4 Trafford Rd, Alderley Edge, SK9 7NT
t: 01625 590 444
f: 01625 586 774
Physiofit@Fitism, Kings Road, Wilmslow, SK9 5PZ
t: 01625 590 444
f: 01625 586 774
Therapies
In addition to our comprehensive range of physiotherapy-based treatments, we also offer a number of complementary therapies.
The Physiofit Philosophy
"We will work with you proactively to support you in reaching long lasting optimum health and peak performance.”
Angela Jackson – Director of Physiofit Ltd
Podiatry and Chiropody
Deborah Pace
Deborah Pace
Deborah graduated from Salford University in 1994, and has 13 years experience working for a central London N.H.S Primary Care Trust, specialising in Biomechanics, Paediatrics and Diabetic Foot Care.
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Her aim is to prevent or treat foot problems, to reduce pain, maintain mobility and provide advice to enable patients to make informed decisions in managing their own foot health.
Podiatry
Podiatry is the field of healthcare specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower limbs.
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When the foot makes contact with the ground, each component of the foot, ankle and lower limbs is affected by this motion. Podiatrists are experts in this interaction of body joints, which is known as biomechanics.
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Deborah frequently treats patients with:
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Pain in heels and arches
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Plantar fasciitis
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Shin splints
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Throbbing big toe
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Leg length differences
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Knee, hip and back pain
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General foot pain
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Achilles tendon problems
Biomechanical Assessment
This involves the examination of the lower limbs, looking at their structure, alignment, strengths and weaknesses. The examination is not focused simply upon the foot but includes the pelvis, legs and knees, assessing the relationship between them. It is important to examine the lower limbs as a whole, because they are closely connected and pain in one area can be due to a weakness or structural problem in another area.
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Deborah uses a video gait analysis to obtain the most ccurate diagnosis of the way her patients walk and run. The video equipment enables Deborah to record the assessment, and is valuable as the patient gets to see their own gait, slowing the motion down to demonstrate problems in their movement.
The results of the biomechanical assessment enable Deborah to correctly evaluate and identify any lower limb issues that need to be addressed. This can either be in the form of a rehabilitation programme, or if the problem is mechanical – an orthotic prescription.
Benefits of a Biomechanical Assessment
You will learn:
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What the cause of your pain is
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What foot structure / type you have
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Which of your muscle groups are being under / overused
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Specific exercises to help you function better
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Which footwear will suit you most
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Why you keep injuring yourself during sport
Orthoses
Orthotics (insoles) are devices used to alter or modify foot function in order to treat and correct biomechanical foot disorders.
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Deborah prescribes custom made bespoke orthoses designed to meet the unique individual needs of each patient.
Orthoses are created by taking a foam impression of the patients’ foot and prescribing a device which corrects and balances abnormalities.
Functional orthoses are used to correct an abnormality in foot biomechanics and are used in many foot and ankle disorders. By supporting the joints and reducing the impact in problem areas the support stabilises the foot and prevents further injuries.
Benefits of Orthoses are:-
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Considerably improve your foot function
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Can alleviate pain in other parts of your body
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Improve your performance
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Preserve joints
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Prevent injury
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Improve comfort
Chiropody
Deborah also offers a maintenance chiropody service, which treats conditions such as:
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Ingrown / thickened nails
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Calluses and corns
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Verrucae
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Fungal infections
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Cosmetic Toenail Correction (Wilde-Pedique) – treatment for fungal, damaged or cracked nails
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Nail surgery
Counselling and Hypnotherapy
Maggie Kirk
As well as working as a therapist in Cheshire, Nottingham and London, Maggie teaches nationally accredited professional diploma courses in clinical hypnotherapy and continuing professional development courses for counsellors.
Why Counselling?
Almost all of us, at some time in our lives, experience a conflict within ourselves or a crisis which triggers hard-to-handle emotions. Some of us experience difficult long-term issues like anxiety or relationship problems which leave us emotionally exhausted and unable to cope.
Sometimes it Helps to Talk to a Professional
Why a professional? Because, sometimes friends don’t really listen; sometimes friends tell us what we want to hear; sometimes friends tell us what we should, or shouldn’t, do – from their perspective; sometimes we don’t have friends.
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A friend doesn’t always understand the difference between ‘fed up’ and depressed. A therapist is once-removed; someone who has professional training to listen, to hear and to do so without judgement.
A therapist will encourage you to explore, to grow and to develop the skills you need to resolve difficult issues.
A skilled companion can be a big support on a journey of self-discovery and growth. My training is in Person Centred Counselling, which focuses on client autonomy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is a more directive approach, and Clinical Hypnotherapy, which uses the subconscious mind create change. These counselling models can support people with depression, relationship issues, anxiety, anger management problems and a host of other troubles which impact on our lives.
Life can be difficult but I believe that with help, we can become aware of patterns of relating and our sometimes unhelpful responses which hinder our ability to cope. Therapy can help us explore our ways of being and teach us how to use inner resources to bring about positive change.
Sometimes it helps to have a trained, skilled helper to encourage us to explore, and improve our mental health and general well-being.
Why Clinical Hypnotherapy?
An increasing number of top-level sporting clients come to me with performance issues.
Some have a subconscious block to their performance, others have a crisis of confidence, some need to deal with life issues impacting on their sport.
Using general therapy together with hypnotherapy techniques, these clients are able to transform their performance and continue at, or progress to, the top level of their sport.
Other clients come to deal with addictions or weight loss.
Feedback:
“I have lost two-stone-six pounds, and my daughter lost 4 stone 2lb. We are both delighted as neither of us has lost that amount in the time going to various slimming clubs over the years. Thank you so much.”
- Marylyn
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“Maggie, I have now lost 16lb. It’s fabulous. It’s just so easy.”
