Happy Holidays!
This Christmas holiday take the time to think and reflect on life’s experiences. Do you remember just a few years ago when the world shut down its industries and seeing the truly staggering improvements in the air and rivers that took just a few weeks to occur? It was a wonderful thing to see and probably beyond anybody’s expectations. It was a lesson we should all embrace.
You can achieve almost anything if you put your mind to it. So think big, don’t limit your imagination. And make sure you are as healthy and able as you can be. Don’t let your own body hold you back!
Christmas & New Year Opening Hours
There is always a last minute surge in demand just before Christmas as people prepare for the festivities. To help, this year we are going to be open on Monday 23rd December and then close the remainder of the week.
We will reopen on Monday 30th December and close for New Years day only that week.
The team wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year.
If you do need our help, call 01889 881488
Ever had pain in your leg, arm, or even your foot and thought, “Why is this happening?” What if I told you that the real problem might be lurking in your spine? It might sound surprising, but it’s more common than you’d think. Understanding this connection could be the key to getting the right treatment and finally finding relief.
A Little Evolutionary Lesson: How Limbs and Nerves Evolved Together
Let’s take a journey back in time—way back. Millions of years ago, when our ancestors were still fish, life was simpler. They had a central nervous system with nerves running up and down the spine to control their bodies. But they didn’t have to worry about arms or legs—those came later, as we evolved into land-dwellers.
As we developed limbs, the nervous system evolved too, with nerves extending from the spine all the way to the hands and feet. Think of your limbs as an extension of your spine. The nerves that once travelled only along the spine now branch out into your arms and legs. So, when you feel pain in your arm, it might actually be a signal coming from a “squeezed wire” in your neck. And if your foot is hurting, the root cause might be pressure on a nerve in your lower back.
Call us today at 01889 881488 for expert help if unexplained pain is holding you back.
How the Nervous System Works: Motor and Sensory Nerves
The nervous system is a complex highway of information running through our bodies. It’s made up of two main types of nerves:
Motor nerves, which carry messages from the brain to the muscles, telling them how to move.
Sensory nerves, which send feedback from the body back to the brain—things like touch, pressure, heat, and, yes, pain.
Now imagine these nerves as a tightly packed bundle of electrical wires running down your spine. Each “wire” connects to a specific part of the body, like a small patch of skin on your foot. If you injure your foot, the sensory nerve sends a pain signal up that “wire” to your brain.
But what happens if that wire is pinched back at the source—say, in the spine? Your brain still gets the pain signal, and you feel pain in your foot, even though the real problem is in your back. This is what we call referred pain.
Call us today at 01889 881488 for expert help if unexplained pain is holding you back.
Case Study 1: Sciatica—It’s Not Just About the Leg
I’ve personally experienced this with sciatica—a classic example of referred pain. After overloading my back with a bit too much DIY, I started feeling pain in my right foot. It’s my warning signal that there’s pressure building up in my lower back, even though the pain shows up in my foot.
The solution? I get Nicky to treat my back with her GunnIMS skills, targeting the exact spot in my spine where the nerve is being pinched. One treatment on my back, and the foot pain disappears—because the pain was never in my foot in the first place.
The lesson here: If you’re dealing with leg or foot pain, don’t ignore the possibility that your back might be the real culprit.
Stop the guessing game—get the right diagnosis today. Call us at 01889 881488.
Case Study 2: Avoiding Surgery with the Right Diagnosis
Not long ago, a client came to us with severe wrist pain, previously diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome and scheduled for surgery. But he wanted to explore other options to avoid the downtime that surgery would require—time he couldn’t afford as a small business owner.
During his assessment, we found significant issues in his neck, right where the nerves controlling the wrist exit the spine. His wrist wasn’t the problem at all—his neck was. After a few GunnIMS treatments on his neck, both his neck and wrist pain disappeared, and he was able to avoid surgery altogether.
The takeaway? Sometimes, the solution isn’t where you expect it to be. Understanding how the spine and nerves interact can save you from unnecessary procedures.
Could your pain have a different cause? Find out today—call 01889 881488.
Case Study 3: Helping an Athlete Get Back in the Game
An international football player, at the time playing for a major London club, came to us after suffering repeated hamstring injuries. These injuries were so frequent that he found himself being substituted in games more often than not. Despite all the intense treatment focused on his hamstrings, there was no improvement.
When he came to Nicky, she quickly identified the real issue: a trapped nerve in his spine. No amount of treatment on his legs alone would have ever resolved the problem. After addressing the spinal issue, his hamstring troubles were gone, and he returned to full-time play without the constant worry of injury.
What’s the takeaway? Sometimes the answer lies far from where the pain is. Treating the root cause can be the difference between ongoing frustration and lasting recovery.
Ready to get back to your best? Call us today at 01889 881488.
Case Study 4: The Role of Mindset in Understanding Pain
Understanding the link between spinal health and limb pain can be tricky, and sometimes mindset is the biggest barrier. We had a client with knee pain that was ruining his golf game. During his assessment, it became clear that a problem in his spine was referring pain down to his knee. But when we suggested treating his back, he became quite angry—he’d never had back pain, so how could that be the cause?
