Peter O' Grady Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Therapist

29/09/2025

💡Not all chest pain is from the heart 💡

Recently, I saw a patient who came in worried about chest pain — naturally, the first concern is always the heart. He had already been to the hospital to rule out cardiac causes, so this meant that I was able to focus on my own testing and that's when I discovered the true source: cervical angina.

🔎 What is cervical angina?

It’s a condition where problems in the cervical spine (the neck region) cause pain that mimics angina (heart-related chest pain). The nerves in the neck can become irritated and compressed, leading to pain that radiates to the chest, shoulder, or arm. For this patient, this was happening at nerves C7 and C8 . So I released the muscles affected and nerves themselves and finished with decompression and activation techniques.

When we were done, he said that his symptoms had settled down. 🙏

⚠️ What's The Takeaway?

Chest pain should always be taken seriously and checked promptly to rule out life-threatening heart issues. But when the heart is ruled out, we must think beyond — the spine, digestive system, lungs, and even anxiety can sometimes be the culprit.

👉 Knowledge is power — not all chest pain comes from the heart, but every case deserves careful evaluation.

Another happy client 😀

14/09/2025

“Soft tissue injuries like whiplash, sprains, and muscle strains often go unnoticed right after a car accident—but delaying care can lead to lasting pain. Early treatment helps reduce inflammation, restore mobility, and prevent long-term complications.”

I had a client this week who was involved in a car accident. She has been in severe pain for the past 3 weeks. After just 2 sessions, she left my office pain-free with a sigh of relief. But she had one question to ask before she left... "Why is this treatment not recommended when we go to the hospital for tests? They just sent me home with no recommendation for aftercare!"

Benefits of Getting Early Treatment After a Car Crash:

Faster Recovery

Prompt care helps reduce swelling and pain immediately, which accelerates the healing process.

Prevents Chronic Pain

Untreated injuries like whiplash or muscle strains can turn into long-term problems. Early treatment reduces the risk of lingering pain.

Restores Mobility

Early physical therapy, stretching, or chiropractic care prevents stiffness and helps you regain whole movement.

Reduces Inflammation

Treatments like ice, medication, or gentle therapy stop inflammation from worsening and damaging tissues further.

Improves Quality of Life

Addressing pain early helps you sleep better, manage stress, and get back to normal activities sooner.

Supports Insurance & Legal Claims

Having medical documentation right after the accident strengthens your case if you need to file a claim.

07/09/2025

I had a client this week who was suffering from lower back pain. She is a mother of 3, the youngest only 5 years old and all of her children were born via C-section. We discovered after testing that the lower abdominal surgery scars were causing lower back pain and dysfunction of the core muscles. The fascial distortions around the scar were neurologically overactive, and the abs were underactive. So I performed myofascial release techniques on the fascial distortions, followed by core activation exercises, and the results were noticeable after one session. No back pain, no bloating, no digestive issues...

Another happy client! 😁

Image credit: Unknown

04/09/2025

🚨 ONLY 2 SPACES LEFT! 🚨

Are you ready to kickstart an exciting career in Sports Massage Therapy? 💆‍♂️💪
This is your chance to join our highly rated Sports Massage Course – and places are almost gone!

✅ Gain industry recognised qualifications
✅ Hands-on training with expert tutors
✅ Work experience opportunities included
✅ Potential work placements and career pathways after you qualify

Whether you’re looking to start a brand-new career, add valuable skills to your fitness or wellness practice, or simply follow your passion for helping others, this course is the perfect opportunity.

🎯 Don’t miss out – with just 2 spaces left, this is your moment to secure a future in sports massage therapy with the option to progress even further afterwards!

📩 Message us today to book your space and take the first step toward your new career.

BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT Maps, Directions & LocationsFor emergency assistance, please call or text +353 86 103 6247. Get Directions Meet Our ProfessionalsRegistered with ROSTI. Approved by VHI, Laya Healthcare and Irish Life health i...

14/08/2025

"I rolled my ankle years ago and it keeps swelling up on me. Is that possible?"

Yes — it’s definitely possible, and it’s more common than people think.

When you roll (sprain) an ankle, especially if it wasn’t fully rehabilitated at the time, a few things can linger for years:

Ligament laxity – The ligaments may have stretched and never regained full stability, making the ankle prone to micro-injuries.

Chronic inflammation – Old injuries can have low-grade inflammation that flares with overuse, certain movements, or weather changes.

Poor joint mechanics – Your body may compensate by walking or moving differently, which puts repeated strain on the ankle.

Scar tissue & swelling cycles – Even years later, activity can cause fluid buildup because of lingering weakness in the joint’s pump system.

If the swelling happens often, it’s a signal something hasn’t healed completely — either structurally (ligaments/tendons) or functionally (strength, mobility, proprioception). Sometimes an old sprain can also hide an undiagnosed fracture, cartilage injury, or even early arthritis.

