CORE CLINICS
Proven approach to the treatment and prevention of knee and foot problems
Our feet and knees carry us around and absorb impacts as we walk or run. As well as experiencing local pain and symptoms, problems in our lower limbs – like a collapsed foot arch or knee injury – can feed into problems further up the body, including lower back pain. We have significant expertise both in the treatment of localised lower limb problems – like plantar fasciitis or sports injuries – and the treatment of longer term issues.
We often see patients with pain, stiffness, and other symptoms affecting their lower limbs.
These complaints can develop over time as a result of general wear and tear, combined with less than optimal movement patterns. In other cases symptoms might appear or worsen more suddenly following an injury.
As major weight-bearing joints in our bodies, our knees and hips take the impact of problems in other parts of the body. As the underlying supporting structure of our bodies, our feet also absorb a lot of forces from our body. Because of the weight and impacts that our lower limbs carry, if there are any issues in these joints and structures this can have a knock on effect elsewhere in the body.
For example, someone with a knee injury might go on to develop hip pain as their body attempts to protect the injured knee by moving differently. Someone whose hip is hurting due to wear and tear might start to experience back pain as their body shifts its centre of gravity to avoid further irritation to the hip.
Because of the interconnections across the body, when patients come to see us about pain or other problems in their lower limbs, we don’t only focus on the site of pain – we have to look at how the patterns across the body are resulting in pain in some areas.
Sub-conditions and symptoms we can help with
We can treat and rehabilitate a wide range of acute and chronic problems affecting or involving the lower limbs. While our approach is holistic and addresses connected problems across the body, our treatments are effective in improving and resolving issues with the following:
- Pelvic and hip pain, stiffness, weakness and restricted movement
- Knee pain, stiffness, weakness and restricted movement
- Ankle and foot pain
- Pre and post knee and hip surgery prehab / rehab
- Pregnancy-related pelvic pain including symphysis pubis
- SI joint (sacroiliac joint) issues (the SI joint connects the spine to the pelvis and can be associated to symptoms across these areas)
- Achilles tendonitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Sports injuries affecting the foot, ankle, knees and lower and upper leg
- Pain and achiness
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- Restricted mobility
- Numbness or altered sensation
Treatment options
If you are suffering with hip or knee pain we’d suggest that you book an initial consultation with Jack, our Head of Sports Therapy who specialises in lower limb problems.
If there are no significant underlying issues, we are likely to be able to treat you and to achieve a significant improvement within a matter of weeks using manual therapies, prescribed exercises and possible additional treatments such as shockwave therapy
.
If your initial assessment indicates that your lower limb pain has a more complex underlying cause, or is closely related to problems with your feet, your therapist may consult with our Clinical Director or recommend that you see our orthotics therapist
If your main problem is your feet – either in terms of foot pain or movement problems – we’d recommend you book an initial assessment with Tahir, our biomechanics consultant.
You can also check our handy guide here or contact the clinic.
How we can help you
Comprehensive consultation
Comprehensive consultation, examination and health history
Treatment plans and therapies
A clear diagnosis with recommendations for self-management and treatment protocols
Tailored to your needs
We work in partnership with our patients to deliver consistent results, with regular reviews and follow ups
ABOUT US
How we work
Multi-disciplinary patient-centred healthcare
Lots of clinics have different healthcare professionals under the same roof but they don’t tend to collaborate fully or share care with patients. They also don’t have clear and proven care protocols which have been tested and refined to provide the best possible results, and value for time and money for patients. At Core Clinics all our clinicians and therapists work in an integrated way, adapted to the needs of each patient. So, when you make a first appointment with anyone in our team, you’ll have access to everyone in our team – and we’ll clearly signpost to you who you should see and what you can do to help yourself too. We’ve developed and refined this approach for over 15 years and helped over 13,000 patients.
Don't just take our word for it
We have helped thousands of people to achieve a better state of health, or to reach their sports performance goals.
Lucy RLeg pain and back pain Eric ShawAchilles Tendon/Hip Pain Denise WilkinsonFront Foot Pain Caroline Bulmer Mel Greenway Andrew DawberKnee Injury
Frequently asked questions
These factors would be internal. Typically, if a person does not suffer any trauma knee pain will occur when the joint capacity or muscle strength is not adequate to support the joint. Also, any mechanical deficiencies can cause pain to arise if the body is not moving in the most optimal function.
Knee clicking can be attributed to a variety of things. Sometimes if pain-free it is not a problem and can just be cartilage or tendon moving around though. Associated with pain however, it can be a good marker to indicate damage with in the joint. To confirm the cause a clinical examination and MRI investigation maybe required.
Directly no. Tea tree won’t directly help with knee pain. There is some suggestion that it can help reduce local inflammation and therefore, reduce pain levels. However, research suggesting this is limited and poor in quality.
Typically, arthritis will be a dull ache that you can’t pinpoint. It will feel deep inside the joint that you can’t touch. It will also feel stiff after prolonged inactivity and generally feel better after exercise or being mobile.
Given there are no complications with surgery, and everything goes to plan. Pain should subside after 2-4 weeks. As range improves, the joint becomes less stiff and gets used to taking load. And the surgical wounds start to heal. Pain shoulder begin to subside
It’s very dependent on the injury. A very acute meniscal tear isn’t going to like the load involved in walking. Whereas arthritic pain has been shown to dramatically reduce with a good amount of walking and movement.
This can be down to a few things. The kneecap joint can attribute to pain when extending the knee. Also, meniscus tear around the front portion of the joint cant cause pain around the front of the knee. Fat pad impingement can also show in clinic as pain on knee extension. The best thing to do is get it assessed to figure out what is causing the loss of range before trying to manage it.
Generally, yes. Its dependant on the patient history. For example, some cases that suffer with anterior knee pain, cycling can worsen symptoms. However, if this anterior knee pain is caused by arthritis. Low resistance cycling shouldn’t be too much of issue and will help the joint to keep mobile.
Directly no, secondary yes. If the hip is causing discomfort, the body will naturally look at ways to offload the joint. In doing so this could potentially lead to causing pain elsewhere, including the knee. It is vital to get the primary issue under control to prevent other areas becoming irritated.
Firstly, we need to work out why there is pain when squatting. Is it a form issue? Lack of strength? Too much load to quickly? Are there any restricting anatomical factors? All these will paint of picture of whether load needs to reduce, form needs to be corrected, squat variation needs to be changed, and so on.
This can be accredited to one of 3 things. Stiffness in the hamstrings, Calf’s or Popliteus muscle group. It can possible 2 or all 3. A straight leg raises if a good way to measure this.
Get in touch
Core Clinics offer a unique, integrative approach to health and wellbeing and sports performance.
Comprehensive consultations
We leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of your health issues and answer all your questions.
Treatment plans and therapies
We’ll give you a very clear diagnosis and prognosis so that you know exactly where you stand and what you can expect from working with us.
Tailored to your needs
We’ll explain in detail our recommended treatment approach and give you lots of advice for self-care. If we feel you’d be better served with another clinical professional, we’ll let you know and arrange a referral.
Let us know how we can help
Our clinicians will be in touch soon with a personalised approach to your problem