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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

https://www.facebook.com/124399787683656/

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

20/01/2026

Drop Foot, let's explain this foot condition 🤔

Drop Foot is the inability to lift the forefoot due to the weakness of dorsiflexors of the foot. The dorsiflexor muscles are the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longs and extensor hallucis longs, help clear the foot during the swing phase of walking and control plantar flexion of the foot on heel strike.

Weakness in the ankle and foot dorsiflexors results in an equirovarus, results in an equirovarus deformity. Sometimes referred to as stepping gait.

CAUSES:
Drop Foot is caused by weakness or paralysis of muscles lifting the foot, most often from nerve damage (especially the peroneal nerve near the knee), spinal issues (like herniated discs or pinched nerves) or brain/spinal cord diseases (stroke, MS, ALS).

Other factors are trauma (fractures, dislocations), inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis or lupus), and prolonged pressure (extended periods of squatting, kneeling or being in a leg cast).

SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms of drop foot include difficulty lifting the front of the foot causing it to drag or slap the floor when walking, leading to a high-stepping gait (steppage gait) to avoid tripping, often with numbness, tingling or weakness in the foot and toes and potentially muscle atrophy (where over time muscles in the lower leg and foot may waste away).

TREATMENT:
Treatment for drop foot focuses on strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, retraining walking (gait) and electrical stimulation to lift the foot and prevent falls, with specific balance training excercises to restore function and mobility.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

19/01/2026

Maralgia Paresthetica/Bernhardt Roth Syndrome. Let's explain 🤔

Metalgia Paresthetica is a condition that causes, numbness, pain or a burning feeling in your outer thigh.

It happens when there is too much pressure on or damage to one of the nerves in your leg, specifically the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. In most cases, there are simple ways to treat the condition, such as wearing looser clothing. Some people with more severe meralgia paresthetica may need more intense treatment.

CAUSES:
If you have meralgia paresthetica, a large sensory nerve in your outer thigh doesn't have enough room to pass through your hip bone or joints. This may be due to swelling, trauma or increased pressure in this area. A lot of things can squeeze or damage the nerve including the following. Weight gain and obesity, thigh clothing, wearing a tool or gun belt, diabetes, repetitive motions that irritate the nerve ect.

SYMPTOMS:
Usually symptoms appear on one side of the body. You may might feel pain, tingling, numbness or burning in the outside of your thigh. Sensitivity to light touch as well as firm pressure. High sensitivity to heat. Pain may be worse after you've been walking or standing for a long time. Risk factors of getting this condition is higher if you are overweight, pregnant, have certain midical conditions including diabetes. Ages between 30 and 60. Have been exposed to lead-based paint and legs with different lengths.

TREATMENT:
Treatment include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, which is effective in peripheral neuropathy, which activates central mechanisms to produce andgesia. Low frequency activators u-opioid receptors in the spinal cord and brain stem. While high frequency produces its effect via o-opioid receptors. Neuro-stimulation techniques including trans-sacranial magnetic stimulation and cortical electrical stimulation.

Excercises to enhance muscle strength, endurance, stability in the joints and flexibility in the muscles and joints. Low level Low level laser therapy has positive effects on the control of analgesia for neuropathic pain. Manual therapy - active release techniques, mobilization/manupilation for the pelvis, myofascial therapy for the re**us, femoris and iliopsoas muscle.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

15/01/2026

What is Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis? 🤔

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) is a hip condition in adolescents where the ball (femoral head) at the base slips off the neck through the growth plate (physics), essentially a fracture of the growth plate that often happens gradually during rapid growth spurts, especially in overweight teens.

SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms include limping and difficulty walking. Pain in the hip, knee, groin or around the knee. Decreased range of motion and movement in the hip and knee. More severe cases may result in an appearance where the leg is turned outward. Pain felt when bearing weight on the leg. An overall loss of function.

Degrees of deformity are pre-slip (widening of the physics, no displacement). Mild slip cup to 1/3 displacement. Moderate slip 1/3 to 1/2 displacement and severe slip (1/2 displacement).

PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR SCFE: Physical therapy is crucial post-surgery focussing on gradual weight-bearing progression, improving hip/leg strength, range of motion, balance and co-ordination and restoring normal walking/function. Weight-bearing Progression - transitioning from crutches/walkers to full weight-bearing, focussing on a normal heel-to-toe pattern.
Range of Motion - gentle excercises (including continuous passive motion) to regain hip mobility especially internal rotation

Strengthening - regaining power in hip, thigh and leg muscles (glutes, quads, hamstring) through excercises like functional movements. Functional Training - re-learning normal movement patterns (squats, running, jumping) to reduce stress on the hip joint. Pain and swelling management.

PHASES OF RECOVERY:
Early Phase - focus on pain/inflammation control, gentle activation and protected movement with walking aids. Intermediate Phase - progressing off crutches, improving strength and range of motion. Late Phase - advanced strengthening, agility and return to sport-specific drills.

Treatment/Rehab available, contact me for more info 👍😉

14/01/2026

First Aid ⛑️- Steps to perform when infant or adult is chocking 🤔

Choking occurs due to a foreign body airway obstruction. Management depends on the age of the patient. The heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) is not used on infants. Always assess if the patient is conscious and coughing. Steps that are not allowed on infants below the age of one year are, no abdominal thrusts, no heimlich maneuver and no blind finger sweep. Let's explain the correct procedures to follow on an infant below the age of one year.

BACK BLOWS:
Place the infant in a prone position on your forearm. Their head should be lower than their trunk. Support their head and neck securely. Now follow the following instructions. Back blows - deliver 5 firm back blows. Location - between the shoulder blades. Use the heel of your hand.

CHEST THRUSTS:
Turn the infant in a supine position. Use two fingers. Location - lower half of the sternum. Give 5 chest thrusts, depth 4cm. Alternate back blows and chest thrusts untill the object is expelled or the infant becomes unresponsive.

HEIMLICH MANEUVER FOR KIDS AND ADULTS:
Use this technique when the patient cannot speak, cough and/or show signs of severe airway obstruction. Follow these instructions. Stand behind the patient. Make a fist with one hand. Place fist above the umbilicus and below the xiphoid. Grasp fist with your other hand. Deliver quick inward and upward thrusts. Repeat untill object is expelled or if patient becomes unresponsive.

CONTRADICTIONS:
The heimlich maneuver should not be performed on infants, pregnant women and obese patients. Abdominal thrusts are not allowed. Instead use chest thrusts. Hands placed on the lower half of the sternum. If the patient becomes unresponsive, call emergency services. Then start CPR, check their mouth for visible object before ventilation. Remove object only if visible.

KEY SAFETY POINTS:
Chocking is one of the most overlooked accidents and the 4th leading cause of accidental deaths. Always be prepared with basic first aid. Never perform the heimlich maneuver on infants, pregnant women and obese patients.

Never do blind finger sweeps. Proper age-based techniques prevent injuries. Early intervention saves lives 😉👍

13/01/2026

Let's explain a Baker's Cyst anatomy 🤔

Baker's Cyst, also known as a popliteal synovial cyst, is a fluid-filled swelling that develops in the popliteal fossa (the hallow space at the back of the knee). It is typical caused by the protrusion of the semi-membranosus bursa due to underlying knee joint issues.

Most baker's cysts are found incidentally and are asymptomatic. However, when symptoms occur, they often include the following 👉

SYMPTOMS:
Physical Signs - visible swelling or prominence in the back of the knee, leg edema and decreased range of motion. Foucher Sign - a classic clinical finding where the cyst becomes firm when the knee is fully extended and softens when the knee is bent (flexed). Pain & Sensation - discomfort in the popliteal space, especially during prolonged standing or hyper flexion. In some cases it can cause "shooting" (lancinating) pain down the back of the leg.

CAUSES & MECHANISM:
The cyst is essentially a "safety valve" for the knee. When the knee joint produces too much synovial fluid (often due to inflammation or injury), the fluid is pushed into the bursa at the base of the joint. Common underlying conditions are osteo-arthritis, meniscal tears, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Note, in children these cysts are usually primary (they arise on their own without injury). In adults its secondary to another pathology.

TREATMENT:
Treatment usually focuses on the underlying cause of the fluid buildup rather than the cyst itself. Reducing swelling, improving knee flexibility and strength as well as addressing underlying causes with techniques like manual therapy, mobilization and strengthening excercises to stabilize the joint and ease pain.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

12/01/2026

How Nerve Location relates to pain 🤔

Did you know, the path your pain travels can indicate which lumbar nerve is irritated, a condition known as lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica, with different areas.