– Karen
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“Hi Maggie, I’ve been so great since seeing you and changed my eating habits completely…I’ve lost a pound a day.”
– Julie
Most clients use normal hypnotherapy techniques, others opt for gastric band hypnosis. A client with fibromyalgia reduced her pain levels from seven (out of ten) to one-and-a-half. A client with an extreme flying phobia boarded a plane after one hypnotherapy session and was so relaxed she fell asleep before take-off and was untroubled by turbulence.
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A lady, who believed she was incapable of sleep without medication, dozed off on the eve of treatment and slept soundly until morning. Another client, fearful of public speaking, found her presentation skills so transformed – “Maggie, it was a party!” – she is now in huge demand as a speaker.
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Because hypnotherapy works with the subconscious mind, it often gets to the essence of an issue more effectively than other therapies. This is because the subconscious mind is the part dealing with emotions, feelings, memories and intuitions. Our cognitive thought processes often get the better of our emotions, offering logical reasons for behaving in a certain way. We offer explanations based on rational thought – but our feelings often tell a different story.
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When everything bubbles over, or our skills and performance suffer, we look for help. If you feel troubled and think analytical work could help you, get in touch, with no obligation. Your needs may be very specific: exam nerves; blushing; an eating disorder; alcohol intake.
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Hypnotherapy is a powerful therapeutic tool which puts you, the client, in charge and focuses your subconscious mind to make the changes you need.
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You can master your public speaking nerves; improve your self confidence; stop smoking. All things are possible with an optimistic and positive mindset.
Further details available on professional listings:
counselling-directory.org.uk
hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the oldest recorded forms of medicine having been used for over 2500 years in China. Modern science has shown that acupuncture stimulates the brain to produce natural pain relieving chemicals, endorphins. These assist the body to heal itself and give pain relief.
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Research has shown that most people gain relief from pain with acupuncture. It does not work for everybody and every condition but, frequently, good results are achieved when more conventional medicine has failed.
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Our physiotherapists undergo a 3 year degree on western
medicine, before training for acupuncture at a post-graduate level so are in a unique position of being able to combine acupuncture with other natural treatment methods, such as exercise, manipulation and relaxation techniques. They attend regular training courses to learn about latest research.
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It involves the use of single-use, sterile disposable needles, these needles are inserted in to various points for about 20 minutes depending upon the problem. Our physiotherapists use acupuncture to treat a wide range of joint, muscle and ligament injuries.
Holistic Therapies
Kelly Hanson is a Holistic Practitioner offering Reflexology, Reiki, and all forms of Massage, including Sports Massage, Lymphatic drainage, Aromatherapy, Abdominal Massage and Cellulite treatment. She is currently studying Naturopathic Medicine at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) in Manchester. Her depth of knowledge of natural health, vitamins, minerals and supplements is of great benefit to her clients.
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She is a warm and sympathetic therapist who enjoys getting to know her clients and working with them to improve health, vitality and wellbeing. She offers professional and
practical advice on pain management and lifestyle, where appropriate. She is passionate in her belief that we should take full control of our own health as a system of healing, and she will work intuitively with you to assess your needs to create and guide towards individual goals.
Kelly is registered with The Nutritional Healing Foundation (NHF).
Abdominal Massage
Abdominal massage is a non-invasive external massage technique, to relieve digestive tension and emotional congestion. Corrective massage techniques can help to balance the bowel reducing discomfort and pain.
This is also a great opportunity to talk about your nutritional daily intake that maybe part of the root cause.
Lymphatic Drainage
A very light pressure sweeping technique combined with soft pumping movements in the direction of lymph nodes. Lymphatic drainage is recommended for people who suffer regularly with common illnesses like colds and flu. Boosting the immune system and gives a positive effect on problem skin, cellulite, dysfunctional respiratory systems and for people with low energy.
Indian Head Massage
The tension through the Head, neck and shoulder area are connected and these are the three key points to release in Indian head massage. Relieving built up tension can overall improve headaches, migraines' and general neck pain. Boots cerebral spinal fluid circulation, relives symptoms of sinusitis and increase feelings of peace, calm and well being.
Aromatherapy Massage
A perfect combination, slow relaxing massage movements adapted with the absorption of aromatic oils. Individually blended to suit varied symptoms, giving a therapeutic effect in many forms from promoting circulation, pain relief, balancing mood, reduce anxiety and promote deeper sleep.
Deep Tissue (Sports) Massage
Strong hands and organic oils relieving deep rooted knots and tension points, increasing oxygen & nutrient supply to the tissue by activating blood circulation. Encourages the body's natural immune system by reducing stress hormone, cortisol. Naturally, pressure levels to suit as required.
Reiki
When we experience that feeling of being 'Out of Balance' this may come from negative energy that may be manifesting itself as disease or injury in any one of the seven Chakras (energy centres) of the body. Reiki is a specific type of energy work and is performed by the touch of hands, unblocking the Chakras and allows for a free flow of energy around the body. Reiki healing is a pure energy form with intention to rebalance and cleanse the body.
Reflexology
All body systems require healthy blood circulation in order to function well. The blood carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells and removes waste products and toxins. Stress and tension tighten the cardiovascular system and restricts blood flow, causing it to become sluggish. This results in the tissues becoming oxygen-deprived; the energy in the body becomes depleted, making all body systems suffer. By stimulating the nerve endings on the feet this can keeps the body's circulation flowing smoothly, which rejuvenates tired tissues.
Hopi Ear Candles
A pleasant and calming experience, designed to gently draw secretion flow helping vapour to collect and remove impurities. This treatment is then combined with lymphatic drainage to ensure the success for relieving ear pressure, sinus problems, compacted ear wax, tinnitus and headaches. Today, many local G.P.s refer their patients towards this non-invasive method.