Our Team

 

 Graham Morgan, CONSULTANT PHYSIOTHERAPIST, BSc Physiotherapy, MSc Musculoskeletal Medicine, INDEPENDENt physiotherapist PRESCRIBER, INJECTION THERAPIST, MCSP, HCPC registered

Graham has been working as a Clinical Lead Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist for over a decade now, he is the Clinical Lead for our clinic and acts as a mentor for the majority of the team. He has studied to gain an additional masters degree in Musculoskeletal Medicine alongside his previous physiotherapy degree. His main specialty is management of complex spinal conditions and he continues to work full time in his advanced clinical practice role with the spinal surgeons in the local NHS trust. Graham is a Clinical Lead for the region in management of back pain. Part of his role within the clinic involves planning and implementing high level combined physical and cognitive therapies programs for people with persistent spinal pain, he is trained in cognitive functional therapy. Graham treats patients with longstanding lower back pain with or without leg symptoms, neck pain with or without arm symptoms, post operative spines and patients who may have developed neurological deficits. He is experienced at interpreting spinal imaging as well as recognising when imaging may be required to assist care. Graham is also an independent prescriber and an experienced injection therapist and is used to administering steroid and hyaluronic acid such as synvisc and ostenil to help patients manage chronic conditions.

Niall carter, CONSULTANT PHYSIOTHERAPIST, BSc physiotherapy, msc advanced physiotherapy, independent physiotherapist PRESCRIBER, INJECTION THERAPIST, MCSP, HCPC registered

Nial is one of the most qualified and experienced Physiotherapists in the region. We are very lucky to have him as part of our team. When he is not working at Consortium as one of our Clinical Lead therapists he holds the same role as Graham working as an advanced clinical practicioner in the management of complex spinal conditions within the local spinal surgical team. Nial is also a Clinical Lead within our NHS region in the management of persistent back pain. Part of his role within the clinic involves planning and implementing high level combined physical and cognitive therapies programs for people with persistent spinal pain. Alongside this, he is vastly experienced in managing a wide variety of other musculoskeletal complaints. In addition to his two degrees in Physiotherapy he also an independent physiotherapist prescriber aswell as an injection therapist.

clare haslam, CONSULTANT WOMENS HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST, bsc physiotherapy, mcsp, pogp, hcpc registereD, MUMMY MOT PRACTICIONER

Clare is a Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist within the local NHS trust and has been for over 10 years. She is regional expert in Women’s Health, is a member of the special interest group Pelvic, Obstetric & Gynaecology Physiotherapy (POGP) and is a certified Mummy MOT practitioner. She specialises in treating a variety of women’s health conditions including pelvic floor dysfunction, overactive pelvic floor, pelvic floor weakness, pelvic organ prolapse, bladder and bowel dysfunction such as urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, constipation and faecal incontinence. Although she does not see women during pregnancy, Clare can offer support with post pregnancy related conditions such as weak pelvic floor, obstetric injuries, rectus diastasis. As a certified Mummy MOT practitioner she offers specialist post natal examinations to help women recover after vaginal or caesarean deliveries (read more about this on our blog). Clares scope of practice also includes Male Health Physiotherapy for pre and post prostatectomy: including assessment, treatment and support with urinary incontinence and errectile dysfunction.

Abi Holt, CLINICAL LEAD MSK PHYSIOTHERAPIST, Bsc Physiotherapy, INJECTION THERAPIST, MCSP, HCPC registered

Abi has been working as a Clinical Lead Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist for a number of years now. When she is not working at Consortium she is one of the senior staff in the local hospital MSK physiotherapy department while she also works in the local emergency department assessing and managing patients with acute MSK conditions. She has gained extensive post graduate training in all aspects of MSK physiotherapy including Injection Therapy. She also has a special interest in treating spinal pathology, especially patients with chronic lower back pain. Abi works with Molly in heading up our team of Ossur brace fitters where they frequently fit patients with the Unloader One brace to help with knee osteoarthritis.

Gary Bradley, CLINICAL LEAD MSK PHYSIOTHERAPOST, BSc Physiotherapy, INJECTION THERAPIST, MCSP, HCPC registered

Gary is a Clinical Lead Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Injection Therapist. He supplements his work at Consortium by working in the East Yorkshire NHS services as a Team Lead MSK Physiotherapist. He has a wealth of experience having spent many years working within different facets of musculoskeletal medicine. He is skilled at seeing patients with hyper-acute injuries aswell as managing chronic conditions and long term rehab. Gary has extensive post graduate training, he spends time at the clinic implementing high level combined physical and cognitive therapies programs for people with persistent spinal pain, he is also trained in cognitive functional therapy.

