What they say
Isokinetic, in West London, helps athletes and everyday individuals with the prevention and rehabilitation of sports and orthopaedics injuries. Isokinetic prides itself on supporting those with rehabilitation from operations like ACL reconstruction but also helps people identify pain and discomfort or recurring injuries, so that they can live happier, healthier lives and move without pain – they believe exercise is medicine.
So, if you’re struggling with a constant niggle that won’t go away, want to improve your fitness or have picked up an injury, keep reading…
Founded in Italy, in 1987, Isokinetic came to London 35 years ago, bringing a wealth of knowledge and some of the best in the industry, from Doctors and Physicians to Osteopaths, Personal Trainers, and Rehabilitation specialists.
Now, I’m not injured (not exactly anyway), but I am a very keen trail runner and have been struggling with a niggle in my knee and back – it’s all linked – for a very long time. So, when Isokinetic invited me to see the facilities and put me through a few tests, I jumped at the opportunity.
The treatment
Knowing about my running history (trail and mountain races ranging from 20 to 50k +), the team put together a session for me, which included a review of how I move, using the Green Room, followed by a personal training sessions to help me work towards becoming strong in any weak areas we found… and there were quite a few.
The process
On arrival, I was asked to fill out a few standard forms, and then given an introduction to Isokinetic by Managing Director, Andrea Tartaglia.
Following our conversation, I went for a short warm up on a bike, before going to the Green Room, where I was met by Sports Physician, Alberto Scavone.
The Green Room is a latest generation bio-mechanical laboratory in which it is possible, through the observation and detailed recording of a patient’s movements, to identify and correct incorrect postures and movement patterns. This innovative rehabilitation environment is focused on restoring and improving movement quality and reducing the risk of injury or re-injury.
My time in the Green Room began with a Movement Analysis Test (MAT), a 2-dimensional (2D) bio-mechanical evaluation carried out by physicians in order to predict the risk of lower limb injury.
The MAT included 2D frontal and lateral movements, of which I performed six. This included exercises like single leg squats, running and stopping abruptly and jumping from a box. The cameras around the room analyse my movements and show how I land… and if I am landing correctly.
Alongside Alberto Scavone, we reviewed how I moved and were quickly able to see where my weaknesses were and why, perhaps, I was experiencing pain in certain areas. It mostly comes down to a lack of engagement in my glutes, not sitting far enough into a squat, which is putting more pressure through my knees, rather than letting my glutes absorb it. So, while I do a lot of strength training, I have probably not been doing it correctly.
Following this information, Alessandro Compagnin took me through some exercises, to ensure I was engaging all the right muscles. This was mostly simple movements like single leg squats, banded crab walks, and hip thrusters. While the weights were light or bodyweight, engaging different muscles wasn’t easy and I soon realised why I have weaknesses in particular areas when I run – I will now be taking this invaluable information and ensuring my strength training alongside my running is much for targeting and done in the correct way.
The details
Isokinetic is for everyone who is interested in supporting or improving their physical health – not just athletes or those who are injured. As someone who very much believes ‘exercise is medicine’, I find what the team is doing at Isokinetic truly amazing.
11 Harley Street, London W1G 9PF