He reluctantly agreed to a quick investigation, and just one needle insertion confirmed that his back was indeed the source of the issue. While the treatment worked, the experience highlighted how powerful beliefs can be. He couldn’t accept that his knee pain could have been linked to his spine, even when the evidence was right there.
Perception is reality, but sometimes that perception can work against you.
Why Understanding the Spine-Limb Connection Matters
At Nicky Snazell Clinic, we believe in looking beyond the obvious symptoms to find the true cause of your pain. This is why understanding the connection between the spine and limb pain is so crucial. It’s not about focusing on just where the pain is—it’s about understanding the bigger picture.
And here’s where prevention comes in. A little regular care for your spine can prevent those “wires” from being pinched in the first place. Whether it’s maintenance treatments to keep you active or embracing a wellness approach with Nicky’s 4 Keys to Health, prevention helps you avoid the cycle of pain and get back to doing the things you love.
Take control of your pain before it takes control of you. Call 01889 881488 to schedule your assessment.
Your Pain Isn’t Always What It Seems
If you’re struggling with arm, leg, or even foot pain, it might be time to look beyond the obvious. The spine-limb connection could hold the answer, and we’re here to help you find it.
At Nicky Snazell Clinic, we’ve seen time and time again that a holistic approach—one that considers the entire body—leads to better outcomes. Let’s get to the root of your pain and help you get back to living life on your terms.
Don’t suffer needlessly—call us today at 01889 881488 and get the relief you deserve.
So, you’ve learned all about the wonders of vitamin D—how it boosts your mood, strengthens your bones, and helps keep your immune system in top shape. But there’s another key player in this story that deserves its moment in the spotlight: vitamin K2. If vitamin D is the star of the show, then K2 is the director, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Let’s explore why this often-overlooked vitamin is crucial, especially when you’re boosting your vitamin D levels.
What is Vitamin K2, and Why Do We Need It?
Vitamin K2, like its cousin Vitamin K1 (known for its role in blood clotting), is a fat-soluble vitamin, but it has a different set of superpowers. While K1 helps our blood clot properly when we get a cut, K2’s job is more about managing calcium. Think of K2 as the traffic controller for calcium in your body. It makes sure calcium gets to where it’s needed—like your bones and teeth—and stays out of places where it could cause harm, such as your arteries.
Why Vitamin K2 and Vitamin D Make the Perfect Team
If you’re taking vitamin D, it’s essential to know about K2 because the two work together to maintain a healthy balance. Here’s how:
Directing Calcium to the Right Places: Vitamin D increases the amount of calcium your body absorbs from the food you eat, which is great for bone health. But without K2, there’s a risk that some of that extra calcium could end up in places you don’t want it—like in your arteries, where it can lead to calcification (hardening). This is where vitamin K2 steps in, activating proteins that guide calcium into your bones and teeth, rather than letting it float around in your bloodstream.
Activating Key Proteins: One of the crucial proteins that K2 activates is matrix GLA protein (MGP), which is found in the walls of blood vessels. MGP’s job is to prevent calcium from building up in those walls, keeping your arteries flexible and clear. Without enough K2, MGP can’t do its job properly, and this could increase the risk of conditions like atherosclerosis, where arteries become stiff and narrowed.
Better Together: When you combine vitamin D and K2, you get a one-two punch for bone and heart health. The D makes sure you’ve got plenty of calcium, and the K2 makes sure it goes where it should. It’s a perfect balance that helps support your bones while keeping your arteries healthy.
How Much Vitamin K2 Do You Need?
So, you might be wondering, “How much K2 should I be taking if I’m already on a vitamin D supplement?” The answer depends on your vitamin D dose, but here’s a general guide:
If you’re taking a typical vitamin D dose of 1,000 to 4,000 IU daily, many experts suggest 100 to 200 micrograms (mcg) of K2 (specifically the MK-7 form, which lasts longer in the body).
If you’re taking higher doses of vitamin D, you might consider the upper end of the K2 range, around 200 mcg or more. This helps ensure that all that extra calcium from the D gets directed to your bones.
It’s worth noting that K2 is available in some foods, like fermented foods (think natto, a type of fermented soybean, or some cheeses) and animal products like egg yolks and liver. But realistically, many of us don’t eat enough of these to rely on food sources alone, especially if we’re aiming to balance out vitamin D supplements.
The Heart Health Connection
One of the biggest benefits of vitamin K2 is how it helps keep your heart healthy. When calcium builds up in your arteries, it can make them stiff and increase the risk of heart problems. By helping to prevent this calcification, K2 plays a role in keeping your blood vessels flexible and your blood flowing smoothly.
Studies have shown that people with higher K2 intakes tend to have better cardiovascular health. And while K2 won’t work miracles on its own, it’s an important part of a broader approach to taking care of your heart—alongside eating a balanced diet, staying active, and managing stress.
How to Take K2 with Vitamin D
If you’re already taking a vitamin D supplement and want to add K2 into the mix, there are a few options:
Combined Supplements: You can find supplements that contain both vitamin D and K2 in one convenient pill. Just check the label to make sure you’re getting the right balance.
Separate Supplements: If you prefer to control your dosage more closely, you can take vitamin D and K2 separately. This can be a good option if you’re taking a higher dose of D and want to adjust the amount of K2 accordingly.
