Will Goodbourn Soft Tissue Therapy & Personal Training

09/03/2026

Keep your children active in the school holidays. Book now for our Easter sports camp at Belvoir Cricket Ground, Knipton

04/03/2026

Back to anatomy this week for the

18/02/2026

09/02/2026

One thing that I see a lot both in-clinic and on social media is the tendency of people to self-diagnose.

Essentially they are turning to 'Dr Google' or other people who have had similar issues.

Whilst it is easy to turn to online platforms for quick and easy advice, there are various problems with this:

🔧 There is no quick and easy fix, especially for long-standing issues! In fact, going down the route of treating the wrong thing could only serve to delay recovery!

😨 It causes unnecessary worry. Reputable online sources such as the NHS are useful to know whether you should see a doctor for symptoms you are experiencing. However excessive research from non-reputable sources should be avoided. Often you read or hear worst-case scenario when in fact it's something less serious. You may get persistent headaches and Google might tell you that you could have a brain tumour! Likewise a more serious issue could be dismissed as something more trivial. Get it checked by a proper professional in that area!

❌ I see a lot of clients who have self-diagnosed and what the problem actually is is often very different to what they thought it was. Doing the wrong treatment at best will make no difference, and at worst it could make problems a lot more severe!

🗣️ A little bit of knowledge is often dangerous! Just because your friend has had the same injury, it doesn't mean the same treatment method should apply to yourself. As an example, three different people could have Plantar Fasciitis:

🦵 Person A's issue was caused by tight calves

🦶 Person B's injury is due to a restriction in mobility of the big toe (Hallux limitus/rigidus)

💪 Meanwhile, Person C has weak plantar intrinsic muscles in the arch.

So instead of trying home remedies, get injuries checked out! That way you get a more accurate idea of what's going on and a tailored programme that is specific to YOU! 🎯

02/02/2026

Have any of these? Or something else? Get in touch! 📱

27/01/2026

21/01/2026

💪 LIFTING HEAVY! 💪

I talk a lot about the importance of resistance training for general health as well as sports performance, but one thing that is extremely underappreciated is the benefits of lifting much higher loads in shorter bursts (e.g. 4-6 reps), with longer recoveries and much closer to your maximum effort; or 'One Rep Max', as most of the time people do the opposite and lift very light loads with much longer sets and short recoveries.

For one, whilst longer sets with lighter loads are good at developing muscular endurance, the heavier sets are far more effective at increasing bone mineral density and muscle mass, which is particularly important in older adults, and especially in women, as these two things decline rapidly once the menopause kicks in, so avoiding conditions like osteoporosis is 🔑

Falls reduction - when about to have a fall, you tend to stumble to try and stabilise yourself. This is a quick, reactive movement initiated by our 'fast twitch type 2a' muscle fibres, and we tend to lose this ability as we get older making falls more likely. Lifting heavier trains these fibres in a way lighter weights don't, reducing this risk and keeping you out of the care home! 👴👵

It has been suggested that the shorter durations of the heavier sets may benefit those living with chronic fatigue conditions and reduce the risk of Post-exertional malaise (PEM) 🫩

Long, sustained sets can also feel quite soul-destroying, as the hard effort can seem to go on forever and appear monotonous (in my opinion anyway!) 🥱

It could also be argued that lifting heavier weights gives an increased sense of achievement and empowerment. After all, so few people ever achieve this or even try - if it were easy then everyone would do it, right? 😉

⚠️ Obviously though care should be taken with any programme. Lifting heavy takes time, don't overdo it and start lighter at first and build up gradually. Start with machines before building to free weights and always consult a health professional if you have any issues prior to starting a new programme!

01/01/2026

3). Stop and think whether you're actually doing this for the right reasons...

Adopting a healthy lifestyle shouldn't just be a quick fad, it should be a sustainable long-term practice. Many people choose the New Year to adopt change out of pure guilt from eating and drinking too much over the holidays, often in the spur of the moment and without thinking it through, rather than motivation for long-term change.

This may be enough to get you started, but it's actually quite a negative form of motivation long-term. Instead of just thinking 'I have to exercise because I've put on weight', think 'exercise allows me the freedom to do something I enjoy and empowers me by making me feel better in myself. I get to make new friends and improve my general quality of life'.

And remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. Years of bad lifestyle habits won't be reversed in two weeks, it takes months. Consider the changes you're making - if you can't realistically see yourself still maintaining your chosen changes this time next year, then they won't be effective!