http://www.christinecootedinh.com.au/

Christine Coote-Dinh, Burwood (2025)

28/07/2025

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Your Wrist Might Be Asking for Help 🤝

Here’s How to Listen When pain or tingling shows up, your body’s not broken—it’s communicating.

Losing strength in your wrist isn’t just inconvenient—it can make everyday tasks like holding a plate, taking off a t-shirt, or brushing your hair feel challenging and frustrating.

What’s really going on?

Deep inside your wrist runs the median nerve through a small, snug tunnel called the carpal tunnel. This space is tight—bounded by bones and a ligament roof—and also carries nine tendons controlling your fingers and thumb. When something changes in that tunnel, the nerve is the first to feel it, because it’s the softest structure there. That’s when weakness, tingling, or numbness might start to show up.

While the symptoms may point to carpal tunnel syndrome, what’s happening at the wrist might only be part of the picture. The body is interconnected, and strain at the wrist may be linked to tension patterns further up — in the neck, shoulders, or even how your nervous system is coping overall.

The wrist may be the messenger for something bigger.

Common signs of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Tingling or numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers—sometimes feeling like electric shocks. These can happen during daily activities or even wake you up at night.

• Weakness in your hand, causing you to drop things or struggle with grip strength. If your wrist is trying to tell you something, it deserves to be heard.

In my clinic, I don’t just offer relief—I listen deeply to what your body needs and guide your nervous system to feel safe enough to shift toward ease.

Together, we explore gentle ways to support your wrist and overall well-being—not just masking symptoms but encouraging lasting change.

If your wrist has been holding a message for too long, it might be time to listen differently. You don’t have to wait until it’s painful or limiting your life.

If this resonates, I’m here to help 🙋‍♀️.

Online Bookings: www.christinecootedinh.com.au

📍Clinic Location: 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044

21/07/2025

🌿 What Your Body Might Be Saying Through a Dowager’s Hump

Have you noticed a gentle (or pronounced) curve forming at the base of your neck or upper back?

Often called a Dowager’s Hump—and sometimes referred to as thoracic hyperkyphosis or dorso-cervical fat pad—this visible rounding can form for many reasons, including posture habits, spinal changes, emotional holding patterns, or even past injuries.

But behind the physical curve, there’s often a story your body is holding.

People with this pattern might also experience:
▪️ Neck or shoulder discomfort
▪️ Tightness between the shoulder blades
▪️ Fatigue or heaviness in the upper body
▪️ Headaches or jaw tension
▪️ Tingling, numbness, or changes in breath and digestion
▪️ A feeling of being “stuck” or disconnected in their own body

These aren’t signs of failure—
They’re your body’s way of speaking.
Of adapting.
Of protecting.
And sometimes, it’s asking for a different kind of support.

In my practice, I don’t aim to “fix” a Dowager’s Hump. Instead, I meet you where you are. The work I do doesn’t force or fix—it gently reminds. Through precise manual therapy and presence, I invite your nervous system to feel safe again… so your body can integrate what it’s been holding and shift in the way it needs, not the way it’s told to.

Sometimes that shift is physical.
Sometimes it’s emotional, subtle, or simply the return of ease.
Everyone’s results look different.
Everyone’s timing is their own.

But when the body feels met, not managed—
It remembers how to come home to itself.

📍From my clinic in St Peters 2044, I work with people of all backgrounds—not to change who they are, but to help the body remember what it feels like to move, breathe, and be at home within itself.

You don’t need a formal diagnosis.
You don’t need to wait for things to get worse.
If your body is calling for something different, I am here to help.

Online Bookings: www.christinecootedinh.com.au

14/07/2025

Rotator Cuff Pain? Maybe It’s Not Just Your Shoulder Carrying the Load…

You go to lift your arm — and there it is again.

The sharp pull.

The heaviness.

The hesitation.

Like something’s being held in place by tension… or memory. Often, the shoulder pain we label as “rotator cuff issues” is only part of the story.

Yes, the joint is structurally shallow — more like a golf ball sitting on a tee.

Yes, the rotator cuff is essential for dynamic stability in all that glorious movement.

Yes, the bigger muscles like pecs and lats can dominate the space, leaving smaller stabilisers overwhelmed.

But I’ve come to see something else too:

🧠 The shoulder is one of the loudest storytellers in the body. It holds burdens we don’t always remember picking up. So when movement becomes painful, stiff, or disjointed…

It may not just be about structure.

It may be about rhythm.