Food Sources: While it can be challenging to get all your K2 from diet alone, adding some K2-rich foods into your diet, like certain cheeses (Gouda is a good one), egg yolks, and fermented foods, can give you a little boost alongside your supplements.
In Summary: The Dynamic Duo for Your Health
If vitamin D is all about absorbing calcium and keeping your bones strong, then vitamin K2 is about making sure that calcium gets to the right places. The two work together beautifully, with K2 stepping in to support the work that vitamin D starts. This combination not only helps protect your bones but also plays a crucial role in keeping your heart healthy.
So, if you’ve already got your vitamin D routine sorted, it might be time to invite vitamin K2 into the mix. Think of it as the co-pilot that helps you stay on course, ensuring you get the best out of your vitamin D while keeping those important systems running smoothly. And as always, if you’re unsure about how much you need, a chat with your doctor can help tailor the right plan for you.
Vitamin D, often called the “sunshine vitamin,” is in the spotlight for its role in everything from our mood and immune system to bone strength. But, despite its name, it’s technically more of a hormone than a vitamin—our bodies produce it when exposed to sunlight. It’s been called a vitamin for so long that most of us stick with that name, even though it might not be entirely accurate.
Why Is Vitamin D So Important?
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in many processes throughout the body. It’s not just about keeping our bones strong—it actually enters the cells and can even switch certain genes on or off, affecting up to 5% of our genes. This ability helps regulate a lot of important functions, including immune responses. That’s why it’s so critical for maintaining good health.
The Role of Magnesium in Vitamin D's Effectiveness
But there’s a bit of a twist—vitamin D doesn’t work solo. It needs a supporting act, and that’s where magnesium comes in. Magnesium helps convert vitamin D into its active form, which is the one your body can actually use. Without enough magnesium, taking vitamin D might not give you the full benefits, no matter how high the dose. Think of magnesium as the key that unlocks vitamin D’s potential.
Magnesium is also crucial for balancing calcium levels, which is especially important when vitamin D is doing its job of helping you absorb calcium. If magnesium is lacking, you might end up with calcium building up in places it shouldn’t, like your blood vessels, rather than strengthening your bones where it’s needed most. So, magnesium and vitamin D really work best as a team to keep your bones strong and your body functioning properly.
Why Is Deficiency So Common?
Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common, even in advanced countries like the USA, where about 40% of adults are thought to be lacking. Globally, estimates range between 14% to 59%. One reason is that it’s hard to get enough from food alone. Sure, it’s present in fatty fish, egg yolks, mushrooms, and liver, but most of us don’t eat these in large enough quantities to make a difference.
The real challenge comes from geography. Vitamin D production depends on sunlight, so those of us living further from the equator—like in the UK—struggle to get enough in autumn and winter when the days are short and the sun is weak. A study from Switzerland showed that during spring and summer, just 4 to 6 minutes in the sun with 22% of your skin exposed can produce 400 IU of vitamin D. But in winter, you’d need around 6.5 hours for the same result! This explains why supplementation becomes so important during the darker months.
How Much Do We Need?
The UK government recommends a daily intake of 400 IU to maintain bone health. The NHS and the European Food Safety Authority set the upper safe limit at 4,000 IU. Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a medical researcher, points out that the right dose can vary depending on your size, weight, and existing levels of vitamin D. Some experts argue that we can handle much higher amounts—after all, on a hot day, your skin can produce up to 20,000 IU with enough sun exposure.
But there’s a catch: you can’t overdose on vitamin D from sunlight, as the body regulates its production. Problems can arise if you take too many supplements over a long time, which can lead to too much calcium in your blood. This condition, called hypercalcaemia, can weaken bones and damage the heart and kidneys. So, if you’re considering taking more than the standard dose, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor and possibly get your levels checked.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Some groups are particularly at risk of vitamin D deficiency. As we get older, our skin produces less of a substance called 7DHC, which is key to making vitamin D from sunlight. This makes it even harder for older adults to get enough.
People with darker skin tones also face challenges because their skin naturally blocks more sunlight, which is great for avoiding sunburn but makes vitamin D production slower. This can be a real problem in places like the UK, where sunny days aren’t exactly common. Research during the initial phase of COVID-19 highlighted that darker-skinned individuals, including many NHS doctors who were among the first to die from the virus, were more likely to have low vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D and Immunity: Lessons from COVID-19
Vitamin D’s role in supporting the immune system became a hot topic during the pandemic. Studies showed that having enough vitamin D might reduce the severity of illnesses like COVID-19 by supporting T-cells—our body’s immune warriors. In fact, we sent out a blog on Vitamin D and COVID back in January 2021, and the results discussed at that time were eerily similar to the findings being discussed today.
For those who would like to revisit that blog, here is the link.
That blog also had a link to a video by Professor Roger Seheult, an American Medical Doctor. For the more technically minded its well worth watching.
Here are some of the key facts from the 2021 blog:
- A study of 14,000 COVID positive patients in Israel showed that low Vitamin D levels doubled the risk of hospitalisation
- A USA study of 191,000 patients COVID positivity rate showed a clear inverse relationship with Vitamin D level. The higher the Vitamin D, the lower the rate. This study also looked in detail at the rate by geography, race, age and sex and found that in every case the higher the Vitamin D level, the lower the rate.
