Somerset Sports Therapy Fitness Clinic Wedmore

01/05/2026

One thing I often see with people is the need to be busy all the time.

Being busy or productive validates that the day has been focused and purposeful.

I definitely have traits of this too - I like nothing more than a day where I’ve got a few things done.

But ‘a few things done’ versus ‘a never-ending to-do list’ is a very different thing.

And the belief or perception that you are lazy if you sit down to relax, or have a nap during the day is missing the point that our brain needs to pause as the day goes along because it is not designed for constant, high-intensity processing.

For some, being constantly busy may be a need to distract from deeper discomforts like anxiety, or the fear of failure.

Often the work in therapy can be the detail of our lives - the choices we make - alongside the deeper work of understanding characteristics like perfectionism, control, and self-esteem and how to manage them to achieve a ‘freer and less self-critical life’.

If you are interested in reading more, here’s my blog on the topic - https://www.tamsindenbightherapy.com/post/you-re-not-lazy-you-re-taking-a-rest

Tamsin
Solution Focused Therapist | Trauma Therapist
📍Wedmore, Wells, Online

28/04/2026

🛑 IT’S NOT EYE STRAIN: YOUR SKULL IS STRANGLING YOUR "VISION NERVE."
🏗️ THE ANATOMY OF THE NERVE CRUSH
Do you get that deep, sickening ache directly behind one eyeball, especially after staring at a screen? You might think you need new glasses, but look at the anatomy: The Greater Occipital Nerve originates at the base of your skull and wraps all the way over to your eye. To get there, it literally has to pierce through a thick layer of neck muscle.
[Visual: Neon yellow "Cords" wrapping over the skull, being choked by angry red muscles at the neck base]
⚙️ THE BIOMECHANICS: THE "NEURAL MISFIRE"
The Pressure: When you stare down at a phone (Tech Neck), your skull tilts up to see the screen, locking your suboccipital muscles into a permanent spasm. This physically "chokes" the nerve (Neon Orange Ring).
The Signal: The nerve is pinched at the back of the head, but it refers a "False Alarm" pain signal straight into the back of your eye socket. You don't have eye strain; you have Occipital Neuralgia.
The Result: Light sensitivity, blurred vision, and a throbbing spike behind your eye that ruins your focus.
⚠️ 3 SIGNS YOUR "SWITCH" IS STUCK:
The "Ice Pick" Ache: A sharp, sudden throbbing right behind your left or right eyeball.
The Skull Tender Point: If you press your thumbs into the base of your skull (right where the hairline ends), it feels bruised or tender.
The Heavy Head: By 3 PM, your head feels too heavy for your neck to hold up.
🛠️ THE 10-SECOND "OCCIPITAL LIFT"
The Fix: Clasp your hands tightly behind your head (interlocking fingers at the base of your skull). Squeeze your elbows together, tuck your chin firmly, and use your hands to gently lift the base of your skull upward toward the ceiling for 10 seconds.
The Magic: This "suboccipital traction" creates physical space between the C1 and C2 vertebrae, instantly releasing the chokehold on the neon yellow nerve. The pressure behind your eye vanishes.
💡 THE TAKEAWAY
Your eyes aren't failing you; your neck is just crushing the cables. Decompress the skull, restore the vision.

28/04/2026

I've been quiet on social media lately.

The truth is that alongside my job as a therapist, I'm also a gardener. Spring is the busiest time of the year to get the soil ready and sow seeds and this has taken a lot of my energy and focus over the last few weeks.

I've had to work hard to stop myself feeling guilty for not spending more time on my therapy business. I love my business and feel blessed with the work I do, but I've consciously shifted more of my time to gardening during this period.

This is often the case when our own mental health declines or someone else that we support: we need to shift our energy and focus towards ourselves or them in a more conscious way.

Avoidance is the most common coping strategy for managing mental health, but it provides short-term relief only by protecting you from dealing with any immediate fears and discomforts.

If you need to consciously prioritise your emotional wellbeing and mental health, I'm here to support you. Just PM me if you'd like a chat.

📍Wedmore, Wells and online

📸 Me in my potting shed with exposed brick wall and hanging tools. A messy space!

22/04/2026

Fancy a sneak preview…. Come & taste some of the signature dishes from our soon to open Asian restaurant here at The George

£30 per person for 3 course set menu. 
9th May, from 6:30pm. Pre-booking only.

Edward Leaker & his band will be providing the funk, jazz & soul from 8pm

Call to book 01934 902402

21/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18QCyvniod/?mibextid=wwXIfr

WHY SITTING TOO MUCH IS SHUTTING DOWN YOUR GLUTES ⚡️

Lower back discomfort, hip pain, and poor movement performance are often blamed on weak muscles or lack of strength. However, research from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), NIH studies on physical inactivity, and biomechanical research indicates that one of the most overlooked causes is gluteal amnesia, also known as “dead butt syndrome.”

The glute muscles—particularly the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius—are designed to be primary drivers of hip extension and pelvic stability. They play a critical role in walking, standing, lifting, and maintaining proper posture.

