What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 2:30pm Tuesday 12pm - 6pm Thursday 12pm - 6pm 6pm - 9:15pm Friday 9am - 11:30am 11:45am - 6pm

AJT Sports Therapy and Pilates Clinic

Home
United Kingdom
Ellesmere Port
AJT Sports Therapy and Pilates Clinic

Proactive healthcare clinic. Pain and injury management. Specialist in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal complaints & injuries. APPI Pilates instructor.

Clinic in the Whitby Club, supporting patients with both sporting and non-sporting injuries, joint conditions, muscular aches and pains. APPI Modified Pilates. Exercise Prescription. Advanced Sports Kinesiology, Running Assessments and Gait Re-education, Massage, Functional Movement correction. Orthopaedic Dry Needling

22/10/2025

When is a groin strain not a simple groin strain?

Groin pain can be a challenge to resolve when you don’t understand the source, but when do you get it checked out to identify how to start recovery?

Generally, if your groin pain is severe/worsening, or has been long standing and not responding to rest, maybe it’s causing radiating pain down your leg or causing power loss, or perhaps you’re unable to load through the leg - those a pretty good indicators of when to get it checked out.

Getting a working diagnosis and a treatment plan is crucial.

So what can cause groin pain?

Pain in the groin can come from some many factors and can be diagnosed via a number of clinical assessments (and imaging) but under the DOHA Agreement are categorised as:

➡️ Adductor related
➡️ Inguinal related
➡️ Iliopsoas related
➡️ P***c related
➡️ Groin pain from the hip
➡️ Other causes

The subjective assessment then the actual clinical assessment will give some good indicators as to the cause - assessing ROM, functional movements that cause familiar pain, special tests to further drill down to the cause and also understanding other factors such as previous sports/repetitive work positions, neurological potential impacts, surgical history, urological history, the type of pain (eg pain at rest/night may indicate inflammatory pain) clicking/catching of the hip may indicate cartilage pathology, family history of hip dysplasia etc. There’s also the impact that the lumbar spine causing pain into the groin.

This week in clinic I’ve already had some interesting groin pain patients to manage, from a pesky adductor tendinopathy, a labrum trauma causing pain deep into the groin and also an iliopsoas strain - all of which were referring pain into the same region but from differing causes…never a dull day in clinic!

Rehab programmes clearly differ depending on the patient, their pain perception and restrictions but phase 1 will always be be try to reduce pain and get some positive mobility started.

So don’t ignore the pain….GOOGLE GOD doesn’t always come up with the answer!

*
*
*

14/10/2025

Heard of this amazing muscle - the Quadratus Lumborum?

It’s a muscle that shouldn’t be overlooked when assessing patients with back pain - especially those that sit a lot, as it’s reported that for some sitting for prolonged periods can chronically shorten and weaken it….who knew!

▶️So, where is it?
Often abbreviated as the “QL” the quadratus lumborum muscles are located on both sides of your spine between your ribcage and pelvis, attaching from your 12th rib, the L1-L5 transverse processes of the vertebrae and the iliac crest. These muscles help with the movement of your lower back, but also help to support your spine.

▶️So what does it do?
When the QL on one side of your back contracts it causes a side flexion of your spine to that side. When both QLs work together it helps to extend your back (arching). The QL also helps to assist with diaphragmic breathing by controlling the 12th rib. Lastly, the QL hitches your hip in standing if contracted on just one side. Lots of jobs for a little quadrangle-shaped muscle!

▶️ QL pain!
It can be described as a dull, aching pain which can become sharp at times from specific movements, described often as painful when standing or sitting for a long time, turning over in bed and can refer pain into the glutes/hip - but clearly many other structures can also create these types of issues/symptoms, which is where a thorough assessment comes Into play!

▶️ What can create QL issues?
The QL overworks if you’re sitting a lot, especially if you have weak spinal muscles and weak core muscles. It also gets overworked if you have weak glutes, compensating for hip abduction.

Injuries to the quadratus lumborum are becoming more common as more people have work environments which require them to sit for long periods of time at a computer. Most do not utilise proper posture in these situations, and do not sit in chairs that encourage proper support and positioning of the spine.
*
*
*

09/10/2025

I think we can all be pretty guilty of taking the path of least resistance, I know do, because why make your life any harder than it already is, right?” But how do you get stronger, more resilient, increase your s**t tolerance barrier? Life is tough so we have to be tougher. By always taking the easier path this’ll never happen. As humans we benefit from resistance to develop. Yeah, you may get the immediate gratification or easier ride but sometimes that doesn’t help in the long run.

