Physiofit Leeds Ltd

Physiofit sports physiotherapists can treat a range of sports injuries including:

- Ligament injuries
- Muscle strains
- Achilles tendonitis
- Patellar tendonitis
- Tennis and golfer's elbow
- Rotator cuff injuries

Sports Rehabilitation

Sports rehabilitation is the use of exercise to rehabilitate after injury or surgery to optimise recovery. Rehabilitation can reduce the amount of time needed away from the sport and reduce the risk of re-Injury. It is vital in the success of many orthopaedic operations including:

- Hip, knee and shoulder arthroscopy
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) repair
- Rotator cuff repair
- Shoulder surgery post dislocation
- Ankle ligament surgery
- Spinal surgery

Dizziness, vertigo and balance problems are some of the symptoms that can be helped by a specific form of physiotherapy called vestibular rehabilitation. Vestibular Rehabilitation is a form of exercise based treatment which promotes central nervous system compensation for inner ear deficits.

It involves specific techniques and exercises which can help with a variety of vestibular problems which include:

- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Issues associated with Meniere's disease
- Issues associated with labrynthitis
- Issues associated with vestibular neuritis
- Acute or abrupt loss of vestibular function following surgery for vestibular disorders

Vestibular rehabilitation can also help people with more longstanding inner ear disorders who have failed to improve with a more traditional medical management model.

You can ring or email to discuss the problem with Suzie Crellin, Physiofit's physiotherapist specialising in this treatment.

Respiratory physiotherapy is the treatment of various lung conditions with the use of manual techniques for sputum clearance, breathing exercises, pulmonary rehabilitation and education.

Conditions we are able to treat include:

- Bronchiectasis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Asthma
- Hyperventilation Syndrome (HVS)

Suzie Crellin is a specialist out patient respiratory physiotherapist who has experience of working alongside chest physicians in the treatment of lung conditions. She specialises in the treatment of HVS.

Hyperventilation Syndrome

Hyperventilation Syndrome (HVS) is a respiratory disorder which can also be known as panic attacks or acute anxiety attacks. It is a very frightening and often complex condition and diagnosis can be difficult. HVS is a collection of physical and emotional symptoms brought on by over-breathing. Emotional stress causes our breathing to become quicker and shallower. Over time this can have an effect on the chemical balances within the body (reduction of carbon dioxide and an increase in our arterial pH levels). This can cause a variety of unpleasant and often frightening symptoms such as:

- Breathlessness, tight chest
- Tingling (especially in fingers, arms and mouth)
- Dizziness, blurred vision, faintness, headaches
- Palpitations
- Sickness, abdominal pain
- Acute feelings of anxiety, tension, fatigue (often without cause)

The main cause of HVS is stress and how our body copes with it. Treatment focuses on re-education of the breathing dysfunction through very simple and effective exercises, and also focusing on how to take control of your breathing to prevent recurrence of HVS.

Suzie has worked with clients with this condition for over six years and set up a HVS clinic in her previous workplace.

Women's Health Physiotherapy includes treatment for conditions that exclusively affect women. This includes obstetric (ante/post natal) and gynaecological problems, and help following breast surgery. Problems we can help with include:

- Pelvic girdle pain
- Diastasis recti (or separation of the abdominals)
- Pelvic floor problems
- Menopausal symptoms
- Breast surgery rehabilitation

We also offer our New Mum MOT service, a post natal health check for new mums to help optimise recovery following childbirth.

Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Previously known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), PGP is a descriptive term for symptoms of pain in the joints of the pelvis. These are the pubic symphysis and sacro-iliac joints.

Pain in these joints is very common during pregnancy (affecting up to 70% of women in some studies). Symptoms can range from mild discomfort on certain movements to severe pain with all activities. Those with very severe symptoms may need to use crutches or a wheelchair for a period of time. Only around 20% of women will suffer severe symptoms and many resolve after birth with only around 7% of women suffering post natally.

Physiofit have several physiotherapists who specialise in the treatment of PGP both with physiotherapy and Pilates based rehabilitation exercise. We work in association with the founders of The Pelvic Partnership, a charity offering advice and support for sufferers of PGP. All the techniques used are gentle and non-invasive and specifically designed for the treatment of pregnant and post natal women. We offer advice on the use of support belts and stabilising exercises and can discuss the best options for labour. Treatment can be started immediately after childbirth if the pain persists or occurs at this time.

Diastasis Recti
Also known as "separation" of the abdominal muscles this is the stretching and thinning of the soft tissue in the centre of the abdomen which divides the right and left half of the abdominal muscles. It occurs in the 3rd trimester and is considered a normal effect of pregnancy as it occurs in 66% of women. It should return to normal by 6 weeks post natally. In some cases it does not return to normal within this time. This may be due to the diastasis being very large during pregnancy (due to a large baby, multiple pregnancy or several pregnancies in succession), or by incorrect use of the abdominal muscles post natally.