13/08/2025

Just because you had a tough day at work, does not mean you should train hard in the evening to "get it out of your system". Mental stress is the same as physical stress. They both draw from the same recovery bank.

If you’ve had a mentally taxing day at work, your nervous system is already in a heightened stress state. Jumping straight into an intense workout can further strain your body’s ability to recover, even if the stress feels “different.”

Instead, lower-intensity movement — like walking, mobility work, light cycling, yoga, or skill practice — can actually help you unwind without overloading your system. Pair that with good sleep, proper nutrition, and downtime, and you’ll replenish both mental and physical energy.

12/08/2025

P***c pain after pregnancy, often linked to Symphysis P***s Dysfunction (SPD) or Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP), can persist for some women following childbirth. While it usually improves as pregnancy hormones decrease and the body returns to its pre-pregnancy state, some women experience continued pain. Managing this pain often involves rehab exercises, and other strategies to support pelvic stability and reduce discomfort but for a client of mine, nothing had worked after trying everything for a year.

I assessed the pain site including the p***c aponeurosis fibres, the pectineus tendon, the adductor longus tendon which all showed signs of stress including hypertonic tissues, adhesions, scars etc. but nothing that would explain her pain. However, when I assessed the distal re**us abdominis tendon, I found that it was strained. When I released it, her pain was gone during testing. Fortunately, this meant that SPD was not the correct diagnosis for this lady. If you're experiencing a similar issue, make sure that you rule out Soft Tissue injuries first.

***cbone **usabdoministendon

11/08/2025

Football teams need hands-on soft tissue therapists as well as physiotherapists and doctors... 📰

In modern day football, the medical and performance team is more than just doctors and physiotherapists. Soft tissue therapists play a vital role in keeping players fit, fast, and injury-free — yet their contribution is often underestimated, or their profession is unknown.

Here’s why they’re essential:

1️⃣ Injury Prevention, Not Just Treatment
Physiotherapists and doctors step in when injury strikes during a game, but soft tissue therapists focus heavily on preventing issues before they start. By identifying and treating muscle tightness, fascial restrictions, and imbalances early, they can stop minor niggles from becoming an issue.

2️⃣ Faster Recovery Between Matches — multiple games, intense training, and short turnarounds. Soft tissue therapy speeds up muscle recovery, reduces delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and keeps players moving at their best, game after game.

3️⃣ Specialist Focus on Muscles & Fascia
While physios have broad rehab expertise, soft tissue therapists bring specialist hands-on skills in massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy. This level of focus helps restore optimal tissue health, improve circulation, and reduce scar tissue build-up.

4️⃣ Enhancing Performance
Healthy, supple muscles means better mobility, explosive power, and endurance. Soft tissue therapists can fine-tune a player’s body so they feel lighter, looser, and more responsive on the pitch.

5️⃣ Supporting the Whole Medical Team
It’s not about replacing physios or doctors — it’s about adding depth to the care team. Soft tissue therapists work alongside them, freeing up physios to focus on rehab and doctors on diagnostics, while they handle the crucial day-to-day maintenance that keeps players in peak condition. Their professions combined means that your team is getting the best care possible.

At the elite level, small margins decide matches — and a skilled soft tissue therapist can be the difference between 70 minutes of full energy or fading after halftime.

17/07/2025

People who work in labour jobs need to support their bodies more.

I've seen two clients this week already who were left unable to get out of a chair or walk after injuring themselves at work. One person was lifting something too heavy, and the other was trying to move a large object. Both lads train weekly in a gym. If I asked them to lift something as awkward or as heavy in the gym, they would likely strap up and use a back brace at the very least. So why not do the same at work???

16/07/2025

The scarred tissue that we found on her abdomen was causing stomach bloating🤰

Surgery and injury can lead to bloating due to adhesions that restrict the normal movement of the intestines. These adhesions can cause partial or complete blockages, leading to a build-up of gas and fluids and resulting in bloating, pain, and other digestive issues. For this client, the cause was unknown; however, thanks to one of her consultants, he felt that the adhesions found on the scans were likely the cause of her symptoms. So they booked an appointment with me to assess the soft tissue and see if we could find anything...

Sure enough, I found 6 sites in total and started working on them. After one session, the client reported back to me to say that she hadn't bloated since 🙌. Well done to the consultant for recognising the issue; it's not often that someone (even a health professional) is aware of the damage Soft Tissue can cause to a person's body.

Another happy client 😁 Boom!

14/07/2025

Her body temperature was too high!🔥🔥

A young lady was hit by a vehicle some weeks ago. She saw me for the injuries that she got from the incident. The first couple of sessions were a success. However, she returned to work and had booked in to see me on her lunch break, which was when I discovered that her body temperature was way too high! This is the body's natural response to trauma, infection, or other medical complications. Unable to treat her, I sent her home and told her to rest. If the body is showing signs of stress, it's important to rest and contact your doctor if necessary!

14/07/2025

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/swimforleila

Swim For Leila for The Jack & Jill Children's Foundation, created by Stacey Hughes | iDonate.ie