“My back’s killing me.” It’s one of the most common complaints I hear from men, whether in a clinic or during rehab. But often, the back isn’t the real issue.The problem often starts lower down, usually with the pelvis, hips, or another area not functioning correctly. When that happens, the back picks up the slack, […]
Author archives: Sandie E
All About Men: The Midlife Male Body: Decline or Redesign?
Midlife can feel like a crossroads. Energy dips. Recovery slows. Muscles don’t respond the way they used to. It sounds like a decline, but it doesn’t have to be that way.What if this is the moment to redesign how you live in your body? I’ve seen it happen. When men start listening instead of pushing, […]
All About Men: How the Body Shows What Men Don’t Say
We all know the stereotype. Men don’t talk about their feelings. But in clinic, I hear plenty, not always through words but through tight shoulders, sore backs, and bodies that feel worn down.The signs are everywhere: clenched jaws, unsettled guts, restless sleep. It’s easy to dismiss them as signs of age or poor posture, but […]
Medical Screening: Don’t Miss Out
This isn’t my usual kind of post, but it’s an important one. It’s about health checks, speaking up, and not ignoring when something doesn’t feel right in your body.
Rediscover Your Voice
Most of us don’t pay much attention to our voice until something goes wrong. Your voice is more than just sound; it is a vital part of your identity and how you connect with others. Whether you are a professional speaker, teacher, or performer, or just gen pop being able to express yourself clearly is […]
Spinal Injections: Are They Right for You?
If you’ve been living with persistent back or neck pain that isn’t responding to hands-on treatment, medication, corrective exercise, or lifestyle changes, you might have been offered a spinal injection as a treatment option, but is that the right next step for you?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the inside scoop
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a painful condition caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through a narrow tunnel in the wrist. It’s often linked to repetitive movements, such as typing, using tools, or even hormonal changes.
How Emotions Show Up in the Body
Have you ever noticed your stomach twisting before a big event or your shoulders creeping up towards your ears when you’re stressed? That’s your body responding to your emotions. Feelings aren’t just in our heads—they show up physically, shaping the way we move, breathe, and even digest food. Understanding these signs can help us manage […]
Menopause, hormone blood tests explained
As mentioned in the main menopause post (read it here), a blood test is generally not required for healthy women over 45 experiencing symptoms linked to perimenopause or menopause. According to the NICE guidelines, a diagnosis of menopause is made based on clinical symptoms rather than blood tests, especially for women over 45. However, checking hormone levels can be important in certain […]
The Link Between the Voice and Nervous System Health
The voice and the nervous system are often thought of as separate, but they are deeply connected. If you have ever felt your voice shake with anxiety or struggled to speak clearly under pressure, you have already experienced this connection.
From Midlife and Beyond: How Hormonal Changes Impact Your Muscles, Joints, and Bones
Menopause is a natural part of ageing, but it’s often associated only with symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. What many don’t realise is that menopause can also significantly affect the muscles, joints, and bones. This section explores the musculoskeletal impacts of menopause and the emerging recognition of Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause. What is […]
Piriformis Syndrome: Myth or Misunderstood Condition?
The deep, nagging ache in your buttock that sometimes radiates down the back of your leg is undeniably real. But is your piriformis muscle truly to blame, and does “piriformis syndrome” even exist?
Rethinking Mental Wellbeing: When CBT Isn’t Enough
What is CBT? Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is widely used in the UK to address mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and OCD. Its popularity stems from its effectiveness, accessibility, and structure. CBT works by helping individuals identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts, which can lead to improved emotional responses and behaviours.
Subtle Signs Your Voice Is Under Strain
We often think of voice issues as something that only affects performers, singers, or public speakers. But the truth is, problems like hoarseness or even complete voice loss can happen to anyone. Vocal strain often builds up gradually, and the early warning signs are easy to miss.
Menstrual health; the 5th vital sign
The onset of menstruation is a physical and emotional event in a person’s reproductive life. Most will have their first period between the ages of 10 and 14, and depending on the type of contraception used, they will menstruate monthly until menopause typically around age 51.
5 mindful movement to ease joint stiffness
Where do you live? In your head, body or both? The reason I ask is that, as a health professional and movement teacher, I meet many people who live in their heads, and their body is just this thing hanging below their lower eyelashes, I kid you not!
SAD, prevention and management
If you’re in the U.K., it won’t have passed you by that the nights are drawing in (it seems a tad early to me); the shorter days remind me to welcome autumn, but I do so with mixed feelings. While I love the hues of the season and the prospect of wrapping up in cosy […]
Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT), the inside scoop.
Did you know that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is now being called menopause hormone therapy (MHT)?
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a yearly opportunity to increase our understanding of mental well-being and stamp out the stigma. around mental well-being. This year’s theme is Anxiety and what we can do to prevent and manage it. Anxiety is the body’s natural adaptive mind-body reaction to perceived and genuine stress or future danger. It is […]
Baker’s cyst
Medically, a Baker’s cyst is called a popliteal cyst, a fluid-filled sac that causes tightness and a bulge behind the knee. It can be painless and go unnoticed until there has been increasing inactivity. When there is pain, it is usually worsened when bending or fully straightening or activity levels increase.