City Osteopaths

25/07/2025

🎉 A Milestone for UK Osteopathy – and for Clinical Practice at City Osteopaths

We’re excited to share that a research paper about a national project led by our own osteopath, Dr Daniel Bailey, has just been published — marking the launch of the first-ever Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) for osteopathy in the UK. 🧠

This national initiative, the NCOR Research Network, connects osteopaths across the country to conduct research and gather meaningful, real-world insights that support better care for patients.

As clinicians, being involved in research like this helps us stay at the forefront of evidence-informed practice. It deepens our understanding, sharpens our clinical decision-making, and ultimately enhances the care we provide here at City Osteopaths.

📄 Read the publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40691689/

This is just the beginning — more studies are already underway!

18/07/2025

🩺 Changes to the Childhood Vaccination Programme – What Parents Need to Know 🩺

As an osteopathic clinic committed to public health and family wellbeing, we believe it’s important to keep you informed about key healthcare developments.

From 1st July 2025, there will be important changes to the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK. These updates aim to improve protection and increase vaccine uptake.

🔹 Key Changes from July 2025:

• Children born after 1st July 2024 will no longer receive the Hib/MenC vaccine at one year, as this vaccine is being withdrawn. Protection against Meningococcal C will continue through the teenage booster, which has shown excellent effectiveness.
• The second MenB vaccine will be given at 12 weeks instead of 16 weeks, offering earlier protection.
• The PCV13 vaccine (against pneumococcal disease) will move from 12 to 16 weeks, helping to avoid multiple injections at the 12-week appointment.

🔹 Key Changes from January 2026:

• A new 18-month appointment will be introduced for children born after 1st July 2024.
• At this visit, children will receive a 4th dose of the hexavalent vaccine (protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, and hepatitis B).
• The second dose of the MMR vaccine will also be given at this appointment — moved forward from age 3 to improve coverage and offer earlier protection from measles, mumps, and rubella.

✅ These changes are based on the latest evidence and expert guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

👶 If you're a parent or carer, it's essential to stay up to date with your child’s immunisation schedule. If you have questions, your GP or health visitor can provide advice tailored to your child. You can download the new NHS immunisation routine here: https://zurl.co/GJX3Q

11/07/2025

🎉 This month, Jennifer and Daniel are marking 23 years since graduating as osteopaths. Including their two years of undergraduate clinical training, that’s a combined 50 years of patient care!

Over these years, they have continued to expand their expertise in different areas. Daniel has focused on sports injury rehabilitation, including time working with Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Jennifer has developed her interest in paediatric care, with experience supporting families as part of the infant feeding team at Russells Hall Hospital maternity department.

With this depth of experience, there’s not much they haven’t come across in clinic. If you’re looking for expert osteopathic care, you can book online:

https://zurl.co/BmSe4

04/07/2025

🦶 Is your Achilles pain not improving? Not all Achilles tendinopathies are the same, and knowing the difference can help you recover safely.

There are two main types:
🔹 Mid-portion tendinopathy: affects the main body of the tendon.
🔹 Insertional tendinopathy: affects where the tendon joins the heel bone.

While both benefit from progressive exercise, insertional tendinopathy often doesn’t respond well to increased compression under stretch. This means activities like deep calf stretches or letting your heel drop below your toes during calf raises may actually make it worse.

If you’re dealing with insertional Achilles tendinopathy, here are 3 tips to help manage it:
✅ Consider a small heel lift in your shoes to reduce tendon strain while walking.
✅ Use massage or foam rolling to ease muscle stiffness rather than stretching.
✅ Limit ankle flexion during loading exercises to avoid irritation.
Want to understand more? The BJSM blog explains it here: https://bit.ly/4niU4Rx

If you’re struggling with Achilles pain, we can help you develop a safe, personalised plan to get back to doing what you love.

📅 Book your consultation online:
https://clientportal.uk.zandahealth.com/clientportal/cityosteopaths

Keywords: Insertional Achilles tendinopathy, exercise therapy, tendon compression This blog is a summary of a recently published randomised clinical trial (1) Why is this study important? Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is a stubborn and painful injury at the point where the Achilles tendon attach...

