We are very lucky to have the UK’s only Maitland Concept tutor, Matthew Newton, applying his expert knowledge of the manual physiotherapy technique to our patients here at Blizard Physiotherapy.

As a tutor, as a physiotherapist, and as a responsible practitioner, he is continuously learning about the incredibly versatile and intelligent Maitland Concept form of physiotherapy, and, in turn, he is always passing on his experience in the classroom to students at all levels.

Matthew has recently been teaching Maitland Level 2a postgraduate students in Poland about the concept of compression, and how it can be applied to help the body’s joint biomechanics work more effectively, and thus reverse some of the effects of ageing and injury, for example.

What are joint biomechanics, and why is it so important for me to understand their role?

Joint biomechanics refers to the interplay of one joint surface on another, and can include rolling, sliding or gliding actions.

For example, as the knee joint bends, the shin bone slides backwards on the thigh bone in order to allow the movement to take place. Improving joint biomechanics is an integral part of a physiotherapist’s role.

What is compression in relation to my body’s joints, and how, and when, can it help me?

It is an important force occurring within joints that is often overlooked.

Compression is the squeezing together of the two joint surfaces. This is of huge importance functionally, in that most of the joints in our body bear weight, and undergo a degree of compression.

The most obvious joints are the ankle, knee and hip, but we also push though our arms, our jaw joints are loaded when we bite, and a compressive force is exerted through our spine.

Compression also has implications for joint physiology. The end of each bone as it forms a ‘joint surface’ is covered in a super smooth tissue called cartilage.

Synovial fluid acts as a joint lubricant. Both cartilage health and the properties of synovial fluid are affected by a multitude of things including injury, age and altered movement patterns.

The use of compression can help to reverse these changes.

How does compression help reverse the potentially negative effects of injury, age and altered biomechanics in the body’s cartilage and synovial fluid?

Compression enhances the effects of the synovial fluid as it sweeps across the surface of the cartilage, and is ‘squeezed’ into the porous surface of the cartilage to nourish it.

Returning to Matthew’s students in Poland, once they had learnt the theory of joint compression, Blizard’s Maitland Concept tutor helped them to explore manual therapy techniques where compressive forces can be implemented - thus they put the theory into practice.

The physiotherapy postgraduates modified familiar techniques to allow them to apply them to more functional positions.

How did Matthew help the students apply the theory of joint compression to increase their understanding of the concept?

They were guided to move patients out of positions on the treatment ‘plinth’, and into more everyday positions where compression can play a part.

For example, it is of huge clinical value to treat the ankle and knee in standing and the spine in sitting.

When can the application of compressive force play a part in physiotherapy, and help me?

Matthew taught new techniques to enable the students to use careful handling to apply a compressive force to joints such as the shoulder and hip. The more physiotherapists learning and applying these techniques, the better for patients suffering with joint biomechanics issues.

The Maitland Concept tutor explained: “The group were keen to get back to their clinics so their patients could reap the rewards of more sophisticated manual therapy techniques, employed in increasingly creative and intelligent ways.”

This is why we are so lucky to have Matthew Newton here at the Blizard Physiotherapy clinic, alongside Jenny Blizard, Caroline Hennigan, Kate Stowers and Terri Coates, who are all adept at applying their years of practical experience to help you here at our Bircotes practice.