Each member of our team will have a personal goal of around 18,000 steps in order to reach our overall total. Throughout the day, we will be taking it in turns to chalk up some steps on our treadmill at work, as well as a team walk after working hours to complete our goal.

We would really love your support to help us reach our target, so if you wish to donate or sponsor us, you can pop into all of our clinics and do so. Every penny raised will be donated to the Red Nose Day charity.

Thank you.

If you wish to get involved yourself, or wish to know more, head over to the Red Nose Day official website.

Led by the National Dignity Council, Dignity Champions form part of a nationwide network of over 83,000 individuals and organisations who work to put dignity and respect at the heart of UK care services to enable a positive experience of care.

Purpose of Dignity Champions:

• Ensure everyone regardless of age, using health and social care services, in any setting, has their basic human rights upheld in a respectful and dignified manner
• Make sure dignity and respect is at the heart of everyday practice and isn’t an addition to it
• Treat everyone as a unique individual
• Promote personal choice
• Promote independence, well-being and quality of care/life
• Empower people
• Make time to listen
• Challenge discriminatory attitudes, behaviours and assumption

Key aims for Dignity Champions:

• Stand up and challenge disrespectful behaviour rather than just tolerate it
• Act as a good role model by treating other people with respect, particularly those who are less able to stand up for themselves
• Speak up about Dignity to improve the way that services are organised and delivered
• Influence and inform colleagues
• Listen to and understand the vies and experiences of citizens

If you or your organisation would like to become a Dignity Champion, sign up for FREE at http://www.dignityincare.org.uk/

Training
When I first heard about the junior physiotherapist position being advertised back in 2014, it was the additional in-house training that really appealed to me. As well as having my own clinical caseload, I have a couple of hours a week training, which usually involves the diagnostics and treatment options of a particular joint. This training helps to expand upon subjects that aren’t often covered in enough depth at university. For example, we have had a couple of sessions dedicated to the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) which is often under-recognised as a source of symptoms and is regularly confused with pain originating from the lumbar spine. Consequently I am more aware of referral patterns of pain and always try to clear the SIJ when a client presents with lower back/buttock pain.

Mentoring
I spend one hour per week with my own personal mentor; this is a brilliant opportunity to discuss clients that come in with tricky presentations. It can be very helpful getting a second opinion on a case, particularly when you’ve got your blinkers on.

External Training Courses
Myself and a couple of my colleagues have also been given external course funding in order to attend an acupuncture course starting next month which will be a brilliant addition to our manual skills. So if you see me or Kevin looking a little worse for wear in May, it’s because we’ve been practicing at being human pin-cushions!

Keeping it Interesting
All of the above is in addition to the standard in-house training that all the therapists at Physiofusion have the choice to attend. That all sounds like a hell of a lot of training right? Well… it is! The varied work day definitely helps to keep things interesting though and fortunately I do have a life outside of work too!

Caroline Schofield qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2013 from Manchester Metropolitan University and primarily treats at Burnley. Caroline enjoys going to the gym and training for events.

See My Journey – Part one
More about Caroline

Through my school years, I’ve always had a great interest into the functions and the coping mechanisms of the human body, post injury, therefore I chose to pursue a career in Physiotherapy. I completed a course in Health Related Exercise and Fitness at Leeds Metropolitan University, and then went on to qualify as a Chartered Physiotherapist in 2011 at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Since then I have gained experience treating patients with Musculoskeletal, Respiratory and Neurological conditions at Bradford Teaching Hospitals. Moving on from here, I worked for Sano Physiotherapy acquiring the majority of my experience treating neck, back, shoulder, knee and sports injuries. Currently I am working for Physiofusion based in Skipton. I have a real interest in ‘hands on’ therapy such as trigger point release and joint mobilizations. I use these where appropriate during treatment sessions. I spend time with patients, to provide informed advice on changes that can be made with daily activities to assist with their treatment.

Outside work, I am a very competitive and keen sports man when behind the controls of the PS3, playing Fifa. I hate to lose and always blame the players when my controls go wrong. I enjoy watching stand up comedy, listening to music and adore a good cup of tea. I regularly socialise with friends and family with a meal or a few drinks, and like to get my all my joints moving with a good dance.[/fusion_text][/two_third][one_third last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/imageframe][fusion_text]Learn more about Ammit[/fusion_text][/one_third]

In early 2015 I became the newest member of the Physiofusion team and without a doubt it has been one of the best years of my life.

I qualified as a physiotherapist in 2013, just prior to this I found out I was pregnant with my little boy. I made the decision to postpone my search for my first physio post and instead continued to work part-time at a local frozen food store until after I had my baby.

CBeebies – Motivational Programming?

I’m not kidding, maternity leave is hard and believe it or not it wasn’t particularly due to being a new mum. The lack of mental stimulation was the worst part for me. My mornings were spent watching hours upon hours of CBeebies, enough to drive anyone over the edge, right?

I loved watching Harvey grow, but I had a severe case of baby brain (which is real by the way!). I couldn’t wait to initiate my career in the physio profession; to have some time for myself as well as being able to provide for my son.

Maternity leave and a diet of children’s TV was all the motivation I needed to maintain and expand upon my clinical skills. I used social media to follow expert physiotherapists, attended physio expo’s and trained for a sports massage diploma weeks after giving birth. When I first heard about the junior post being advertised at Physiofusion, I was all over it like a rash, and luckily Sam and Sorrel decided to give me the opportunity to prove myself as a physiotherapist.

Professional and Personal Development

I am now in an extremely fortunate position; I have fantastic colleagues and mentors, I am partaking in a very comprehensive training programme and I have access to support whenever I may need it. I also have some amazing clients who entrust me to help them to achieve their rehabilitation goals. I feel positive about the future and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge further and providing the best service for our clients at Physiofusion.

Caroline Schofield qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2013 from Manchester Metropolitan University and primarily treats at Burnley. Caroline enjoys going to the gym and training for events.

More about Caroline

As an amateur cricketer I’ve encountered a number of injuries over the years the majority of which are due to my lack of ability as a fielder.

This has on occasions had a detrimental impact on the social side of the game – the injuries that is, not my fielding failures!

Wrists, Hands and Fingers – Particularly Vulnerable

Due to the nature of the game of cricket the wrists, hands and fingers are particularly vulnerable to injury with the most common being fractures, dislocations, bruising and ligament sprains. In addition, cricketers are also prone to conditions such as tennis elbow.

In the first instance any fractures or dislocations will require hospital assessment and treatment and from experience, I can assure you that breaking your finger can be very painful. Depending on the severity of the fracture/dislocation a number of treatments are possible. Simple, less complex injuries will be splinted for a period of time whereas more complex injuries could require surgical intervention.

Following either of these routes to treat the injury, you will be left with stiff and sore joints with reduction in the range of movement and potentially some loss of strength due to the period of inactivity. In this instance physiotherapy can help to restore the normal movement and strength.

RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)

Injuries such as bruising or strains to ligaments can initially be treated using the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) principle to reduce the inflammatory response from the body.

Ligament injuries to wrists and fingers can be treated effectively using various modes of physiotherapy interventions such as:
• Ultrasound,
• Massage
• Exercise prescription

All these speed up the healing process and get you back out playing cricket as soon as possible and keep you out of the bar. In addition, tennis elbow can be treated in the same way whilst also investigating the root cause of the problem including looking at equipment and technique if required.

Kevin qualified as a physiotherapist in 2014. He started at Physiofusion in 2015, primarily treating from Burnley and Padiham clinics. He is a keen cricketer and plays for Padiham Cricket Club.[/fusion_text][/one_full][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/imageframe]