We would like to explain to the readers what physiotherapy and a physiotherapist does in health care. Physiotherapy is the practice of using scientific and evidence-based approach in restoring the body’s natural movement and posture by incorporating strengthening, stretching exercises and education for the patient to move, live and feel better. To achieve this, the physiotherapist uses different evidence-based techniques like manual therapy, exercise therapy, soft tissue mobilisation, massage, acupuncture and electrotherapy to name a few. The most important skill of the physiotherapist is in the diagnosis of the patient’s problem and the underlying root cause for the problem. And we at Dover physiotherapy tend to do it with efficiency.

What we are going to do differently? We believe from available evidence that the root cause for most ailments musculoskeletal or otherwise is because we do not condition our body to what it is designed for. In evolutionary terms the primary design of the human body is not to sit or walk but to run, Surprised! Every system in your body (Skin, heart, lungs, glands etc.)  has evolved to complement the musculoskeletal system in its functional task of running. When the musculoskeletal system is not optimised properly, then the other systems will not function normally, leading to many ailments (blood pressure, cardiac problems, cancer etc.).

We go as far to say that every internal organ that complement the human loco motor system is primed for the primary purpose of endurance running down to the cellular level. For example, the human resting heart rate is between 70-80 beats per minute and there is a purpose for this. The purpose being to gradually increase to 150-160 beats per minute with running and safely reach the resting rate without any undue mechanical stress to the heart.

If we were to look at the humming bird, it’s primary function of hovering and collecting nectar from flowers requires it to have a heart rate of 1250 beats per minute. But the resting heart rate is kept around 250-300 beats/minute to sustain that function. We could argue that at rest, the humming bird could have a heart rate of 20 beats per minute and still survive. But getting to 1250 for its primary function, it would be an enormous stress to the heart. We could use the human body in the metaphoric sense as in a car always in the 3rd gear and when we need speed, we can switch to the 5th gear. The same applies to the human heart. This could be applied to every organ in the body to function at its optimal level.

As we humans have become more sophisticated, we do not use the body for what it is designed for and as a result we are prone to most health-related issues. If we can bring back the primary function, we could eradicate most of the health issues. As governments around the world spend billions of pounds to find a cure or treat health related issues, we often forget to take preventative action. Though we talk about prevention regarding healthy eating and exercise (walking, swimming, cycling etc.) we do not emphasize on running as the core element for prevention.  Our concept is that if every cell in the body down to the powerhouse of the cell the mitochondria, can   be optimally conditioned for running, then we can eradicate most health issues.

If running is what made us stand erect and define our anatomy externally and internally then running is what is needed to sustain it. Nothing else is going to substitute this. If a sports car is designed for speed, then it must be put through its paces to function optimally.

The core aim of Dover physiotherapy is to treat clients in 3 stages

1. Restore function– treat the problem with physiotherapeutic treatment.
2. Conditioning– condition the musculoskeletal system through Pilates based exercises and evolutionary exercises.

3.Optimisation – staged progressive running based on age and fitness of the patient

Specific tailored protocol to be followed for each of the stages.

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