Or boundaries.

Or weight that was never meant to be carried long-term.

💡 Symptoms I see in clinic include:
– Pain when lifting or sleeping on one side
– Radiating discomfort into the arm or neck
– A crackling or catching sensation during movement
– Loss of range or confidence in movement
– Fatigue or frustration from feeling like it’s “just not getting better”

These may stem from:
– Repetitive strain or old injuries
– Muscle imbalance (big muscles overpowering small ones)
– Postural habits that compress space
– How your body protects you — sometimes long after the moment has passed

🌿 In my practice, we don’t just treat the site of pain. We explore how your whole body is contributing to the tension — physically, emotionally, and behaviourally.

I use a blend of:
- Hands-on therapy to reset muscular and fascial balance
- Body observation to find where the rhythm is asking for attention
- Movement guidance to rebuild support
- And space for you to feel what may have gone unheard

Because healing isn’t just about getting you to raise your arm again. It’s about helping you feel safe in your body again.

If your shoulder has been asking for support — and you’re ready, I’m here to help.

📍Clinic location: 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044
🌐 Online booking link: www.christinecootedinh.com.au
📞 Prefer a chat first? Text or call: 0433 778 466

Private Health Insurance Rebates Available

You don’t have to carry it all.

07/07/2025

Tight Jaw or Pain While Chewing? It Might Be More Than Just Your Jaw…

I often get asked: “Do you work with TMJ issues?”

The short answer is yes.

But what I’ve found over the years is—TMJ issues are rarely just about the jaw itself.

You may have:
• Pain or tightness in your jaw
• A clicking or popping sound when you open your mouth
• Pain while chewing, or a jaw that locks at random times
• A history of contact sports, dental work, or injuries to the face or neck
• Headaches, neck pain, ear pain—or even eye strain or aching teeth

The TMJs (temporomandibular joints) are two of the most complex joints in your body. There’s one on each side of your jaw, and each joint contains two discs—front and back—that help guide smooth, coordinated movement.

When these discs get overstretched or misaligned (from injury, tension, or repetitive habits), the jaw can become unstable. That’s where the clicking or locking often comes from. In some cases, the joint can even partially dislocate.

🔍 So what causes this? TMJ pain can be caused by:
• Chronic jaw clenching or grinding (often stress-related)
• Chewing gum, biting nails, or frequently eating tough, chewy foods
• Emotional tension that gets stored in the jaw
• A pattern of holding back—what we really want to say or express

What’s less commonly talked about:

The jaw is part of a whole-body system. The muscles that move it connect with the skull, neck, upper back, chest—and even further down. If one part of that system tightens, another compensates. It’s why a “jaw issue” may show up as hip tension, shoulder pain, or even digestive discomfort. Chewing is also more complex than it seems—it’s not just up and down.

There are large muscles that bite, and smaller ones that move your jaw side to side, while your cheeks and tongue shift food around. It’s a coordinated dance. When one part is out of rhythm, pain and tension can build.

I don’t just look at your jaw. I observe how your whole body moves—especially the relationship between your jaw, neck, breath, spine, and pelvis. I watch how your jaw opens and closes, and where in the movement it gets stuck. That tells me which muscles may be overworking, and where the tension is being held.

Sometimes, physical releases—especially in long-held or protective areas—can come with temporary discomfort. This is completely normal. The process is always done gently and with deep respect for your body’s pace.

👉 A quick self-check:
Can you fit 3 fingers comfortably between your top and bottom teeth? If not, your body may be asking for support.

If you’ve been living with jaw discomfort—or a sense that your body is holding something—this may be your invitation to reconnect.

Your body is wise.

Sometimes it speaks through your jaw.

And sometimes, it just needs the space to be heard.

I’m currently seeing clients at 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044.

To book your session or find out more: www.christinecootedinh.com.au

30/06/2025

Bursitis Isn’t Just “Inflammation” — It’s Your Body Asking for Less Pressure

Ever been told you have bursitis — and left wondering what that really means?

Bursae are tiny fluid-filled sacs (about 150 in your body!) that act like soft ball bearings. They help tendons, muscles, bones, and skin glide smoothly over each other. They reduce friction, absorb shock, and protect you from wear and tear.

So why do they become painful?

👉 Sometimes it’s too much fluid in the sac — the body protecting itself after trauma, infection, or inflammation.
👉 Sometimes it’s too little — leading to dry friction, pressure, calcification, or breakdown over time.

