disappear after a short time, many people dismiss TIA symptoms as fatique, stress, aging or medication side effects.

The temporarily nature of the episode can create a false sense is security, leading people to overlook the potential severity of the situation.

That is why immediate medical evaluation by a GP and follow-up care care are critical to identify the cause and prevent permanent brain damage.

Recognizing early warning signs is important 👍😉

12/03/2026

If you have heel pain and told you have a plantar heel spur, don't panic. The pain may not be coming from what you think 🤔

Many people with heel pain end up getting imaging, and it's very common for a heel spur to show up on the x-ray. A heel spur is a calcium deposit causing a bony protrusion on the underside or back of the heel bone, often resulting from chronic stress strain on foot ligaments or plantar faciitis. When it shows up on an x-ray, people are often told the spur is the cause of their pain.

But research doesn't support that most of the time. Small to medium heel spurs are very common and are often incidental findings. They frequently show up in people who have no heel pain at all.

The evidence suggests that only very large heel spurs (around 10mm or larger) show a stronger correlation with pain. So what's actually causing the pain?

Mostly it's the soft tissues that attach to the heel, particularly the plantar fascia and surrounding areas. The good news is that these tissues respond very well to treatment.

Many of the same strategies we use to treat plantar faciitis, such as progressive loading, strengthening and improving tissue capacity can help reduce heel pain even when a heel spur is present.

Treating the muscles that share the fascial layer, many of these muscles/structures have lots of overlap with a condition called plantar faciitis. It is safe to say that treating heel pain with a heel spur and treating plantar faciitis will have lots of overlap.

Protect the area, reintroduce load to the area, strengthening the area then return to baseline.

In other words, the spur usually isn't the problem. The tissue is. And tissue can adapt. I hope you find this helpful 👍😉

11/03/2026

Let's explain Peripheral Neuropathy pain 🤔

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves that are located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves) are damaged. This condition often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. It also affects other areas and body functions including digestion and urination.

The peripheral nervous system sends information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body through motor nerves.

CAUSES:
Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic issues, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes.

Peripheral neuropathy can affect one nerve, called mononeuropathy. If it affects 2 or more nerves in different areas, it's called multiple mononeuropathy, and if it affects many nerves, it's called polyneuropathy. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an example of mononeuropathy. Most people suffers from polyneuropathy.

SYMPTOMS:
Every nerve in the peripheral system has a specific job. Symptoms depend on the type of nerve affected. Nerves are divided into sensory nerves that receive sensation such as temperature, pain, vibration or touch from the skin.

Motor nerves that control muscle movement. Autonomic nerves that control functions such as blood pressure, sweating, heart rate, digestion and bladder function.
Symptoms may include gradual onset of numbness, pickling or tingling in the feet and hands. Sharp, jabbing, throbbing, burning pain. Extreme sensitivity to touch.

Pain during activities that shouldn't cause pain such as pain in the feet when putting weight on it or when under a blanket. Lack of co-ordination and falling. Muscle weakness. Inability to move if motor nerves are affected.

COMPLICATIONS OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY:
Complications of peripheral neuropathy may include burns, skin injuries and wounds on the feet. Infection - your feet and other areas that lack sensation can become injured without your knowing. Falls - weakness and loss of sensation may be associated with lack of balance and falling.

TREATMENT: Treatment focuses on improving and maintaining muscle strength and range of motion. Prevention of muscle shortening (contracture). Improving balance and co-ordination. Reduce pain and restore normal nerve function.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

10/03/2026

Let's explain common Peroneal Nerve injuries 🤔

The peroneal nerve is one of the most frequent injured nerves in the lower limb. It runs around the neck of the fibula, making it vulnerable to trauma and compression. Common peroneal nerve dysfunction is due to damage to the peroneal nerve leading to loss of movement or sensation in the foot and leg.

The peroneal nerve starts near the sciatic nerve at the top of the glutes (hip and butt). It travels down the back of the thigh untill it reaches the knee and toes.

CAUSES:
Mononeurophy is nerve damage to a single nerve. Damage to the nerve disrupts the myelin sheath that covers the axon (branch of the nerve cell). The axon can also be injured, which is a more severe injury.

