Bradley Blair Osteopath

Bradley Blair Osteopath Osteopathy
(2)

😂
22/03/2026

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Always nice to have a recommendation 😊
22/03/2026

Always nice to have a recommendation 😊

22/03/2026

Psoas major is a long, thick, fusiform muscle located in the lumbar region of the trunk lateral to the lumbar vertebrae and medial to the quadratus lumborum muscle. It belongs to the inner muscles of the hip group. The name ‘psoas’ is of Greek origin meaning ‘muscle of the loin’.

Psoas major is often considered with the iliacus muscle. It merges with iliacus as it passes inferolaterally into the thigh to insert onto the femur. Together, these muscles are known as the iliopsoas muscle.

Origin: Vertebral bodies of T12-L4, intervertebral discs between T12-L4, transverse processes of L1-L5 vertebrae

Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur as iliopsoas tendon

Action: Hip joint: Flexion of the thigh/trunk, lateral rotation of the thigh
Lateral flexion of the trunk

Innervation: Anterior rami of spinal nerves L1-L3

Blood supply : Lumbar branch of iliolumbar artery

The myth of spinal misalignment needs to die.Too many people still believe their pain means something is out of place. I...
22/03/2026

The myth of spinal misalignment needs to die.

Too many people still believe their pain means something is out of place. It doesn’t. Pain, stiffness, and muscle tension do not mean your spine has slipped out and needs to be put back in.

People often feel better after treatment, but that does not mean anything was “realigned”. It usually means the body has relaxed, movement feels easier, and the nervous system has become less protective.

The misalignment story keeps people fearful and dependent. Your spine is not fragile. It is strong, adaptable, and built to move.

“So what works then?”One of the most annoying comments I get.Because it sounds like a genuine question… but most of the ...
21/03/2026

“So what works then?”

One of the most annoying comments I get.

Because it sounds like a genuine question… but most of the time, it isn’t. It’s someone hoping I’ll give them one magic answer. One technique. One exercise. One thing that fixes everything.

That’s not how this works.

If there was one thing that worked for everyone, we’d all be doing it. Pain would be simple. My job wouldn’t exist.

What actually works is a process.

Understanding what’s going on instead of jumping to conclusions.

Getting the body moving again without fear.

Calming things down when everything feels irritated.

Building things back up gradually instead of trying to rush it.

Being consistent instead of trying ten different things in ten days.

Manual therapy can help. It can settle things and give you a window to move better.

But it’s not about one technique. It’s not about “fixing” anything.

It’s about giving the system what it needs, when it needs it.

And here’s the part people don’t like…

You have to be involved in that process.

There isn’t a shortcut. There isn’t a magic trick.

So when someone asks “what works?”…

The real answer is:
The right approach, for the right person, at the right time — done consistently.

Not sexy. Not simple. But it’s honest.

Muscle cramps.Still one of the most misunderstood things in sport.For years it’s been blamed on dehydration or electroly...
21/03/2026

Muscle cramps.

Still one of the most misunderstood things in sport.

For years it’s been blamed on dehydration or electrolytes.
But that doesn’t explain why two players can do the same session… and only one cramps.

Research in football has started to show there may be a genetic component.

Studies looking at athletes have identified links between certain genes (such as COL5A1) and a higher likelihood of cramping. This suggests some people may simply be more prone to it than others.

There’s also evidence of familial patterns, meaning cramps can run in families.

But this is where people get it wrong.

Genetics might increase your susceptibility…
it doesn’t mean it’s the cause on its own.

The strongest explanation we have right now is still neuromuscular fatigue.

When the system is pushed hard enough, control changes, and the muscle locks up.

So instead of thinking:
“I need more electrolytes”

A better question is:
“Was the demand greater than what my system could handle?”

Because cramps aren’t just about what you drink.
They’re about how your body is coping with load.

References

• O’Connell et al. (2013) – Exercise-associated muscle cramp and fatigue
• Miller et al. (2010) – Neuromuscular fatigue and cramp mechanisms
• Collins et al. (2011) – COL5A1 gene and muscle/tendon injury risk
• Frontiers in Genetics (2022) – Genetics and athletic performance/injury risk
• Layzer (1994) – The origin of muscle fasciculations and cramps

If pain medication always worked, no one would still be in pain after taking it. But that’s not how pain actually behave...
21/03/2026

If pain medication always worked, no one would still be in pain after taking it. But that’s not how pain actually behaves.

Medication targets chemistry. Pain is more than chemistry.

Pain is an output from the nervous system when it feels under threat. That threat might involve tissue irritation, but it also involves sensitivity, context, stress, previous experiences, sleep, and how the brain is interpreting what’s going on.

So you can take something designed to reduce inflammation or block certain pain signals…
…but if the system is still on high alert, the pain can remain.

That’s why someone can take pain relief and feel no change.
Or feel relief for a short time, then the pain returns.
Or find that stronger medication doesn’t necessarily mean better results.

It doesn’t mean the medication has “failed.”
It just means it’s only addressing one part of a much bigger picture.

Pain isn’t just about tissues. It’s about how the body and brain are responding overall.

That’s also why approaches like movement, reassurance, hands-on treatment, and simply understanding what’s going on can change pain—because they reduce the sense of threat, not just the chemistry.

And just to be clear—this isn’t telling anyone to stop taking their medication.
If you’ve been prescribed something, follow the advice given to you.

This is about understanding why pain relief isn’t always as straightforward as “take a tablet and it goes away.

