There are many myths and misconceptions about core stability which has become a popular concept in both the rehabilitation and fitness industries in recent years. Everywhere you look, social media, TV, online, emails and even women’s magazines now implore you to ‘train your core’. Physiotherapists are seeing an increasing number of people who have fallen…

Golf is a sport with many health and wellbeing benefits. A reported 60 million people of all ages play golf across the world, sometimes into their 80s and 90s. The health benefits have been widely reported in recent years with an 18 hole round amounting to 6-8 km of walking, requiring over 8,000-12,000 steps and…

It can be confronting to be struck with a sudden onset of acute low back pain. The disabling pain and immobility often generates catasrophising thoughts about permanent damage and the requirement of surgery. Fear not, low back pain is extremely common, affecting up to 85% of people at some stage in their life. The good…

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…

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.

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…

Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Without posture and the muscles that control it, we would simply fall to the ground. Normally, we do not consciously…

Nothing annoys Physiotherapists more than when a patient explains that they have a ‘slipped disc’ in their back or neck. This is by no means the fault of the patient. Incorrect diagnoses by medical professionals and a general lack of community awareness is to blame. Unfortunately, this catastrophic belief of severe structural damage can lead…

Lie on your side on the floor with the knees bent to ninety degrees. Place the arms out in front of you with the palms facing each other. Slowly slide the top hand over the bottom arm toward your chest and across to the shoulder. Allow the trunk to rotate and slowly extend the arm…

The thoracic spine, the part of the spine that starts just below the neck to half-way down the back, is often a neglected part of the body, which is surprising considering that it is as prone to stiffness as other parts of the spine, but not so surprising since it is a difficult area of…