Other causes are trauma or injury to the knee. Fracture of the fibula (a bone of the leg). Use of a tight plastor cast of the lower leg. Crossing the legs regularly. Regularly wearing high boots. Pressure to the knee from positions during deep sleep. Injury during knee surgery.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUPERFICIAL AND DEEP PERONEAL NERVE:
Around the knee, the peroneal nerve splits into 2 branches. Deep Peroneal Nerve - this branch runs on the inside of the leg and over the ankle bone. It helps control function on the inside of the foot including the big and second toe.

Superficial Peroneal Nerve - this branch runs on the outside of the leg. It's responsible for sensation in the outer 2/3 of the leg and the top of the foot. It helps control the movement of all the other toes.

SYMPTOMS:
A common sign of a peroneal nerve injury is development of a foot drop. A foot drop is a districtive way of walking. Other symptoms include the inability to move the foot and flex the toes or flexing the ankles upwards (dorsiflexion). Loss of sensation in the shin or the top of the foot. Pain in the foot or lower leg. Pins and needles sensation, pain and/or weakness may be experienced.

TREATMENT:
Treatment focuses on relieving pressure on the peroneal nerve. Repair the peroneal nerve using techniques likes nerve gliding, nerve stimulating as well as muscle stimulation, to restore function. Strengthening the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

09/03/2026

What is Obturator Nerve Neuropathy? Let's explain 🤔

The obturator nerve arises from the lumbar plexus and provides sensory and motor innervation to the thigh. The obturator nerve provides motor innervation to the medial compartment of the thigh. Is essential to the adduction of the thigh.

Provides sensory innervation of the medial upper thigh and provides articular branches to the hip and knee. It can become entrapped at the exit of the obturator canal.

INJURY TO THE OBTURATOR NERVE: Injury to the nerve is rare as it lies deep within the pelvis and medial thigh. It can be damaged through direct injury to the nerve or to surrounding muscle tissue. Injury may be caused by a nerve being stretched during surgery. The nerve can become entrapped at the exit of the obturator canal or more distally by fascia.

Entrapment of this nerve causes exercise-induced medial thigh pain. Hip abduction and extension aggravate the pain.

SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms include pain and paresthesia may extend from the hip to the knee along the medial aspect of the thigh.Extension or lateral leg movement can increase pain. May have trouble walking or experience leg weakness due to difficulties adducting the ipsilateral hip.

Weak hip adductors on effected side. Wasting of medial thigh. Abnormal abduction of hip ipsilateral loss of the hip adductor tendon reflex.

TREATMENT:
Treatment focuses on improving strength and preserve mobility as well as ambulation. Reducing nerve irritation and restoring function. Nerve flossing, strengthening adductors and core muscles. Myofascial release and hip mobility excercises.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

05/03/2026

7 Types of Pain everyone encounters 🤔

In practice pain is never simple. Many patients present with mixed pain, multiple types happening at once. Someone with chronic lower back pain might have muscle strain (nociceptive), nerve compression (neuropathic) and nervous system.

Sensitization (nociplastic), referred pain and visceral pain are other common patterns we see daily. Here is what's important to remember, pain doesn't equal damage.

Pain is your nervous system's assessment of threat and safety, not a direct measurement of tissue state. If pain always meant structural damage, one singular treatment or miracle cure would always work.

But it doesn't, because pain is more complex than that. Understanding the different types of pain helps to know when to refer out and when manual therapy will help. Let's explain the 7 types of pain.

TISSUE-BASED PAIN (nociceptive): This is pain from actual tissue damage or inflammation. Examples are skin, muscle, bones and organs and is often discribed as aching or sharp. It includes somatic pain, pain from the skin, muscle or joints and visceral pain, pain arising from internal organs (angina, bowel obstruction).

NERVE DAMAGE PAIN (neuropathic): Pain from an injury or disease to the nervous system itself. Examples are sciatica, diabetic neuropathy and nerve compression. Other are characterized by burning, tingling or electric shock sensations (sciatica/shingles).

AMPLIFIED PAIN (nociplastic):
Pain from altered nervous system processing, not tissue damage, where pain persists without clear evidence of tissue or nerve damage. Examples are fibromyalgia, chronic widespread pain and some chronic back pain.

REFERRED PAIN:
Referred pain is pain felt in a different location than the source caused by nerve signals from injured tissues converging on the same spinal cord pathways. Common examples includes shoulder pain from liver issues or arm pain during a heart attack.

