Melanie Faulkner, RMT

02/27/2026

Hey…have you heard?

✅The immune system is heavily implicated in pain.
✅And treating the immune system may hold the key to resolving pain.
✅ And it’s not about shutting down inflammation…it’s about helping it resolve.

And yeah…we’ve been talking about it for only 10 years now. 😂😂😂

✅Good to see everyone else is finally catching up. 😂😂😂😂😂

01/22/2026

🚫 NSAIDs + concussion = nope. 🚫

I know ibuprofen/Advil is loved by many… but after a concussion/mild TBI, it’s not the move.

Why? Because inflammation is part of healing -and with the brain, that early neuroinflammation can actually be protective. It’s part of the body’s “repair crew” showing up.

Here’s the science-y way to say it…

“In some cases, treatments that reduce the inflammatory response will also hinder the brain’s intrinsic repair mechanisms.”

And it gets more pointed…

Research in animal models shows that chronic ibuprofen (one of the most common NSAIDs) can worsen cognitive changes after experimental TBI. Other anti-inflammatories have helped in some types of CNS injury… but don’t seem to improve recovery time in mild TBI/concussion.

✅ Bottom line -trying to “shut down” the inflammatory response after a concussion isn’t a good strategy.

01/21/2026

“I stretched. I rolled. Why does it still feel like a knife in my hip?” 🔥🔪

You were told you have “tight hips.”
So you attacked the IT band with a roller like it owes you money.
It burns. You cry. You stand up… and it snaps tight again.

Here’s the plot twist: the IT band is not a stretchy muscle. It’s dense fascia. Most evidence suggests it can’t be lengthened in any meaningful way with stretching or rolling. What changes is usually nervous system tone, not the band itself.

The real mechanism: the Emergency Brace 🛑

In hypermobility, the hip can be subtly unstable. When the joint feels unsafe, the nervous system turns on “backup stabilizers” to keep the leg from collapsing inward.

The usual suspects:
• TFL + glute max feed into the IT band, so when they overwork, the band feels like a tight wire.
• The glute med (side-butt stabilizer) isn’t always “weak,” but research suggests endurance/control can be the issue. It tires, coordination slips, and the system recruits the tension-cable strategy.

Why stretching fails

If the tightness is protective, stretching it is like loosening your seatbelt while the car is skidding.
Your brain senses the instability and tightens right back up.

The pivot

Stop fighting the cable. Fix the control room.

A PT will often prioritize hip stability + endurance + motor control, including isometric holds (bridge holds, hip abduction wall-press holds) and gradual loading so the IT band can “clock out.”

👇 Question that pulls stories:
Does sitting light up your deep glute, but walking feels better?

Disclaimer: I am an educational content creator, not a medical professional. Persistent hip or nerve-like pain should be evaluated by a qualified clinician.

Sources:
Geisler et al. (2021). Current Clinical Concepts… Iliotibial Band Impingement Syndrome (ITB not meaningfully stretchable).
Hutchinson et al. (2022). The Iliotibial Band: A Complex Structure… (TFL/glute max relationship with ITB).
Roosens et al. (2023). Intrinsic risk factors associated with ITBS (glute med endurance/fatigue nuance).
Wei et al. (2025). Effect of Gluteus Medius Strengthening on ITB tension/stiffness (RCT).

01/16/2026

Cortisone shots can seem super helpful when pain is flared, but they’re not “free relief.”

A few things people don’t always get told clearly…
✅The relief is often temporary (it calms symptoms, it doesn’t “fix” the root issue).
✅Repeated shots can have downsides -major medical sources warn risks can include cartilage damage and tendon weakening, especially with more frequent injections.
✅Some people get side effects like a temporary flare, skin thinning near the injection site, or blood sugar spikes.

Bottom line-you may want to share this article if your clients are considering a shot.

12/31/2025

Back pain without injury

Sometimes your back hurts even when nothing is damaged.
That doesn’t mean it’s “in your head”.
It means your nervous system is on high alert.

High stress, poor sleep, and low recovery increase muscle tone.
The body tightens up to protect you.
Pain becomes sensitivity, not structural damage.

What actually helps:
1. Lower overall stress load
When stress stays high, the nervous system stays defensive. Reducing daily stress lowers pain signals.
2. Improve sleep and recovery
Sleep is when the nervous system downshifts. Poor sleep keeps pain sensitivity high.
3. Use calm, controlled movement
Gentle, controlled movement tells the brain that motion is safe again.

You don’t fix this by pushing harder or avoiding movement.
You fix it by lowering the threat and restoring safety.

Comment “10” to start the 10-day mobility transformation and rebuild movement from the ground up.

12/24/2025

We’re hiring in the new year ✨

12/15/2025

10/24/2025

10/23/2025

Hello everyone,

Just a reminder that we are entering "busy season" for Massage Therapists.

I often stay late and come in early to accomodate as best as I can. So please keep your name on my waitlist if you cant find a spot that suits you.

But please know I cant create time that doesnt exist.

If you need a certain time or day, please book in advance. I work two evenings a week and these times often fill quickly.

✨

10/08/2025

More damning information against cortisone injections in the knee.

The more you have to more likely you will need a knee replacement-even if you do not have arthritis!!

“Conclusions: Intra-articular corticosteroid injections in patients without knee osteoarthritis at the time of injection are associated with a dose-dependent risk of TKA at 5 years. CSI may not be as benign of a treatment modality as previously thought.”