Sharp Physiotherapy

Sharp Physiotherapy ▪️Specialist Sport & Musculoskeletal Injury Clinic.
📍 Bawtry 📍 Lincoln📍 Newark

Sharp Physiotherapy Doncaster helps adults aged 30–60 recover from pain, injury, and surgery so they can stay active and move with confidence. We treat all areas of the body including back, neck, shoulder, hip & groin, knee, foot, and ankle pain. Our services include physiotherapy, sports injury rehab, physio-led gym access, shockwave therapy, manual therapy, and post-surgery rehabilitation. Conveniently based in Bawtry with free parking and HCPC-registered clinicians, we're trusted by patients across Doncaster.

02/02/2026

Is neck pain starting to wear you down?

The truth is, it’s rarely just the neck itself.

For many people, it shows up as aching between the shoulder blades, tension headaches, or even migraines.

Sometimes the discomfort travels down the arm, or makes turning the head feel stiff and limited.

When it lingers, it can begin to interfere with sleep and day-to-day life.

When that happens, most people reach for quick fixes.

Pain relief.
A new pillow bought online.
A few random stretches seen on social media.
Or simply resting and hoping it goes away.

The issue is that these options rarely tackle what’s actually causing the pain, and in some cases, they can even make it worse.

Neck pain usually needs a more focused, structured plan.

The good news?

With the right treatment approach, it’s possible not only to reduce the pain, but to stop it from repeatedly flaring up.

The Sharp Physio Team

02/02/2026

This exercise is aimed at patients with pain at the front of the knee specifically patella tendinitis.

The goal is to place strong but safe load through the tendon in a range where it can tolerate it well.

The movement begins with a double leg lift into mid range. Once both legs reach that point you then shift into a single leg hold while keeping the position steady.

This creates a firm stimulus through the tendon without forcing it into the end ranges that are more sensitive in the early stages of rehabilitation.

This approach helps improve tendon capacity and prepares the knee for more demanding tasks as symptoms settle.

The Sharp Physio Team

02/02/2026

Hip impingement in a younger person is easy to miss.

At 16, 17, or 18 years old, it might not cause many symptoms.

That is often because the joint simply has not had enough miles on the clock yet.

But the problem is still there.

Over time, this repeated contact almost always leads to a labral tear.

The labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps seal and stabilise the hip joint.

As the labrum becomes damaged it can begin to delaminate.

This means it peels away from the bone underneath.

Once the cartilage delaminates, the bone beneath becomes exposed.

The smooth joint surface can begin to thin and from this point on, wear and tear accelerates rapidly.

This is how early arthritis can begin in young adults.

So while hip impingement might seem quiet in the teenage years, it is rarely harmless.

Left undiagnosed, it can quietly set the joint up for major problems later in life.

Early diagnosis changes everything.
Late diagnosis changes very little.

Not all hip pain is muscular.

And not all hip problems get better on their own.

The Sharp Physio Team

01/02/2026

Neck pain is often blamed on tight muscles at the back of the neck or tension through the shoulders, but one of the most commonly missed contributors sits right at the front...

The sternocleidomastoid, or SCM.

This long, powerful muscle runs from just behind the ear down the side of the neck, attaching to the collarbone and breastbone.

It plays a key role in head rotation and side bending, but when it becomes tight or irritated, it can trigger a wide range of symptoms.

An overworked SCM can cause neck stiffness, refer pain into the jaw or face, contribute to headaches or dizziness, and restrict how far you can comfortably turn your head.

Because of its position at the front of the neck, this muscle is often overlooked during treatment.

Many people repeatedly stretch the back of the neck without ever addressing the area that’s actually driving the issue.

When the SCM is properly released and retrained, movement often improves quickly.

People commonly describe feeling lighter, looser, and able to turn their head without that familiar pulling sensation.

If your neck pain keeps hanging around despite everything you’ve tried, the SCM could be the key area that needs attention.

The Sharp Physio Team

01/02/2026

What does treatment for sciatica actually involve?”

Sciatica can be frightening.

Pain running from your back or bum cheek down the back of your leg can feel intense and unpredictable.

And a lot of people worry they are going to make it worse by moving or doing the wrong thing.

The first step is always a thorough assessment.

We need to understand:

• Where your symptoms are coming from
• Which nerve is irritated
• What movements aggravate it
• What your strength and mobility look like
• And what has led to the problem in the first place

Once we have that picture, we get straight into treatment.

We almost always start with hands on work.

The aim early on is to calm the nerve down and reduce pain levels.

That can include:

• Techniques to reduce nerve tension
• Soft tissue work for tight muscles and spasm
• Joint treatment where areas are stiff or overloaded

The goal here is simple.

