We all tend to over indulge every now and again and doing a little more exercise is a common resolution. But how do you get the most out of your gym routine and how much exercise should you do to stay healthy?

Sprains and strains to muscles and joints happen to all of us and for most they are a painful, but temporary reminder to be a little more careful. Prompt action can help your body to heal faster and may prevent further injury or prolonged pain.

Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s. It blends Western yoga, Greek and Roman gymnastics, karate, and Zen, among others, and has developed into a series of physical and mental conditioning exercises(1).

When patients experience chest pain it is an obvious cause of concern. This is why it should be thoroughly investigated by your doctor to exclude any potential illness before coming for osteopathic treatment.

Central sensitization is a condition that affects the nervous system (including the brain). It’s associated with patients diagnosed with several chronic pain conditions from whiplash to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Whiplash is an injury caused by a rapid ‘jolt’ (rapid acceleration and deceleration). The mechanisms of the injury are that of a tail end of a whip when it is rapidly shook.

In a survey(1) 17% of people had experienced shoulder pain in just the last 4 weeks. Shoulder pain can be debilitating seriously impacting on the life of sufferers.

This blog is a review of the paper: Acute low back pain. Beyond drug therapies. Peter O’Sullivan & Ivan Lin.  

This paper collated a review of the recent evidence on acute low back pain that was non-surgical.

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It starts from the bottom of the back, travels through both buttocks, down the back of both legs to the feet.

This blog is a summary of the paper: Ovarian hormones and chronic pain: A comprehensive review (2014). Hassan S, Muere A, Einstein G.

Osteoporosis is a condition that makes bones more brittle and prone to breaking (fracture). Although osteoporosis can effect men and younger people, post-menopausal women are most at risk. One of the best ways to help maintain healthy bones is to exercise regularly – which encourages the bones to absorb calcium and other mineral salts that keep bones strong.

Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. It is often a ‘silent condition’, giving no pain or other symptoms until the worst happens and a bone breaks most commonly in the wrist, hip and spine. 

Over 14 million people in the UK have persistent pain. Of them nearly 1 in 4 said it had stopped them from their usual activities including work.

Stress is defined as how we interact with real or perceived demands(1). When used correctly our body’s response to stress (stress response) releases hormones and stimulates nerves that gives us energy and stops aches and pains. It gives us that ‘get up and go’ to overcome life’s obstacles. However when our body’s response to stress is too little or too much psychological and physical disease follows.

The joint capsule of the shoulder encases and forms an outer ‘skin’ of the shoulder joint. A frozen shoulder occurs when scar tissue forms inside the shoulder capsule causing it to thicken, swell and tighten(1). On top of this patients’ experience tightness of the muscles and other soft tissues giving pain and restricted movement(2).

It is recommended mothers breastfeed for approximately the first six months (26 weeks) (1). After that breast milk alongside other foods will help babies continue to grow and develop healthily.

This review for patients will help explain how acupuncture can aid conception.  For more information on infertility and other treatment options visit www.nhs.uk.