Gary has always been driven to specialise in MSK Physiotherapy he is currently mid way through his Masters degree in advanced Physiotherapy. He is also an experienced injection therapist and is used to administering steroid and hyaluronic acid such as synvisc and ostenil to help patients manage chronic conditions.

His main focus is to empower his patients to be able to understand their condition and to manage it as effectively and independently as possible.

Tom Nozedar, SENIOR MSK PHYSIOTHERAPIST, MSC physiotherapy, bsc sports rehabilitation, mcsp hcpC registered

Tom is an experienced senior Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist. He works as a Senior MSK Physiotherapist within the NHS and is part of our in house Consortium MSK Physiotherapy mentorship program. Tom is an asset to our team, and can offer our patients a wide range of skills having initially graduated as a Sports Rehabilitator before returning to study and gain his Masters degree in Physiotherapy.

ShAFEEQ younus, SENIOR MSK PHYSIOTHERAPIST BSc Physiotherapy BSc, bsc SPORTS REHABILITATION, LEVEL 3 IN SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY, hcpc registered

Shafeeq has a BSc degree in both Physiotherapy from Sheffield Hallum University and also a full degree in Sports Rehabilitation.

Aswell as seeing patients for Physiotherapy, Shafeeq also sees lots of patients for soft tissue work and he is often in high demand. His training and experience leaves him really well placed for any advice on pain, injuries and rehabilitation.

Shafeeq is a really valued member of our team having been with us throughout his training period on the Physiotherapy degree. He is now part of our in house Consortium MSK Physiotherapy mentorship program.

bart klimek, SENIOR MSK PHYSIOTHERAPIST, BSc Physiotherapy, bsc sports rehabilitation, level 3 in sports massage therapY, HCPC REGISTERED

Bart has a BSc degree in both Physiotherapy from Sheffield Hallum University and also a full degree in Sports Rehabilitation.

He is an experienced soft tissue therapist having graduated in Sports Rehabilitation a number of years ago from Hull University before then going on to become a fully qualified MSK Physiotherapist. Alongside his work at Consortium, he also works as an MSK Physio for the local East Yorkshire NHS MSK Physiotherapy team.

His sports rehabilitation experience as well as his physiotherapy degree leave him in strong position to manage a wide variety of MSK patients whether it be for soft tissue work/massage, or management of a variety of MSK complaints and sports injuries.

debbie robinson : senior rehabilitation therapist, associate member of the chartered society of physiotherapists

Debbie has been working as a Rehabilitaton Therapist for over 25 years. For the last 13 years she has been carrying out community home visits as part of the local NHS Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team. Her vast experience in orthopaedic rehab, care of the elderly and with amputees makes her a valuable member of our team who can offer these services to patients in their own home or care facility as required.

MASSAGE TEAM:

bart klimek BSc Physiotherapy, bsc sports rehabilitation, level 3 in sports massage therapY, HCPC REGISTERED

Bart has a BSc degree in both Physiotherapy from Sheffield Hallum University and also a full degree in Sports Rehabilitation.

He is an experienced soft tissue therapist having graduated in Sports Rehabilitation a number of years ago from Hull University before then going on to become a fully qualified MSK Physiotherapist. Alongside his work at Consortium, he also works as an MSK Physio for the local East Yorkshire NHS MSK Physiotherapy team.

His sports rehabilitation experience as well as his physiotherapy degree leave him in strong position to manage a wide variety of MSK patients whether it be for soft tissue work/massage, or management of a variety of MSK complaints and sports injuries.

To find out more about the Consortium Sports Massage service please use this link. 

Does stretching actually prevent injury?

Our worst nightmare as a runner or athlete is getting injured. We often try all kinds of methods to prevent this…

What do we think actually causes injury?  

Do the traditional things we do to prevent injuries like stretching actually help?

A study carried out by Saragiotto et al, 2014 (SOURCE) found runners to believe that not stretching both before and after their run would leave them more likely to get injured. This is something that is  commonly discussed in the Consortium clinic with our clients. We therefore felt this to be an important topic for us to provide an evidence based opinion on to help our clients separate fact from fiction.

Can static stretching reduce my chances of getting injured?

