This is the glowing report given to our physiotherapy team by 22-year-old Oliver Walker, who is now able to run and train to his maximum potential in the gym after suffering with knee pain and weakness in his knee for years.

He approached the clinic after being forced to give up football, running and then his regular gym sessions following a long term knee pain and weakness, which culminated in him being unable to even squat without significant discomfort. A friend of his mother’s had recommended the physiotherapy team, so he felt confident that he would receive quality treatment.

The full time factory operative had spent a lot of time and money on visits to his doctor and other physiotherapists, as well as investing heavily in painkillers, straps, gels and sprays, in a vain attempt to correct the weakness which forced him to stop playing football, running half marathons and eventually all leg work in the gym.

He had noticed the main issues he was having was when he tried to squat and deadlift, exercises he had become accomplished at after building up gradually over a sensible period. However, when it got to the point where he couldn’t physically perform either with the correct form or posture without discomfort and imbalance - even without any weights involved - he realised that, no matter what sport or exercise he chose, as soon as the intensity increased to a specific level, superficially, his knee couldn’t cope.

Blizard Physiotherapy’s team of experts explained what steps they took to analyse the cause of the Hull university graduate’s left knee pain, and what treatment they applied.

“We analysed his squat technique, and it became really obvious, even to the untrained eye, that he was shortening in his trunk on the left side, which was without any weight - it would have been more obvious with weight,” they observed.

“We then tested the integrity of the knee joint itself with some loading tests in a squat position which showed that the problem was not a knee issue.
We then tested the mobility of the femoral nerve which supplies the knee joint, and this was significantly restricted on the left compared the the right.

“He also had trigger points in the rectus femoris muscle which is also supplied by the femoral nerve, and provides the muscle power to move and stabilise the knee, along with other muscles.
Finally, there was significant restriction in the lumbar joints in the back on the left, where the femoral nerve leaves the vertebral column.

“Hence the problem was obvious - the lumbar joint stiffness was affecting the nerve supply to the rectus femoris muscle ,which provides the power to move the knee, and also supplies the sensation to the knee joint itself, causing his weakness and pain.”

So what treatment did Oliver receive over his five subsequent sessions at the clinic, which have led to him returning to full training after years of pain affecting his exercise programme?

Again, Blizard Physiotherapy’s team can explain the treatment in clear and understandable language.

“We first of all mobilised the joints in the lumbar region, and rechecked his squat and the mobility of the femoral nerve. He was then able to resume weight training and running, but there was still a tendency to shorten and generate pain in the knee.

“We continued with the lumbar joint mobilisation, as well as performing soft tissue treatment to the trigger point in his rectus femoris muscle. Oliver resumed full pain-free weight training and running, but was also advised to perform a regular mobility exercise designed to lengthen the left side of his trunk and thigh.

“When patterns of dysfunction - Oliver’s was the tendency to shorten in his trunk on the left - have been apparent for a while, the brain develops negative muscle memory patterns, just like developing positive muscle memory patterns when learning a new skill. Oliver had to replace the negative with the positive and will need to continue to do this for some months for the patterns to become his new ‘normal’.”

Oliver is happy to carry on his individual stretching exercise programme, as well as using his massage stick as instructed, and, although his knee is still slightly symptomatic, it is vastly improved.

He added: “It is all heading in the right direction, and I am now able to train to my maximum, both in weight training and running, so I would definitely recommend Blizard Physiotherapy.”

If you would like to talk to any member of our physiotherapy team to discuss an issue you are having that you would like treatment for, call the clinic on 01302 511755.