Red Flags in Healthcare 🚩Not everything that sounds professional is actually helpful.Be aware of treatment packages sold...
20/03/2026

Red Flags in Healthcare 🚩

Not everything that sounds professional is actually helpful.

Be aware of treatment packages sold upfront.
If someone is telling you that you need to commit to 10–20 sessions before they’ve even properly assessed how you respond… that’s not clinical reasoning, that’s a sales model.

Be cautious of fear-based language.
If you’re being told things like “your spine is out”, “your pelvis is off”, or “this will get worse if we don’t fix it”… that should raise questions. Most of the time, these are normal findings being framed as problems.

Watch how scans or assessments are explained.
Words like “degenerative” or “wear and tear” get thrown around a lot. These are common age-related changes, not a diagnosis of something going wrong that needs fixing.

Be careful of anyone claiming they can “correct” or “realign” your body.
The body doesn’t work like a machine that needs putting back into place. Pain is far more complex than that.

Pay attention to how dependent they want you to be.
If the plan is endless passive treatment with no clear progression or explanation… you’re not being helped, you’re being kept.

Good care should feel collaborative.
You should understand what’s going on, feel reassured, and have a clear direction forward — not feel like something is wrong with you.

19/03/2026

Manual therapy doesn’t realign bones.
It doesn’t “release” fascia.
It doesn’t fix your pelvic tilt.

What it actually does is influence your nervous system.

When I use my hands, I’m not changing your structure. I’m changing how your body feels and responds. I’m giving your nervous system new input, and that can reduce sensitivity, ease perceived muscle tension, and make movement feel easier.

That’s why you can walk in feeling stiff and walk out moving better. Your body hasn’t been “put back into place.” It’s just less guarded.

That’s also why the effects can vary. Because we’re dealing with a living, responsive system, not a mechanical one.

Manual therapy can be very helpful. But not for the reasons people think.

Once you understand that, you stop chasing fixes… and start understanding your body a lot better.

There was a nursing textbook published in 2015 that tried to teach “cultural awareness”… but what it actually did was te...
19/03/2026

There was a nursing textbook published in 2015 that tried to teach “cultural awareness”… but what it actually did was teach stereotypes.

It literally listed different racial groups and told clinicians how they “respond to pain.”

It said things like:
Black patients report higher pain and rely on faith
Jewish patients are vocal and want validation
Asian patients are stoic and won’t ask for medication
Others were described as tolerating pain more or seeing it as a test or punishment

Let’s call this what it is.

This is not clinical reasoning.
This is not patient-centred care.
This is stereotyping dressed up as education.

Because once you teach this, you’re not assessing the patient in front of you anymore.
You’re filtering them through a preloaded assumption based on their race.

And that has real consequences.

If you assume someone “tolerates pain better” → you give less pain relief
If you assume someone is “more expressive” → you take them less seriously

That’s how bias enters clinical decisions without people even realising it.

Every patient is an individual.
Not a category. Not a checklist. Not a stereotype.

You don’t need a textbook to tell you how someone experiences pain.
You just need to listen to them.

This is exactly how racist crap get passed down in healthcare.
Not always intentionally.
But once it’s written in a textbook, it gets repeated without question.

And that’s the problem.

Do better.

It was a mainstream nursing education textbook
It gave clinical guidance based on race and pain response
The publisher later admitted it was inappropriate and removed it

It was taught and printed

The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body. It acts as a hinge joint formed by the articulation of the femur,...
19/03/2026

The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body. It acts as a hinge joint formed by the articulation of the femur, tibia, and patella. We use our knees to bend, straighten, and slightly rotate our legs as is essential for everyday walking, running, or jumping.

The knee has four main ligaments. These ligaments connect the femur to the tibia.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): This ligament is in the centre of the knee and controls rotation and forward movement of the tibia.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL): This ligament is also located in the centre of the knee and controls backward movement of the tibia.

Medial collateral ligament (MCL) or tibial collateral ligament: Is located on the medial side of the knee and gives stability to the inner knee.

Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) or fibular ligament: This ligament is on the lateral side of the knee and gives stability to the outer knee.

These ligaments can often be injured, usually due to sports injury. Activities such as skiing, basketball, and football are sports that have a higher risk for ACL injuries. The ACL is the most common knee ligament to injure. It is often torn or stretched in a sudden twisting motion. On the other hand, injuries can happen to the collateral ligaments as well. The MCL is more commonly injured that the LCL due to stretching or tearing caused by a blow to the outer side of the knee. Treatment for such injuries may include muscle-strengthening exercises, protective knee braces when exercising, ice pack application to reduce swelling, and/or surgery.

The Achilles tendon, pictured at the top of this article, is the largest and strongest tendon in the human body. It conn...
19/03/2026

The Achilles tendon, pictured at the top of this article, is the largest and strongest tendon in the human body. It connects the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (in your calf)to the calcaneus (your heel bone).

Despite its strength, it has a weak spot about 2-6cm above its insertion point, giving rise to the well-known greek proverb (the Achilles heel). This weak spot can rupture when a sudden force is transmitted through it, this often occurs during sprinting or prolonged and excessive training and exercise. Patients may describe this sensation as a sudden snap in the lower calf with acute pain, and it may result in an inability to move the ankle joint.

Other risk factors for Achilles tendon rupture include aging, drugs such as fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g ciprofloxacin) and steroid injections.

2nd image: The Tendon microanatomy, showing the unique composition of its tissue.

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