Static stretching (holding a position to stretch a muscle for a sustained period of time) historically has been a routine of many runners/athletes prior to beginning their activities to prevent against injury. However.... more recent evidence has suggested it’s maybe not as worth your while as you first thought! Lauersen (2013) (SOURCE) found static stretching did not have any protective effects with no support found for stretching and preventing injury when carried out either before or after activity. In fact.... it has also been suggested it can instead have a negative impact on the level of your performance! Did you know static stretches held for 45 seconds or longer, prior to activity can reduce maximal strength, power and muscular explosive performance, such as when jumping and sprinting? (Simic, 2012) (SOURCE). 

OK...... So 45 seconds is a long time to hold a static stretch…

So what if I stretch for a shorter time? 

Static stretching for shorter periods has been less associated with the previously mentioned negative effects but still has no benefit towards injury prevention, this may lead you to ask whether it is worth your time doing both before and after exercise? 

Should I continue to stretch? Or is there a better alternative?

One thing we do know is that gradual muscle strengthening has demonstrated the ability to reduce sporting injuries by 1/3 and over-use injuries by a 1/2 (Lauersen, 2013) (SOURCE). More recently, specific eccentric muscle strengthening (working the muscle as it lengthens) has also been shown to both improve and gain long standing muscle length through a process of ‘sarcomeregenesis’ (increasing amount of contractile units in the muscle) (O’Sullivan, 2012) (SOURCE). 

So what does this actually mean? In essence, if we included and carried out a specific graded eccentric muscle strengthening routine as part of our weekly training schedule we can ‘kill two birds with one stone’. By not only improving strength, which is proven to reduce the likelihood of injuries, but also by improving your flexibility at the same time if this is one of your aims. An example of this has been demonstrated with studies around the hamstring muscles suggesting an increase in muscle fascicle length by 1/2cm by using eccentric strengthening can reduce the chances of injury by up to 70% (Askling, 2014) (SOURCE). 

But I feel better after stretching… so Should I stop doing this or carry on? 

Often clients have carried out static stretches as part of their routines and ’rituals’ before races/competition/games for many years and it makes them feel good and ‘ready to go’… So if you feel happier continuing to do this it is perfectly O.K, although as we have discussed there is no evidence towards preventing injury and holding them less than 45 seconds should have no negative effects on your performance.

An alternative that you also may be aware of is dynamic stretching (using controlled movement and momentum of the body part e.g. whilst standing raising your knee towards your stomach then back to it's starting position repeatedly in a controlled manner to move the muscle from one end of its range to the other). Although this again has little evidence towards injury prevention. Instead, it may be more suited and is recommended to be included in a warm up to gradually prepare your body for the activity in hand (Behm, 2011) (SOURCE). 

However, it is also worth mentioning that if your sport requires your joints to achieve sustained extremes of movement such as in Ballet or Kick boxing then static stretching is recommended to be carried out before in short duration to prevent impairment (Behm, 2011) (SOURCE).  

Summary…

To summarise, static stretching before activity is something we have done for many years with the feeling it would ‘stop us pulling a muscle’, but surprisingly the evidence towards this is in fact pretty poor. A better alternative to prevent injury is suggested to be a gradual eccentric strengthening routine included in your weekly training plan. But as mentioned above this is not to say you can’t ever carry out static stretches again… As even though this is maybe not doing what we thought it was to prevent injury, it is not going to do you much harm either.

Hope you’ve enjoyed reading our latest ‘blog’… If you have any questions or would like any further information such as, how to implement a specific eccentric strengthening routine please don’t hesitate to contact us via our Facebook page, Website or telephone and one of our team will be more than happy to help. Also if there are any specific topics you’d be keen for us to cover in our next installments of our blog please let us know.

Kind regards,  

The Consortium Team

Chronic pain cycle

This diagram will be familiar territory for many people living with pain. We encounter patients on a daily basis who are stuck in this cycle...

TRYING TO EXERCISE BUT YOU CAN’T BECAUSE OF PAIN? LEADING TO MORE WEIGHT GAIN, MORE TISSUE DECONDITIONING, MORE TIME OFF WORK, MORE STRESS, MORE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, MORE DEPRESSION, MORE PAIN… 

Diagram reproduced with permission from Pete Moore/paintoolkit.org

In many patients this cycle can be minimised to varying degrees. Consortium provides physiotherapy including: pacing, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), acupuncture, TENS therapy, education, sensibly prescribed simple and graded exercises, medications, injections and manual therapy. These are all valid ways to intervene. Alongside this we offer support, encouraging patients to reach acceptance. Many of these can be easily implemented in simple ways, without significant costs. 

There are many free, easily accessible resources available for patients living with pain. Here are two that we often direct people towards:

LEAFLET explain pain - click here 

video understanding PAIn in less than 5 minutes

Thanks for reading