Recovery from sciatica often involves gradual movement and rehabilitation exercises. This article outlines recovery expectations, types of exercises commonly used, and practical advice on pacing activity during recovery.
Category archives: Movement Matters
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: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options
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.
Piriformis Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Why It Mimics Sciatica
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?
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a common back condition where the nerve roots or the spinal cord become pinched or compressed because the spaces within the spinal canal narrowing. It affects men and women in equal numbers, and around 10% of the UK population is believed to be living with this condition. Who gets it, are you […]
Calming the monkey mind
Mindfulness and meditation are everywhere; it’s being offered as a cure-all for everything from IBS and low-self esteem to help pain management and depression. There is good science to confirm the benefits, and growing research shows that when people train to be more mindful, they are rewiring the physical structure of their brain, but what […]
Movement matters, 5 exercise hacks for standing and balance
Proper alignment can help your body move in a way that’s efficient and intelligent, it can reduce the risk of injury and prevent wear and tear on joints. Standing well has other benefits too, our respiratory and digestive systems are more efficient when the body is aligned, and we can appear more confident. This simple […]
Prehabilitation: How Preparing Your Body Before Surgery Improves Recovery
Most people will have heard of physical or health rehabilitation, which aims to help people restore their full health or their normal life through hands-on therapy and physical training usually after illness, injury or surgery.
5 Simple Exercises That Help Low Back Pain
As an osteopath and Pilates teacher movement is always the first and most important goal I consider in my treatment plan. We need to get blood and other body fluids moving to naturally lengthen, contract and relax muscles. With the simple aim to create strong, flexible bodies and building resilience for everyday activities.Supporting people to […]
Delayed onset muscle soreness, explained.
Delayed-onset muscle soreness or DOMS is exercise-related muscle pain, which often peaks a day or two after the event. It is known as muscle fever, a beautiful exotic explanation to describe the distinctive muscle pain and soreness that nearly everyone experiences after intense or unfamiliar exercise. Muscle fever is a meaningful term because DOMS makes […]
Movement matters: Exercise hacks for neck and shoulder tension
Movement matters are the blog sections dedicated to getting you moving. Exercise hacks (*) are 5 -10 minutes offerings of simple home movement or ‘exercise’. Taken from my toolbox of somatic movement, osteopathic practice, Pilates exercise repertoire, personal and clients favourites. * Life hacks refer to shortcut or methods that increase productivity and efficiency, our […]
Technology and Its Impact on Your Neck Health
Technology in all its forms is an increasingly integral part of daily life. Most adults (and many children) own and regularly use a smart device, and they’re brilliant tools that allow us to work, shop, book holidays, listen to music, read books, watch movies, learn new skills, and catch up with friends and family on […]
Bone health: Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
Our bones are “living tissue.” of continually renewing cells, blood vessels nerves, and minerals. Osteopenia and Osteoporosis are conditions in which this process is affected causing bones to become weak with a higher risk for fractures.
Hip problems explained
Hip problems are common, the cause may be apparent, like an injury that comes on suddenly while gardening, running for the train or playing sports. However, sometimes the reason is not as clear, as symptoms may come on gradually. Hip problems can be one of the kisses of time problems and considered part of the […]
Stretching: Does it increase flexibility?
My regular pilates clients know that I am not a fan of static stretching unless there is a particular issue that needs managing. I um and ah about this in class, as it’s not part of the Pilates repertoire, and we can work on muscle length and range of motion during a well-balanced Pilates session […]
Pelvic Floor Muscles
The muscles of the pelvic floor play a crucial role in the stability of the torso, due to there connections and association in spinal movement. The balance of these muscles is necessary for dynamic stability, i.e., strong and elastic muscles which support us to move freely, climb stairs, change direction easily, pick up loads, sneeze […]
The shoulder, what goes wrong
Last time I talked about the shoulder joint structure and briefly highlighted what can go wrong. Here is a look at some of the common problems that cause shoulder and arm pain in a little more detail
Pelvic organ prolaspe, are you at risk?
Vaginal prolapse is a common condition where the bladder, uterus and or bowel protrudes into the vagina. This can cause symptoms such as a sensation of a vaginal lump, constipation, difficulty emptying the bowel or bladder or problems with sexual intercourse.
Stress management, osteopathy can help
Ultimately, effective stress management requires and multidisciplinary approach especially for long term situations. The physical effects need to be addressed to allow for the lifestyle changes to make a difference.
Stress, how it affects your body
Last time I was talking about stress and mentioned it does have some benefits but its the ongoing or severe chronic stress that concerns me as health professional and pilates practitionerStress is a part of everyday life; have you noticed how prolonged stress affect you or those around you?