5th Element Sports Injury Clinic Sunderland and Durham

Struggling to find a gift for someone who is always training, constantly complaining about an ache or pain, or simply deserves a bit of time spent looking after themselves?

A 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic gift voucher could be the perfect choice.

Our vouchers can be used towards treatments and services including:
✔️ Physiotherapy
✔️ Osteopathy
✔️ Sports massage therapy
✔️ Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture
✔️ Injury assessment and treatment
✔️ Individual rehabilitation and exercise programmes

Whether they’re recovering from an injury, dealing with persistent aches and pains, training hard or simply in need of some recovery time, they can choose the service that best suits their needs.

Rather than another pair of socks, a bottle of something they’ll forget about, or a gift that ends up in a cupboard… give them something that could actually help.

Gift vouchers are available in a range of values and can be used towards treatment at 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic.

📍 Durham & Sunderland
📞 07753 278904
📧 [email protected]
Book online - https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

🎁 Give the gift of recovery.

Taking you from pain to performance.

Why do my knees hurt when I squat?

Whether you're a beginner, recreational gym-goer or experienced lifter, knee pain during squats is usually the result of how your knee is being loaded, rather than the squat itself.

Most people don't need to stop squatting completely. Instead, small adjustments to technique, managing training volume and following the right rehabilitation programme can often reduce pain while allowing you to keep training.

👉 Swipe through this carousel to learn:
• Why your knees hurt during squats
• Common technical mistakes
• The most likely causes
• Simple changes you can make today
• When it's time to seek professional help
• How we help people get back to pain-free training

If your knee pain has been stopping you from training, climbing stairs, running or enjoying the gym, it may be time to find out why rather than simply pushing through it.

📍 Durham & Sunderland
📞 07753 278904
🌐 www.5thelementsportsinjury.co.uk

⚡ Electro-acupuncture: combining acupuncture with gentle electrical stimulation to support pain relief and recovery ⚡

Electro-acupuncture involves connecting a low-level electrical current to acupuncture needles, providing controlled and repeated stimulation to the targeted area.

It can be used as part of a wider treatment and rehabilitation plan to help manage pain and improve function.

Potential benefits include:
✅ Helps reduce acute and persistent pain
✅ May reduce muscle spasm and improve muscle function
✅ Can support mobility and range of movement
✅ Stimulates the nervous system and the body’s pain-modulating mechanisms
✅ Can be combined with exercise rehabilitation and other treatment approaches

At 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic, electro-acupuncture is only recommended when appropriate following assessment and is used alongside other treatments where clinically indicated.

Whether you’re dealing with a sports injury, muscular pain, persistent symptoms, or a problem that is affecting your training and daily life, our aim is to identify what’s driving the problem and create a treatment plan based around your individual needs and goals.

📩 Get in touch to find out whether electro-acupuncture could be a suitable part of your treatment plan or book online - https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

Taking you from pain to performance

Myth Busting Monday!

Myth: Massage breaks down scar tissue

This is another common explanation given for massage - “We need to break down the scar tissue.”

But scar tissue isn’t something that can simply be crushed, broken apart or rubbed away with someone’s hands.

Scar tissue forms as part of the body’s natural healing response following injury or surgery. Over time, healing tissues can remodel and adapt, particularly when exposed to appropriate movement and progressive loading.

Massage and manual therapy may still be useful for some people by helping to:
✔️ Reduce pain and discomfort
✔️ Improve short-term mobility
✔️ Reduce feelings of stiffness or tension
✔️ Make movement and rehabilitation more comfortable
✔️ Support confidence in using the affected area

However, rehabilitation following injury or surgery often requires more than hands-on treatment alone.

Movement, progressive loading, strength training and gradual exposure to activity are usually important parts of restoring function and building tissue capacity.

Massage can be a useful tool within rehabilitation — but it isn’t physically breaking scar tissue apart.

📩 Recovering from an injury or surgery? We can help develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan based around your individual needs and goals. Book Online - https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

❄️ Is your shoulder becoming increasingly stiff and painful? It could be frozen shoulder. ❄️

If you're struggling to reach overhead, fasten your bra, put on a jacket, or even sleep comfortably because of shoulder pain, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) could be the cause.

Frozen shoulder develops gradually as the capsule around the shoulder joint becomes thickened and tight, leading to pain, stiffness, and a significant loss of movement.

Common symptoms include:
✅ Gradually worsening shoulder pain
✅ Stiffness and reduced range of motion
✅ Pain that's often worse at night
✅ Difficulty with everyday activities such as dressing, washing your hair, or reaching overhead

Who's more at risk?
• People aged 40–60 years
• Women (slightly more commonly than men)
• Those with diabetes or thyroid conditions
• Following a shoulder injury, surgery, or a period of immobilisation

The good news is that the right treatment can make a significant difference.

