5th Element Sports Injury Clinic Sunderland and Durham

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.

Achilles pain stopping you from running or training?

If you've been waking up with stiffness at the back of your heel, or your Achilles becomes painful during a run, don't ignore it. These are common signs of Achilles tendinopathy —an overuse injury that often develops gradually over time.

Common symptoms include:
✅ Pain and stiffness at the back of the heel or lower calf
✅ Morning stiffness that eases with movement
✅ Pain that increases during running, jumping, or pushing off
✅ Swelling or thickening of the tendon

It often occurs following:
🏃 A sudden increase in training volume or intensity
👟 Poor footwear or running on hard surfaces
🦵 Tight calf muscles
⚖️ Strength or flexibility imbalances
📋 Previous Achilles injuries

The good news? Most cases respond very well to the right rehabilitation programme.

At 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic, we'll:
✔️ Carry out a detailed assessment to identify the root cause
✔️ Reduce pain with targeted hands-on treatment where appropriate
✔️ Develop a personalised strength and loading programme to improve tendon capacity
✔️ Guide your return to running, sport, or the gym safely and confidently

Remember, rest alone rarely fixes Achilles tendinopathy. Tendons need the right amount of loading to recover and become stronger.

📩 If Achilles pain is holding you back, book an appointment today and let us help take you from pain to performance.

https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I felt really listened to. Ryan explained things clearly and gave excellent advice—things I had never thought of despite living with neck pain for many years. Looking forward to my next visit.”

Living with pain for years can make it feel like nothing will change—but sometimes, the right assessment and a fresh perspective can make all the difference.

At 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic, we take the time to listen, understand your story, and explain what's happening in a way that makes sense. Our aim is to give you the knowledge, confidence, and tools to take control of your recovery.

We're so pleased this patient left feeling heard, reassured, and optimistic about the journey ahead.

Want to feel listened to? Want to be out of chronic pain? Book now - https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

🌅 Early morning appointments available – from 07:00am! 🌅

We know that finding time for treatment can be difficult when you're juggling work, family, training, and everyday life.

That's why we offer early morning appointments from 07:00am, giving you the opportunity to get your treatment or rehabilitation session completed before the working day begins.

Perfect for:
💼 Busy professionals who don't want to take time off work
🏃 Active individuals wanting to fit treatment around training
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents with busy daytime schedules
🏋️ Anyone who prefers to start their day early

Whether you're dealing with an injury, persistent pain, or simply need help getting back to the activities you enjoy, we're here when it suits you.

✅ Appointments from 07:00am
✅ Get treated before work
✅ Stay consistent with your recovery
✅ Get on with the rest of your day

Your schedule shouldn't be the reason you put off dealing with pain or injury.

📩 Message us or book online to secure an early morning appointment.
- https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/

💉 ONE INJECTION. FAST RELIEF. LASTING RESULTS

Cingal® injection therapy is designed for people experiencing knee pain associated with osteoarthritis. It combines two treatments in a single injection:

⚡ A corticosteroid component designed to provide faster short-term relief from pain and inflammation.

💧 Hyaluronic acid, which supplements the natural fluid within the joint and is designed to provide longer-lasting symptom relief and improved joint function.

For the right patient, this combination can offer the benefit of faster initial relief alongside longer-lasting improvement from a single injection.

At 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic, injection therapy is considered as part of an individual assessment and treatment plan. We’ll discuss your symptoms, medical history, activity goals and suitability for treatment before deciding whether an injection is appropriate for you.

Our aim isn’t simply to reduce pain temporarily. Where appropriate, injection therapy can form part of a wider plan to help you:

✔️ Reduce pain and inflammation
✔️ Improve comfort during everyday activities
✔️ Move and exercise more comfortably
✔️ Engage more effectively with rehabilitation
✔️ Return to the activities that matter to you

If knee pain is limiting your walking, training, sport or quality of life, get in touch to discuss whether Cingal® injection therapy may be suitable for you.

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

Taking you from pain to performance.

Treatment Tuesday!

💪 Physiotherapy is about more than treating pain — it's about helping you move, recover, and improve functional performance. 💪

Whether you're recovering from an injury, managing persistent pain, or looking to improve your performance, physiotherapy uses evidence-based assessment and treatment to help.

Some of the key benefits include:
✅ Reduces pain and discomfort
✅ Improves mobility and flexibility
✅ Builds strength and resilience
✅ Speeds up recovery after injury or surgery
✅ Helps prevent future injuries
✅ Enhances performance in sport, work, and everyday life

At 5th Element Sports Injury Clinic, we don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.

Every assessment is tailored to you, identifying the root cause of your problem before creating a personalised treatment and rehabilitation plan designed around your goals.

Whether you're a runner, gym-goer, recreational athlete, or simply want to move without pain, we're here to help take you from pain to performance.

📩 Ready to start your recovery journey? Book your physiotherapy appointment today - https://5thelementsportsinjuryclinic.janeapp.co.uk/