27/06/2025

Even osteopaths aren’t immune to injury 💥

Last year, I strained my calf after pushing too hard in the gym 🏋️‍♂️. Rest helped at first, but the pain returned with exercise—it turned out to be Achilles tendinopathy 😖.

What I was doing wasn’t enough to help it recover, so I had to change my approach 🔄.

I dropped the weight and introduced a deficit (using a ramp to increase tension on the tendon) 📉. I also worked the calf in different positions—parallel, toe-in, and toe-out 🦶—and gradually built the weight back up over time 📈. It wasn’t until I was lifting around bodyweight that I started to see real improvement ✅.

Tendon injuries are unique—they often need specific, progressive loading beyond normal daily activities to promote healing 🔧. And they take time. For me, it took around three months before things started to improve ⏳.

If you’re dealing with a stubborn injury and not sure what to do next, we’re here to help 🤝.

📅 Book online: https://clientportal.uk.zandahealth.com/clientportal/cityosteopaths

19/06/2025

🌞 Keeping Babies Hydrated in Hot Weather 👶💧

With the warmer days upon us, it's common for babies to feed differently. They may want shorter but more frequent feeds—this is their way of staying hydrated in the heat.

Babies under 6 months

• Exclusively breastfed?
Your baby does not need extra water—even on hot days. Breastmilk naturally adapts to meet hydration needs. Offer feeds more often, especially if your baby shows signs of thirst or fussiness.
➕ Top tip: It’s just as important for breastfeeding parents to stay well-hydrated themselves, as fluid intake can affect milk production.
• Formula fed or combination fed?
Stick to usual feeding routines. If your baby seems thirsty between feeds, you can offer small amounts of cooled boiled water.
⚠️ Important: Never dilute formula with extra water or replace feeds with water, as this can affect nutrition and electrolyte balance.
For combi-fed babies, offering an extra breastfeed instead of water can also help maintain hydration.

Babies 6–12 months

You can offer sips of cooled boiled water or an extra breastfeed between their usual milk and solid feeds to help manage hydration.
🔍 Signs of dehydration to watch for:
• Fewer wet nappies
• Drowsiness
• Dark yellow urine
• Sunken soft spot (fontanelle)
• No tears when crying

If you're ever in doubt or concerned about your baby’s fluid intake, always speak to a healthcare professional.

13/06/2025

🎥 Deadlifting the world record 500kg!

OK, I didn’t lift 500kg in one go like Eddie Hall did in his world record… but 5 reps of 100kg still adds up to the same volume (5 x 100 = 500kg) 💪

That said, how we spread that volume matters. One rep at 500kg vs. five at 100kg has very different effects on the body. That’s where the other key training variables come in:

🔹 Load – the weight you're lifting
🔹 Volume – total amount lifted
🔹 Intensity – how close the exercise is to your max effort
🔹 Frequency – how often you train

These factors don’t just affect fitness—they’re crucial in rehab too. If you're not recovering well from an injury, it might be down to how these variables are balanced.

Need support getting this right? We’re here to help.
📅 Book online: https://clientportal.uk.zandahealth.com/clientportal/cityosteopaths

06/06/2025

Why don’t more people train this muscle?
In this video, I’m demonstrating resisted dorsiflexion — an often overlooked but incredibly valuable exercise that targets the tibialis anterior.

This small muscle plays a big role in your movement:
🔹 Helps control foot placement when running
🔹 Can reduce shin-splint-type discomfort
🔹 Supports the arch of the foot for better shock absorption
🔹 Aids in push-off and deceleration
🔹 Contributes to ankle stability and balance

It’s not the most glamorous muscle to train, but it’s one you’ll definitely miss when it’s weak! Since most gyms don’t have dedicated machines for this, you can improvise using resistance bands, a cable machine, or even a dumbbell or kettlebell.