Settle the pain that is travelling down the leg.
Reduce irritation around the nerve.
Get things moving more freely again.

Once pain levels start to come down, that is when the real rehab work begins.

We then start introducing exercises to build strength, control, and confidence with movement again.

This part is not one size fits all.

Your rehab will depend on:

• Where your specific weaknesses are
• Which movements you struggle with
• What your job or sport involves
• And what you are trying to get back to in everyday life

For one person, that might be lifting and carrying at work.

For another, it might be running, gym training, or just being able to sit and drive comfortably again.

So treatment for sciatica is not just about easing pain.

It is about fixing the reasons the nerve became irritated in the first place.

And building your body back up so it does not keep coming back.

The Sharp Physio Team

31/01/2026

Achilles Pain That Keeps Returning? This Is Usually Why.

It’s not just general soreness.

Stiff first thing in the morning.

A burning feeling after a run or training session.

It might loosen as you move… then flare up again later on.

You’ve probably heard the standard advice: rest, ice, calf stretching, maybe some massage.

That can settle things temporarily, but it doesn’t fix what’s driving the pain.

Hands-on treatment can help calm symptoms in the short term.

But if we don’t identify why your Achilles is constantly being overloaded, the cycle of flare-ups continues.

Is it poor load management? Weak hips? Limited ankle movement? Too much, too soon?

✅ We identify the underlying cause
✅ We take you through structured, progressive rehab
✅ We focus on long-term results, not short-term relief

At Sharp Physio, we treat the whole person, not just the tendon.

The Sharp Physio Team

31/01/2026

Pain does not always mean you are causing damage.

This is one of the biggest misunderstandings we see in clinic.

Pain is a warning signal from the body.
It is more like a check in than an alarm.

It is your body’s way of saying
“Pay a bit more attention to what you are doing and how you are moving.”

Pain does not automatically mean harm.
And it does not always mean something is injured or broken.

Another important thing most people are never told.

Pain is not always coming from where you feel it.

For example, someone may feel pain in their lower back.
But the real driver might be reduced movement in the hip joint.

Or tight hip flexors pulling the pelvis forward.

Or weakness in the glutes meaning the back is doing too much work.

Or even a leg length difference changing how load goes through the body.

In those cases, the back is the place you feel the pain.

But it is not always the root cause of the problem.

It is the symptom, not the source.

This is why just resting, stretching the sore area, or avoiding movement altogether often does not fix things long term.

The real solution is understanding how your body is moving and loading day to day.

How you sit
How you stand
How you lift
How you train
How you move

Pain is often the body’s early warning sign that something in that system needs attention.

And that is usually the best time to act.

Not when things are unbearable.
Not when you are stuck.
But when your body first starts nudging you.

That is the point where seeing a physiotherapist for a proper assessment can be really helpful.

To work out what is actually driving the pain.
To guide you on what to change.
And to give you a plan to fix the problem before it becomes a bigger issue.

The Sharp Physio Team

30/01/2026

Neck Pain and the Often-Missed SCM Muscle…

When people think about neck pain, they usually focus on the back of the neck or the tops of the shoulders.

But one of the most common and frequently overlooked contributors sits right at the front...

The sternocleidomastoid, or SCM.

This strong, rope-like muscle runs from just behind the ear down the side of the neck, attaching to the collarbone and breastbone.

It plays a key role in turning and tilting the head, but when it becomes tight or overworked, its effects can go far beyond the neck itself.

An irritated SCM can cause stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and even pain that refers into the face or jaw.

It can also limit how far you’re able to turn or side-bend your head, making everyday movements feel restricted or uncomfortable.

Because of its position at the front of the neck, this muscle is often missed during treatment.

Many people spend time stretching or massaging the back of the neck while the true source of the problem remains unaddressed.

When the SCM is properly released and retrained, relief is often noticeable straight away, with movement feeling lighter, freer, and more natural.

If your neck pain never fully settles, don’t overlook the SCM as it could be the missing link in your recovery.

The Sharp Physio Team

30/01/2026

This exercise is great for building eccentric control through the hamstrings and glutes.

It works well for anyone in the mid stage of rehab and it is also useful for people who want to increase posterior chain strength as part of injury prevention.

The movement trains the hamstrings to control the lowering phase while the glutes support the pelvis and keep the movement stable. This combination improves strength in the outer range which is where many people are most vulnerable to injury.

It can be done with a kettlebell, a dumbbell or a barbell. The focus stays the same.

Keep a neutral spine. Feel a strong stretch through the hamstring as you lower with control. Then as you return to standing drive through the glutes and hamstrings rather than using the lower back. This teaches the correct pattern and builds strength exactly where it is needed.

