Affinity Bodyworks

11/12/2025

Final newsletter of the year should be landing in your inbox as we speak. If you don't subscribe, the link is in the first comment.

10/12/2025

Lateral Hip Pain is often aggravated by activities involving hip adduction. Modifying or reducing these can help symptoms.

Just remember that long term avoidance is not the answer! Aim to adapt activity rather than avoid and plan a graded return when ready.

05/12/2025

Choose whatever modality or type of therapist, we’re all achieving the same thing, just in different ways! Massage, needles, cups, mobilisations etc, it comes down to what you prefer. I’ll reiterate from a previous post, no treatment should be painful.

08/11/2025

SPINAL MANIPULATION – WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING

There’s this ridiculous idea floating around that a simple thrust can “realign” your bones. Let’s be clear — that’s not what’s happening. You cannot push vertebrae back into place with your hands. The spine isn’t dislocating and relocating every time someone cracks your back. If it were actually misaligned the way some claim, you’d be in hospital, not on a treatment table.

When a practitioner performs a spinal manipulation, the movement is extremely small — a few millimetres at most. The joint surfaces briefly separate, creating a rapid change in pressure within the synovial joint. That change causes gas (mostly CO₂ and nitrogen) to form and collapse inside the joint fluid — the audible “pop.” That’s all the noise is. It’s not bones moving back into place. It’s cavitation — a pressure change in the joint capsule.

Physiological Effects

Manipulation affects the body mainly through neurophysiological responses, not through physical repositioning of bones. The quick stretch activates mechanoreceptors within the joint capsule and surrounding tissues. These receptors send a flood of sensory input to the spinal cord and brain. This temporary barrage can reduce the sensitivity of nociceptive pathways (pain signalling) and alter muscle tone via reflex mechanisms. That’s why after a manipulation, patients often feel “looser,” “lighter,” or notice an improved range of motion — it’s not because their bones were realigned; it’s because their nervous system has momentarily adjusted how it’s interpreting movement and pain.

The effect can also increase local blood flow and help restore normal joint motion if it’s been restricted by protective muscle guarding. Again — that’s a functional change, not a structural one.

Why the Realignment Myth Persists

The “realignment” myth continues because it sounds dramatic and easy to sell. It gives people the impression something was out of place and the practitioner fixed it. It’s a neat story — but it’s nonsense. The vertebrae are held in place by strong ligaments, discs, and deep stabilising muscles. A single thrust cannot overcome that structure and magically shift things back.

17/10/2025

10/10/2025

I highly recommend giving these sessions a try. I’ve had a few sessions and really found the changes quite profound. Sign up for the free sessions and see what it can do for you.
Sign up link here.
https://www.backontrack-sportsholistic.co.uk/feldenkrais

Explaining the movement lessons I teach isn’t easy. They have a weird name that no one has heard of (Feldenkrais) not trendy like Pilates or yoga, they are not an exercise, you won’t build up a sweat or get big muscles, so why bother?
*They teach you to better notice how you habitually move and how to challenge that.
*Each lesson helps develop skills you can take and use forever in all aspects of your life.
*Each lesson may have a theme but everyone moves individually, you don’t have to do it in a set perfect way and each person will take something different away from it .
* It doesn’t just address movement but is mindful and calming, allowing you to notice how you react emotionally as well as physically to challenges.
*You don’t have to stretch or force anything in order to do this.
*You learn how to easily increase your range of movement - fluidity and ease of movement - less painful movement - feel taller - more open - more connected - more confident - have better balance - how you can use all of yourself to make a movement easier and so put less strain on just one part - how to effort less - how to better notice and let go of held tension …

I am for now holding free zoom classes on a Monday evening (link on website) while I build my portfolio of lessons, develop my practice and raise awareness of this method, so what better opportunity to have a go and see how they can help you.

04/10/2025

Is there anyone pregnant with a nice size bump that could be free this Monday at 9am in Chippenham? No cost, just need someone for a demo for kinesiology taping. If you are available, pop me a direct message on 07970 276992 or sarahjones@affinitybodyworks.co.uk

23/09/2025

What an incredible weekend at the and conference. Part work, part CPD with some phenomenal speakers.
We kicked off the weekend with some pre conference workshops where myself and Imi Testa explored creative rehab through a playful lens. We had some fantastic creativity from the attendees.

Saturday was my talk on "Foot Foundations:
Practical Strategies For Pain, Injury Recovery & Movement
Reconnection". I’m big on foot health and it was great to see so many therapists interested in learning more.

Myself and Imi delivered "Balance for Life:
Enhancing stability in older adults".

Lots of amazing content from Claire Minshull, Serena Simmons, James Earls, Michelle Lyons, Anna Maria Mazzieri, Matt Phillips and so many more.



Then I hotfooted it from Devon to Birmingham for the UK’s first barefoot expo. More CPD, maybe some shoe shopping and an amazing community. barefootbritofficial

01/09/2025

Posting for any therapist friends who might fancy some high quality, low cost CPD and a bit of a social on the Saturday. A blend of practical sessions and theory over a wide range of subjects. It's not one to be missed. I'd love to see some of you there.

I'm really looking forward to speaking at The Hands on Hub & STA
Conference on Foot foundations (expect to take your shoes and socks off!) and also Balance/stability with my lovely friend and colleague, Imi Testa.

Join me and an inspiring line-up of speakers on Sept 20-21st.
Link to book and view the program in the first comment.



The ST School
Sports Therapy Association

28/08/2025

Had a lovely evening chatting with expectant parents and other professionals that offer some amazing services before and after pregnancy. Check out the businesses tagged along with Birth Network - North Wiltshire for anything from a private midwife, a doula, reflexology, aquafit, breast feeding support, osteopathy, sling library and much more that I’ve probably forgotten.

My offerings are pregnancy massage in all trimesters and a lovely appointment that teaches birthing partners how to massage for pain relief during labour. I also have a Belloost pillow that safely allows you to lie on your tummy. I certainly remember missing that with both my pregnancies!

20/08/2025