Category Archives: Physiotherapy Articles

Muscle Strength Testing

What is a Muscle Strength Testing Session?

We measure different characteristics of muscles or a group of muscles.

When we use the hand held or in-line dynamometer, we can accurately measure

  • Peak force (the highest force)
  • How quickly it takes to get to peak force (rate of force development)
  • Identify asymmetries between sides
  • Muscle Endurance (rate of fatigue)

When we use the Force Plates, we can accurately measure

  • Jump Strength (reactive strength)
  • Jump Height
  • Balance & Control
Testing Hamstring strength

What do we use to test your Muscles strength?

We use a combination of a hand held and in-line dynamommeter and Force Plates. These are high end technology specifically for injury rehab.

Muscle Testing Dynamometry Equipment

Why would you need a Muscle Strength Testing Session?

Identifying weaknesses in muscles between sides is often the missing link in long term and recurring injury. Using dynamometers can accurately detect muscle strength and discrepancies between sides. Perhaps you have been doing a lot of rehab exercise but are unsure if you have gained sufficient strength?

Post-surgery patients can benefit hugely from muscle strength testing. For a safe return to play from ACL surgery or walking following a hip replacement knowing that your muscles are up to the demands that you will place on them is reassuring, it will also minimize the risk of a failed outcome.

Testing a Press up

How long does it take?

The appointment lasts up to 90 minutes.

What do I get from a Muscle Strength Testing Session?

Following your Muscle Strength Testing session, you get in depth reporting of your muscles abilities/deficiencies that were tested. These are sent to you in clear charts and graphs in pdf format. This report will guide your Chartered Physiotherapist to design a bespoke exercise rehab plan. We use an online video exercise platform for our rehab and this will be sent to you on the same day as your appointment.

Squat Jump Report
Quadriceps Strength Report

How many sessions do I need?

You will require two sessions. The first is your baseline measure. We then re test in 6 weeks to measure any changes that have occurred. Your exercise rehab will be modified based upon the findings. Occasionally, clients do a third session, this is at the discretion of the client.

Testing Gluteal strength

How much does it cost?

€150

How do I make an appointment?

You can make an appointment by emailing info@myphysio.ie , calling the clinic on 083 478 1639

You can also Book Online here

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Tendinopathy

Shockwave Therapy is a pressure disturbancethat moves through a medium. The medium in this case being the tendon. When the wave enters the tissue it will be reflected and refracted around that area. There is clear evidence of an increase in blood flow with Shockwave Therapy, even in tissues with little blood which occurs in chronic tendon injuries. The shockwaves also create an inflammatory response. When a tendon is in a chronic stage of injury the shockwave will create an environment where the tendon can be at an acute stage. This acute stage will then set the tendon up for self-repair, leading to decreases in pain and increases in function. Continue reading →

What is Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)?

As part of my assessment and treatment of clients here at MyPhysio, I use a concept called DNS. This concept has been developed by Researchers and Practionner’s in the Czech Republic. The basic premise focusses in on babies posture and how they learn to move, how they can keep segments of their body in the appropriate place to allow optimal function. DNS calls this ‘Joint Centration’. Continue reading →

Types of Muscle Injuries

In 2013 the most respected Sports Physicians and other Healthcare Professions such as Physiotherapists, were given a questionnaire on muscle injuries and how to classify such injuries.

Why is this even important?

Firstly, if all Healthcare professionals can have the same criteria for diagnosing injuries then this makes it a lot easier when deciding on treatment and prognosis. For example, if a footballer has a Grade I injury to the Hamstring, then you can predict with some accuracy that they will be out of action for about 7-10 days. But what if after an MRI and Physical Examination another Physiotherapist or Doctor decides that in their opinion it’s a Grade II injury. Since their criteria is different to diagnose the injury, the incorrect time frame for return to play or treatment may be given. The only person who loses out is the injured person in question. Continue reading →

Increasing Weekly Running Mileage to Avoid Injury?

The old 10% rule doesn’t hold up any more unfortunately, if you are looking to increase your Weekly Mileage and aiming for longer running races then don’t leave it to chance and continue reading.

In every Physiotherapy Clinic in the world, the injured runner presents with an increase in something…intensity, other types of exercise or mileage. It is so common for even the experienced runner to fall foul of increasing weekly mileage incorrectly. Continue reading →

Why have I got Patello-Femoral Joint Pain?

Some brief anatomy first…

The knee joint is comprised of the femur (thigh) and tibia (shin), on top of these you have the patella (knee cap). The patella sits in a groove on the femur, thus creating a joint called the Patello-Femoral Joint.

As the knee bends when walking, running, going from sit to stand, the patella slides up and down the groove. If for whatever reason the movement is a bit off to one side or not moving as much as it should or too much then this can lead to Patello-Femoral Joint pain. Sometimes it is referred to as Runners Knee in those who run. Runners Knee is just an umbrella term for several types of knee pain. Continue reading →

The Tendinopathy Continuum

The term tendinitis is not used so much now as tendon pain has moved away from an inflammatory model where large amounts of inflammatory chemicals are present. The current thinking is that the tendon is in a state of degeneration.

What is a Tendinopathy?

Put simply, it is an Injury to the tendon. If the tendon is overloaded and continues to be overloaded it will not have the appropriate rest period to heal. This can lead to a Tendinopathy. There are changes within the structure of the tendon and these can often be irreversible. Tendinopathies can occur where the tendon has become overloaded or in fact unloaded (stress-shielded) and where a direct blow is involved. Continue reading →