A SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT IN DORSET

A revolutionary medical treatment device that cures troublesome sports injuries has been brought to Dorset and Matt Flux has teamed up with two consultant orthopaedic surgeons to offer a treatment service to Formotion Physiotherapy patients.

Low-energy Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) has emerged as an innovative and successful treatment for foot, ankle, knee, hip and shoulder injuries. Clinical trial data has shown the technology to be at least as effective as conventional surgery.

Painful tendonopathies such as Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis have been successfully treated using ESWT, as well as other orthopaedic conditions such as patella tendonitis, trochanteric bursitis, tennis and golfers elbow and calcific tendonitis of the shoulder.
Treatment with the Swiss DolorClast, Europe’s leading ESWT device, is now being offered to Formotion Physiotherapy patients after Matt Flux joined forces with surgeons Nick Savva and Nick Fernandez at the Dorset Shockwave Clinic – based at the Winterbourne Hospital on Herrington Road in Dorchester.

The results recorded by the Swiss DolorClast have been so impressive that various Premier League football clubs are now using the device to treat their players, and it was also used with great success to treat athletes at the recent Winter Olympics in Canada.
The Swiss DolorClast works by passing low-energy shockwaves through the skin to initiate an inflammation-like response in the injured tissue. This prompts the body to respond naturally by increasing blood circulation, the number of blood vessels and therefore metabolism in the injured tissue. This accelerates the body’s natural healing process by increasing cell generation and dissolving calcium deposits.

	Formotion Physiotherapy would like to Congratulate Rosemary Locock on completing the marathon distance despite an ongoing battle with her knee. Well done

Hazel back in peak fitness at Snowdon Marathon

Hazel reaches the summit again. Another athlete who was supported in her attempt on the Snowdon marathon by Formotion Physiotherapy - good luck on this years attempt to better the time.

Ian Cardy's update.

I arrived in Concord on Wednesday afternoon after an eight hour flight and not much sleep. The heat (30 degrees) and humidity (90% at the time) hit me straight away – if conditions stayed like this the race would be tough. After checking in to the team hotel, a quick loosening run around the race venue confirmed my concerns that the climate would be a key part in deciding the race. Time to hydrate, fuel sensibly (tying to ignore the plethora of advertisements enticing me to eat burgers, pizza and all manner of tempting fattening delights!) and continue with my well rehearsed taper and drills for the final few days before the race.
The preparation went very well, with the usual nerves slightly more on edge than normal. Understandably. Race day dawned cool and wet – a dramatic turnaround from the heat and humidity I had been keen to acclimatize to since arriving in Concord. Now it was more like a British summer!
So I should have relaxed, right? Well, no. The last time I raced in the wet, I crashed in transition and dislocated a finger. Not a good omen.
Once I arrived at the venue, reports of the Elite athletes (who were racing in the morning – my race would be mid afternoon) crashing out and having difficulties dealing with the greasy conditions didn’t assist in settling the nerves. Nevertheless, some focus, quiet time in making final preparations and firing myself up with a tried and tested warm up seemed to help.
At 3:45pm local time, the horn blared and my wave was away. A quick paced run (which would have put us up ahead of the Elite guys) soon settled down – with a group of five setting the pace – myself, compatriot Lee Piercy, American Mark Beversdorf, Frenchman Didier Virvaleix and Mexican Mario Salazar.

Click on an article to read more.

