10 minute read
Health & Wellbeing
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After over a year of uncertainty and chaos as a country, we have learnt to appreciate the simpler things in life. A walk in the park became something of a luxury. Everyone began to appreciate green open spaces, crisp fresh air and watching children playing together again. Moving from unimpeded fitness to being huddled up at home, Dulwich College allowed residents use of their grounds. Bringing people together, giving the public the opportunity to experience fresh air outside their homes. Now as we return to normality, things are set to change again.
THE BUZZ OF THE SPORTS CLUB ON A SATURDAY
The vast areas of green spaces in which little ones excitably waddle through, whilst waiting for their older siblings to finish perfecting their flairs and various swinging tricks above a pommel horse in Gymnastics. Pure excitement could be seen from toddlers splashing in the swimming pool for the first time, their childish giggles bringing smiles to those who have been isolating for months. Rugby Tots tumble around the vast open spaces while holding mini rugby balls, faces full of joy running into their parent’s open arms. Alongside the booming sounds of an elite instructor, challenging the class to push themselves to their peak in a BodyBlast Bootcamp - compelling individuals to be the best versions of themselves, whilst encouraging them to perfect their techniques. The crash as the barbell plate ricochet from the rubber floor. Members enjoying the exhilaration from a challenging workout in the Free Weights Room. Teens in a Jiu Jitsu class rolling across the Exercise Studio floor, all very much excited to be back. And more teenagers running, jumping, and climbing around the Sports Hall during Parkour. Discovering their potential resilience, problem-solving and teamwork abilities. The clash of hockey sticks battling for the ball echoes from the Astroturf, whilst supporters cheer on their respective teams, each week competing against a new team. Parents breathing a sigh of relief as they whisk their little ones off to parties once again, buzzing at the chance of an afternoon off with adult conversation. Enthusiastic Party Supervisors singing their names as we watch children dazzled by the sight of a gigantic bouncy castle. Badminton players reunited with their friends at Club Night, the camaraderie, friendship and discipline flowing throughout. Shuttlecocks fly and shoes screech as people chatter on the sidelines, bringing back memories of pre-pandemic times. Everyone working together to comply with the extensive set of new rules, showing such astonishing gratefulness for a chance to be a part of the bustling atmosphere. It’s hard to imagine all this magic, nestled in a leafy borough in South London.
Covid Anxiety Syndrome
So, the roadmap out of lockdown is well underway and so long as these new variants are kept under control, we should be back to close normality by the middle of summer.
Simon Garcia
owner of
Freedom Wellbeing Inc
With the impending return to office life on the horizon, workers will be encouraged to leave their homeworking ‘safe space’ to now mingle once again with multiple people, through the commute to and from work, actually being at work, then you’ve also got the lunchtime periods where everyone is queuing for their sandwich and coffee. Now, some people will be really eager to get out of the house and work away from the home again. Others, happy to do it, but don’t mind either way. Then you have one more group of people. Those with Covid Anxiety Syndrome!
So, what is Covid Anxiety Syndrome?
Nearly a year and a half has passed since SARS-CoV-2 reared its ugly head and began to spread across the world. Its appearance first caused mild concern, with it being compared to the flu, soon turned into serious worry as more people received a diagnosis of COVID-19. In the beginning, everyone, including the scientists looking into it, knew very little about this novel virus and the disease it caused. The unknowns and the virus’s remarkably rapid spread incited fear among health professionals, scientists, and the public. At the time of writing this (beginning of June) There have been close to 4.5 million registered covid cases in the United Kingdom alone. Those figures understandably are enough to spark worry in anyone. However, then you look at the number of those that have made a full recovery, almost 4.3 million and that should help ease some of those fears. Professors Ana Nikčević from Kingston University of London and Marcantonio Spada from London South Bank University, developed the concept of COVID-19 anxiety syndrome. You can view their full study at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC7375349/ Symptoms of this syndrome mimic those of other mental health conditions, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). And, the pandemic and related factors appear to be the cause. Signs of the condition include; • Worrying about getting on public transport • Feeling stressed at the thought of being in the office with others • General concerns about leaving the house Personally, I can see this potentially being the next big challenge for businesses over the next 12 months and below I will give some guidance for both employers and employees on how to manage the condition going forward. Obviously, it is a fairly new condition and as such, there will be varying degrees on the spectrum of the condition, but this should be a good grounding for working through it.
Advice for Employees
• Communicate your anxiety issues early with your Line Manager. Outline what your concerns are for full transparency.
• Where possible, plan your commute outside traditionally busy periods. Be sure to clear this with management, as it will impact your working pattern.
• Do not rely on mainstream media news for your information on the pandemic. Think of the news as any other TV show. They need ratings, therefore, they need Hook you in to watch tomorrow.
Do independent research and use government, NHS and health authority websites for factual updates.
