Tees View Physiotherapy

22/09/2026

This stat is genuinely frightening… 🤯🩼

At least 820 ACL injuries have been recorded across women’s football since the beginning of 2022 — including 83 in the first half of 2026 alone.

820.

These aren’t just numbers. Every one represents a player facing months away from football, rehabilitation and the challenge of trying to return to the level they were at before.

Research has consistently shown that female footballers experience ACL injuries at a higher rate than their male counterparts, and understanding why has become one of the biggest player-welfare conversations in the game.

There’s more research, awareness and prevention work happening than ever before.

But hundreds of players continuing to suffer the same devastating injury shows just how much work remains.

Women’s football is growing rapidly. Protecting the players has to grow with it. ❤️‍🩹⚽️

12/09/2026

☕️🚗 Saturday morning research session…
Whilst my son is busy coaching, I’m making the most of the downtime to keep up with the latest research and make sure the rehabilitation I provide at Tees View Physiotherapy is based on the best available evidence.

The research keeps evolving — particularly around ACL injuries, rehabilitation and returning to sport, staying current is a big part of providing the best possible care.

📚 Question, Learn, Apply to Improve.

Now… research finished, coffee topped up, and ready for a full day of football! ⚽️

Darlington revolution first, then off to the Riverside!

For anyone interested in the research I was reading this morning:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214687326000099?via%3Dihub

11/09/2026

Taking part in the Great North Run this weekend? 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️
First of all — GOOD LUCK! 🎉
Whether you're chasing a PB or simply looking to get around the course, a few simple things can help reduce your risk of injury:

✅ All the meaningful training is done, dont panic with an extra session before sunday. Trust in the taper!

✅ Pace yourself — don't get carried away in the first few miles!

✅ Stay hydrated and fuel appropriately

✅ Listen to your body — pain that changes your running pattern is a reason to back off.

And most importantly… enjoy it!

You've put the training in — now go and enjoy the experience.

Good luck to everyone taking part! 👏

31/08/2026

🩺⚽ NEW! TEES VIEW PHYSIOTHERAPY KIT!

A big thank you to Mimis Embroidery and Print for bringing the Tees View Physiotherapy branding to life and getting me kitted out for the year ahead ⚽️🏐💃

The new clinic wear and pitch-side clothing is ready to go — just in time for the new season.

From treating patients in the clinic to providing physiotherapy support pitch-side, I wanted clothing that was professional, practical and represented the Tees View Physiotherapy brand.

I’m really pleased with how everything has turned out — especially the quality of the embroidery and how quick Amy was able.to make it happen.

If you're a small business, sports team or organisation looking for branded workwear, embroidery or printing, I’d definitely recommend giving Amy and the team at Mimi’s Embroidery & Print a shout.

👉

Thanks again for all your help! 👏

21/08/2026

20/07/2026

The calf isn't just a muscle that pushes you forwards.

It's one of your body's most important brakes.

Every time you land from a jump, slow down, or change direction, your body has to deal with forces that can be several times your bodyweight.

The calf complex is one of the first muscles responsible for absorbing and controlling those forces.
If it can't do its job effectively, the load doesn't disappear—it gets transferred further up the chain, often increasing the demand on the knee.

That's one of the reasons calf strength and capacity deserve far more attention during ACL rehabilitation than they often receive.

This isn't just about getting stronger.
It's about improving your ability to accept force, control force, and redistribute force.

Because returning to sport isn't simply about producing power...
It's about controlling it.

Have you ever been prescribed specific calf strengthening after an ACL injury?

Let me know in the comments.

I think we're missing something in rehabilitation.
Over the coming weeks I'll be exploring a concept I've been thinking about for a while:

As we age, lose capacity, or recover from injury, many of the problems we see ate not due to producing less force—but impaired controlling and slowing forces effectively.

ACL injuries are just one example.

18/07/2026

Don't skip your calves in ACL rehab!

