Should you be able to touch your toes?
Touching your toes is often seen as some sort of reflection of how athletic / fit / sporty you are. I’ve noticed people are either very proud when they can touch their toes, or they seem a little embarrassed when they can’t. So I guess I am either about to burst your...
My 3 favourite things about being a mobile physio
I have now been working as a mobile physio for almost a year and a half. This has come after 10 years of working in private practice in the setting that most of you are familiar. It was all I knew, and I enjoyed it. I felt I was doing a good job, that I had variety...
How long does it take to strengthen my muscles?
When I am helping someone to recover from an injury or to improve their strength, I am often asked “how long will it take for my strength to improve”? The answer to this question depends largely on why (and whether) the muscle is ‘weak’ in the first place. Let me give...
3 reasons you didn’t like Pilates (and why you should give it another go!)
Word is well and truly out that Pilates is good for us. It offers so many benefits, from improved strength & flexibility to enhanced coordination, body awareness and posture. So why isn’t everyone doing it? Well sometimes just knowing something is good...
Which mattress should I buy?
This is one of those questions I am asked a lot! You might remember I gave my top tips for choosing the right pillow here, but picking the right mattress can seem even more daunting. This is because they are more expensive, and they are usually replaced much less...
Why am I dizzy?
One of my toddler’s favourite things to do at the moment is to spin around and around until he makes himself dizzy. It always make me a bit uncomfortable, mostly because I’m worried he’ll hurt himself in the aftermath, but also because as an adult, I don’t enjoy the...
Wrist Pain in New Mums
Being a new mum brings with it many challenges: recovering from a birth, sleep depravation and finding a 'balance' are just a few! Why not throw a bit of wrist pain into the mix? ’Baby wrist’ is something I’m seeing a lot of at the moment, so I thought I would...
Physiotherapists who treat women vs ‘women’s health’ physios – what’s the difference?
If you have ever had experience with more than one type of physio you might know that the profession encompasses a variety of specialty areas. Like medicine, it is important to seek out the right professional with the right set of skills to help you with your problem....
Should I crack my own back?
Cracking your knuckles / back / neck (or whatever tickles your fancy) can feel oh so good. But is it any good for you or should you be avoiding it all together? What happens when you crack a joint? Self-manipulating or ‘cracking’ a joint involves taking it to the end...
Which baby carrier is best for me?
As someone who has had two children under 2 years, I am completely in support of any device that allows us to do two things at once! Baby carriers, in all of their shapes and sizes, offer the wonderful advantage of keeping your hands free while remaining close to your...
Are high heels really that bad for you?
Let’s be honest, high heels are pretty and they make our legs look longer… It’s unfortunate because, if it weren’t for this fact, we would probably never ever wear them! But are they really that bad for you? Well, yes …they are... There is no point in sugar-coating...
3 steps to your best desk set-up
We know that sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time is not great for our bodies. It can contribute to neck pain and headaches, back pain, shoulder pain and wrist pain, amongst other things. So what can we do about this...
How can I fix my niggly shoulder?
Shoulder injuries are very common. They are also varied and can be difficult to diagnose. The shoulder joint inherently has a large range of movement, which means a greater demand is placed on muscles and ligaments to provide stability. ‘Traumatic’ injuries to the...
Should I sit on a fitball for work?
Fitballs (a.k.a swiss balls, exercise balls, physio balls) are a fantastic and cost-effective piece of equipment that can be used in many different ways to improve strength, balance and stability. There is also a commonly-held belief that they should be used in place...
5 habits for a happy, healthy spine!
It's no surprise that low back pain is one of the most common complaints we see as physios. In fact, up to 80% of the population will experience back pain at some stage in their life. This may range from a dull ache that doesn't interfere too much with your life to...
Yoga vs Pilates – which one’s right for me?
Yoga and Pilates - two practices with a few similarities and a lot of differences! But what are the differences? And which one is the right choice for you? The myths Some of the biggest myths I hear about yoga and Pilates are: yoga is for flexibility and Pilates is...
Can I get knee pain from sitting?
Yes. In fact the exact same condition that causes 'runner's knee' is also be called ‘moviegoer’s knee’…well if that's not confusing... Both ‘Runners knee’ and ‘moviegoer’s knee’ refer to a condition called patello-femoral pain syndrome (PFPS), which is not...
Ice or heat for pain and injury?
You’ve just rolled your ankle. It’s sore and you’re struggling to put weight on it. Should you put ice on it or heat? Most would correctly say ice. But what about when you’ve woken up and your neck feels ‘locked’. Every time you try to turn it you get a sharp pain. Do...
Should I stretch a sore muscle?
Muscles can be sore for a number of different reasons. Soreness can be a result of a muscle tear or a joint injury, or it could come from being overworked or overstretched. Whilst it might feel natural to stretch your stiff neck or your sore...
3 signs your neck is giving you headaches
Once upon a time, throbbing headaches were called migraines and anything that wasn’t, was called a tension headache. With research and better knowledge, we now know there are more than 300 types of headache! Generally, these fall into three categories: Migraines...