Shingles has been hitting the headlines recently, with the elderly and those with a weakened immune system more at risk of developing this painful condition. 　　So what exactly is it? And are triathletes more susceptible to getting shingles due to their often-intense training schedule? Let's find out… 　　What is shingles? 　　Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful viral...

　　A meniscus tear is a common injury among the active population and, depending on the severity, can require surgery and an extended time on the sidelines. But what is a meniscus tear exactly? What are the symptoms? And, most crucially, can it repair on its own? 　　Six Physio's Ben Johnson has the answers… 　　What is the meniscus? 　　The meniscus is...

　　Exercise-associated muscle cramping is something that causes issues for a lot of people, in fact some studies put the prevalence at over 80% of athletes suffering at one time or another. 　　Despite many decades of research into the topic there’s still no clear or simple explanation as to what causes cramps, so finding a foolproof ‘cure’ is as elusive as...

　　Been struck by a niggling leg injury, but unsure quite what you've done and whether you need to see a physio? Here we look at how to differentiate between a soft tissue injury and a stress fracture and how best to treat them both… 　　How do I know if it's a soft tissue injury? 　　If your symptoms are widespread and...

　　As triathletes, the volume of training that you put your body through is intense, and it’s common to get aches and pains associated with a long period of repetitive exercise. 　　Not only that but even though you are working with three different disciplines, you are still prone to using a lot of the same muscles groups, in similar ranges. 　　One...

　　Suffering from motion sickness and nausea is fairly common among swimmers, especially in the open water. 　　But it is also possible to suffer from motion sickness in the pool. One reason for this is that you may be excessively moving your head around. 　　Along with slowing you down and making life more difficult, the additional movement from the head will...

　　With many injuries and conditions, having pain for a long time can be normal. However, if you've had an injury or pain has started with no real cause and it doesn't seem to be getting any better, when is the best time to get help? 　　Let's take a look at the potential causes of pain, how long you should expect...

　　The days are slowly getting longer and we're on our way into the business end of the season for triathlons. 　　This means lots of you would have started increasing your training to get ready for some of the first outdoor races in the UK. As training picks up, we commonly start to see more injuries such as: 　　Muscle strains 　　ITB...

　　We all know how incredible the muscles in our body are and what they can allow us to do, but they can also be used to aid injury recovery. Here we look at how… 　　How can muscle contractions help us recover from injury? 　　Muscles are attached onto our bones by tendons, working together in pairs in a cyclical way. While...

　　Swim regularly but got a wound and wondering if it’s safe to continue swimming? Here, doctor and Swim England clinical advisor Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi shares the answers and explains how to waterproof a wound for swimming. 　　Swimming is a great way to stay active and enjoy the water but it’s essential to take proper precautions when you have a wound...

　　A trapped, or pinched, nerve in your shoulder can quickly stop your training in its tracks and, in some cases, cause debilitating pain. 　　So below, Rachel McCulloch, a rehab specialist and physiotherapist at Six Physio, offers a complete guide to this common athlete ailment, covering its causes, symptoms and, most importantly, treatment… 　　Why/how do you get a trapped/pinched nerve in...

　　To put it simply, strength and conditioning (aka SC) has the potential to elevate your swim, bike and run performance as well as reducing injury along the way. 　　For our Olympic and Paralympic athletes, for example, SC plays a vital role in keeping the musculoskeletal system healthy, which allows them to train at the required volumes and intensities. 　　This could...