Physiofit have several physiotherapists who specialise in the treatment of Diastasis Recti and who are trained to assess the degree of separation and teach the correct exercises to help resolve it. We will monitor your progress and can give advice about when you are able to return to exercise safely.

Both men and women can experience bladder problems and other symptoms of pelvic floor weakness related to urological or gynaecological conditions or operations.

Women

Pelvic floor physiotherapy has been shown to be beneficial for a range of conditions such as:

- stress or urgency urinary incontinence (urine loss)
- pelvic organ prolapse (a feeling of heaviness, pressure or bulging in the vagina)
- anal incontinence (loss of stool or wind)
- symptoms of lax pelvic floor muscles (e.g. sexual dysfunction)
- vulval pain

Women can be particularly vulnerable to urinary incontinence and other symptoms related to their pelvic floor muscles at different times in their life e.g.:

- pregnancy
- post-natally
- menopause
- older age

Physiofit physiotherapists Caroline Bilmen, Gill Brook and Jenny Heron specialise in the treatment of pelvic floor problems. Assessment involves questions about medical history, background to the problem, current symptoms, and normally a physical examination (with your consent). Goals and appropriate treatment would be discussed and agreed, and might include specific and holistic advice, appropriate exercise, and additional therapies such as biofeedback and nerve stimulation.

Men

Pelvic floor physiotherapy has been shown to be beneficial for a range of conditions such as urinary incontinence and other bladder symptoms such as urinary urgency (sudden need to empty your bladder) and urinary frequency (going to the toilet more often than usual).

It is believed that around 1 in 6 men will have problems with bladder control at some time in their life, and they may be particularly vulnerable if they are experiencing problems with their prostate gland. There is a high incidence of some urinary incontinence in the weeks following a prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate gland) and men are often advised to learn and practice pelvic floor muscle exercises both before and after the operation.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy may also help with bowel problems such as constipation, faecal incontinence or poor control of wind.

Physiofit physiotherapists Caroline Bilmen and Jenny Heron specialise in the treatment of pelvic floor problems. Assessment involves questions about medical history, background to the problem, current symptoms, and normally a physical examination (with your consent). Goals and appropriate treatment would be discussed and agreed, and might include specific and holistic advice, appropriate exercise, and additional therapies such as biofeedback and nerve stimulation.

Physiofit Leeds offer a New Mum MOT; a post natal health check for new mums to help optimise your body's recovery following the birth of your baby. Most women have weakness in the muscles of the tummy and the pelvic floor after giving birth and a caesarean delivery can further weaken the tummy muscles. The lower back and pelvis are also vulnerable after childbirth and when looking after a young baby. It is recommended that all women have a check-up around 6 weeks after delivery, but the health check can still be useful later on.

During the hour long session we will ask about your concerns, any problems and about your aims and objectives.

- Do you have any aches and pains, or symptoms of pelvic floor weakness?
- Do you want to know when you should get back to exercise and what form exercise is safest to start with?
- Do you want to get back to you pre-pregnancy level of sport as quickly but safely as possible?
- Are you are thinking of future pregnancies and want to get your body prepared?
- Do you feel your family is now complete and you want to get your body back in shape?

The health check includes:
- Assessment of your posture and of your lower back and pelvis
- Assessment of your abdominal muscles for "gapping" and strength
- Assessment of the function of your pelvic floor muscles

We will then give you personalised and specific advice based on any areas identified during the session. You will leave with the relevant advice, exercises and a plan for getting your body back to its optimum.

We may recommend that you have further assessment with our specialist pelvic floor physiotherapists, or refer you to our post natal exercise specialists, or post natal Pilates classes if you would like continued guidance.

Pilates aims to rebalance the body improving posture, strength, core stability, flexibility and balance.

Physiofit Pilates targets both mind and body with smooth flowing movements co-ordinated with efficient breathing. The progressive, functional exercises are ideal for everyone from those recovering from injury to athletes wishing to enhance performance.

Pilates has been proved to be beneficial in the prevention and rehabilitation of many injuries and conditions including back pain, neck pain and arthritis. It is used by many sports people and recommended by health professionals. The focus on correct breathing movement can also benefit those suffering from asthma or stress related conditions.

Pilates was first developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920's but gained popularity as it was adopted by physiotherapists as a form of rehabilitation exercise in the 1990's. Physiofit Pilates combines these traditional Pilates movements with stability techniques used in Physiotherapy to provide a safe form of exercise accessible to all.

Physiofit Pilates Courses

Physiofit run all the classes as courses and time them to coincide with the Leeds City Council school half term blocks. They are usually 6-8 weeks long. After each course there is a break week, when we run a smaller timetable of classes that can be used by those needing to make up missed classes, or paid for as extra. The classes are progressive so we prefer people to start at the beginning of a course.

Please use the links to the left to see the full list of courses for the next academic year, along with the current timetable and course fees.