If you’re dealing with ankle issues or running-related pain, we’re here to help.

📅 Book online:
https://clientportal.uk.zandahealth.com/clientportal/cityosteopaths

23/05/2025

How Strong Are Your Legs? 🦵

Leg strength and endurance are important factors for preventing falls, the third biggest cause of ill health in people over 70 in the UK — but how do you know if your legs are strong enough? Try the 30-second chair stand test.

1. Sit on a sturdy chair (no armrests).
2. Cross your arms over your chest, placing hands on opposite shoulders.
3. Keep your feet flat and rise to a full stand, then sit down again.
4. Repeat as many times as you can in 30 seconds.

✅ What’s a good result?
• Ages 70–74:
Men: 12 stands
Women: 10 stands
Lower numbers may suggest a higher risk of falling.

⚠️ Safety first! Only attempt this with someone nearby for support. If you’ve had a fall or struggle with balance, speak to a professional before trying.

Remember, this test is just one piece of the puzzle. If you're worried about balance, mobility, or falls, we're here to help with expert, compassionate support.

📞 Book an appointment
👉 https://clientportal.uk.zandahealth.com/clientportal/cityosteopaths

16/05/2025

🧓 Are You at Risk of Falling? 🦶
Falls are the third biggest cause of ill health in people over 70 in the UK — but many don’t realise they’re at risk until after a fall has happened.

One simple way to check your risk is the ‘Timed Up and Go’ test.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Sit in a chair with a line marked 3 metres away (use tape or a clear marker).
2. Stand up, walk to the line, turn around, walk back, and sit down — all at your normal pace.
3. Time how long it takes.
⏱️ If you’re over 65 and it takes more than 12 seconds, you may be at an increased risk of falling.

⚠️ Only try this with someone nearby to support you. If you already struggle with balance or have had a fall, seek professional assessment instead.

Remember, this is just one part of a broader assessment. If you're concerned about falls or would like expert support with balance, mobility, or strength, we’re here to help.

📞 Book an appointment or learn more:
👉 https://clientportal.uk.zandahealth.com/clientportal/cityosteopaths

09/05/2025

Hip & Knee Replacements: The Bad News—and the Good News
🦴🚶‍♂️
By 2035, the UK could see over 2 million people needing hip or knee replacements.
But right now, only around 110,000 of each are performed annually.
With wait times already stretching 6–12 months, many people are left managing pain far longer than they should.

One major cause of joint wear is excess weight. Yet, once joints become painful, staying active becomes much harder—a frustrating cycle for many.

Here’s the good news:
💡 Just 1kg of weight loss can reduce the pressure on your hip joint by up to 5kg with every step.
That’s 25,000kg less load per day (about 25 tonnes) if you walk 5,000 steps.
In a month, that’s 750 tonnes less pressure through your hips—all from losing just 1kg!

Small, sustainable changes can make a big difference.
✅ Eat 500 fewer calories per day, and you could lose 1kg in two weeks.

Struggling with joint pain? We’re here to help.
Book a consultation today:
👉 https://clientportal.uk.zandahealth.com/clientportal/cityosteopaths

02/05/2025

🔁 Achilles Tendon Troubles? Here’s What You Need to Know About Safe Recovery.
⁠
Tendons heal best when they’re gently challenged—not overworked, but not left idle either. When it comes to the Achilles tendon, finding that sweet spot for recovery is key. 🦶
⁠
✅ The goal is to gradually build up the load the tendon can tolerate. That means starting with pain-free movements and progressing step-by-step toward more demanding activities. ⁠
⁠
📊 We’ve included an infographic showing how much load different activities place on the Achilles tendon—from standing on two feet to jumping on one. The idea? Pick the level you can do without pain, then work up from there.
⁠
🔁 Consistency and progression are the foundation of effective tendon rehab. If you're unsure where to start or how to pace it, we're here to guide you safely through your recovery.

⁠ SL = single leg, DL = double leg, CMJ = Counter Movement Jump (jumping then landing from a squat position)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32658037/