Either way, the pain is real — but the root of the problem often lies in how the surrounding structures are moving, loading, or compensating. The bursa is often just the one expressing what’s been silently building elsewhere.

You might not notice how we assess your posture, movement, or breath — even while you’re lying on the massage table. But we’re paying close attention.

A subtle shift in how you hold your head. A deep breath your body finally takes. The quiet sound of your tummy rumbling as the nervous system lets go. These are all signs — quiet but meaningful — that your body is speaking, and we’re listening.

My work is about relieving pressure — not just on the bursa, but on the whole system that’s been managing silently for too long. When that pressure is gently eased — through specific, hands-on support — your body gets the space it needs to heal.

Resilience isn’t something we force. It returns naturally when the load becomes manageable again.

📍 Sessions are held at 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044

If you’ve been struggling with bursitis or pain that hasn’t resolved, and you feel ready to explore another way forward — feel free to reach out.

When the body feels heard, the healing begins.

To book your session or find out more: www.christinecootedinh.com.au

23/06/2025

Pain on the Stairs? It Might Not Be What You Think…

👉 Is Going Up or Down Stairs a Battle?

Maybe it’s a sharp sting at the front of your knees. Or a dull ache on the sides. Perhaps you’ve started side-stepping the stairs, instinctively avoiding something your body is quietly alerting you to.

👉 You’ve Tried Strengthening Your Muscles — But Something Doesn’t Feel Right

Each time you try to push through, your body resists — and you feel it. That quiet no.

👉 Why Does Lifting Your Leg to Step Feel Overwhelming?

It’s not just pain. It’s your nervous system bracing for what it knows is coming. That next push and squeeze. That internal “ugh” at the thought of another flight of stairs.

👉 What Could Be Happening in Your Body?

Whether it’s the knees, ankles, hips, or spine — or a combination — you might be dealing with:

▪️ Weakness in some areas
▪️ Rigidity or tightness in others
▪️ Changes in cartilage, ligament tension, or meniscus
▪️ Alignment shifts, instability, or lost balance
▪️ A nervous system on constant alert, dampening your movement to protect you

👉 Before You Accept the Diagnosis, Ask Yourself:

How did this really start? Not just the label — cartilage damage, ligament issues, “bone on bone,” or weakness — but how your body adapted and coped over time.

👉 What’s Possible Instead?

There are many hands-on approaches available — each with their own strengths and applications. The way I work is grounded in close attention to what your body is expressing through its structure, tone, and patterns of tension.

Rather than following a set sequence, I work with what I feel through my hands — adjusting in real time to how your system responds moment to moment. This work often meets people at a turning point — where long-held compensation begins to soften, clarity returns, and movement feels more accessible again.

That might look like easing into strength work, releasing effort in everyday tasks, or simply feeling more at home in your body. It’s not about pushing change — it’s about offering the kind of input your body recognises and can respond to.

Sometimes that means stillness and softness. Sometimes it calls for more direct engagement. Either way, the approach adapts to what your system is ready for.

👉 Working Together with Your Body’s Timing and Capacity

The difference is knowing when, how, and how much to help — not applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

👉 If This Resonates With You

I work with people ready to listen to their bodies, not fight them. If you’re tired of chasing symptoms and want support that truly meets you where you are, I invite you to book a session.

📍 Sessions are held at 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044 — where I use hands-on assessment to follow how your body is adapting, holding, or compensating — and offer support that helps it shift with clarity and safety.

This isn’t about fixing — it’s about meeting your system where it’s at and finding a clearer path forward together.

🦶🏼 To book your session or find out more: www.christinecootedinh.com.au

When your body is ready to be heard, everything begins to shift.

16/06/2025

Sore Shins🦵That Won’t Go Away?

If you’ve been dealing with that ache, tightness, or burning in your lower legs — especially when walking, running, or standing too long — it might seem like “just shin splints.”

But from what I’ve seen in my work, your body could be sharing something deeper. Your legs do more than carry you physically.

Here are just some of the layers I consider when working with shin pain. Every body tells a different story:
• Being stationary too long can cause blood pooling and pressure in the veins
• Overworked muscles — especially with heavy exercise or running with low hip flexion
• Postural patterns — your body adapting to gravity, doing its best to keep you upright and balanced
• Feet that roll inward (pronate), or strain from hill running
• Tension in the abdominal wall, jaw, neck, or back
• And sometimes, your whole system quietly signalling for support

When we work together, I listen to what your body is saying — through palpation, movement, and manual therapy — always tuning into what it feels and needs.