At 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic, we'll:
✔️ Carry out a thorough assessment to determine the stage of your frozen shoulder
✔️ Use hands-on treatment to help reduce pain and improve movement where appropriate
✔️ Prescribe tailored mobility and strengthening exercises
✔️ Guide you through every stage of recovery with expert advice and support

Frozen shoulder often improves over time, but early assessment and appropriate management can help reduce pain, improve function, and minimise long-term stiffness.

Don't let shoulder pain stop you doing the things you enjoy.

📩 If you're struggling with a stiff, painful shoulder, get in touch today and let us help take you from pain to performance - https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

WHY DOES MY SHOULDER HURT WHEN I LIFT OVERHEAD?

Shoulder pain during overhead pressing, weightlifting or gym training is common — but the reason behind it isn’t always straightforward.

It might be related to training load, technique, shoulder or thoracic mobility, fatigue, strength capacity, or irritation of structures around the shoulder. And importantly, the same movement can be painful for different reasons in different people.

That’s why simply avoiding overhead exercise forever, stretching randomly, or repeatedly treating the painful area isn’t always the answer.

In this carousel, we look at:
✔️ Possible technique and training factors
✔️ Common shoulder conditions associated with overhead pain
✔️ Practical steps you can take yourself
✔️ Signs that it may be time to seek professional help
✔️ How assessment, treatment and rehabilitation can help you return to training

The goal isn’t always to stop lifting. Often, it’s about understanding why the shoulder is painful, modifying what needs to be modified, and progressively rebuilding the strength and capacity needed for the demands you place on it.

At 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic, our approach combines detailed assessment, appropriate hands-on treatment, progressive rehabilitation and a plan designed around your goals.

Whether you want to get back to pressing overhead, return to your sport, improve your gym performance or simply use your shoulder without pain, we’re here to help you work towards it.

📍 Durham & Sunderland
📞 07753 278904
📧 [email protected]
🌐 5thelementsportsinjury.co.uk

Taking you from pain to performance.

Treatment Tuesday!

Osteopathy is about more than relieving pain—it's about helping your body function at its best.

Whether you're struggling with back pain, neck pain, joint stiffness, sports injuries, or persistent aches, osteopathy takes a whole-body approach to finding and treating the underlying cause—not just the symptoms.

Some of the benefits of osteopathy include:
✅ Reduces pain naturally
✅ Improves mobility and flexibility
✅ Restores balance and movement
✅ Supports the body's natural healing processes
✅ Helps reduce the risk of future injuries
✅ Enhances performance in sport, work, and everyday life

At 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic, every osteopathic consultation begins with a thorough assessment to understand what's causing your pain. From there, we'll create a personalised treatment plan that may include hands-on therapy, movement advice, rehabilitation exercises, and lifestyle guidance to help you achieve lasting results.

Our goal isn't just to help you feel better today—it's to help you move better for the long term.

Whether you're an office worker with persistent back pain, a runner managing an injury, a gym-goer wanting to optimise performance, or simply someone looking to move without pain, we're here to help take you from pain to performance.

📩 Book your osteopathy appointment today and take the first step towards better movement, better health, and better performance - https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

Myth Busting Monday!

Myth: If a massage hurts, it’s working

No pain, no gain? Not necessarily — especially when it comes to massage.

Some techniques can feel intense or uncomfortable, and different people have different pressure preferences. But more pain does not automatically mean a better treatment result.

In fact, excessive pressure can cause unnecessary discomfort and may make you tense or guard against the treatment.

Effective massage should be based on:
✔️ Your individual goals
✔️ The reason you’re having treatment
✔️ Your preferences and tolerance
✔️ Appropriate pressure for the situation
✔️ Communication between you and your therapist

A sports massage can be firm without becoming a test of how much pain you can tolerate.

The goal isn’t to leave you clinging to the treatment table for dear life. 😅 The goal is to provide treatment that is appropriate, purposeful and tailored to you.

📩 Looking for sports massage that is based around your needs and goals? Book an appointment with our team. Book online - https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

📅 Appointment Availability – Durham & Sunderland

Need help with an injury, persistent pain or getting back to training?

We've released our latest appointment availability across our Durham and Sunderland clinics for the week ahead—but once these slots are gone, they're gone.

Whether you're struggling with:
🏃 Running injuries
🏋️ Gym-related aches and pains
⚽ Sports injuries
💼 Work-related pain
🚶 Neck, back or joint pain
💪 Or you're looking to improve movement and performance...

Every appointment includes:
✅ A thorough assessment to identify the root cause of your problem
✅ Hands-on treatment where appropriate
✅ Individualised rehabilitation and exercise advice
✅ A clear plan to get you back to doing what you enjoy

📍 Durham Clinic – Limited appointments available throughout the week.

📍 Sunderland Clinic – Daytime and evening appointments available.

📞 07753 278904
💻 Book online: https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk
🌐 www.5thelementsportsinjury.co.uk

Taking you from pain to performance.