For example, pain radiating down the back of the thigh and into the calf and heel is often associated with an L5 or S1 nerve root, while an L4 nerve root might cause pain that moves more into the front of the thigh and shin. Let's explain how nerve location relates to pain.

L4 NERVE ROOT:
Irritation here can cause pain, numbness or weakness that travels down the front of the thigh and shin. You may experience weakness when trying to lift your foot (dorsiflexion).

L5 NERVE ROOT:
This often causes pain that travels from the lower back and buttocks down to the outer thigh, the front or side of the lower leg, and the top of the foot. Weakness in the ability to lift your foot (dorsiflexion is common).

S1 NERVE ROOT:
This is a common cause of pain that radiates down the back of the thigh, into the calf and to the heel and outer side of the foot. Weakness is present when rising onto your tiptoes and the achilles reflex may be lost.

TREATMENT:
Seek treatment if you experience severe leg weakness, loss of sensation in the leg, mobility difficulty and/or severe pain in the buttocks, legs and hips. Treatment focuses on evaluating the cause, nerve stimulation, mobilization, manual therapy as well as mayfascial release therapy.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

19/12/2025

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2026 🎄🎍🎀❤️💐

18/12/2025

Did you know that the path your pain travels, can indicate which lumbar nerve is irritated. Let's explain 🤔

It's a condition known as lumbar radiculopathy with different nerves affecting different areas of the body. For example, pain radiating down the back of the thigh and into the calf and heel is often associated with an L5 or S1 nerve root, while an L4 nerve root might cause pain that moves more into the front of the thigh and shin. Let's explain how nerve location relates to pain.

L4 - NERVE ROOT:
Irritation here can cause pain, numbness or weakness that travels down the front of the thigh and shin. You may experience weakness when trying to lift your foot (dorsiflexion).

L5 - NERVE ROOT:
This often causes pain that travels from the lower back and buttocks down to the outer thigh, the front or side of the lower leg and the top of the foot. Weakness in the ability to lift your foot (dorsiflexion) is common.

S1 - NERVE ROOT:
This is a common cause of pain that radiates down the back of the thigh, into the calf and to the heel and outer side of the foot. Weakness is present when rising onto your tiptoes and the achilles reflex may be lost.

WHEN TO SEEK TREATMENT:
Seek treatment if you experience severe leg weakness, loss of sensation in the leg or sudden bladder or bowel issues.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

17/12/2025

Why your Jaw only clicks on one side: Let's explain 🤔

If your jaw only clicks on one side and your neck feels tighter on that same side, it's not random. It's not just the TMJ. It's a full body sensory loop that starts with the tongue and spinal down through the posture.

Your jaw clicks on one side because the disc is no longer centered. When the tongue rests unevenly or your bite hits early on one side, it pulls the disc out of place.

When your tongue drops unevenly or doesn't rest against the roof of the mouth, the jaw closes off-center. That means one side crashes early while the other side has to rotate to catch up. That early contact shifts the disc in the TMJ and the click you hear is the disc slipping in and out of position.

Everytime you open or close the mouth, that pattern re-inforces itself. But the body doesn't let the jaw twist alone.

The neck tightens to protect the joint. The head tilts or rotates to stay upright. The spine bends to accommodate the new head position. Your weight distribution shifts into one foot more than the other. And now you're not just clicking, you're rotating. Neck stiffness, shoulder tension, ribcage compression and foot instability can all trace back to that single asymmetry in the jaw.

If you've been chasing neck pain or jaw pain without results, this is why. Fixing the click isn't about massaging the neck or wearing a splint. It's about retraining the tongue, decompressing the jaw joint and restoring postural symmetry from the ground up. This isn't a local fix. It's a system reset, and most people miss it entirely. Your jaw is trying to tell you something. Stop ignoring it.

TREATMENT:
With forward head posture, the jaw hits early on one side, it jams the TMJ and the brain recruits deep neck flexors to protect the joint. These constant tension slides the head in front of the body and locks it there.

