Your back IS strong…even if you (or someone else) doesn’t think that it is
When we’re experiencing back pain is easy to feel that our spines are fragile and vulnerable to damage. It can really feel like any ‘wrong’ movement or position will be harmful to our backs. As a consequence, we often modify our behaviour and change how we move. For example, maybe you decide to skip a…
Read MoreEvidence-based practice in osteopathy- results from a UK national survey (and clearing things up!)
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is now considered to be the optimal (albeit imperfect- see here) approach to healthcare practice and decision-making- and all healthcare professionals from art therapists to doctors should be adopting an evidence-based approach. Unfortunately, over the years, EBP has been misinterpreted as ‘EXCLUSIVELY applying research’ or ‘all patients receive the SAME algorithmic treatment…
Read More“I should be glowing not aching!”- The facts about low back pain during pregnancy
I was recently invited to write a guest blog for social group Hampstead Mums, on the causes, risk factors and treatment options for pregnancy-related low back pain. A real dampener during pregnancy I see lots of mums-to-be in clinic experiencing back pain, and it can be a real dampener on their pregnancy experience. Low back…
Read MoreLow back pain: To scan, or not to scan? That is the question
Many of my osteopathy patients with low back pain (LBP) often ask me whether or not a scan is required, but the decision to scan is not always straight forward, so let’s clear a few things up. Firstly, there are several different types of scanning procedures used to investigate back pain, we’ll focus on…
Read MoreTop tips for back pain
I’ve been treating and managing patients with back pain for over 11 years. Below I outline my top 10 tips to help dispel common myths and ensure a swift recovery. Keep calm… -Although back pain can be very unpleasant and distressing, fortunately most episodes are short-term and rarely due to any serious damage or disease. Carry on – Changing how you move during…
Read MoreEvidence-based courses, workshops and seminars for fitness and health professionals
Research has enhanced our understanding of back pain, its causes and optimal treatment/management strategies. A wealth of research evidence now rejects the traditional view that back pain is simply due to biomechanical, physical or structural problems such as bad posture, ‘weak core’, vertebra ‘out of place/alignment’, disc injuries or degeneration. It is now recognised that…
Read MoreJedi powers and magic manipulations for back pain? Nope, just get moving.
Back pain is common…really common. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates that LBP affects about a quarter of us each year costing the UK over £12 billion annually. With lots of bad advice and claims of instant fixes, lets clear a few things up: Q. What’s the…
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