Move Physiotherapy

03/20/2026

Pain vs Movement

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Exercise is one of the most studied non-drug treatments for chronic pain. Gentle movement can help calm the body’s pain signals, reduce inflammation, and release natural chemicals that ease pain and support mood. Over time, it can also make everyday activities feel more manageable.

Research shows that exercise consistently improves strength and physical function. Changes in pain levels are different for everyone, and some people may notice more improvement than others.

It’s also important to note that exercise is a form of stress on the body. Doing too much too quickly can lead to flares, which is why the right “dose” and slow, steady progress matter.
At our next pain science lecture on 3/2, Dr. Joshua Hardy will review what the science tells us about exercise and pain, including how it works, what risks to watch for, and how to start safely.

Register for free: https://bit.ly/40xpb2c

03/19/2026

Golf is coming- are you ready?

Try This GolfForever Warmup with Andrea Doddato - Fitness Professional, Golf Digest's TOP 50 Golf Fitness Professional, and GolfForever TrainerGain flexibili...

03/17/2026

IRISH we all are today!

03/17/2026

We wish everyone safe snow removal as they attempt to dig out.

Send a message to learn more

03/16/2026

Internal Wrinkles

The FIMAGE study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine in February 2026. It scanned 602 people from the general Finnish population with bilateral 3T MRI (very powerful) of both shoulders. Participants were aged 41 to 76 and randomly selected irrespective of whether they had shoulder pain.

03/13/2026

Time to get hip with it.

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03/11/2026

Pain does not mean my body is damaged (theme 1) captured the importance of abandoning preexisting ideas that pain indicated damage.

Thoughts, emotions and experiences affect pain (theme 2) captured the value of recognising multifactorial influences on pain.

I can retrain my overprotective pain system (theme 3) captured the importance of conceptualising pain as a heightened protective response that could be lessene

03/10/2026

Practical Applications for Exercise
1. Dose Matters
Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (20–45 minutes, 4–5 days/week) should be recommended for foundational immune system support.
2. Monitor Total Load
For high-level athletes during competition:

Track psychological stress

Screen for sleep disruption

Ensure nutritional adequacy

Avoid sharp spikes in training

3. Avoid Hard Training During Illness
It is ok to take a rest day! Training intensely during active infection increases complication risk and prolongs recovery.
4. Exercise = Immune (AND everything else) Care
It is not all about muscles, tendons and joints - it is about YOU!

03/10/2026

A static image does not tell the whole story of you.

I’ve been saying this for over 15 years, even when it went against popular opinion: MRI scans don’t always tell the whole story. Many “abnormalities” seen on imaging appear in people who feel perfectly fine, while others in pain show almost nothing on their scans.

Pain is far more complex than what appears on a picture. It’s influenced by inflammation, nerve sensitivity, stress, past injuries, sleep quality, and even our mental and emotional state. That’s why doctors never rely on imaging alone. A careful history, a thorough physical exam, and understanding the bigger picture of your life are just as important and sometimes even more so than what the MRI shows.

For older adults, this is crucial to understand. Pain doesn’t always mean your body is “broken,” and imaging alone doesn’t define your strength, resilience, or potential for recovery. Learning this can reduce fear, encourage movement, and help you take control of your health, rather than letting scans dictate it.

03/09/2026

Exercise and the Immune System
What Every Physical Therapist (and Client) Should Know
Note: This newsletter highlights key findings from a comprehensive review by Nieman & Wentz (2019)

If you feel like you have been battling the weather, and well, everything else - you are not alone! Colds, flus, and RSVs have been everywhere (and always seem to be) which is why it is important we have tools to defend ourselves with!

The immune system is not separate from the musculoskeletal system. No system is. We so often think in terms of pieces and parts and forget to realize that we are ONE. Typically what helps one system, will help all of them.

A growing body of research in exercise immunology shows that physical activity has a profound and nuanced effect on immune function. Therefore, understanding this relationship helps us think about exercise and movement more intelligently to not only support resilience and recovery but aging, and chronic disease management as well.
The Immune System Is Highly Responsive to Exercise
The immune system responds dynamically to exercise!
The magnitude and direction of this response depends on intensity and duration.

For example:

Moderate-to-vigorous exercise 90 minutes at high intensity)
Can cause temporary immune perturbation
If we are considering exercise as a way to enhance immune function, the first thing we have to realize is that it is dose-dependent.

Moderate Exercise Enhances Immune Surveillance
Each bout of moderate aerobic exercise (which can be brisk walking, cycling, or swimming to name a few) stimulates a coordinated immune response.

During and immediately after moderate exercise:
Increased circulation of:
Natural killer (NK) cells
T cells
Neutrophils
Immature B cells
Enhanced macrophage activity and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines

This is a good thing! These immune cells are preferentially mobilized because they are particularly effective at identifying infected or abnormal cells!

Why this matters for us:
Repeated daily exercise bouts create a cumulative effect:
Enhanced immune surveillance
Reduced systemic inflammation
Improved metabolic regulation

For those of us training intensely or for a big event:

Monitor sleep
Monitor stress
Ensure adequate nutrition
Avoid aggressive progression during illness

03/04/2026

Who wants to come join us?

03/03/2026