The pace ebbed and flowed over the undulating twisting course, which had its fair share of technical bends and changes in surface to keep us occupied.
The five of us remained in a close group  over the ten kilometres course right up until the first transition onto the bike. We entered together around 32:30 for the 10k but left on the bikes very differently – our transition times were identical almost, but it was Lee and I that tore off on the slippery mix of road, car park and race track tarmac and concrete.
Within the first lap, we had put 30 seconds into Virvaleix, a minute into Beversdorf and two into Salazar. More ebbing and flowing ensued between Lee and I, whilst unbeknown to us three others were chasing us down – Americans Kevin O’Connor and Todd Wiley and with Didier making a comeback. I took more risks on the descents and bends than the others, who would then gain ground on the flat. Continual feeding and drinking kept me occupied in the meantime, along with a torrential downpour that served to cool the heat of the race. This continued until midway through the final lap when Lee pulled to the side out of the race. It transpired that he had hit a pothole and had broken his stem (the same pothole that dislodged my aero water bottle and left me with just a bar mounted bottle to keep me hydrated). Initial emotions of feeling sorry for Lee were rapidly replaced by the nervous reality that I was now comfortably leading the race. Time to push harder.
The two powerful Americans would eventually catch me up on the flatter part of the course within the Motor Speedway stadium as we neared the end of the 36 kilometre cycle leg in 56 minutes (the two Americans having taken around a minute less). Despite entering the transition dismount are in third, a very swift transition on my part (drills for which I had been practicing week on week!) enabled me to start the last run a few seconds ahead. Being the fox with two hounds chasing is not fun(!), but traditionally the final run is my strongest element. I knew it would hurt, but I had to push harder than I had ever done before – this is the World Championships after all. Two kilometers in, a change of course direction enabled me to casually check the progress of the others – I was clear. The race was mine to lose. A very nervous final kilometer then 500m of technical twists, turns, ascents and descents ensued, before finally entering the stadium and heading toward the finishing straight. The line in sight, I finally relaxed. No-one could beat me now and I virtually floated toward the finish to cover the final 5k in 16:44 and overall 1:46:34. Indescribable joy and emotion engulfed me as I realized what I had achieved – World Champion in my debut season. Despite the rain pouring around me I was inconsolably happy and proud. Recovering my emotions in time to welcome home O’Connor and Wiley, I grabbed a Union Flag and had a few pictures taken before finding a ‘phone to break the good news to my wife and daughter back at home.
That I raced hard was evident by the fact that despite now being willing and able to sample the delights of American cuisine I had sacrificed myself from having all this time, bad stomach cramps meant I spent most of the celebratory meal doubled up in pain whilst trying to eat some pasta! No pain, no gain. 
A short week later, I was back into competition at Oulton Park. The efforts of Concord had taken their toll, not helped by a very fast first run and not feeding enough on the bike leg. A second place behind former national champion Matt Moorhouse was all I could manage this time around, but I guess I peaked when it mattered!

Formotion support local talent.

Formotion are proud to sponsor/support Ian Cardy and Fran Bungay in their working towards international duathlon success. More on this story.

Formotion - Hungary for success

Formotion Physiotherapy are proud to support Fran and Ian and congratulate them on their recent success at European champs.

Long weekend in Budapest...

After landing on Thursday afternoon, my room mate (Ian Habgood – one to watch for the future – he’s very ‘green’ but learning all the time) and I went for a run around Budapest and promptly overheated and dehydrated! Good start to the weekend.

Friday morning was an early start – 5:30 to recce the course route ahead of the Budapest rush hour. The rush hour started son after at 6:00!! Having ridden through central London, give me our capital to recce a course route any day. Anyhow, we survived and had the opening ceremony for the Championships that night. The Parade of Nations was superb. Lovely setting, in a park that will host the World Triathlon Championships in 2010 (note to self – learn to swim – quickly!). Walking behind the Union Flag with my team mates (all 106 of them), being applauded by our support crews (officials, wives, girlfriends, husbands, boyfriends, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, mechanics, physios – Team GB was BIG!!), was truly inspiring and emotional all at once. I was just hoping that come race day, I would do my flag proud. Which, when seeing the number and quality of the field, my aspirations for a top twenty place were feeling ambitious. Just a PB would be good!! Then a pasta party (good carb loading there!) and off for an early night.

Saturday morning was another early start – 5:30 to get some transition practice and a few reps ahead of the Budapest rush hour, around the park outside the hotel. All went well and survived. I spent the rest of the day vegging. Totally vegging. Much to my embarrassment, I didn’t go to cheer on out Elite athletes that were racing that afternoon. It was just too hot for me and I needed to retreat into my pre-race-day-shell. Much to Ian H’s frustration – I’m sure he thought I was in a mood with him, but Clare will testify that I’m always a bear with a sore head the day before a race. As it was, Team GB did brilliantly in the Elite races without my encouragement – Senior Ladies Gold with Catriona Morrison, Junior Ladies Gold with Vicky Graves, and strong placings elsewhere. Back at the hotel, watching Button qualifying and the Giro on the TV helped relax the nerves. Went through pre-flight-checklist (one of my coach’s specialities – never leave home without one – Ian H couldn’t believe the detail I go to with the lists but as I said he’s learning...). Early night.