- A study of 20 European countries looked at the number of cases and mortality of patients compared to the average Vitamin D levels in each country and found an inverse relationship. i.e. the higher the Vitamin D, the lower the number of cases and the lower the mortality.
A randomised controlled study of COVID positive patients who were given Vitamin D supplements, showed 2% went to ICU, compared to 50% from the placebo group. This study was only 76 patients and is going to be repeated with a larger population. - A French study of nursing home patients showed that those who were given 80,000 iu per 2 to 3 months had a much higher survival rate than those who hadn’t had any Vitamin D in the previous month.
Clearly a lot of studies suggested there was a strong correlation between Vitamin D levels and acute respiratory infections (ARI). Evidence showed that COVID cases, ICU and mortality were all inversely proportional to Vitamin D levels. That meant the higher your Vitamin D level, within limits, the lower your chances of getting COVID, needing ICU and it being fatal.
Dr. David Grimes, a consultant physician, notes that vitamin D helps the immune system respond more effectively, which could mean fewer infections and better recovery when we do get ill. It’s like giving your immune system a bit of extra strength when it needs it most.
Dr. Grimes also points out that in cases of serious deficiency, a single high dose of vitamin D might be used to boost levels quickly, but it can take a week before it becomes effective. This approach isn’t common in the UK, even though it’s used in countries like Spain and Italy.
Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Long-Term Health
The benefits of vitamin D extend beyond immunity. It’s crucial for mental health, with low levels linked to mood disorders like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and depression. It also plays a role in maintaining strong bones by helping the body absorb calcium. But remember, without enough magnesium, this process doesn’t work as well, and you might not be getting all the benefits of your vitamin D.
Magnesium is like the supporting player that makes sure the calcium ends up in your bones—not where it doesn’t belong, like soft tissues. That’s why some people choose to take a magnesium supplement along with vitamin D. And of course, eating magnesium-rich foods like leafy greens, nuts, and seeds can help keep everything in balance naturally.
There’s also some research exploring potential links between low vitamin D levels and conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is more common in countries further from the equator, where vitamin D deficiencies are common, suggesting there might be a connection. However, while we know that low vitamin D can increase the risk, there’s no clear evidence yet that higher levels can prevent MS.
How Can You Boost Your Vitamin D Levels?
If you’re in a sunny place, getting outside is the easiest way to boost your vitamin D. But let’s be honest—that’s not always an option in the UK. For many, a daily supplement is the best bet, especially in the winter months. Dr. Grimes suggests that finding the right dose means testing your levels first and then adjusting your intake.
Some people also take vitamin K2 alongside vitamin D to ensure that calcium goes to the right places, like bones, rather than tissues, where it could cause problems. It’s an extra step that can make a big difference, especially for those with concerns about heart health.
So, Should You Be Taking a Vitamin D Supplement?
You simply can’t get enough from food and that’s probably why in 2016 the UK government recommended everyone should take Vitamin D supplements. Probably, as we are all living somewhere with long winters and limited sun. But as with most things, balance is key. Too little vitamin D can lead to a range of health problems, but too much can cause issues as well. And don’t forget about magnesium—without it, your vitamin D might not be doing its job properly. If you’re unsure, chat with your doctor, especially before taking high doses. And when the sun does shine, take the opportunity to soak it up responsibly—your body will thank you for it.
We will be blogging on Vitamin K2 and it’s importance to take alongside Vitamin D in a blog in the near future. If you have found this blog interesting, then the K2 blog is likely to be just as much.
A couple of common questions we get from clients with a Sports Injury are:
- Are you equipped at our clinic to treat your kind of injury?
- How can I trust that you have the expertise to know how to fix your injury, because you are desperate to get back to your sport as it is a very important part of your lifestyle?
To answer this, let’s take you through our S.P.O.R.T. acronym.
S
is about being a sports specialist. So yes, our team are specialists and it’s also about specific injuries. If you turn up with tennis elbow, golfers elbow, throwers shoulder, a bad back due to too much golf, jumpers knee, calf issues like Achilles Tendonitis from running, golf or cricket, our specialists will know what the injury is and exactly how long and what type of exercises and rehab you need to do, before you can go back to your sport and be good at it again.
We are spoiled with our physios and sports therapists. One has an Olympic Medal for running, one has played at very high-level football at major clubs and still plays football. Another is a chairman of a local cricket club and loves to play golf and cricket. We also have long term boxer, now retired, and another competing in weightlifting.
Thus, if you come to us with a sports injury, they will get it; they will align with your mindset because they know what it’s like to get hurt.
Also, if you are a veteran and you want to keep fit, they will understand that as well because some of us are getting on a bit as well, and we have to modify our sports accordingly. I love kayaking, mountain biking and swimming. All low impact, and I do it for fun, to keep fit and get rid of stress after long days.
If you want to enjoy that kind of activity, of course we can help you with that too.
P
We are very much into prevention as well, to make sure you don’t get the same injury again. We have the latest technology where we can look at why you got the injury in the first place. The injury may have happened because of the way you are moving incorrectly. We can teach you how to keep really fit and in a way that prevents your type of injury. Certain sports, for example golf, puts a huge demand on your back, so you need to be able to fitness and strengthening exercises to both sides of the back to prevent injury.
