National Exercise Day – 18th April 2025
It’s time to put away that smart phone or computer, get off the couch and get moving! If the weather is fine, it would be a great time to take a quick walk or go for a jog. And if it’s still a little cold outside, do some inside aerobic movement such as a treadmill walk or a dance workout. With lots of options based on preference, it’s easy to get involved with National Exercise Day!
How to Celebrate National Exercise Day
Show some love for your body by getting involved with National Exercise Day. Get creative with ways to get involved, including some of these:
Get Moving
The best way to get started celebrating National Exercise Day is to get moving. Some people might have started a resolution for exercise on New Year’s Day that is a long and distance memory. That’s okay! It’s never too late to begin a new habit, so take this opportunity to put on your trainers and get out to do some exercise.
Remember the Benefits of Exercise
Though most people know, here are some little reminders of how important exercise is to the body and mind:
• Exercise can reduce the risk of disease including heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
• Exercise strengthens the bones, preventing brittleness and osteoporosis in old age.
• Exercise boosts energy, improves the mood and offers an overall better quality of life.
Get an Exercise Buddy
One of the most difficult things about starting a new habit of exercise is lack of accountability. Invite your partner to buddy up with you in a new habit of exercise. Folks who live alone could find a neighbour or friend who would make a good accountability partner and motivator. Make plans to meet up for a walk, go for a bicycle ride, or go through a strength training course at the local park/gym. Whatever kind of exercise it is, it’s almost always better with a buddy! https://nationaltoday.com/national-exercise-day/
Continuining Professional Development
On March 13th, Ed (Sports Therapist) successfully completed his cupping qualification in Nottingham. The full-day course covered the history of cupping in both Egyptian and Chinese medicine, along with the scientific reasons for its continued use today. He acquired numerous new techniques, including gliding, and learned how to apply cups for various injuries. Much of the day was spent practicing these new techniques on different individuals, as well as experiencing the treatment himself to gain a deeper understanding of the sensations involved. Various types of cups, such as silicone, glass, and plastic, were utilized throughout the treatments.
What is Cupping?
Cupping therapy is an ancient healing technique that some people use to ease pain. Cups are placed on your back, stomach, arms, legs or other parts of your body. A vacuum or suction force inside the cup pulls your skin upward.
Cupping therapy is a form of traditional medicine that originated in China and West Asia. Cupping can be found in ancient Egypt and in some religions. People have practiced this method for thousands of years.
What does cupping therapy do?
Cupping uses suction to draw skin, fat, fascia and muscle up, opposite to massage. This can increase blood supply with certain techniques used. Cupping can also decompress the area it is placed on, with the vacuum, such as lower backs. People mostly use cupping to relieve conditions that cause pain. Some people say it also helps with chronic (ongoing) health issues. Cupping may ease symptoms of:
• Arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis.
• Back pain, neck pain, knee pain and shoulder pain.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders like irritable bowel disease (IBD).
• Headaches and migraines.
• High blood pressure (hypertension).
How does cupping work?
Suction from cupping draws skin, fat, fascia and muscle up into the treated area. This suction force expands and breaks open tiny blood vessels (capillaries) under your skin. This causes a seepage of blood into surrounding tissues whist allowing the vessel walls to stay intact (diapedesis). Your body replenishes the cupped areas with healthier blood flow and stimulates proper and normal healing at a cellular level. Because of this effect, some people think that cupping releases toxins.
What should I expect after cupping?
The suction force from cupping breaks open tiny blood vessels called capillaries under your skin. You can have red, round cupping therapy marks that should fade in a week or two depending on how long they were put on for. Although these marks will look like bruises, they’re not true bruises that injure muscle fibers. Often a bruise is from a rapid impact that ruptures the small blood vessels under the skin, however, cupping is a low force over a much longer period of time without the trauma causing the discolouration on the skin.
Does cupping hurt?
Cupping shouldn’t cause pain, though you may experience some skin tightness during the procedure. After cupping therapy, you may feel bruised and slightly sore, but you shouldn’t have severe discomfort.
If you feel the cupping technique would be of benefit to you please contact us to book an appointment on 01487 843844 or complete our Pre-Appointment form available on our website https://www.hardingphysiotherapy.co.uk/appointments/
Golf Longevity Presentation
We held the third of our free health and wellbeing events on 25th March 2025. This event was focused on golf longevity and was aimed at golf enthusiasts looking for some helpful tips on how to stay in the game for longer by avoiding injuries. The event was presented by Matt Griib, Sports Therapist, BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy (and also a keen golfer). We are pleased to report that it was a great success with 17 people attending on the night who left with lots of useful information about how to play golf until they’re 100!!! We have since had very positive feedback and it was good see so many friendly faces.
Our next free event will be held on Tuesday 29th April 2025 (6pm – 7pm) and will focus on Fitness for Lawn Bowls. The event will be presented by Chelsea Harding, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, HCPC Registered. This event is part of a series of free education evenings at our clinic. Each one will focus on a different topic (so far, we have had managing new pain & injury and golf longevity) so keep an eye out for something that could benefit your health.
We hope to see you there!