Treatment focuses on identifying the cause with movement assessment and uses excercises, manual therapy, mobilization and alignment. Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍🙂

16/12/2025

What Swollen Lymph Nodes mean. Let's explain 🤔

Swollen lymph nodes reflect an activated immune response in which lymphatic tissue enlarges to filter pathogens and inflammation. This enlargement is usually temporarily and indicates that the immune system is actively working.

Swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) are commen and that's actually a good thing. These pea or bean-sized tissues swell when the body fights illness. It's a normal immune response. It means that the immune system is trying to manage whatever's making you sick.

People often call lymph nodes "glands", but they are not. These nodes are part of the lymphatic system. They work like filters, clearing germs and waste from the lymph fluid. This clear or yellowish fluid consists of white blood cells, proteins and fatty components called lipids.

Lymph nodes come in groups or clusters, usually around major blood vessel junctions. While some groups are just underneath the skin, others are too deep to feel. The body has about 800 lymph nodes found neck, armpits, chest, belly and groin.

WHAT COUNTS AS SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES?
Size and Shape Changes - lymph nodes size depends on location. They're usually oval-shaped and about 1-2 cm across. Pain or Tenderness - common sign of inflammation. Consistency Changes - checking if lymp node feel hard and rubbery. Matting - that can make clusters of lymph nodes feel stuck together. Location - the condition you have can affect which lymph node swell. Location of swelling also matters, you get generalized swelling and localized swelling.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
The lymph nodes swell when immune cells meet up before the body sends cells where they're needed. The immune cells all essentially pile in, causing pressure and swelling. Upper respiratory infections are the leading cause of swollen lymph nodes. You can have swollen lymph nodes with commen colds and flu, sinus infection, minor skin infections and bacterial infection.

Other causes include viral diseases, uncommen bacterial infection. Other causes include viral diseases, uncommen bacterial diseases, auto-immune diseases and endocrine conditions.

WHAT IS MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE? Manual lymph drainage is used for lymphedema relief. It re-directs the excess fluid out of swollen limbs and into an area of the body that has not been affected, so it can be filtered out and excreted properly.

Treatment (manual lymph drainage) available, contact me for more info 👍😉

15/12/2025

Whiplash: It's more than just a neck strain 🤔

A comprehensive look at what whiplash does to the brain-body integration system. Most people think of whiplash as "just a neck injury", but new research show it can affect deep neutral pathways and balance systems (even when conventional imaging shows no obvious damage).

Let's explore what science tells us and how this aligns with how the brain integrates sensory information.

WHY WHIPLASH IS MORE THAN MUSCULO-SKELETAL INJURY:
When the head is suddenly accelerated (as in car accidents or sports collisions) the force transmitted through the neck are not confined to muscles and ligaments, they also travel to the brain.

This acceleration-deceleration mechanism is a potential cause of mild traumatic brain injury, even in absence of traditional structural lesions on imaging. In other words, whiplash can cause true neurological disruption, not just soft tissue sprains.

WHY PATIENTS EXPERIENCE LINGERING SYMPTOMS:
After whiplash, the nervous system may not "reset" automatically leading to proprioceptive mismatch, postural instability, sensory conflict between neck, vestibular, visual systems and heightened autonomic responses.

The brain interprets conflicting sensory input as uncertainty or potential threat, which can perpetuate symptoms such as dizziness and imbalance, headaches, brain fog ect. These symptoms are not random, they are rooted in how the brain tries to reconcile inaccurate input after trauma.

HOW THIS FITS IN A FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY FRAMEWORK:
From a functional neurology perspective, the cervical spine is a source of sensory input, not just a support structure. Disruption of proprioception alters sensorimotor control and balance.

Central nervous system pathways may be affected even without visible lesions. Symptoms reflect disrupted integration rather than isolated mechanical pain.

This understanding bridges classic anatomical injury concepts and modern insights into neural connectivity and functional impairment.

KEY TAKEAWAY:
Whiplash is not simply a neck strain, it can involve altered sensory input from the neck, central pathway injury, impaired balance and postural control. Long term neurological adaption that sustains symptoms. Scientific evidence shows that whiplash can affect both peripheral sensorimotor systems and central neural pathways, providing a biological explanation for persistent symptoms, even when imaging looks normal.

Knowledge is power and understanding the science behind whiplash, can help patients and physicians approach recovery successfully 👍😉

14/12/2025

Just because the test says "FINE", doesn't mean a person's pain is imaginary 😉👍

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