O
is for optimising rehab. It is about how we get you as fit as we can so that you can cope with the rehab programme.
We ask you questions about your lifestyle stresses now, if you are eating healthily and have you been keeping up with your fitness training correctly. We make sure you really have the right mindset at the moment, or if there is something stressful going on. Are you battling to do your training with your work commitments. From this we get a better picture on how to coach you to get through what you need to do to get fit.
R
is about recovery and conditioning. We will be there every step of the way and will intervene as needed if it’s not going right. In our run lab we can take you to the screen and together examine how you are moving. We can test your muscle strength and check that your injury is healing at this level of rehab.
Before you couldn’t do this many laps around the park, or jumps or skips, but now a tailor-made holistic recovery plan ensures you can without breaking. We have the knowledge to help you recover in the safest way.
T
is for out treatment techniques and technology. Rest assured we’ve got the latest technology to help you, the latest software in our run lab to look at the way you are running and moving. The latest shockwave technology that we can use to blast through tissue to speed up the healing process for a sports injury.
If you have a sports injury, we can help.
S is about being a sports specialist. So yes, our team are specialists and it’s also about specific injuries. If you turn up with tennis elbow, golfers elbow, throwers shoulder, a bad back due to too much golf, jumpers knee, calf issues like Achilles Tendonitis from running, golf or cricket, our specialists will know what the injury is and exactly how long and what type of exercises and rehab you need to do, before you can go back to your sport and be good at it again.
We are spoiled with our physios and sports therapists. One has an Olympic Medal for running, one has played at very high-level football at major clubs and still plays football. Another is a chairman of a local cricket club and loves to play golf and cricket. We also have long term boxer, now retired, and another competing in weightlifting.
Thus, if you come to us with a sports injury, they will get it; they will align with your mindset because they know what it’s like to get hurt.
If you are in pain, we can help
or call 01889 881488
Jean, Erica & Charlotte will be happy to help
Olympic Bronze Medalist 1992 Barcelona
Women’s Health & MSK Physiotherapist
When I started working in the Staffordshire area I soon heard about Nicky Snazell and how she was an amazing holistic practitioner. That was me, a holistic physio who looked at people as a whole. I was intrigued. I wanted to find out a lot more about Nicky and her clinic.
Read on to follow Sandra’s story.
I was soul searching and thought why not just reach out to Nicky. She engaged with me immediately and I knew that the connection was there. The thought of having the opportunity to work in a clinic with such an amazing therapist as Nicky completely blew my mind!
On visiting the clinic and meeting Nicky and Alan face to face I thought I had come home. It was a perfect setting and felt like I had visited the clinic before, although of course I hadn't. All the staff were so welcoming and warming.
On watching Nicky treat some of her patients, I knew I had to work here. She treated patients completely differently to anything I’d witnessed before and it was clear that her dry needling skills were at an unbelievably high level.
Although I am bringing another skill to the clinic as a Women’s Health/ Pelvic Health physio, I do use acupuncture as a treatment modality on a daily basis and Nicky would be a phenomenal acupuncture and dry needling mentor! The training and education that she has shared worldwide is amazing and I wanted to have some of that, as part of her team, shared with me too.
I am naturally very competitive, always striving to be my best, never accepting the status quo. I thus have a strong need to learn and learn from the best, as only the best will do. That’s why joining the team at Nicky Snazell Clinic was so important to me.
"I am so glad to be welcomed on board. Thanks for having me, I am honoured."
If you are suffering with any pelvic floor problems, then you are not alone, as a third of women suffer with this at some point in their life. Don’t suffer unnecessarily. Help is at hand.
If you are in pain, we can help
or call 01889 881488
Jean, Erica & Charlotte will be happy to help
We have had to make some changes to our half price Ambassador offer because it has caused a lot of confusion.
Read on to find out what the changes are and how you can still get 12 months of half price treatment.
A few weeks ago we launched an unbelievably good referral offer of half price treatment if you referred three clients to us within a six month period. To qualify as a referral, the person being referred needs to be somebody completely new to the clinic and has to attend an assessment and at least two follow up appointments.
The first two referrals would entitle the referrer to a £20 discount voucher and for a limited time we added an extra sweetener whereby the new client referred would also get a £20 discount, in effect, gifted from the referrer.
While we thought this was an irresistible offer, it has caused all kinds of negative confusion, including numerous existing clients who have turned up wanting the referral discount.
To avoid any further confusion, we have decided that with immediate effect, the offer of the new client also getting a £20 discount has been withdrawn.
BUT, that doesn’t mean we won’t continue with what can only be described as a fantastic offer to you, an existing client, who wants to refer new clients.
Our amazing ambassador offer will continue:
If you refer three completely new clients to us within six months, who genuinely need our help and attend for an assessment and at least two follow up appointments, this will automatically enrol you in our Ambassador Club, which will entitle you to half price treatment for 12 months (rules apply. See below)
To maintain membership of the Ambassador club for another year, we have made it even easier for you, as all you have to do is refer three more new qualifying clients within your first year as a member. To stay on this scheme just keep referring three more new clients each year.
What this means is that you have the option of paying half price for as long as you want. The value our clinic offers, our clients tell us, is already outstanding, not only because of our specialist knowledge, but also due to the broad range of latest technology, all at no extra cost. (most clinics charge extra for this technology) At half price it makes what we offer almost unmatchable.