We explore the connections between your movement, body patterns, and your current life experience.
• Sometimes the answers are structural
• Sometimes nervous-system related
• Sometimes emotional patterns held in tissue

I follow what your body reveals — and support your journey from there. If your shins have been trying to tell you something — I’m here to listen.

Ready to explore? Send me a message or book in.

📍Clinic location: 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044
📆 More information & online booking link: www.christinecootedinh.com.au
📞 Prefer a chat first? Text or call: 0433 778 466

Private Health Insurance Rebates Available.

09/06/2025

💪Elbow Pain… But You Don’t Even Play Tennis or Golf

Have you been told you have tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow — but the pain showed up from lifting your child, pouring the kettle, or pulling out a stubborn w**d — not from a game of golf or a tennis match?

Trauma to the tendons in the elbow and forearm can lead to pain that radiates down the arm or into the hand. It can cause loss of grip strength and that frustrating feeling that even basic tasks are harder than they should be.

These kinds of injuries can happen in subtle ways — often involving micro-tears in the tendon, inflammation, and swelling. In some cases, nerves can become compressed or irritated, further affecting strength, sensation, or movement.

It often begins as a bit of tightness or a twinge. Then, before you know it, simple everyday actions like:

☕ Holding a mug
💧 Pouring water from the kettle
🌱 Gardening
🥄 Scooping or carrying groceries
🏋️‍♀️ Working out at the gym
🥊 Boxing or pad work

…start to feel sharp, weak, or just off. And you're left wondering what’s helping and what’s making it worse.

It might be:

- Fascial tension in the forearm or shoulder
- Load not being shared well between joints
- An old injury pattern
- Or your nervous system doing its best to protect you

Instead of chasing symptoms, I help people uncover what’s happening — so you can feel stronger, move better, and stop guarding around pain.

If you’re ready for that kind of clarity and support, I’d love to help.

📍Clinic location: 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044
📆 More information & online booking link: www.christinecootedinh.com.au
📞 Prefer a chat first? Text or call: 0433 778 466

Private Health Insurance Rebates Available.

01/06/2025

Not All🦵Leg Pain Is Sciatica

If you’re feeling sensations—burning, aching, nervy, pulling—that run down your leg but don’t pass the knee, OR if it passes the knee the sensations are felt towards the side of your leg (like the picture below), continuing down to the side of your ankles, it might not be true sciatica!

These discomforts can be your body trying to communicate something else:
- A tight piriformis muscle pressing on the sciatic nerve
- Referral patterns from the glutes mimicking sciatica
- Misalignments or ligament strain at the hip or pelvis
- Blurry brain map!

🧠 What’s a “blurry brain map”?

Think of your brain like a GPS system for your body. It constantly receives information from your joints, muscles, eyes, skin, and inner ear to keep track of where you are in space and how you’re moving.

When everything is clear and accurate, the brain feels safe—and your movements feel easy and balanced.

But when certain areas of the body stop sending clear signals (due to injury, stress, old habits, or lack of movement), the brain’s “map” gets blurry. It’s like trying to navigate with a smudged screen or out-of-date directions!

And when the brain isn’t sure what’s going on in a certain area—like your lower back, hips, or leg—it may respond by tightening things up, creating pain 😖 or limiting movement… not because something is broken, but because the system feels uncertain.

🌿 The good news?

You can sharpen the map again—by giving the brain clearer input. This can be done through manual therapy, gentle movement, sensory exercises, or specific drills that help the nervous system feel more accurate, confident, and safe.

*****************************

True ⚡️sciatica usually stems from pressure on the nerve root—often within the spine—causing pain that travels all the way down to the foot, sometimes accompanied by numbness or weakness.

Getting to the root of what’s actually going on takes curiosity, precision, and a willingness to slow down and listen to the body’s layers. If you’re in a cycle of recurring discomfort, there’s likely more to the story.

If this speaks to something you’ve been navigating, feel free to reach out or book a session.

📍 Clinic location: 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044
📆 More information & online booking link: www.christinecootedinh.com.au
📞 Prefer a chat first? Text or call: 0433 778 466

Private Health Insurance Rebates Available.

26/05/2025

Self-Test Series #3 — Behind the shoulder tension

🙋‍♀️ Feeling stuck or stiff around the shoulders? Not sure what your body’s trying to tell you?

Let’s explore it — with care, curiosity, and clarity.