However, prolonged sitting significantly reduces neural activation to these muscles. When the body remains in a seated position for extended periods, the glutes are placed in a lengthened, inactive state.

Over time, the brain reduces its ability to recruit these muscles efficiently. This does not mean the glutes are weak—it means they are not being activated properly.

As a result, when you stand, walk, or perform physical activity, other muscles are forced to compensate. The lower back and hamstrings often take over the workload that the glutes are supposed to handle.

This compensation leads to increased mechanical stress on the lumbar spine and posterior thigh muscles, creating pain, tightness, and reduced movement efficiency.

What makes this condition misleading is that people often try to stretch or strengthen the wrong areas without addressing the underlying activation issue.

The key problem is not strength—it is neuromuscular control and activation.

Effective correction involves reactivating the glutes, improving movement patterns, and reducing prolonged sitting that disrupts normal muscle function.

Understanding this is critical. Your glutes are not just weak—they may be switched off due to how you spend most of your day.

20/04/2026

Understanding Thumb & Wrist Pain: de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Does the base of your thumb feel painful or swollen? You might be dealing with de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, a condition where the tendons around the base of the thumb become inflamed.
🔍 What is happening?
The inflammation occurs in the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons as they pass through a narrow tunnel (the first dorsal compartment) at the wrist. When the sheath surrounding these tendons thickens, movement becomes restricted and painful.
✅ The Finkelstein Test
You can perform a simple self-assessment known as the Finkelstein Test:
Tuck your thumb into the palm of your hand.
Close your fingers over the thumb to make a fist.
Gently tilt your wrist down toward the floor (ulnar deviation).
Result: If this movement causes sharp pain along the thumb side of your wrist, it is a positive indicator of de Quervain’s.

20/04/2026

17/04/2026

17/04/2026

FLAT FEET, OVERPRONATION & THE HIDDEN BIOMECHANICS OF THE LOWER LIMB

Flat feet are often simplified as a “low arch problem,” but from a biomechanical perspective, they represent a dynamic control issue rather than just a structural variation. The medial longitudinal arch is not a rigid structure—it is a highly adaptable system designed to alternate between mobility (shock absorption) and stability (force transmission). This transition is the key to efficient gait and movement.

During the initial contact and loading phase of gait, the foot naturally pronates. This pronation allows the subtalar joint to unlock, making the foot more flexible so it can adapt to ground irregularities and dissipate forces. However, in individuals with overpronation, this phase is exaggerated and prolonged. The arch collapses excessively, and more importantly, it fails to re-supinate at the right time during mid-stance to push-off.

A critical structure here is the plantar fascia and its role in the windlass mechanism. As the toes extend during push-off, the plantar fascia tightens, elevating the arch and converting the foot into a rigid lever. In flat feet with poor control, this mechanism is delayed or inefficient. The result is a foot that remains too flexible when rigidity is required, leading to energy leaks and reduced propulsion efficiency.

From a kinetic chain perspective, excessive pronation drives internal rotation of the talus and tibia. This creates a cascade effect—tibial internal rotation leads to knee valgus (medial collapse), which increases stress on the patellofemoral joint and medial knee structures. As the femur follows into internal rotation, hip stability is compromised, often due to weak or poorly timed activation of the gluteus medius and deep hip rotators.

This chain reaction doesn’t stop at the hip. Pelvic control is altered, and compensations may extend into the lumbar spine, contributing to lower back discomfort. Essentially, what begins as a foot control issue can manifest as multi-joint dysfunction throughout the body.

Another crucial concept is load distribution and the foot tripod. In an optimally functioning foot, body weight is distributed across three key points: the heel, the base of the first metatarsal, and the base of the fifth metatarsal. In overpronation, the load shifts medially, overloading the first ray and reducing lateral stability. This imbalance increases strain on soft tissues like the plantar fascia, tibialis posterior tendon, and medial ligaments.

Muscle function also plays a central role. Weakness or delayed activation of intrinsic foot muscles (such as abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis) reduces the foot’s ability to maintain arch integrity. Simultaneously, extrinsic muscles like tibialis posterior, which are crucial for arch support, may become overworked and fatigued, leading to tendinopathy.

Importantly, not all flat feet are symptomatic. The difference lies in control vs. collapse. A person with structurally low arches but good neuromuscular control may function perfectly well, while someone with normal arch height but poor control may develop significant dysfunction.

Intervention should therefore focus on restoring function rather than altering structure. Training should include intrinsic foot strengthening, improving toe mechanics, enhancing ankle mobility (especially dorsiflexion), and integrating these into global movement patterns like squatting, walking, and running. Proximal control—particularly strengthening of the hip abductors and external rotators—is equally essential to break the cycle of internal rotation and valgus stress.

In summary, flat feet are not inherently pathological. The real issue is the inability of the foot to effectively transition between mobility and stability. When this balance is restored, the foot can once again serve as a strong, adaptable foundation for the entire kinetic chain.