Physiotherapy recommendation

beans

I've been suffering with self-diagnosed tendonitis for two weeks now, and I'm finally ready to admit that it needs treatment.

If anyone could recommend a physio, I'd be all ears. I know some have more experience than others when it comes to all things bike-related, so figured here would be the place to ask

FWIW, it started as swelling and pain in my Achilles tendon, and has steadily moved from there to the backs of my knees and thighs. Started during the windy period a few weeks ago - lots of out-of-saddle mashing on the fixed-gear. Almost certain that's what's done it.

WithCheesePlease

Where are you based?

WithCheesePlease

Regardless, this crowd are meant to be very good - http://www.pearsestreetphysio.com/index.asp

Have been recommended to me and I'm about to go visit myself. The guy (Aidan Woods) has travelled with Olympic teams and so on.

I'm in no way affiliated by the way!

AstraMonti

Paul Tansey will get good recommendations here He is a great cyclist himself and he is located in Dundrum, just above Joe Daly. Unfortunately his laser treatment didn't work for me

NeilMcEoigheann

i recommend the sports surgery clinic out beside DCU, ballymun, really good sorted me out and saw Brian O'Driscoll in the waiting room so it seems to have a good rep, but yeah very good. also get that sorted out it is one of those things that can come back to haunt you.

Caroline_ie

www.physio.ie

2 locations, blanchardstown & Rathfarnham.
Been to the blanchardstown one and was very happy with it.

coggs

gearoid_healy wrote: »

Regardless, this crowd are meant to be very good - http://www.pearsestreetphysio.com/index.asp

Have been recommended to me and I'm about to go visit myself. The guy (Aidan Woods) has travelled with Olympic teams and so on.

I'm in no way affiliated by the way!

One word , fantastic !!! got me from pulled hamstring to podium in 4 weeks , and he is a cyclist , really cant recommend him enough . I have since used him to assist me introducing cleat spacers in my shoes to compensate for a slght leg lenght difference .And a really nice guy .

beans

That's great! The Pearce St chap seems to be just the ticket.

I've been taking anti-inflams and trying to stay off my feet as much as possible, but I know I'm only doing more harm than good Real solution needed.

WithCheesePlease

AstraMonti wrote: »

Paul Tansey will get good recommendations here He is a great cyclist himself and he is located in Dundrum, just above Joe Daly. Unfortunately his laser treatment didn't work for me

Was also recommended to me by a (different) friend in the past who swears by him but any time I called to make an appointment it just rang out. Went elsewhere instead in the end.

FrankGrimes

I've pretty much a degree in physios due to the amount of involvement with them I've had over the past 4 years for leg problems. The variance in knowledge infuriated me and delayed diagnosis by years. One of those was Brian O'Driscoll's physio that he credits in the first Triple Crown DVD but he didn't catch things he should have done either so I give little credence to the 'he was physio for team/athlete x'.

Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry does have excellent facilities and service is top notch, but even they only caught one of my 2 major problems (and were light on knowledge for the second problem which was actually the more mainstream of the two).

For that reason, I give massive credit to Leo at www.irishfit.eu for being the only person to assess me holistically (looked at gait from shoulders down to the toes), give a correct diagnosis (with impressive 7 page report explaining it in clear terms) and outlining an extensive exercise program to address it (which started paying dividends within 2 weeks). Only regret is not hearing of them sooner. They are running focused but do cycling too I think and would be familiar with tendonitis.

I have no affiliations with any physios, just a litany of generally poor experiences with IrishFit and Sports Surgery Clinic (to a lesser extent) being the exceptions.

NewClare

Can you recommend a physio in the East Clare area

Lumen

beans,

I've been suffering from a similar problem in my right achilles.

Would be great if you could post your experience after seeing the physio.

beans

Ah yes. He ruled out any significant damage to the tendons by having me walk around on my toes and heels - by that point, the pain had evolved to sharp, needling pain behind my knees and up to my thighs. So in the end, I suppose the achilles pain disappeared with rest.

My flexibility (or horrendous lack thereof) became the focus of his attentions after that. I have a list of back, hip and leg stretches to work through daily, and am slowly seeing the benefit. Was out for the first 40k since the incident last night , and happy to report no knee- or heel-pain, legs felt strong and overall felt comfortable putting force through the cranks.