Sunday morning, up at 6:00, down for a light brekkie then cycle to the event venue. Well ahead of schedule (good) have time to relax, set up my area, rehearse T1, T2, the bike course and generally get focused. Met up with a few of my GB competitors (Lee Piercy, Lee Rankin to name but two – they’re the ones who tend to be closest to me on the domestic scene) and stare at Lee R’s injuries. Stitches over right eye, both eyes black, bruises on legs – he was guillotined by a level crossing barrier the day before in the city. His bike frame cracked, he was just hoping to get round. Lee P on the other hand was as energetic and confident as ever, more than willing to assist me with topping up tyre pressures (we’re all rivals but the Team GB spirit and atmosphere is much stronger). We went our separate ways to warm and psyche up. In the next hour, my mind and body were gradually, ever so gradually, feeling better and better. The heat of the past two days was relieved with a milder spell (mid twenties, a few clouds). The heat will be in the race.

Five minutes to go – on the start line. I was so hyped up, Usain Bolt would have trouble keeping me in check. Countdown, horn blasts, and we’re off to a crescendo of noise, cheers, emotions. This moment is what I’ve been looking forward to for ages...

The race? Well, I did okay...

10k run – first 5k was run at PB pace (to the point I was leading for a very short while – me, leading the European Championships, please pinch me!!) so eased back for last 5k. Every water stop was one for the body, one for the face. It was cooler but still hot. Kept an eye on the others – some runners are fling, but how well do they cycle? Keep calm. Very calm. Very sensible pacing – almost ideal.

T1 – slick, happy.

40k bike – getting stronger on the bike day by day. Was keeping pace with Lee P. Then he really started riding and all I saw was a glimmer on the horizon! Halfway through, positions were settling in. I was lying third. WTF!! Calm down, you’re not here on holiday. Use the experience of road running and pace yourself, watch what others are doing. Faster? Slower? Put in the efforts as per the plan. Thread through those I was lapping, don’t draft. Referees on motorbikes keeping a beady eye on me. Feed, drink, feed, drink, feed, drink...

T2 – enter it in third place still. Have a slower T2 (10 secs slower than the other leaders) deliberately so I can get more water from my ‘station’ - this last 5k will be hot.

5k run - Off I go. GB Team cheers all around. Boy, does that literally lift you off your feet and enable you to glide... ‘High-Five’ Lee P as he returns after a dog leg section. He’s got the win in the bag. What can I do to back him up? Check fourth place on a dog leg split – he’s two minutes back. Unless he’s a 15 minute 5k man, I’ve got third in the bag. But hey, I’m closing in on second. Be calm. I catch second with 1200m to go. I run on his shoulder, he slows dramatically, I surge and pass, he surges to match. Bugger – I’m the hare now and he’s the hound. Not good tactically. Another dog leg, I take it wide and he passes me. I’m the hound now and watching him. Tracking him. He surges. I surge. 300m to go. He surges, I surge. Well my mind surges, my body? Come on!!

Final 100m, I’m running like my life depends on it. But I can’t close the gap. He’s crossing the line. Argh. I collapse across the line myself. Totally whacked. Disappointed not to have won the sprint but totally elated in getting third place. But I hear over the tannoy – Ian Cardy, Silver Medallist in Age Group. You are kidding me?! A marshal helps get me to my feet. Lee P and I congratulate each other and the ‘other guy’ - Rene Hordemann from Germany in the 25-29 Age Group.

I recover enough to cheer on other Team GB members. In total, we got 21 medals in the Age Group races, including 9 gold. A few texts, a phone call back home (first time I’ve cried after a race), then back to reality!! Cycle back to the hotel, stretch, cold bath, shower, dismantle and pack away the bike before total fatigue wipes me out, rehydrate lots!! Massage, refuel. Closing ceremony...

No God Save the Queen, but standing on the podium, waving the Union Flag was a truly emotional moment – national anthem or not. Besides, the others would have got sick of the sound of the anthem if it had been played – such was our success.

Then a party. Coach’s orders – have a beer. Not one to disappoint, had beers, relaxed, enjoyed. Woke up on Monday feeling like I’d been run over by a truck. Must have put a good effort in yesterday then....

Keep well all, catch you again soon.

All the best,

Ian

Ian Cardy

“Formotion in the field”

This summer has seen a flurry of sporting activity around our world famous Jurassic coastline with Mark Steens’ Bustinskins team organising a number of top class events.  This years Triathlons in Weymouth and Portland were well represented by competitors travelling from across the UK to take part, recognising the unique opportunity to compete on a challenging course.
Formotion was in attendance throughout the successful “Splash and Dash” series organised by Bustinskins and was able to provide the Physiotherapy cover at both Triathlons, supporting competitors and attending to injuries sustained through competition. 

Not even “Archie” the School Monkey could not escape a quick rub down at the Weymouth Triathlon