Dr J'aime Barry Osteopath

29/03/2026

How can your muscles influence inflammation? 🤔

Most people think of muscles as just helping us move… but they actually do so much more.

When you use your muscles through activity or exercise, they release powerful chemical messengers called myokines.

These myokines act like signals throughout your body, helping to regulate inflammation and communicate with other systems including:
→ Brain
→ Heart and blood vessels
→ Liver and gut
→ Fat tissue
→ Bones

Research now shows that muscles function like an endocrine organ, meaning they play a direct role in your overall health—not just strength and movement.

✨ Why this matters:
Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as:
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Dementia
• Some cancers

It’s one of the reasons exercise is increasingly being prescribed as medicine.

👉 In simple terms:
Movement doesn’t just build muscle… it helps calm inflammation and support whole-body health.

If you’re dealing with pain, stiffness, or chronic health concerns, the right type of movement can make a real difference—and that’s where we can help guide you.

📩 Feel free to reach out if you’d like help getting started safely.

⸻

📚 Reference:
Pedersen, B.K. & Febbraio, M.A. (2020). Muscle as an endocrine organ: focus on muscle-derived interleukin-6.
Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7288608/—

28/01/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT_Xw5zE4Oe/?igsh=c3gyZWlnZ2Jqa2tn

15/11/2025

Fascial Counterstrain - article published in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine

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31/10/2025

One of the common techniques I use when treating patient is Fascial Counterstrain. This technique has been developed to specifically address the following:

Please contact me for an appointment, or book online via: https://www.jaimebarryosteopath.com.au/

🌿 GENERAL SUMMARY — Patient/Education Use
What Is Interstitial Inflammatory Stasis (IIS)?

When the body experiences stress, injury, or illness, tiny chemicals called inflammatory messengers (cytokines) are released to start healing.

If this system stays “switched on” too long, it can overload the body’s drainage and nerve networks, especially the fascia (the body’s connective tissue web).

How It Develops
* Trigger: injury, infection, surgery, or ongoing stress.
* Inflammation: chemicals like serotonin, interleukins, and TNF-alpha are released.
* Nerve Activation: pain sensors send constant signals to the spinal cord.
* Reflexes: the nervous system tightens nearby muscles and blood vessels to “protect” the area.
* Drainage Stops: lymph flow slows and swelling or stiffness develops.
* Stasis: trapped inflammation causes pain, fatigue, and tissue tightness that may spread.

Typical Symptoms
* Ongoing or spreading muscle pain
* Areas that are sore to light pressure (tender points)
* Muscle stiffness or spasm
* Headaches, jaw tension, or shoulder/neck tightness
* Digestive upset (IBS-like symptoms)
* Brain fog, anxiety, or poor sleep
* Tingling, sciatica, or limb weakness

Why Muscles “Guard”
* When nerves sense irritation, they tell the muscles to tighten and protect the area — like a built-in brace.
* Over time, this “guarding” reduces blood flow and healing, keeping pain signals active.
* How Fascial Counterstrain Helps

Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) is a gentle manual therapy designed to:
* Calm the nerve reflexes that drive tightness and pain
* Improve blood and lymph flow to clear inflammation
* Restore movement and reduce protective tension
* Support the body’s natural healing from chronic stress or injury

When to Be Cautious
Therapists avoid direct Counterstrain work over areas of:
- Active infection or recent surgery
- Pregnancy (abdomen/pelvis)
- Cancer or aneurysm
- Implanted devices (pacemaker, stent, IUDs)

Common Causes of Fascial Stress
- Past injuries, surgeries, posture habits, infection, or food sensitivities can all overload the fascia and its drainage systems.

An Osteopath, working in Port Macquarie Jaime Barry treats a wide range of conditions (joint pain, headaches, chronic conditions) with the aim to help you return to living the life you want to, with less pain/discomfort and improving mobility and strength.

07/10/2025

Good morning!

Osteopenia and osteoporosis- reversible without medication
It’s hard work and worth it.
Professor Belinda Beck of Griffiths University QLD Australia has numerous research articles on the subject and I just found a YouTube interview with her.
Here it is

In this conversation, Dr. Belinda Beck discusses her extensive research on osteoporosis, particularly focusing on the LIFTMOR trial and the Onero program. Th...

23/04/2025

So what is osteopathy? It’s all about you. The whole you. Let’s take you on a journey, a journey to a better healthier you.

22/04/2025

Appointments available this week at Port Macquarie Osteopathic Centre.
Anzac biscuits for patients this week.
(Yes they have gluten in them)
Enjoy the short week everyone!

14/04/2025

25/03/2025

Further information on gut health

Discover Zinzino's prebiotic fiber supplement blend in ZinoBiotic+ to promote healthy bowel functions and cholesterol levels, reduce blood sugar spikes and support overall gut health.

25/03/2025

Confused between pre & pro biotics?

Prebiotics feed the gut microbes

Benefits:
Helps to improve digestion & metabolism
Helps regulate bowel movements
Improves calcium absorption - thereby increasing
bone density
Assists in reversing type II diabetes and pre
diabetes

If you are interested in more information send me a message!

Soon (waiting patiently) I will have a test for you to check your gut health. I’ll keep you posted

* it is recommended for people on medications to review with GP with any supplements taken to ensure they don’t cause negative interactions for you

The science behind ZinoBiotic+