MIXED PAIN SIGNALS:
Mixed pain signals is a complex, often chronic condition characterized by the simultaneous or concurrent presence of multiple pain types, typically nociceptive (tissue damage/inflammation) and neuropathic (nerve damage) mechanics. More than one pain type at the same time. Examples are lower back pain with both tissue and nerve components.

KEY TAKEAWAY:
Understanding the different types of pain helps practitioners/therapists know when to refer out and when manual therapy will be sufficient. 👍😉

04/03/2026

Did you know your jaw clenching can contribute to hip and low back pain? 🤔

Yes, the body works as one connected system. When a person experiences chronic stress, the nervous system stays in a constant fight or flight state.

This leads to unconscious teeth grinding or jaw clenching, especially during sleep. Continuous jaw tension activates the deep front fascial line, increasing muscle guarding throughout the body, particularly the psoas muscle.

The psoas muscle connects directly from the lumbar spine to the hip, acting as a major stabilizer. When the psoas muscle becomes tight or overactive, it may cause deep lower back pain, hip or groin discomfort, pelvic imbalance, postural dysfunction and/or referred pain into the thigh or abdomen.

Many patients repeatedly treat low back pain, hip stiffness and neck tightness, but the root cause remains untreated.

SYMPTOMS OF JAW CLENCHING (BRUXISM):
Symptoms include jaw pain or stiffness. Headaches, especially in the mornings. Neck and shoulder tightness. Tooth sensitivity and clicking jaw (TMJ). Facial muscle fatique.

SYMPTOMS OF PSOAS MUSCLE DYSFUNCTION:
Symptoms include deep lower back pain. Hip or groin pain. Pain while standing after sitting. Lumbar stiffness. Pelvic imbalances. Referred pain to thigh or abdomen.

TREATMENT:
Treatment includes trigger point release in the jaw, neck and low back. Spinal and pelvic alignment adjustments. TMJ jaw mobilization and myofascial release of hip flexors. Psoas muscle lengthening and strengthening. Hip flexor stretching.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

03/03/2026

Let's explain how Levator Scapular muscle cause neck pain and headaches 🤔

The levator scapulae is a long and slender muscle that belongs to the superficial layer of extrinsic muscles of the back. It's a muscle of scapular motion along with the rhomboid, serratus anterior, serratus posterior, superior and inferior muscles.

The levator scapulae muscle extends from the transverse processes of vertebrae C1-C4 to the medial border of the scapula. Main function is to elevate the scapula.

This is where shoulder pain quietly becomes a neck and shoulder complex issue. The levator scapulae is often a "tonic" muscle, when it's under-trained and over-used as a stabilizer. It tightens and starts acting like a default controller of scapular position.

When the rhomboid gets comfortable, retraction feels stronger, posture looks upright, while the scapula loses its freedom to rotate upwards. That's a recipe for repeated irritation.

SYMPTOMS:
Neck pain, which may extend to the head causing a headache. Pain and restricted range of movement, especially reduced cervical flexion and side flexion to the contra-lateral side. Deep, achy pain and/or tightness on the upper back along the top of the shoulder blade or neck.

Headaches, myofascial trigger points in LS muscle can refer the pain to the head leading to chronic tension headaches.

TREATMENT:
Treatment focuses on pain relief, scapular orientation, posture correction and restoring functional movement.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

02/03/2026

What is Proprioception? You've heard this word a lot in physio so let's explain. 🤔

Proprioception is the sense of body positioning in space. It's an all compassion term which includes the sub-categories of mechano-receptors (vibration, pressure, touch, temperature, pain and balance).

The feedback from all these different sensory components arise from our peripheral nervous system and feed information to our central nervous system, both at the cerebral cortex for higher processing. Proprioception itself can be understood as including various sub-modalities.

JOINT POSITION SENSE: Proprioception is our sense of joint/limb positioning. It's often measured through joint position sense, active joint position sense and passive joint position sense. Joint position sense determines the ability of a person to perceive a presented joint angle and then, after the limb has been moved, to actively or passively reproduces the sane joint angle. Clinically measured as a joint matching task.

SENSE OF FORCE:
Sense of force is also known as sense of effort/heaviness/tension or the force matching sense. It is the ability to reproduce a desired level of force one or more times. Sense of force is thought to embed within the tendons, muscle spindles within the muscles and proprioception within the skin.

