Stiffness, aches and pains seem to increase as you get older, and it's common to dismiss these symptoms as an inevitable part of ageing.You might even get X-rays or an MRI scan that shows wear and tear changes to joints or herniated discs, which appears to confirm the "ageing damages the body" narrative.But, and it's a BIG BUT, these images can only depict the bones and joints. What moves bones and joints? ANSWER = MusclesAnd what tells the muscles how to behave? ANSWER = The brain ...

Many of my clients speak of how frustrating conventional injury treatments are. Their complaints include: Long waiting times to see a medical professional No clear treatment pathways, either on the NHS or privately Multiple interventions, such as steroid injections, painkillers and physiotherapy, none of which work long-term Inadequate aftercare post-surgery, with many patients left to fend for themselves Has this been your experience too? One often overlooked reason why medicine struggles to ...

Advice is often conflicting and confusing. Medical professionals and soft tissue therapists often recommend rest or avoiding certain activities whilst in pain, whereas other sources say it's best to keep moving. Who's right? Previous studies have shown that avoidance and fear of movement is associated with longer recoveries from injury and less favourable outcomes. But there's less research into whether persistence affects pain...until now. A 2024 study looking at patients with acute low back ...

Nearly everyone will experience back pain at some time in their life. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that around 619 million people are living with back pain globally in 2020, and it's the leading cause of disability worldwide. Back pain is frequently treated by painkillers, spinal injections, surgery and soft tissue therapy. Despite advances in medical technology, most people still suffer repeat bouts of pain. In order to find a lasting solution and prevent future flare ups, ...

One of the most controversial principles of chronic pain science is the notion that "it's all in your head."Medical professional frequently dismiss patients with this phrase, so people understandably become defensive when they hear this.And yet., not only is it true, it's actually good news!If "it's in your head", you can teach your brain new patterns that will override the old, unhelpful ones and ultimately lead to efficient, functional and pain-free movements. This is called ...

This week's topic may be contentious, and you likely have your own views on this subject. Please do share them with me by replying to this email. With physiotherapy, I'm also going to include chiropractor, osteopath, surgery and steroid or epidural painkilling injections. All of these treatments are great for an acute injury, such as reconstructing a damaged ACL from falling off a mountain skiing, or repairing a fractured limb after a road traffic accident. BUT, they're nearly always much less ...

If you're feeling stiff or tense, chances are you'll be told that you need to stretch your muscles more.After a stretching session you feel great - taller, lighter and more mobile.....for a couple of days. But no matter how much you stretch the relief never seems to last for long.So what will release tight, tense muscles effectively and safely?Answer: Pandiculation - also known as "Nature's reset button".This is where you intentionally contract your muscles, then slowly release and relax. Watch ...

Modern Western medicine has made many amazing advances, think MRI scans, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, injections and surgeries. And yet even with modern technology, a huge array of medical interventions, backed up by soft tissue manual therapy treatments, a cure for chronic pain remains elusive. Medical and health professionals all too often dismiss concerned patients with comments like: "It's a normal part of getting older" "You'll just have to live with it (the ...

You expect an injury to get better, either naturally with time or the help of treatment, such as physiotherapy, steroid injection or surgery.Except, some injuries don't heal and the pain becomes chronic. Common examples are plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder, hip pain  and lower back ache.No matter what you try, the pain keeps coming back. Here's 3 reasons this happens that I see in clients: The area that hurts isn't the root issue. It's actually an adaptation to the actual ...

I bet you've heard this phrase at least once...  "Brace your core!".  Many people come to my classes because they've told by their physio, osteopath or personal trainer that they need to make their core stronger to get out of pain. And if that were really true, they'd all go on a 12 week core strengthening course and never be in pain again....except it rarely works out like that, does it?! Did you know that a few years ago I was able to hold a forearm plank (hover) for 17.5 mins, and ...