Inline Therapies

22/08/2025

Pain isn’t always about damage – it’s about how your body *modulates* (turns up or down) the pain “volume.”

Pain can act as our body's alarm system. Sometimes it’s turned up loud (even when the problem is small), other times it’s quiet (even when something bigger is going on). Stress, tiredness, mood, past experiences – they can all affect how loud the alarm feels.

The good news? Movement, understanding your body and your symptoms and finding the right support can help your body *turn the volume back down* so you feel more in control again.

20/08/2025

“*Sciatica*” is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot… usually to describe any back pain whether it involves the leg or not. True sciatica, caused by a disc injury (aka the infamous “slipped disc”), is actually pretty rare.

Most back pain with some leg pain isn’t a disc injury at all – it’s more likely just something grumbling in your back and referring pain signals outwards such as further down your leg. Discs, like muscles, can cause pain without being torn or pr*****ed.

To make things interesting, back pain with or without leg pain can be a mix of stuff going on, i.e. a stiff or aching back *and* a tight, overworked muscle in the leg from changing the way we sit or walk to avoid pain.

True sciatica often looks like: some back pain + severe leg pain (often worse than the back), running through the back of the hip, down the back of the thigh, then one or either side of the calf and sometimes in the foot.

A useful take home? Physio can help by getting a sense of what may well be happening and finding safe, sensible ways to keep you moving without stirring things up. Movement that is the right kind, at the right time – to help you to calm your body down and heal, so you can get back to doing the things you enjoy.

If all this feels as clear as mud, get in touch with your local physio. You’ll feel more confident knowing what to do’s actually going n – and more in charge of your recovery.

18/08/2025

Many people find massage helpful — but what you may have been told (or assumed) it’s doing is often very different from what’s actually happening.

Research shows that whether it’s firm or light pressure, hands or massage tools, the *specifics* make surprisingly little difference in long-term outcomes.

What does?
👉 Movement.
👉 Understanding your body.
👉 Finding strategies that help you achieve *your* goals.

That’s why I increasingly use much less manual therapy. If you come to me saying “I want less pain, less stiffness, fewer headaches, stronger knees, better balance, better posture, less aching etc.,” I want that for you too. But just “rubbing it better” won’t get you lasting change — and I’d be doing you a disservice if I pretended it would.

Instead, my focus is on helping you reach those goals in ways that actually stick.

18/08/2025

VR is being used in rehab for people recovering from strokes, long-term injuries, or balance issues. It can create a safe and immersive world that encourages movement, confidence, and even fun (physio...fun?!) 😁

Thankfully we don’t need fancy gear to get the same benefits. The principle behind using VR is engaged movement—aka being fully present and motivated.

It could mean trying Tai Chi, dance, doing the exercises using what's around your home instead of a gym, or practising balance moves on a wobble cushion at home (or use a sturdy cushion off the sofa!)

If rehab feels a bit repetitive, find a way to make it interesting! You’re more likely to stick with it—and that’s half the battle and will get you results.

14/08/2025

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06/08/2025

Pain and stiffness aren’t always just about posture or movement.

When life feels heavy, our bodies can carry it for us — tension in the neck, tightness in the back, that general sense of being ‘stuck’. It’s not just physical. The nervous system holds on, too.

As a physio, I see it often: the body quietly storing stress, emotion and unspoken thoughts.

Something gentle to try: write down what’s on your mind and try not to filter it or worry about spelling and grammar— or speak with someone who isn’t emotionally tied to your story. Getting thoughts out (without fear of judgement) can help reduce the internal load your body might be carrying. Lastly, seeing a therapist or counsellor is not just for when someone reaches a crisis point, it can be hugely helpful at different stages of our lives whether there's a decision to be made, unanswered questions, fears of the future or struggling with thoughts of the past.

Healing isn’t always about doing more — sometimes it starts with being heard.

10/07/2025

Modern pain science shows that pain is shaped by your whole life—not just your joints or muscles. Things like stress, poor sleep, past injuries, expectations based on what we've seen in others and even work pressure can change how your body feels pain⚡

So if pain feels confusing or unpredictable—you’re not imagining it. You're human! We don't always follow set rules, and our symptoms don't always follow a particular pattern or path.

If you've been feeling pain, try keeping a “pain diary” for a week. Note down not just what hurts, but how you slept, your stress levels, whether it changed throughout the day or during certain activities that you may not have expected. You might spot patterns you hadn’t noticed.

If you want to talk about it and try and work with someone to find out what could help, you're welcome to get in touch or check out Inline Therapies in Lincolnshire for more information.

07/07/2025

You may already know that moving in water reduces pressure on your joints by up to 90%! Making it hugely handy for those with arthritis, chronic pain, chronic weakness or balance issues.

💧 While it reduces pressure - it's still not easy! The water's resistance helps to build strength, can improve mobility, and boost confidence without leading to the pain some may feel on dry land.

You don’t need to swim lengths as long as you feel fabulous for doing it! 😜 Try walking, side-stepping or gentle floating exercises in waist-high water, moving your arms, legs, back and wrists through their full range of movement. As with most things, it's consistency that's key whether we're moving in or out of the water.

02/07/2025

AI in Physio: Is it the future or just a gimmick?

It's already playing a part in physio in a positive way though thankfully humans are still very much at the centre of good physio care. It's being used in some NHS clinics already to help sort through the huge number of physio referrals that are received, reducing wait times by up to 40%.

When working with a physio, make sure you really feel heard by them. While they understand a whole host of information and advice and are ready and set to help in any way they can, you're the expert of your body and how it 'normally' feels.

🧠 AI might flag up a movement pattern, but it won’t know that your back pain flares when your toddler’s teething, that you've just changed your desk set up, or have recently moved home and been hu***ng and dumping boxes for days.

Tip: If you’re struggling with aches and don’t feel heard, try working with someone who takes the time to listen—and explains things in a way that's helpful to you.

30/06/2025

🔥 It’s that kind of hot where just walking feels like a workout. Motivation = low. Grateful for air con in the clinic room today – sneaked in a quick weights session to get me moving for a busy week ahead 💪

If you're exercising in this heat: ☀️ Go early or late to avoid peak sun
💧 Stay hydrated (even before you feel thirsty)
🌬️ Pick cooler indoor options if you can
🧊 Cold flannel on the neck = magic
🦵 And if you’ve got niggles, ease up – heat can mask aches until it’s too late

Short, steady, and sweaty wins the race.

31/05/2025

When bending over to get something feels like it needs some planning 😂😭