SENSE OF CHANGE IN VELOCITY:
It's the ability to detect vibration, derived from oscillating objects placed against the skin. It is believed to travel through the same type of large afferent nerve fibers as proprioception. Globally all sub-modalities of proprioception arises from the sum of neutral inputs from the joint capsules, ligaments, muscles, tendons and skin. Which influences behaviour and motor control of the body.

CAUSES OF PROPRIOCEPTION IMPAIRMENT:
Poor proprioception at a joint may result in the increased likelihood of an injury. The reason for proprioception impairment is not clear at this time. A decreased sense of proprioception can be caused by localized tissue damage presence of edema or competitive nociceptive inputs (presence of pain). It can be affected by the following factors. Temporary impairment from a compromised state, age-related changes, injuries or medical conditions that affects the neuro-muscular system.

TREATMENT:
No matter the underlying cause of a proprioceptive deficit, patients can successfully be rehabilitate with tasks and activities to improve motor skills, strength, balance and co-ordination. Retraining of a somatosensory function includes any interventions that addresses the re-mediation of the somatosensory modalities.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

26/02/2026

Do you know what is Dystonia? Let's explain in detail 🤔

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent involuntary muscle contractions, that leads to abnormal postures, repetitive movements or twisting of body parts.

These contractions are not random, they follow specific muscle patterns and often worsen with voluntary movement or stress, highlighting a central nervous system origin rather than a primary muscle disease.

On a neurophysiological level, dystonia is associated with abnormal sensorimotor integration and mal-adaptive neuroplasticity. The brain misprocesses sensory input and motor output, causing distorted motor output in the vortex.

This explains why repetitive tasks (such as writing or speaking) can trigger task specific dystonia and why symptoms may spread to adjacent muscle groups over time.
Muscle pathology in dystonia is secondary, not primary.

Repeated involuntary contractions leads to muscle fatique, pain, stiffness and eventual soft tissue adaptations, including muscle shortening and altered joint alignment. In cervical dystonia, chronic overactivity of neck muscles results in asymmetric loading of the cervical spine, increasing the risk of degenerative changes and chronic pain syndromes.

KEY TAKEAWAY:
Dystonia is a disorder of abnormal motor control, rooted in dysfunctional brain circuitry rather than muscle damage.

Treatment focus on modulating neutral output, while addressing secondary biomechanical consequences such as pain, postural asymmetry and movement inefficiency.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

25/02/2026

Let's explain a Hip Imbalace, so you can understand the mechanics 🤔

Hip imbalance refers to an asymmetry in motion, strength or control between the right and left hip joints, leading to altered pelvic alignment.

Biomechanical ly, when one hip rotates, abducts or extends differently from the other, the pelvis is forced to compensate by elevating, dropping or rotating on one side.

This compensatory pelvis movement is not a flow by itself, but a survival strategy to maintain upright posture and forward progression.
At the hip joint level, imbalance often arises from unequal activity of the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, deep rotator and hip flexors.

If one side produces less force or has reduced neuromuscular timing, the femur rotates excessively, relative to the pelvis. This creates asymmetric joint moments, increasing compressive and shear forces at the hip, sacroiliac joint and lumbar spine.

The pelvis acts as a mechanical bridge between the spine and lower limbs. When one hip underperformes, the pelvis elevates or rotates on the opposite side to counterbalance the loss of stability. While this help keep the center of mass over the base of support, it increases the loading on the lumbar facets, intervertebral discs and contralateral hip abductors.

Over time, this uneven load sharing contributes to chronic low back pain, SI joint stress and unilateral hip discomfort.

From a postural standpoint, persistent hip imbalance leads to adaptive muscle length changes. Muscles on one side may become short and overactive, while their counterparts become long and inhibited.

The imbalance reinforces faulty movement patterns, making the pelvis rely more on passive structures like ligaments and joint capsules, instead of active muscular control.

KEY TAKEAWAY:
Hip imbalance is not just a local hip issue but a global biomechanical problem involving the pelvis, spine and lower extremities. Restoring symmetry in hip mobility, strength and timing is essential to normalize pelvic mechanics, reduce abnormal joint loading and improve overall efficiency.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

Complementary & Alternative Health

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Tuesday	09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 18:00
Friday	09:00 - 18:00
Saturday	09:00 - 17:00