Stillpoint Osteopaths

26/05/2026

Pregnancy can bring many physical challenges as your body adapts and changes. Supporting women through pregnancy is something Olivia Wells is deeply passionate about. She is committed to ongoing education in women’s health to ensure her patients receive the best possible care.

Next month, Olivia will be attending further professional training focused on pregnancy and osteopathy, continuing to expand her knowledge and understanding to better support mums throughout every stage of pregnancy.

23/05/2026

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)

On 12 May, PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) was officially renamed PMOS — a change that better reflects the true complexity of the condition.

The term PCOS focused mainly on the ovaries and fertility, but we now understand this condition affects the whole body. PMOS recognises the broader endocrine and metabolic impacts, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular health, inflammation, and mental wellbeing.

The previous name often contributed to misunderstandings, delayed diagnosis, and many people feeling unheard or unsupported in their health journey.

Common symptoms can include:
• irregular periods
• infertility or ovulation difficulties
• acne
• excess hair growth
• scalp hair thinning
• weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome
• fatty liver disease
• anxiety and depression

At Stillpoint Osteopaths, we take a whole-body approach to health. Osteopathy can help support the nervous system, reduce tension and stress on the body, improve circulation and mobility, and work alongside your wider healthcare team to support overall wellbeing.

If you’ve been struggling with symptoms that don’t feel “normal” or feel your body isn’t functioning at its best, we’re here to help support you.

Reach out to book an appointment or chat with our team.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42119588

21/05/2026

Olivia who is now working full time at Stillpoint osteopaths has had a passion for women’s health.
She dedicated her master’s research investigated the self-management strategies for endometriosis related pain.
Her study revealed the crucial impacts of mental and emotional aspects of health on self-management and the relationship between mental and emotional wellbeing and pain.
Her study also discovered self-management techniques for mental, emotional, and physical aspects of health.
This research has helped inform how she approaches our patients and approaches their osteopathic care.

19/05/2026

16/05/2026

Fight or Flight

Your body has a natural stress response called the fight or flight system. It’s there to protect you when you feel unsafe or under pressure.

It makes you more alert, increases your heart rate, and gets your body ready to react quickly. This response is incredibly helpful in dangerous situations, but when stress is ongoing, the body can get stuck in this state for far too long.

When cortisol stays high for extended periods, your nervous system can become overactive. Many people start to feel constantly “on edge,” wired, tense, exhausted, or unable to properly switch off and relax.

Over time, this can contribute to:
• Increased pain and tension
• Fatigue
• Poor sleep
• Headaches
• Muscle tightness
• Feeling overwhelmed or anxious

As osteopaths, we often work with areas connected to the nervous system such as the ribs, diaphragm, spine, tailbone, and head. Gentle hands-on treatment can help the body settle, release tension, and support the nervous system to calm down and regulate more effectively.

Sometimes the body simply needs help feeling safe enough to switch out of survival mode.

If this sounds familiar, our team at Stillpoint Osteopaths would love to help support your nervous system and overall wellbeing. Reach out to book an appointment or learn more about how osteopathy may help.

https://www.aafp.org/link_out?pmid=36689982

14/05/2026

Practitioner News: Olivia Wells

We’re excited to share that Olivia Wells will be joining the team at Stillpoint Osteopaths full-time from the 25th of May.

This means greater availability for both osteopathic appointments and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, giving you more flexibility when booking your care.

Olivia has completed extensive training in women’s health and has a special interest in supporting concerns such as period pain, pelvic discomfort, and ongoing symptoms that may have been difficult to manage or yet to be diagnosed.

If you or your daughter is struggling with period pain or feeling frustrated trying to find answers, now is a great time to book in and explore a treatment approach tailored to you.

Take the time to come in and see Olivia we’d love to help get you back on track.

09/05/2026

Have you been told your cortisol is high?

Chronically elevated cortisol is linked to:

• High blood pressure
• Blood sugar dysregulation
• Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
• Reduced focus, memory, and mental clarity

Common drivers:

Poor sleep, ongoing stress, high caffeine, alcohol, smoking, and low activity levels.

What helps:

Better sleep, regular exercise, moderating caffeine, reducing alcohol, and consistent mindfulness or meditation (10-30 mins).

Osteopathy:

While we don’t yet have direct evidence that cranial osteopathy lowers cortisol, studies show it can improve sleep quality and support a shift of your autonomic nervous system from “fight flight”(sympathetic) into a more “rest and repair” state (parasympathetic), both important for regulating stress physiology.

07/05/2026

High cortisol levels, where does PEMF fit?

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy has been shown to:

• Improve sleep quality and duration
• Support recovery from stress
• Influence autonomic nervous system activity (including HRV markers)

Why does this matter?
Better, longer sleep is one of the key drivers in helping regulate cortisol levels.

Some studies suggest PEMF may help shift the body toward a more “rest and repair” (parasympathetic) state, which is important for overall stress regulation.

PEMF may support the key systems involved in cortisol regulation, particularly sleep and nervous system balance. However, to date there are insufficient studies regarding this treatment and cortisol levels to know if it directly influences cortisol levels and for how long.

If you’re dealing with poor sleep, ongoing stress, or feeling stuck in a constant “wired” state, this may be one piece of the puzzle worth exploring. Reach out to see if it’s appropriate for you.

https://www.stillpointosteo.co.nz/our-therapies/pemf

https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2022.0362

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39972609

01/05/2026

Is your nervous system overloaded?

When your nervous system is under strain, it can show up as:

• Ongoing neck and shoulder tension
• Headaches or persistent aches
• Poor sleep or feeling tired despite resting
• Digestive discomfort
• Feeling wired or unable to switch off
• Reduced focus or “brain fog”

These patterns are common when the body stays in a heightened, protective state for too long.

Osteopathy works with the body to help settle the nervous system—reducing tension, improving movement, and supporting your body’s ability to regulate and recover.

If this feels familiar, it may be time to look beyond the symptoms.