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Latest News from Harding Physiotherapy 

Cycle to Work Day – 1st August 2024  
Cycle to Work Day is the UK’s biggest cycling commuting event. This year workers all around the country will be encouraged to get on their bikes and get into work the best way possible – on two wheels (or three for tricyclists!) 
It’s an event for everyone, from people who haven’t hopped on a bike since their school days to committed cycle commuters. 
What matters is jumping on a bike, giving it a go and joining a community of cyclists sharing all that’s good about cycling to work. 
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
 
We offer an acupuncture service at Harding Physiotherapy. All our Therapists are fully trained to be able to offer acupuncture as part of the treatment for your musculskeletal pain and injuries, if it is clinically indicated. If you would like to know more, either contact us at the clinic or speak to one of our Therapists next time you are in the clinic. 
 
What is Acupuncture 
It involves the insertion of very fine stainless steel needles into the skin. There is a growing body of scientific evidence and clinical research supporting its effectiveness. It can be used in physiotherapy to treat a wide range of common health problems and to reduce pain. 
 
How does Acupuncture work 
Acupuncture stimulates the body to produce endorphins and oxytocin, its own pain and stress-relieving chemicals. It may promote sleep by stimulating the release of melatonin and encourage a sense of well-being by stimulating the release of serotonin. It also stimulates nerve fibres to block out pain signals and aids in reducing the sensitivity of tender points in the body. https://www.aacp.org.uk/ 
 
Continuing Professional Development – Thoracic Safety Acupuncture Course 27th June 2024 
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapist has taken the decision to remove thoracic acupuncture from their professional insurance policy for CSP members. The AACP (Acupucnture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists) have managed to source additional insurance to cover members to enable us to continue to offer this vital service.  
As part of this, the AACP have offered complimentary courses to update and refresh members on thoracic safety. The course is for clinicians like Chelsea who wish to review and refresh their theorical knowledge and practical skills in the safe and effective application of acupuncture and dry needling to the thoracic and scapular region. https://www.aacp.org.uk/events/view/1756 
 
Healthy Eating Week – 10th to 14th June 
 
Whether that means having one extra portion of fruit or vegetables a day, being a bit more active, experimenting with a new recipe or using up leftovers - Healthy Eating Week 2024 is all about giving it a go! 
 
Get at least 5 A DAY 
• Stay hydrated 
• Move more 
• Focus on fibre 
• Reduce food waste 
 
For more resources on Healthy Eating Week click here 
 
Bike Week – 10th to 16th June 
 
Bike Week is the UK’s biggest awareness-raising moment of the year for cycling and a chance to celebrate. It’s a time to remind ourselves of all the positives that riding a bike can bring to our own health and wellbeing. 
 
Cycling is good for you and we should celebrate all those who cycle and encourage and enable more cycling. As we know when more people cycle, we become happier, healthier, greener and more connected. https://www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek 
 
Annual Leave 
 
Please be aware that Chelsea and Matt will both be taking leave in June, resting their hands and brains, recharging ready to take on the challenges of the expansion project starting at the end of June. Matt will be away from 10th to 14th June and Chelsea from 17th to 21st June. We will be open and functioning as normal, but with less appointments. Whether you are a new or existing client, if you’ve been thinking of booking in to see us, get something in the diary, we would hate for you to miss out. 
 
National Walking Month – 1st – 31st May 2024 
 
Did you know that May is National Walking Month? 
 
Research shows that even a small amount of physical activity can make a big difference in a person’s health. National Walking Month is a great time to get connected and get moving! Walking is an exercise that almost anyone can participate in, whether slowly or quickly, long distances or short. Even parking at the back of the carpark and walking a bit further into the office is a great way to make small steps that add up. National Walking Month was born out of the desire to encourage more people to get moving and stay healthy. 
 
Benefits of Walking 
 
Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. 
Sometimes overlooked as a form of exercise, walking briskly can help you build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier. 
 
Walking is often recommended for people with arthritis because it’s a low-impact exercise that keeps the joints flexible, helps bone health, and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Some people worry that exercising could make their arthritis worse, but the truth is being active is good for us and helps keep our joints healthy. 
 