When people think about ACL rehabilitation, they often focus on the quads, hamstrings and glutes. But the calf muscles deserve far more attention than they usually get.
Your calves are responsible for much more than just pushing you forwards. They help absorb force when you land, control the ankle, influence how load travels through the knee, and contribute to efficient movement during running, cutting and jumping.

A weak calf means more load has to be managed elsewhere. A strong calf helps share that load and can improve movement quality throughout the entire lower limb.

If you're recovering from an ACL reconstruction, don't just ask: "Is my knee stronger?"

Ask: "Can my calf cope with the demands of my sport?"

ACL Rehab isn't about strengthening a ligament—it's about building a lower limb that's capable of handling high forces safely and efficiently.

💬 Do you currently include dedicated calf strength work in your rehab?

CalfStrength ReturnToSport FootballRehab Physiotherapy InjuryPrevention

15/07/2026

Ten-year follow-up data from the FIDELITY study of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) in patients with symptoms of degenerative meniscal tear found the procedure offered no benefits and was even associated with worse outcomes.

The FIDELITY study used sham APM as the placebo control. The study involved 146 patients, aged 35-65 years, who were randomized during exploratory arthroscopy either to have damaged or loose parts of the meniscus removed, or to a sham procedure where the surgeon mimicked the movements of surgery without removing any tissue.

The 1-year data found no differences between the sham and real surgery groups in patient-evaluated functional outcomes, health-related quality of life, or knee pain after exercise. https://mdsc.pe/4tXumot

15/07/2026

🦵 "I've torn my meniscus... I need surgery."
This is one of the most common things we hear in clinic—but it's often not what the research tells us.
Did you know that many people have meniscal tears on MRI scans and experience no knee pain at all? Just because a scan shows a tear doesn't automatically mean it's the cause of your symptoms.
📚 High-quality research has consistently shown that for most age-related (degenerative) meniscal tears, a structured rehabilitation programme can provide similar improvements in pain and function to surgery.
That doesn't mean surgery is never needed.
Some people do benefit from surgical treatment, particularly following certain traumatic injuries or when the knee is genuinely locking. The key is making the right diagnosis and ensuring the treatment matches your symptoms, not just your scan.
At Tees View Physiotherapy, we take the time to assess the whole picture—your history, movement, goals and examination findings—to help you understand what's causing your pain and guide you towards the most appropriate treatment pathway.
💪 Treat the person, not just the scan.
Have you ever been told you have a meniscus tear? Were you advised to have surgery, or did rehabilitation help? We'd love to hear your experience in the comments.
📞 If you're struggling with knee pain and want an expert assessment, get in touch with the team at Tees View Physiotherapy.

03/07/2026

⚽ England are playing their next World Cup match at altitude... but when is the best time to arrive?
This is actually a question I've been interested in since my Sport & Exercise Science days at the University of Teesside, and it's one I've revisited over the years because the answer isn't what most people expect.
The research is surprisingly consistent.
You have 2 good options... and 1 that should generally be avoided.
🥳 Arrive 10–14+ days before the game (ideally 2–3 weeks) to allow the body to adapt to the altitude.
✈️ If that's not possible, as is the case with England for the game against Mexico, arrive within 24 hours of kick-off, play the match and leave before the negative effects really begin to take hold.
❌ What you don't want to do is arrive 2–7 days before.
Why?
During those first few days, your body is working harder. Heart rate increases, sleep can be disrupted, plasma volume falls and fatigue rises... but you haven't been there long enough to gain the performance benefits of acclimatisation.
It's the classic 'worst of both worlds.'

Football at altitude isn't just about running out of breath either. High-speed running, repeated sprint ability and recovery between efforts can all be affected, making tactics, substitutions and game management even more important.

🤔I always enjoy seeing sports science concepts play out on the biggest stage. It'll be interesting to see how England approach this one.
Would you have travelled straight after the round of 32 to acclimatise, or flown in as late as possible?