I know I am a “path of least resistance gal”, sometimes I just really can’t be arsed with training….the weights need to be stubbing my toe in the house to lift them or I need someone to run with or “hell no, why do I need to bother?!” but I know that’s what I’m like so I have goals to keep me fit, I have an amazing PT who drives me and his gym that fuels my bonkers brain….my personality training type needs these influencers - I have to be accountable, if I don’t the path is a slippery downhill one for me.

Sometimes we choose the path of least resistance without thinking about it. But often, we choose the easy way without stopping, looking ahead, comparing it to the rough path, pulling out a map, and figuring out if it’s truly the best path for us or not.

So let me tip this on it’s head - make the “path of least resistance” different just taking the obstacles out that stop you from doing your stuff….”I don’t have time” change to “ok, the alarm clock is set 20 mins earlier, the weights are out in the living room” the destination goal is set but you’re making the path to it not necessarily easier but you’re taking the resistance barriers out.

This is the same for rehab/injuries. You can ignore an injury in the short term, avoid your rehab as yes, the easier path is to plod along….get my drift?

The path of LEAST resistance does not be NO resistance
*
*
*

05/10/2025

They say “if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together”…..True friendship is starting the race together and finishing together. This is why I run. For these girls. For their friendship and their unwavering support. This is my soul exercise.

Chester Marathon done ✅ What an epic finish line, just magical! .marathon.half.10k.tri

26/09/2025

Thank you so much to everyone who attended my “Strength through Menopause workshop” this evening! It was full on session with a lot of information, but such fun!

Thank you also to everyone who couldn’t come that sent donations for SANDS - a charity so close to my heart. I am so grateful, tired now, but very grateful! 😘

https://www.justgiving.com/page/amanda-tooke

24/09/2025

Oh my days….how do you condense all of your menopause knowledge, the latest research and training programmes into 18 PowerPoint slides = with extreme difficulty!

What a day I have had sitting and writing this for the workshop on Friday. Got to say, I am incredibly proud of this work, the research I’ve done and making it evidence based, I’m very happy with it!

We’re in for a great topic of discussion ladies! Bring your workout kit for the training programme, your pillows and blankets for the mindfulness and be prepared for the laughter!

💪 Women warriors united 💪
*
*
*

23/09/2025

If any of my peri and menopausal patients want to come to the presentation with Pilates on Friday at 6.30pm this part is to raise money for SANDS. You’ll learn more about the menopause, systematic inflammation, pelvic floor function, diet and a strength training programme!

SANDS is an important charity for me, it is close to my heart, so fundraising this year for them 💙🌟

For more information please just message!

12/09/2025

What an amazing week of Pilates!!

This week we worked through different levels of moves in the “Rotary Stability” series, with loads of lush planks finishing each session off! It has been a full on week and such a privilege to work with amazingly committed crews - I’m so lucky!

Rotary Stabilisation moves include:

“Side kick” - this is a Pilates favourite to engage the lateral sling, in particular, gluteus medius, important for rotary pelvic control and lower limb alignment. The side lying position is challenging due to the reduced base of support, so trunk musculature will also be engaged especially as balance is challenged by the leverage of the moving leg.

“Hip Twist” - this is a challenging movement and is indicated in the retraining of rotary lumbopelvic stability and groin rehabilitation. The anterior oblique sling, comprised of the external oblique and contralateral adductors is the focus - try doing this with a soft Pilates ball under the pelvis to really challenge the obliques!

In October I have a few spaces opening up on Friday morning at 9.30am and also 2 spaces on the Thursday 6pm class, so message for more information!
*
*
*

09/09/2025

Who knew there were so many bones in the hand?! I love this simple picture (pic courtesy of Medinaz) highlighting the hand structure.

Hand/wrist rehabilitation is common in clinic, so knowing anatomy is pretty critical! From fractures, dislocations to RSI complaints the hand and wrist can present some challenging cases when we use them so much!

Here’s one for your pub quiz….Do you know what the anatomical s***fbox is?….The anatomical s***fbox (also known as the radial fossa), is a triangular depression found on the lateral aspect of the dorsum of the hand. It is located at the level of the carpal bones, and best seen when the thumb is extended.

In the past, this depression was used to hold s***f (to***co) before inhaling up the nose – hence it was given the name ‘s***fbox’.

The scaphoid bone is at the floor of the s***fbox and is the most commonly fractured bone in the wrist - they usually occur on an outstretched arm/hand. Sometimes misdiagnosed as wrist sprains they do warrant an XRay if the subjective and objectives assessments raise any flags.

Address

Whitby Sports And Social Club, Dunkirk Lane
Ellesmere Port
CH656QF

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 2:30pm
Tuesday	12pm - 6pm
Thursday	12pm - 6pm
	6pm - 9:15pm
Friday	9am - 11:30am
	11:45am - 6pm

Website

https://www.ajtsportstherapy.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when AJT Sports Therapy and Pilates Clinic posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Ellesmere Port?