“All the evidence suggests that exercising helps to strengthen your joints, maintain flexibility and improve your general health”. 
 
 
On Your Feet Britain - 25th April 2024 
On Your Feet Britain is a celebration of physical activity that encourages workers across Britain to take part in a variety of fun and simple activities #SitLess and #MoveMore at work (https://yo-yodesk.co.uk/pages/onyourfeet#event). Keep your eyes peeled on our social media pages for some updates from the team on how we are Moving More at work! 
 
It's much easier than you think and you'll be surprised by how much better you will feel. Here are a few tricks to try: 
 
Use the stairs rather than the lift 
Stand up and have a break from your computer every hour 
Eat Lunch away from your desk 
Stand during phone calls 
Have standing or walking meetings 
Walk over to your colleagues' desks instead of phoning or e-mailing them 
 
 
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World Sleep Day - 15th March.  
 
Sleep deprivation can have a serious impact on emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. Like eating nutritious food, drinking water and exercising regularly, getting quality sleep is an important component of overall health. There are numerous benefits to consistently getting a full night’s rest. While sleeping, the body performs a number of repairing and maintaining processes that affect nearly every part of the body. As a result, a good night’s sleep, or a lack of sleep, can impact the body both mentally and physically.  
 
The benefits to a good night's sleep include: 
Improved Mood 
Healthy Heart 
Regulated Blood Sugar 
Improved Mental Function 
Restored Immune System 
Stress Relief 
Athletic Performance 
Maintaining Healthy Weight 
 
For further information on improving your sleep:- https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/ 
Physitrack - Home Exercise Prescription Software 
 
To start the new year we are migrating to a new excercise prescription programme; called Physitrack. Physitrack enables us to provide recommended exercises as before, but also allows us to send you outcome measures, templates and advice within the same programme. All exercises have videos to help you to remember how to carry them out correctly. Each patient will also have their own access to the Physitrack app where you can see all of the above and log your exercise compliance, if you wish to.  
 
We believe that this will help you to exercise more effectively and we hope it will aid your understanding of what we are asking you to do. Should you find that you struggle with any exercise, or we wish to progress your programme, we can log in from the clinic and modify what we are asking you to do. For those who are not tech savvy, we are still able to print out your exercise programme on good old fashioned paper.  
 
Welcome to 2024! Staffing update! 
 
The team are back from our festive break, with rested hands and brains. We are enjoying being back, and seeing the progress our clients have been making, as well as meeting new clients. Sadly the new year bring changes to our team, as we say goodbye to our administrator extrodinaire Jayne Doyle. Please join us in wishing her the very best for her next chapter. We will miss her, personally and professionally. 
 
We are in the process of recruiting for our next superstar team member, but until they are in post, Matt and Chelsea are covering the reception and admin tasks, alongside treating clients. We will endeavour to respond to enquiries as quickly as we can, but please bear with us whilst we multi-task!  
 
CPD for the Team 
 
Part of our responsability as your therapists, is to stay current with the treatments and recommendations we offer. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a huge part of our role as Physios and Sports Therapists. This month, Chelsea has attended the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's (CSP) Annual Conference, learning about MKS Health accross the UK, and ways in which we can help service users in our local area to embrace healthier lifestyles.  
 
The CSP also holds plenty of useful information for the general public too, on injury management, staying health, various health conditions and rehabilitation. Follow this link to explore more about what the CSP offers https://www.csp.org.uk/public-patient/keeping-active-healthy 
 
In Decemeber, Matt will be attending a course on Red Flags and Serious Spinal Pathologies. This helps with brushing up and refreshing on those all important warning signs that we are always screening you for, which can inidicate something more is going on that requires urgent medical attention. 
Arthritis Action 
 
We are thrilled to let you know that Chelsea is now as associate practitioner for Arthritis Action. Arthritis Action is a charity working with anyone who has been diagnosed with arthritis. Their membership is £20 per year, and for that you gain access to specialist advice and information regarding all aspects of living well with arthritis. In addition, members can receive 2 subsidised physiotherapy sessions, which can be taken at Harding Physiotherapy.