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Seated or standing, stretch the arms straight out and rotate the hands so that the palms face away from each other. Cross the arms so that the palms are pressed together, contract the abs and round the back, reaching away as you relax the head. Don’t collapse but instead imagine you’re curving up and over…

National Pain Week is 25th -31st of July. Pain, at a physiological level, is stimulation of sensitive nerve endings (nociceptive) either by chemical or mechanical means. This commonly occurs through injury and its purpose is to inform us of tissue damage. The causes of musculoskeletal pain are varied. Muscle tissue can be damaged with the…

We all have different strengths and weaknesses but finding out what you are really good at and using those talents can increase wellbeing. Using your strengths to help others or contribute to the community creates a sense of meaning and purpose.

Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Extend your right arm along the right side of the chair. Place your left hand on the top of your head and slowly tilt your head to the left. Apply gentle pressure with your hand to increase the stretch. To feel a deeper stretch,…

Neck Pain can be a debilitating health problem. Your head is heavy and balanced on a narrow support made up of seven bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are separated from each other by discs, stabilised by joints and ligaments and moved by muscles. Because the neck is so mobile, it is easily damaged. Onset of…

This blog outlines my successful return to sport from an Achilles Tendinopathy. To read more about the onset of my tendon pathology and early management, read part one and part two of my blog. After two weeks of careful, graduated strengthening exercises, with no recurrence of Achilles tendon pain, I decided I was ready to…

While in a seated position, cross your right leg over your straightened left leg. Hug your right knee with your left arm, making sure to keep your back straight. Hold this stretch for 30-60 seconds, and then repeat on the opposite side.

Why not try a spot of kite-flying? As well as the obvious physical and mental health benefits from exercising in the open air, you’ll be giving your eyes a workout. Focusing on distant objects makes a welcome change from staring at a screen for hours on end. It lessens the strain – and helps prevent…

Sciatica describes pain felt along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back, down through the buttock, hamstrings and into the lower leg. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. Sciatica can be characterised by pain, pins and needles, numbness, and/or weakness in the legs. Commonly pain, pins and needles and numbness…

Dancing is a good physical activity, but is also good for our brains as it wakes different parts of the brain and neural pathways. There are so many different types of dancing, so you can generally choose something you’re comfortable with. It is also social, fun and creative and taps into a deeper part of…