The Thornbury Clinic

07/08/2026

🦶 **Anatomy of the Ankle: The Foundation of Every Step**

Your ankles support your body with every step you take. Whether you're walking, running, jumping, or changing direction, the ankle provides the perfect balance of stability and mobility.

Here's a quick look at the key structures that keep your ankles functioning at their best:

🦴 **Bones**
The ankle joint is formed by three main bones:
• Tibia (shin bone)
• Fibula (outer lower leg bone)
• Talus (ankle bone)

Together, these bones create the main hinge joint that allows your foot to move up and down.

🔗 **Ligaments**
Strong ligaments help stabilise the ankle and prevent excessive movement:
• ATFL (Anterior Talofibular Ligament) – Most commonly injured in ankle sprains
• CFL (Calcaneofibular Ligament) – Supports the outside of the ankle
• Deltoid Ligament – Strong ligament supporting the inside of the ankle

💪 **Muscles & Tendons**
The calf muscles, Achilles tendon, tibialis muscles, and peroneal tendons work together to provide strength, balance, and control during movement.

🦠 **Articular Cartilage**
Smooth cartilage covers the joint surfaces, allowing the ankle to move freely while reducing friction and absorbing forces.

💡 **Did you know?**
Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries. Without proper rehabilitation, they can lead to ongoing pain, weakness, and repeated sprains.

If ankle pain or instability is affecting your daily activities or sport, our physiotherapy team can help you recover, rebuild strength, and prevent future injuries.

📅 Book your assessment today.

03/08/2026

MEET THE TEAM

Charlotte works at our Thornbury Active clinic as a chiropractor and injury rehabilitator. Beginning her career as a personal trainer, Charlotte developed a solid foundation in human movement, strength training, and biomechanics. This passion for movement and performance led to further studies in chiropractic care and rehabilitation—allowing her to support patients through every stage of recovery, from hands-on treatment to active rehabilitation.

Charlotte uses a variety of techniques to suit each individual; including manipulation, dry needling, taping, and soft tissue techniques – whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or simply looking to move and feel better.

To find out more on book online, visit our website.

https://thethornburyclinic.co.uk/team/charlotte-barker/

31/07/2026

🦵 **Anatomy of the Knee: The Joint That Keeps You Moving**

Your knee is one of the largest and hardest-working joints in the body. Whether you're walking, climbing stairs, running, or playing sport, every step relies on the knee working efficiently.

Here's a quick look at the key structures that keep your knee strong and stable:

🦴 **Bones**
The knee is formed by three bones:
• Femur (thigh bone)
• Tibia (shin bone)
• Patella (kneecap)

🛡️ **Meniscus **
The medial and lateral meniscus are two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as shock absorbers, helping to distribute weight and protect the joint.

🔗 **Ligaments**
The four main ligaments provide stability:
• ACL – Prevents the tibia from moving forwards
• PCL – Prevents the tibia from moving backwards
• MCL – Supports the inner knee
• LCL – Supports the outer knee

💪 **Muscles & Tendons**
Strong quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles work together to control movement and support the knee during everyday activities.

🦠 **Articular Cartilage**
This smooth covering on the ends of the bones allows the joint to move freely with minimal friction.

💡 **Did you know?**
Many knee problems occur when one or more of these structures become injured or overloaded. Early assessment and the right rehabilitation can help you recover faster and reduce the risk of long-term issues.

If knee pain is stopping you from doing what you love, our physiotherapy team is here to help you move with confidence again.

📅 Book your assessment today.

27/07/2026

MASSAGE MONDAY

Can massage help with headaches?

Many of the headaches we see are tension headaches, particularly in people who spend long hours at a desk or carry a lot of stress. As the name suggests, they're often linked to muscle tension. These types of headaches we can absolutely help with.

Tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, upper back and at the base of the skull can refer pain into the head. When these muscles become tight, they can contribute to pain that feels like pressure around the head or behind the eyes.
By releasing these areas with massage we can help relieve that pressure, encourage relaxation and promote blood flow in the area, all helping to ease headaches. Many people come in for neck and shoulder tension who have noticed their headaches becoming less frequent as their muscle tension improves.
If headaches or neck tension are affecting your day-to-day life, get in touch to find out whether massage could be a suitable option for you.

24/07/2026

**🦴 Shoulder Anatomy: Understanding the Joint That Does It All**

Did you know the shoulder is the **most mobile joint in the human body**? That incredible range of movement allows you to lift, throw, reach, and carry—but it also makes the shoulder more prone to injury.

Here's a quick breakdown of its key structures:

🔹 **Bones:** The humerus (upper arm), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone) work together to create the shoulder joint.

🔹 **Rotator Cuff:** Four muscles and their tendons stabilise the shoulder and help you lift and rotate your arm.

🔹 **Labrum:** A ring of cartilage that deepens the socket, improving stability.

🔹 **Ligaments & Capsule:** These provide passive support and help keep the joint in place.

🔹 **Bursa:** Small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between tendons and bones during movement.

💡 Because the shoulder relies heavily on muscles for stability, weakness, poor posture, or repetitive movements can lead to pain, impingement, rotator cuff injuries, or instability.

If you're experiencing shoulder pain, don't ignore it. Early assessment and targeted physiotherapy can restore movement, reduce pain, and prevent long-term problems.

📅 Book an appointment with our team today and keep your shoulders moving the way they should.

💙 Local care, specifically tailored to your needs.

Your health is our priority

📞 01454 838366
📧 [email protected]
🛜 www.thethornburyclinic.co.uk

20/07/2026

MEET THE TEAM

Mackenzie is an experienced rehabilitation therapist with a strong foundation in sports injury management and exercise prescription. Mackenzie can provide injury prevention, rehabilitation and gait analysis, alongside hands on therapy as well.

You can find Mackenzie at our Active sites in Thornbury and Yate. To book online or find out more, visit our website.

https://thethornburyclinic.co.uk/team/mackenzie-davies/

15/07/2026

https://thethornburyclinic.co.uk/team/paul-jovero/

13/07/2026

MASSAGE MONDAY

What should I do after a massage?

To get the most out of your treatment we recommend:
● Stay hydrated
● Keep moving gently
● Avoid intense exercise straight away
● Give your body time to rest and recover

Hopefully you will be feeling more relaxed, you may feel quite tired and sometimes slightly tender for the next day or so but all of this is totally normal. Listening to your body after a massage helps you get the best results.
At The Thornbury Clinic, we’ll always give you personalised aftercare advice and we are happy to provide you with stretches to help maintain everything in between your massage sessions. As always, if you have any questions about what you should be doing, please ask us.

10/07/2026

06/07/2026

MEET THE TEAM

Jasmin is an experienced massage therapist and has worked within the health, fitness and sporting industry since 2016, building a wealth of knowledge across leisure, rehabilitation and performance environments. With qualifications and training in sports massage, lymphatic drainage, trigger point therapy, PNF stretching and muscle energy techniques, Jasmin uses a combination of soft tissue and mobility based treatments tailored to the individual.

To find out more and book online, visit our website.
https://thethornburyclinic.co.uk/team/jasmin-gillingham/