Physio on the River

25/05/2025

Our intrepid director has just won a prestigious croquet tournament - only lady amongst 13 men. Whoop!

03/05/2025

Have you ever heard of Ultrasound? It’s a therapy we offer at Physio on the River that can have a dynamic effect on certain injuries (after an initial consultation to assess if it is suitable for you). Used for over 70 years, Ultrasound is an evidence-based intervention that can effectively, and safely, treat a variety of muscle and joint disorders.
An ultrasound probe using high-frequency sound waves (which create heat and movement in body tissue) is placed on the skin via a transmission gel, thus assisting and promoting the body’s healing processes. It encourages an increase in local blood flow that may help reduce swelling and chronic inflammation and promote bone fracture healing. The heat in turn helps to decrease pain which can improve your range of motion and flexibility.
A session usually lasts between 5-10 minutes and is often used as part of an overall treatment plan that might also include manipulation, exercises and advice on posture.
Typically, Ultrasound is most beneficial when used for soft tissue injuries, such as:
• Muscle or ligament strains
• Acute Tennis or Golfers elbow
• Plantar fasciitis
• Scar tissue left after an injury
• Tendonitis
To book an initial appointment or to find out more, please call our Reception Team on 0208 8765690 or visit our website.

01/05/2025

Can you touch your toes? As the saying goes “move it or lose it.”
“Aging alone doesn’t automatically limit your mobility” says Dana Santas**, “but, lack of movement does.” In a recent article, Dana highlights the following:
1. Just like everyday movement patterns, exercises should be performed in all three planes of motion: sagittal (forward and backward), frontal (side to side) and transverse (rotational).
2. Move throughout your day — not just when you exercise (standing up to make a cup of tea counts, and try standing on one foot while the kettle boils)
3. Commit to at least five minutes of mobility exercises per day - a short routine of posture exercises or targeted stretches, first thing in the morning could have a significant impact on how freely you move for the rest of the day. Consistency is the key.
4. Regular strength training is vital for your long-term mobility and improved flexibility
5. Breathe better to move better – did you know that your breathing pattern directly affects how you move?
“Eventually, a muscle that cannot sufficiently relax and stretch can limit our mobility” and then our ability to safely perform everyday tasks diminishes and reduces confidence with a compound effect.
**Dana Santas, known as the “Mobility Maker,” is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and mind-body coach in professional sports, and is the author of the book “Practical Solutions for Back Pain Relief.” For ‘how-to tips’ read the article in full, see the link below.’
LINK: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/03/health/maintain-mobility-older-age-wellness/index.html
LINK: https://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness/how-become-more-flexible-because-yes-its-important
LINK: https://barbend.com/mobility-vs-flexibility

26/04/2025

Croquet anyone? It’s an enjoyable yet very competitive sport, as our very own Editor-in-Chief (and Proprietor,) Diana Wilson, can testify. Since taking up the sport just over four years ago at the Roehampton Sports Club, she has gone from strength to strength.
Diana is already at competition level and fighting fit as a result. You could be too. Croquet is a very enabling sport. When an ankle injury meant Diana could no longer play tennis, croquet offered a life-line both socially and physically - ensuring she could maintain her fitness levels. For more detail, you can read Diana’s blog on our website or pop into Physio on the River to pick up a leaflet on Croquet.
If you’ve had an injury yourself, or believe you can no longer enjoy a sport or an active lifestyle, then why not book a physical MOT with one of our experienced physiotherapists? We could help you get moving again and identify an alternative sport, or devise an exercise programme that could be right for you.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 an MOT 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟮𝟬𝟴 𝟴𝟳𝟲 𝟱𝟲𝟵𝟬 to find out more.

21/04/2025

Are your 2025 resolutions to “get fit”, “be more flexible”, or “move more”, a distant memory? Then consider a try-out* session in one of our small, friendly exercise classes. There are never more than six people in any class, which means plenty of personal attention from our very experienced instructors.
We still have a few places left in our range of exercise classes for the Summer Term, including Pilates, Yoga and Balance & Strength classes at Physio on the River.
The Summer Term runs from tomorrow, Tuesday 22nd April. until Saturday 26th July. Please note some classes have a half-term break midway through, our Reception team have timetables and details.
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟮𝟬𝟴 𝟴𝟳𝟲 𝟱𝟲𝟵𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁: depending on your level of experience, general fitness and whether you might prefer a focussed, Level 3 class or something a little more light-hearted or even a class that aims to improve your overall balance and strength at any age. *𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝘄𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘆-𝗼𝘂𝘁 (subject to availability in the class of your choice). What better way to prepare for a wonderful Summer....?

17/04/2025

Your diet can impact sleep, stress and energy levels says former physiotherapist Pauline Cox, now a nutritionist specialising in women’s health.
You can read more in her books* or in a recent article in The Independent newspaper, links are at the end of this post.
𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀) 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼:
1. First and foremost, look after your liver
2. Add fermented foods to your diet (and it doesn’t have to be sauerkraut)
3. Avoid ultra-processed foods (sounds obvious but eating high sugar, processed foods can cause both our inflammatory and cortisol levels to increase (which “robs us of progesterone”)
4. Create an ‘eating window’ because it’s not just what you eat, it’s when you eat it
5. Monitor your magnesium levels - most women are “sub-clinically deficient in magnesium” which can cause insomnia and the health risks associated with too little REM sleep
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟮𝟬𝟴 𝟴𝟳𝟲 𝟱𝟲𝟵𝟬.
𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘹, 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, ‘𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯: 𝘌𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩, 𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴’.
LINKS:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/nutritionist-diet-help-hormones-pmt-b2365507.html
𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Sharon is our in-house nutritionist at Physio on the River: www.kallosnutrition.com

16/04/2025

Sometimes, we see physiotherapy from a different perspective. While physio assessment and treatment is obviously strictly between therapist and the client, our Reception Team are witness to the transformative effects of those appointments. Even after just one session with a physio, the team report hearing sighs of sheer relief and smiles that declare back pain has been relieved, or mobility has returned even in a small way, to a shoulder, arm or leg.
Those sighs are very rewarding to us at Physio on the River and we thank you for them. Positive results nearly always improve in any subsequent appointments, building on personalised exercises or general advice we might give you to follow at home. Resulting in fewer sighs although we do notice many more smiles. Physiotherapy offers hope and anxiety relief, as well as physical treatment. There is often no need to “put up” with pain or reduced mobility from an injury and you may be surprised at the results of even just one physiotherapy appointment. [You can find our contact details and further information listed below.]
And just to say, we’d also like to thank all our clients who gave us delicious chocolates or biscuits and cards over the recent festive break. Much enjoyed by the whole team.
𝗣𝗛𝗬𝗦𝗜𝗢 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥
𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: www.physio-on-the-river.co.uk/contact
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹: 0208 8765690
𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: The Old Ticket Office (next to Barnes Bridge)
The Terrace, Barnes, SW13 0NP

28/10/2024

Many communities throughout the United Kingdom are using Nextdoor to strengthen their neighbourhoods.

28/10/2024

We are hiring - Pilates teacher wanted!

Many communities throughout the United Kingdom are using Nextdoor to strengthen their neighbourhoods.

24/08/2024

“After four years of brightening up our community, our lovely mural under Barnes Bridge is starting to show signs of wear and tear. So, with the support of the same local family who made the mural possible in the first place, we have lined up the fabulous to come back to restore it to its former glory. Here is the BCA team cleaning the mural in preparation for Lionel’s visit on Wednesday! 🙌 Thank you for providing water and a ladder! “