Here is another big benefit to you. Many clients have told us that they really would have benefited from an hours appointment but their finances didn’t stretch that far. As an Ambassador, you could book an hour EVERY TIME and only pay the price of half an hour.
Half price, full price?
It’s in your control how much you pay
Ambassador Membership Rules
For the first two qualifying referrals, we will give you a £20 discount voucher. When you have referred three new clients within six months, you will be enrolled as an Ambassador and from that date, you could gain more than 5 times more than the discount scheme offers! A maximum of 12 treatments at half price is allowed in any single year. Benefits are non transferable. All discounts are on the full price of each item, not on an already discounted price. To qualify as a referral, the person referred must not already be a listed client at our clinic.
Let’s give you an example:
- First new qualifying referral 1st May 2024. You get a £20 discount voucher
- Second new qualifying referral 16th June 2024. You get a £20 discount voucher
- Third new qualifying referral 30th September 2024.
- Between 1st May and 30th September, you paid full price for any treatments, less the discounts, if you chose to use them.
- You have now referred three new qualifying clients within six months and you are automatically enrolled as an Ambassador.
- As of 30th September 2024 you will be an Ambassador for 12 months, until 30th September 2025 and eligible for half price treatment.
- Fourth new qualifying referral 20th November 2024. This will be your first referral while an Ambassador. You will have until 30th September 2025 to refer two more new and qualifying clients to extend your membership from 30th September 2025 to 30th September 2026.
- While you are an Ambassador you are eligible for half price treatment which could give you more than 5 times the discount scheme. You will not get a £20 discount voucher for any referral while an Ambassador.
Instead, each qualifying referral will count towards you maintaining your half price eligibility for another 12 months.
If you don’t want to become an Ambassador and would prefer to refer on a slower basis, we will continue to give you a £20 discount for every qualifying referral.
If you are in pain, we can help
or call 01889 881488
Jean, Erica & Charlotte will be happy to help
There are various types of massage and often the most avoided is Deep Tissue, simply because the name is a bit scary and it sounds painful. But be under no illusion, Deep Tissue Massage opens pandora’s box to feeling in less pain, more flexible and healthier than you have in your life.
Find out more about how deep tissue massage can benefit you.
There are lots of different types of massage and each have their benefits and weaknesses.
Swedish
If we start with Swedish Massage, this is the softest variety and is wonderful for just wanting to feel pampered and relaxed. Therapeutcally, however, its benefits are marginal at best and what it does provide is short lived.
Sports Massage
This is a step up from Swedish and tends to be provided by therapists who are trained in human anatomy, so understand which muscles are most likely linked to a given problem, and can treat that accordingly. It’s generally a stronger type of treatment than Swedish and if the therapist is focussing on a localised problem, can cause pain that varies from uncomfortable to strong. There are two things to note here. First, resolving painful knots is obviously going to aggravate things and cause more short term pain but, and this is the kicker, the pain level will subside quickly as the problem is resolved in follow on massages.
Deep Tissue Massage
Sports massage can be highly effective in treating more superficial problems, but sometimes the techniques simply won’t get in far enough for deep seated problems. In such cases, the big guns need to brought out, so that the treatment can get in deep enough to be effective. At the same time, however, there are also relatively shallow problems that sports type massage could easily reach, but the added pressure used in deep tissue massage is way more effective.
That effectiveness, however, does come with more pain - for the first few treatments that is. Yes, it’s a bit of ‘no pain, no gain’, but for those willing to accept this, the gains are substantially greater and once gained, most are reluctant to lose them again. Put simply, a body regularly treated with deep tissue massage, will feel at a level above it has ever felt before.
(Interesting fact- In Germany, Doctors often prescribe a course of Deep Tissue Massage in preference to drugs as their first line of defence. Now why would they do that unless it really works?)
Emotional pain likes to hide out deep in the body, deep in a pit, so much so, it’s like an archaeological dig to find it. Such pain is caused throughout our life whenever our body experiences emotional trauma, responding by going tense, our fight or flight response. This shuts down oxygen to some muscles and viscera and that’s usually a time of intense anger or fear. Emotional notes, as well as physical pain are a physical manifestation of what our emotions are at that time, and unfortunately can become imprinted within our bodies and reside there, the cause long forgotten, locked in for years like unexploded land mines.
A deep tissue therapist can then unwittingly come along in search of deep tissue trigger points, the aim being to release physical pain and tension, only to be bombarded by a huge emotional release as the land mine explodes.
The good news is that this release is a vital step to a long term resolution of pain.
The deep trigger points can be treated with deep tissue massage, applying focussed pressure, encouraging the muscles and fascial tissue to relax, releasing toxins and improving oxygen flow. The latter is important as restricting the oxygen supply can upset the nerves and cause chronic super sensitivity within those nerves. The result of this is the birth of chronic painthat won’t ever go away.
When we release these trigger points, you must understand there is a lot of emotional baggage that can go with it. It thus helps if your therapist can also work with a healing ability and so heal the emotion as it erupts.
This why deep tissue massage is such a wonderful treatment, alongside deep seated physical release, you have a treatment for mental wellbeing.
