See you at the Barre

Hands down (on the floor for planking) this is my favourite work out. When I tell my patients I go to a "grown-ups ballet class" every week, they look at me like I may have just gone mad. Yes, it's not your average grown lady pursuit, but in…

Occipital Neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia is one of the many kinds of headaches people can present with in the clinic. This one in particular is common for osteopaths to see, as it often has a musculoskeletal cause.   The occipital nerve exits the spine at the…

Michelle's Pregnancy

I had my first baby last year and had some pelvic pain through the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Because of my work as a massage therapist and walking my dogs every day,it put a lot of pressure on my pelvis as my bump increased. I love to be active…

Are Pre-workout Supplements Worth the Hype?

If you’re deciding to look at pre-workout supplements, it probably means that you’re being pretty serious with your gym goals and with the amount of people taking it and businesses trying to sell it, it must work; right? For the most…

Celebrity Health Books - Hits and Misses

The media has an unprecedented interest in health at the moment; from bloggers and actresses, to radio DJs, it seems a different celebrity brings out a healthy lifestyle book every other week. Here, we cut through the ghost-written nonsense…

Time for a new Sport?

In general I like to encourage people to become more active and I really do not think that there is an age limit for doing sports. The benefits of exercise are so plentiful and generally well known that I feel a little silly for even considering…

A Bit More Fit with a Fitbit?

I have been thinking about the usefulness of smart watches recently because I can see various patients wear them. A few have reported really feeling more in charge of their activities. They mention that it encourages them to exercise more as…

Michelle's Tips for Weight Loss

Margaret Tyrell has lost over 1 stone in weight and 24cm on our 6 week weight loss programme! This is a fantastic achievement; she is fitter and faster on her road bike, and loves how she looks! The secret to her success is simple - dedication. Margaret…

Sleeping and Neck Pain

Many patients ask me if their neck, back or shoulder pain could be caused, or at least made worse, by their sleeping position, mattress or pillows. In this article, my aim is to give some general advice to those wanting to get the best night’s…

Top Tips for Muscle Tightness

If you’re a victim to perpetual muscle tightness, you’re in the right place! Here are my top tips to recognise muscle tightness, combat it, and prevent it from returning! But first we need a really quick review of the physiology to understand…

Problem Postures

You know what really grinds my teeth? Posture. Haven’t we heard it all before? Sit up straight, don’t slouch, tummy in, chest out... I am a bit allergic to these statements because they are often so carelessly used and so generalised;…

How to spot a fad diet

People’s opinions on diets, as well as government health recommendations, seem to change all the time. Yet adverts routinely appear claiming to know the answer to what we should eat. So how do we distinguish between what is actually healthy…