Now, chances are the pain would have gone away regardless... but the peace of mind and flexibility notes made my two-session experience worthwhile on the whole. Most annoyed, won't have the legs for the WW200 now, but still plan to do the 100 for the experience.

Lumen

beans wrote: »

Now, chances are the pain would have gone away regardless... but the peace of mind and flexibility notes made my two-session experience worthwhile on the whole. Most annoyed, won't have the legs for the WW200 now, but still plan to do the 100 for the experience.

I got this through yesterday, and started my new daily stretching routine last night. Cheap book, focuses almost entirely on static stretching, but a great introduction for me to doing it properly (i.e. without pain).

I'm still planning to do the 200, with lots of rest beforehand then a big dose of caffeine/jellies/HTFU on the day.

edit: if you're not injured any more, you've no excuse for dodging the 200.

beans

if you're not injured any more, you've no excuse for dodging the 200.

We'll see. I've missed out on a fair few training kms, and don't want to end up with a similar situation due to overdoing it, trying to make up for lost time. I'll aim for a hilly 75 this Sunday and see how I fare

kmick

There is a great Physical Therpaist in Rathmines that I use. She does great hands on work rather than just a list of exercises like a Physio (which is one of the reasons I stopped going to Physio). PM me for a number if anyone is interested. The treatment is an hour hands on for 60 euro last time I went which is cheap compared to the 30/40 minutes you usually get hooked up to a machine and telling you 'you are too fat' (yes I had a very bad experience with Physios in general). Highly recommended.

lescol

rather than just a list of exercises like a Physio (which is one of the reasons I stopped going to Physio).30/40 minutes you usually get hooked up to a machine and telling you 'you are too fat' (yes I had a very bad experience with Physios in general).

As a physio I get to hear this from clients daily. I sometimes despair of the profession.

FrankGrimes

kmick wrote: »

There is a great Physical Therpaist in Rathmines that I use. She does great hands on work rather than just a list of exercises like a Physio (which is one of the reasons I stopped going to Physio). PM me for a number if anyone is interested. The treatment is an hour hands on for 60 euro last time I went which is cheap compared to the 30/40 minutes you usually get hooked up to a machine and telling you 'you are too fat' (yes I had a very bad experience with Physios in general). Highly recommended.

Almost by definition, hands on work only treats the symptoms. Despite how great you might feel afterwards, in most cases if you don't identify and address the root cause, those symptoms will return. What exactly are you getting treated (sounds like you're getting regular treatments) and have you asked why the problem is still occurring?

If yours is a particularly complex or unique case that means ongoing hands on manipulation is required, fair enough, but even in those circumstances I imagine it would be wise to simultaneously be seeing a physio that will identify the underlying problem and build you a plan to correct it. Yes, that often involves having to do an intensive rehab exercise program and yes it's very difficult to motivate yourself to do that (moreso than just jumping onto a treatment table regardless of how sore the massage might be). Might depend on the personality, but most people I've seen successfully recover from ongoing chronic injuries have taken ownership of resolving the problem themselves by executing the plan laid out by an expert as opposed to focusing on hands on treatment as the primary method.

Agree on the points about the variance in standards of physios - I've used around 10 in the past 5 years and the standard of most was woeful though I've found that those focusing on sports injuries seems to be most informed.

lescol

Tried to post a reply but the website wouldn't allow it, must have a sarcasm filter!

My point was to be that physiotherapists could and should be at the forefront of manual therapies with its access to third level institutes and healthcare systems worldwide to provide the research, evidence and teaching skills required.

I guess doctors differ, patients die applies.

lukester

I've been to 2 physios lately, both recommended here, and am currently seeing chiropractor Paul Tansey.

So far top marks to Mr Tansey, in that he at least diagnosed one underlying condition that now seems blindingly obvious, neither physio focused on that.

Both of the physios had their good points, but I came away with a niggling feeling that they hadn't really assessed everything, and the advice was pretty vague.

One of them pretty much gave me a ticking off for how I'd been training and suggested I should just cycle for 'fun'. I knew I'd never be going back to see him.

I think for cycling in particular, unless it's a run of the mill injury, it's important to see someone who has an understanding of the specific stresses of cycling, and the importance of correct bio-mechanics, bike set-up, etc.

A physio who 'cycles' or has treated some cyclists won't necessarily have that knowledge.