In some situations, curing a deep seated, stubborn pain might need a finely focussed deep needling technique called GunnIMS, and in this we are blessed by having one of the very top practitioners in the UK at our clinic.
If this is something that calls to you, pick up the phone and let’s chat.
If you are in pain, we can help
or call 01889 881488
Jean, Erica & Charlotte will be happy to help
It’s all too easy to choose the first clinic you see listed or hear about. After all, they must surely all be same and it will save me a whole lot of time if I stick with this one, won’t it? Well, no, actually it won’t, any more than searching for a car with four wheels would be fine when you get offered a Ferrari and a Rolls Royce while you were thinking of something more like a Mini. Even a simple bit of refinement of your search, like ‘small 2 door car that can do at least 50 mpg’ would cut the list down massively.
Ok, this is a very simple example and one where most people are going to have a fairly good idea of what they want and don’t want.
But if you have never been to a private therapy clinic before, it’s not going to be so easy because you don’t have any idea of what you need to ask to help get you to the right place and more importantly stop you wasting your time or money on the wrong place.
Read on find out the three questions you must get answered before you make your choice.
The questions need to be for any clinic you consider, but we will answer them here for our clinic so that you get an appreciation of how expansive the questions are.
What should you need to find out first?
1. Can they help you by fixing your problem?
2. Do they have the expertise to sort out your particular problem? Can you trust them to do this?
3. Do they offer good value?
So firstly, can we help you?
Well, let’s start first with our name, ‘Nicky Snazell’s Wellness and Physiotherapy Clinic’. That actually tells you three things.
1. It’s a Physiotherapy Clinic. There are different types of physiotherapy specialism and our clinic focusses on your musculoskeletal frame, your joints, your spine, the nerves, muscles, tendons and ligaments that supply those joints, referred to as MSK Physiotherapy.
If you have a problem with any of those parts, anywhere in your body, from head to toe, then that we can help sort. Your problem may have resulted from a sports injury or from a simple trip, a major fall or just be part of having seen too many summers. If you are in pain or have restricted flexibility, we can help.
2. It’s a Wellness Clinic. Now there’s a good chance this will cause confusion because the term ‘wellness’ is so liberally and often misleadingly claimed. We haven’t got to ‘wellness rubbish collectors’ yet, but you get my drift.
Wellness to us has a very deep meaning of taking account of a clients’ inner health and not just their physical problem. For example, all too often there is a clear link between mind and body, yet this is overlooked.
Nicky Snazell (more on her shortly) after years of research, developed her own wellness criteria, looking for those conditions which would have an impact on both the problem itself and the best route to treat it. Her wellness model takes into account four key factors of lifestyle, mindset, fitness and diet, each scored on a simple traffic light basis of red, orange and green. What she found was that two clients, presenting with almost identical problems, but one with four red keys and the other with four green keys, needed very different treatments for success. In fact, a treatment which helped the four green key holder was contraindicated for the four red key holder. Without a deep understanding of wellness, this important differentiation could be completely missed, resulting in a client getting the wrong treatment, and apart from being painful, will potentially waste a lot of time and money.
3. The clinic has the owners name above the door. That’s a stamp of authority and recognition within her peer group. To you, a potential client, that means trust and confidence. Just as Rolls Royce won’t compromise their name with anything but the best, ‘Nicky Snazell’ over the door means no different.
It’s a personal reputation and it took many years to gain. In Nicky’s case after setting up Physiotherapy departments in both the NHS and private sectors, she started her own clinic and won the approval of several Consultant Surgeons who chose to consult at her clinic.
Nicky has written five books on Physiotherapy and Health, is currently writing her sixth, has consulted in Harley Street and been invited by over 30 radio stations across the USA to provide expert opinion on ways to help the opiate crisis without drugs. She has won awards from the UK based AACP, been a speaker at their conferences, presented on health internationally and awarded the first fellowship in the world to ISTOP, by it’s founder Professor Chan Gunn. Perhaps of most significance to you though is that many clients have travelled not only from every corner of the UK to seek Nicky’s help, but also from thousands of miles away from different countries and continents.
All of the above took dedication and years of hard work. Her stamp over the door of her clinic is her commitment to any client who enters the door that they will be provided the best treatment possible.
If you find another clinic with the owners name over the door, you know that the owner is similarly putting their reputation on the line and you should take confidence from this.
A great indicator of how much trust you can put in us is to ask others. Google reviews provide exactly that. Personally, I wouldn’t go near anyone, in any business, with a score below four out of five. Also, make sure a clinic has a lot of reviews before giving the score too much credence. The fact is everyone has a few friends to put in a nice word. Very few have hundreds. We have over 150 and our score is 4.9. Put another way, over 90% of our clients rate us 5 stars.
Second, do we have the expertise to help you with your particular problem?
It’s one thing to determine if a potential clinic can most likely help you. It’s another thing to establish if that clinic has the expertise and resource to help your specific problem.
There are perhaps the more obvious questions to ask such as ‘how many years’ experience do you have’ and ’have you treated this problem before’. Larger clinics will have more therapists and there will be a range of experience and different specialisms, thus one therapist could be much more suitable to you than others.
