In this world there seem to be two types of people – the knuckle (and other joint) crackers who indulge their habit on a regular, if not daily basis, and those who have to put up with it. Joint crackers defend themselves by saying that they find great satisfaction or even release in pushing, pulling […]
This year’s Backcare Awareness Week (8th to 12th October) focuses on back pain in older people. Awful at any age, back pain can be really disabling and miserable in the over 60s. BackCare, the National Back Pain Association, offers useful information and resources but I want to talk about how […]
Runner’s knee, jumper’s knee, housemaid’s knee (yes, it does exist!) and so on – the list of painful complaints that can affect this complicated joint is as long as your arm. Problem knees are surprisingly common in people of all ages, placing severe restrictions on both movement and lifestyle as a whole. Strong and stable […]
It’s well known that regular exercise brings huge benefits. In a society where sitting has become the norm, being active helps to regulate weight, build and maintain strong muscles and bones, boost energy and promote healthy sleep. It can also reduce the risk of injury and chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, some cancers […]
As we head into Migraine Awareness Week (3rd to 8th September), here are a few facts about this disabling condition that might surprise you: Migraine is the world’s third most common illness, suffered by one in seven people across the globe and eight million people here in the UK; Migraines affect twice as many women […]
‘Mindfulness’ has become quite the buzzword in recent years. A quick Amazon search revealed over 100,000 items across books, CDs, activity kits including colouring books, daily task sets and so on. So big business. And thereby lies my issue with it. At a most basic level mindfulness is simply about paying more attention to the […]
There are many things that can go wrong with the human body. Hardly surprising, given its 206 bones, 600 muscles, 900 ligaments and 100 billion nerve cells, plus the 12 major organs. All with the potential to be adversely affected by accidents, injuries, postural issues, bad habits and general wear and tear. Not to mention […]
Happily, this long run of glorious weather looks set to continue for at least another month. But it’s got me thinking about a favourite analogy that I use in clinic which, oddly enough, relates to subsidence! Homeowners in London will be only too aware of this pest, which occurs when the ground moves downwards beneath […]
In the final days of the rush to comply with the much-anticipated GDPR legislation ahead of the 25th May deadline, we discovered a ‘soft opt-in’ ICO clause. In plain English, this clause says is that if you give me verbal approval (during a Consultation, say) for me to send you my newsletter – in which […]
Sometimes the symptom that patients presents with can be almost a red herring. Which is where my approach of treating the person as a whole, not necessarily just the symptom, can prove invaluable. Recently, for example, a patient came in with lower back pain. The lower back is influenced by muscle and fascial (connective […]