Melanie Betts Physiotherapy

13/02/2026

The Vonn injury (comparison)X-ray! Ouch!!

25/11/2025

Interesting read! GLP-1 will be the Statins of the future, I’m sure

Am I dreaming? Too good to be true? Nope. Ozempic works for arthritis. And probably other pain.

Bliddal et al. tested Ozempic, AKA “semaglutide,” the most famous drug of this kind. They gave it to heavier patients with painful knee arthritis, and compared to a placebo and dieting.

The results are an impressive example of the kind of effect on pain that we WISH we could see from more studies: substantial and lasting … blazingly obvious on a graph … statistical significance AND clear clinical significance?

This is a positive result we can have some confidence in, for once.

All of these drugs reduce blood sugar and treat obesity, with a variety of downstream benefits that are still being studied. Meanwhile, it’s now a reasonably safe bet to add “good for arthritis” to that list, with mostly only minor side effects — and it’s HOW it probably works that’s so cool, and strongly implies that we’re going to see similar benefits for other chronically painful conditions.

Link in the comments for the citation … and many nerdy details, about 1800 more words for members only, plus an audio version.

~ Paul Ingraham, PainScience.com publisher

12/11/2025

Another great course day, looking at ultrasound guided injections

28/10/2025

15/10/2025

Having any of these issues. Call us on 07703 012146

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPymEtgk_Y4/?igsh=bGRsZjFwdjU0M2g1

11/09/2025

As part of our rebranding the telephone and reception services are now managed by Tudor physiotherapy. For appointments with Melanie Betts physiotherapy team continue to call 07703012146 . Just let them know your preferred physiotherapist and location and they will book you in. To contact Melanie directly please email melanie@melaniebettsphysiotherapy.com

27/08/2025

Imagine dedicating 37 years to helping others, only to suddenly need that same support yourself. That’s the reality for our colleague, Val Jones.

In June, Val was involved in a devastating accident that left her with life-changing injuries. Like so many across the physio community, we’ve been deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened.

We’ve been lucky enough to work with Val on several occasions. She is not only a gifted educator and world-class expert, but also a truly wonderful person to collaborate with. Always generous, kind, and inspiring.

Now, Val and her family urgently need our help. Please take a moment to read her story below. If you are able to contribute, no matter how small, it will mean the world to Val and those closest to her.

This is a sad and difficult time for our whole community. Our thoughts are with Val and her family, and we hope you’ll join us in supporting her on this journey.

👉 Support Val’s journey to home here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/val-jones-journey-to-home

25/08/2025

EXCITING NEWS FROM MELANIE BETTS PHYSIOTHERAPY

21/08/2025

3 month post ACL reconstruction check up happy. Still no running for another month ☹️ to protect the meniscal repair.

20/07/2025

Grip strength directly correlates to longevity of life

A weak grip goes hand in hand with higher risk of heart attack and stroke, and is linked to everything from diabetes and obesity to muscle loss. Here’s what to do about it

18/07/2025

THE ROAR RECS FOR MAKING MUSCLE

All the cardio in the world won't cut it. Research on active women, especially past age 40, shows that even high levels of aerobic activity doesn't translate into any meaningful changes in lean body mass. The only solution is STRENGTH TRAINING. I mean high-intensity power training - heavy lifting for pure strength. This kind of training stimulates your neuromuscular system, activating the maximum amount of muscle fibers. It also keeps those high-energy, powerful type II muscle fibers engaged, which is essential because those are needed for speed, and they're the first to go. I hear from so many perimenopausal women that they feel as if they suddenly lost all strength and power (before any issue with losing lean mass). This is not a misnomer, we see that there is a distinct drop in force generation BEFORE we see any loss in lean mass. This is directly related to estrogen influence on myosin binding ability with actin (a weaker bond means a weaker muscle contraction), and the systemic loss of the anti-inflammatory effect of estrogen, reducing the regulation of muscle inflammation and the satellite cell function (meaning, more inflammation reduces the feedback for building new muscle cells) reduces the quality of the muscle, before overall lean mass loss.

The best part is that the benefits of strength training are nearly immediate. Even before your muscles get bigger and stronger, you wake up sleeping muscle fibers and develop neuromuscular connections that result in strength gains after just a few sessions.

How to optimize your strength-training results:
- LIFT HEAVY
Challenge and stimulate your muscles so they break down and repair bigger and stronger.
- HOW HEAVY IS TOO HEAVY?
Pick up a weight and lift it 8 times. How hard were the last two reps? You have chosen the right weight if you are barely able to eke out that final rep while maintaining good form.(Heavy Resistance Training is a journey, start consistent, with good form, then add load over time; we don't want injuries!!)
- LIFT OFTEN
Aim for 2-3 days a week.
- MIX IT UP
Variety is your friend when it comes to making muscle.

Anything you'd add?

​Study links:
https://bit.ly/4375CxQ
https://bit.ly/44twf2A
https://bit.ly/3GJHyd8
https://bit.ly/42Z1ykN
https://bit.ly/43hv19v

18/07/2025

Hamstring tantrums, also known as prone or supine hamstring exercises using a gym ball/pillow, are used to improve hamstring strength, recruitment, and coordination, particularly in the context of rehabilitation and athletic performance. They are often incorporated into training or rehab programs to enhance the hamstring's ability to handle high-speed movements and eccentric contractions, which are crucial for activities like sprinting.