Now a completely different aspect of any clinic comes to the forefront. Does the clinic have a knowledgeable reception team who can determine who is going to be the best fit to your problem. Let’s face it, without this kind of help, your chances of doing the same are slim to none. It’s much better to be able to talk to a knowledgeable person up front. There are subtleties in here that only by talking do you get them resolved. For example, you might be very motivated by preventative help, so it would be better for you if your therapist thought the same way.
Another factor, most likely something that you would not have even thought of, yet very important, is the amount of in-house training, called CPD, that takes place. The benefits of this to you should be obvious – a team that constantly cross trains learns faster, broader and deeper.
You might then be surprised that many clinics don’t do this at all, it’s just hands to the pump treating clients.
Nicky Snazell, who has a strong drive to constantly learn and be ahead of the curve, makes sure that ongoing CPD is an integral part of her teams activity and CPD is a weekly event for every therapist.
One final factor which will make a lot of difference to your treatment success is how well equipped the clinic is. Nowadays there is a plethora of sophisticated equipment which can help a lot but that takes huge investment, which is why many clinics have very limited technology support.
At our clinic, constantly investing in new technology has always been part of our philosophy and on more than one occasion we have pioneered new technology. The real bonus to you, however, is that all this technology is made available to you at no extra cost. Make sure you ask the cost of technology with any clinic you may consider.
Third Question. Do we offer good value?
The answer to that question is very much dependent on what you value the most. For the majority, we find that clients want to be able to get on with their lives, doing what they love doing, whether it be enjoying sports, gardening, playing with the grandkids or just continuing to be able to positively contribute to society. Being in pain stops all of this, your life stops, and the value of your life falls off a cliff.
Poor health choices in the long term can lead to a permanently restricted lifestyle, a dependency on toxic drugs and maybe even surgery.
What value then to find a clinic that can provide a broad range of skills, a pioneering attitude to knowledge and technology introduction, a desire to provide proactive help to keep chronic pain at bay? Only you can make that decision based on your values.
Our clients are like family, and they feel confident and safe the moment they first walk through our door. Many want to pass the message on so that we may help others and we in return offer half price treatment for referring (rules apply) and we have a loyalty scheme that our clients love. When you add access to all our range of technology at no extra cost, and the very high level of skill and knowledge on site, plus these great ways to save on treatment cost, then value from us shifts massively in your favour.
Three questions you should have answered before you make your choice. Not easy to answer simply, as they provoke many considerations that need to be answered. This emphasises, however, the importance of getting it right to avoid wasting time and money, but most important of all the negative impact it will have on your life.
If you feel we might be a good fit for you and simply would like to know more, then give us a call. We have a very friendly team, Jean, Erica and Charlotte, who are there to help.
If you are in pain, we can help
or call 01889 881488
Jean, Erica & Charlotte will be happy to help
Most of us know deep down that a good massage helps alleviate pain, stress and anxiety, and helps promote flexibility and looking younger. Why is it then that most casually dismiss the benefits of an occasional rub, even though they may be needlessly suffering some, or even all of the above symptoms?
Read on to find out more about how massage could help you.
Massage is a pillar to physiotherapy, in fact physiotherapy started with four lady masseurs in the late 1800’s, who could see the benefits of hands-on therapy. Of course, physiotherapy has grown in capability massively since then, in line with our greater understanding of the physical body, in part due to vastly improved scanning technology. Rather than diminish the significance of massage, however, this increased knowledge has only served to amplify its benefits.
Thus, just as its founders recognised over 100 years ago, massage remains an essential tool in the physiotherapists toolbox. A well-trained therapist will use his or her hands not only to treat, but also diagnose, as they will be able to pick up tight muscles, knots and problems in connective tissue that would be totally invisible to even the most advanced scanning technology available today.
Massage is not just for the physical ailments, as it can equally help resolve locked in stress and anxiety, which resides in the stomach and gut. (Have you ever noticed when you are stressed or upset that you so often suffer an upset stomach? That mind-body link is so often overlooked and yet so important to overall wellness)
Physiotherapists make massage an integral part of their treatment to rejuvenate health for 7 reasons:
M is for movement of your connective tissue, allowing the layers to slide, rejuvenating cells, and giving a flexible youthful glow to the skin. Stimulating fibroblasts to make youthful collagen, keeping your skin soft and supple, looking younger.
A stands for Anti-Aging, accelerating blood flow, boosting circulation, oxygen and nutrients and invigorating your body’s vital systems enhancing longevity.
S signifies stress release, melting physical and mental anxiety, promoting wellness.
S for stimulation of the lymphatic system, crucial for detoxifying your body and boosting your immunity. We also use deep oscillation through our hands on technology that boosts stimulation.
A alleviation of pain, targeting and releasing sore trigger points and stretching out tight muscles
G denotes greater flexibility, stretching and loosening the muscles and joints, improving your range of motion.
E is for emotional balance, harmonizing your body and mind, elevating your mood, and fostering emotional resilience.
If you want to step into a physiotherapy session that embraces peace and vitality, then find someone like us that combines massage within physiotherapy.
Whether you are looking to relieve chronic pain, reduce stress or speed up the rehab of a sports injury, come over to our physiotherapy sanctuary.
Ready to embrace a healthier, relaxed, more vibrant you and let the healing begin?
Give us a call to find out more.