• Above all else, trust your instincts. Some people will inevitably shrug their shoulders at your condition, but focus on what’s best for you. If you don’t feel up to going to the office, work from home for a few more days until you’re ready.
• Take baby steps. Maybe try a short train to test out how it feels. Ask if you can begin with a part-time return to the office. Mornings there, afternoons from home.
Advice for Employers
• Be on top of the relevant information and updates relating to the pandemic. Make this
Information readily available, update your internal intranet, send out weekly comms, etc.
• Have a strategy in place in advance, so you are prepared for any requests that my come in.
Communicate what your return to work strategy is.
• If you have an occupational health provider, seek their guidance and ask what they offer in way of support through EAP (Employee Assist
Programme) counselling.
• Line Managers could raise the topic semifrequently in team meetings and encourage people to approach on a one-to-one basis so they can discuss any concerns early on.
If there are any HR professionals, managers or just anyone with general concerns on the subject, please feel free to contact me direct to discuss further.
Is Running Bad By Sam Tan for your Joints?
The upcoming London Marathon is planned to start this 3rd October and will take place physically and virtually with up to 100,000 participants across the globe. A monumental event that is inclusive of runners of all levels, shapes, and sizes!
The epic race spans 26.2 miles from Blackheath and finishes in front of Buckingham Palace. However, 1 in every 3 runners report of a running-related injury whilst training for a half marathon or marathon predominantly in the knee and lower leg. These mostly include muscle and tendon injuries, and given the close relationship between muscles and joint health, it gives rise to the question: “Is running bad for joints”? Short answer: No, and it can be pretty good for them. A popular study recently published by Horga et al. (2019) was done on novice marathon runners (London Marathon 2017). An MRI scan was performed on their knees before and after the event. Bearing in mind that up to 43% of asymptomatic adults in the general population can have MRIconfirmed abnormalities in their knees, the results were astonishing. For those that had knee abnormalities and completed the marathon, they actually showed a reduction in bone marrow swelling, which is one of the signs of osteoarthritis. In other words, marathon running created a reversible change in joint degeneration.
But how does this work?
Well, no one really knows the entire mechanism behind how marathon running can improve the knee joint, particularly as MRI-related running research is still developing. However, as with all exercise, it can definitely be theorised that running strengthens the soft tissues around the joint. Soft tissues such as the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and the joint membranes, are all affected by exercise and can adapt accordingly. Going back to the dreaded term osteoarthritis, which is often referred to as “wear and tear” of the joints (it’s more “wear and repair”, but I digress), it is now considered more of a whole joint disease, meaning it’s very important to consider the aforementioned soft tissues surrounding it and not just the joint surfaces. Therefore, it is logical to think that if we strengthen the soft tissues surrounding the knee, we also strengthen the whole joint.
Is it all good news?
Before you go out and start putting on those running shoes to strengthen those joints, there are a few things to bear in mind Running-related injuries still occur in 1 in every 3 runners, mainly overuse type injuries like muscle and tendon injuries. In addition, it has also been shown multiple times that less experienced runners are more likely to get injured. As much as we all want to benefit from the great protective and strength benefits of marathon running, preparation is key in minimising the risk of injuries.
So how do we prepare?
There are 3 main things we can do to make sure we don’t go injuring ourselves:
1 Planning & Pacing
This means to not overdo it at any stage. No matter what level you are at, if you are going past the limits of your tissues, you will get injured. Start with a training plan, the ones for beginners on the London marathon website are a good place to start as it eases from running 6-8 miles per week to 18-20 miles per week at a sensible pace.
2 Strength Training
Get your legs strong! One of the most common joints to be affected is the patellofemoral joint, which is the one between your knee cap and your thigh bone. Variations of the compound lifts like squats and lunges are there to build the resilience of the patellofemoral joint.
3 Physical Therapy
Sometimes, no matter how much we plan or prepare, the human body just doesn’t respond the way we want it to. This can happen for a variety of reasons, from work-related stresses to not eating right. So listen to your body! If you feel any pain and want more guidance, working with your physical therapist, such as an osteopath or physiotherapist, can help optimise your body and work towards your goals.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s strengthen those joints and get running!
References:
Horga, L.M., Henckel, J., Fotiadou, A., Hirschmann, A., Torlasco, C., Di Laura, A., D’Silva, A., Sharma, S., Moon, J. and Hart, A., 2019. Can marathon running improve knee damage of middle-aged adults? A prospective cohort study. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 5(1), p.e000586.
For more information on how we can help you please feel free to contact bodytonic clinic at bodytonicclinic.co.uk and one of our team members will be happy to answer any of your questions.
10-11 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road, London, SE16 2XU. 0203 6060 490 bodytonicclinic.co.uk Canada Water, Stratford and Wapping