When someone shows me a movement that causes discomfort, I’m not just looking at muscles — I’m listening for the unseen information in how the body organizes itself. Often, what appears as a “shoulder issue” is part of a bigger story — involving the ribs, spine, breath, and the nervous system’s response to strain.

Here’s a simple self-check you can try on your own to begin gently decoding how your shoulders are moving — or compensating.

TRY THIS:
Lie on the floor, arms resting by your sides. Move slowly and without force.

1. Snow Angel Slide
With one arm at a time, slide it along the floor toward your head (as if making a snow angel).
→ Notice: Can your elbow stay close to your ear without your neck tilting? Does the arm stay on the ground, or lift away?

2. Straight Lift
From the same position, lift one arm directly off the floor and move it overhead.
→ Notice: Can the arm reach the floor behind you with ease? Is there tightness, noise, or discomfort?

This isn’t about forcing a stretch or fixing anything — it’s about observing what’s there.
A few things to watch 👀 for:
- Clicking, tightness, or tenderness
- Pinching between the shoulder blades
- Neck tension when the arm moves

These patterns may hint at how the shoulder joint is being influenced by deeper layers — like the relationship between your shoulder blade, rib cage, and breathing patterns.

What you notice here can become the first piece of a much bigger understanding. If you’re sensing that your body’s holding on to something — but you’re not sure how to shift it — that’s where I come in.

You’re invited to reach out if you’d like to explore this further in a hands-on, collaborative way. I work with people who are ready to move beyond symptom-chasing, and into meaningful dialogue with their bodies.

📍 Clinic location: 76A Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044
📆 More info + bookings: www.christinecootedinh.com.au
📞 Prefer a chat first? Text or call: 0433 778 466

Private Health Insurance Rebates Available.

12/05/2025

Self-Test Series #2 – How’s Your Neck Navigating Life?

Your neck does more than hold up your head—it’s a key player in how you perceive, move, and respond to the world around you.

Here’s a quick, gentle check-in to help you tune in to what your body might be trying to tell you:

🔍 TRY THIS AT HOME
Stand tall with your heels, hips, mid-back, and shoulders gently resting against a door.

1. Rotate your head left, then right.
→ Can you turn equally both ways?
→ Is one side stiffer, or does the movement feel uneven?

2. Tilt your head up, then down.
→ Can you see the top of the door frame or further?
→ Does your chin reach your chest without resistance?

3. Bring your ear to your shoulder—left, then right.
(Tip: No shoulder shrugging—it’s not a dance move 😉)
→ Do both sides feel equally smooth? Or is one side tighter or more restricted?

What this might mean:
Many of us carry tension in the neck without realising it—stress, poor sleep, posture, or past strain can all quietly build over time.

This kind of tightness can show up as:
• Recurring headaches
• Stiffness when driving or turning
• Discomfort in the shoulders or arms
• Pins and needles or altered sensation in the hands

The good news? These are often very treatable with gentle, informed work. You don’t have to push through or wait for it to get worse.

This test isn’t about diagnosing—it’s about reconnecting. It’s a way to gently check in and ask: Is my body moving the way it wants to?

If something you noticed feels familiar or caught your attention, you can reach me at:

🌐 www.christinecootedinh.com.au

Let’s explore what’s possible when your body feels supported again.

05/05/2025

Self-Test Series #1 – When Your Hips Have a Favourite Side (And Don’t Tell You)

I often help clients uncover what’s been quietly going on beneath the surface. Here’s a simple self-check you can do at home to begin decoding your own body.

🔍 TRY THIS:

1. Stand with your heels and bottom against a door

2. Let your shoulders and mid-back rest gently on the door

Notice:
- Is one side of your bottom making fuller contact with the door than the other?
- Does it feel like one cheek is leading the conversation?

👉 What it might suggest:
This subtle difference can sometimes point to how your hips are organising movement—especially if you’ve been noticing:

- Tightness or pinching between the shoulder blades or neck

- Lower back tension after sitting or walking

- You can twist one way easily, but the other feels restricted

Your body isn’t broken—it’s just communicating in its own language. This check-in is a gentle way to begin listening.

If this self-check brought something up for you and you're interested in exploring it further, you can reach me at www.christinecootedinh.com.au.

Christine Coote-Dinh

28/07/2025

21/07/2025

14/07/2025

07/07/2025

30/06/2025

23/06/2025

16/06/2025

09/06/2025

01/06/2025

26/05/2025

12/05/2025

05/05/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category