The Sharp Physio Team

30/01/2026

What actually is a ‘slipped disc’ and should you be worried?”

The term slipped disc causes a lot of panic.

As soon as people hear it, they imagine something in their spine has suddenly popped out of place and will never be the same again.

There is also a lot of misinformation around it.

Technically, what most people call a slipped disc is a pr*****ed disc.

Your spinal discs sit between the bones of your spine.
Their job is to absorb shock and help spread load through your back.

Each disc has a tough outer layer and a softer, more fluid centre.

Over time, or with certain loads and movements, the outer layer can weaken or develop small tears.
When that happens, the fluid in the middle can start to bulge outwards.

A true “slipped disc” would be when there is a tear in the outer layer and some of that disc material pushes out beyond where it should be.

The problem is not the disc itself.
The problem is what it presses on.

If the bulge or prolapse presses on a nearby nerve, it can cause symptoms.

This is when people may feel pain into the bum cheek, the hamstring, or all the way down into the calf or foot.
In more severe cases, it can cause pins and needles, numbness, or weakness in the leg.

And in very rare, extreme cases, it can affect bladder or bowel function and sensation around the saddle area.
That would be a medical emergency.

But here is the part that most people are never told.

You can have a disc bulge or small prolapse and have absolutely no symptoms at all.

Many people have a slight disc bulge on one side that never causes pain and may never cause a problem in their lifetime.

This is why language around discs really matters.

When people are told they have a slipped disc, it often creates unnecessary fear.
They start to think their back is fragile or permanently damaged.

In reality, discs are strong living tissue.
They can settle, adapt, and heal over time.

And you can absolutely have a disc injury and still go on to live a healthy, active life without ongoing back pain.

So the key takeaways are simple.

A slipped disc does not mean your spine is broken.
It does not automatically mean surgery.
And it does not mean a lifetime of pain.

29/01/2026

Still struggling with Achilles pain that just won’t settle?

You’re not alone, it’s one of the most stubborn issues we see, often because the early warning signs are easy to miss.

It usually starts as morning stiffness or mild tightness after walking or training.

Easy to ignore at first.

But over time, that stiffness turns into soreness, and the tendon begins reacting to even low levels of activity.

Many people try to manage it themselves, and this is where problems often arise.

Strength work introduced too early can further irritate the tendon.

Generic insoles rarely address the true cause.

And pushing through or ignoring it simply allows the problem to become more established.

The reality is that Achilles pain needs a structured approach.

Before strengthening begins, the tendon often needs time to settle.

Hands-on treatment and techniques that reduce irritation help calm the area and prepare it for the next phase.

Once that sensitivity is under control, a gradual loading programme is what rebuilds the tendon.

This is where real progress happens, strengthening at the right pace, with the right exercises.

That’s how the cycle of flare-ups is broken and lasting improvement is achieved.

The Sharp Physio Team

29/01/2026

“Do you actually need an MRI scan for your lower back pain?”

This is one of the most common questions we get in clinic.

MRI scans absolutely have a place.
And in some situations, they are essential.

For example, if someone has red flag symptoms such as suspected cauda equina syndrome, that would require an urgent MRI and immediate medical input.

But for most people with lower back pain, that is not the case.

In the early stages, we would usually start with a proper clinical assessment and physiotherapy treatment first.

If someone has had three or four sessions and there is zero improvement in pain or function, that is an unusual response to treatment.
At that point, we would normally pause physiotherapy and refer for further investigation, which may include an MRI scan.

So MRI is often a second step, not the first.

Here is the really important part that most people are never told.

An MRI scan on its own does not give you the full answer.

Scans often show all sorts of changes that are completely asymptomatic.

For example, many people have disc bulges in their lower back and have no back pain or leg pain at all.
They are walking around, training, working, and living normally with no symptoms.

So if you treat only what you see on the scan, you can easily go down the wrong path.

What actually matters is matching the MRI findings to the person.

What are their symptoms
What movements hurt
What makes it better or worse
What you find on physical examination
How their strength and movement look
How their pain behaves day to day

When you line all of that up with the scan, the MRI can become very useful.
It adds extra information and can help confirm or clarify what is going on.

But on its own, it does not tell you what treatment someone needs.

So the key takeaways are simple.

MRI scans are sometimes necessary and very helpful.
They are rarely the first step unless there are red flag symptoms.
And the results should never be looked at in isolation.

It is not about treating the scan.
It is about treating the person, using the scan as one piece of the bigger picture.

The Sharp Physio Team

Address

14 The Courtyard
Bawtry
DN106JG

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+441302244093

Website

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