What’s all this about Thorsday?

It’s been about 10 weeks now where we have been putting videos up on Thursdays with the title of “Thorsday”. These videos are pretty short – generally less than 2 mins- and feature Tim demonstrating a movement or an exercise that people can do at home, around the house or garden. They don’t look particularly challenging, the production standard is not high, what exactly is he doing? My initial thought for “Thorsday” was essentially that although we all KNOW we should be doing some kind of strength training each week, it can get lost in the barrage of “other stuff” … Continue reading

Thorsday 1

As ever, I’ve been wondering about how to get information out to people who need it, rather than wait for them to have an issue and see if they come for physio. This is in direct continuation of a previous post about “Inevitable decline?“- or trying not to become weaker as you get older.  Intervention is much better than reaction, and so I came up with the idea of Thorsday. A weekly focus on Strength work- handily on Thorsday (or, Thursday, if you prefer). The idea is that over the next few weeks and months I’ll post up a video … Continue reading

Myth 1 – I shouldn’t lift weights

I saw a patient with back pain the other day. Formerly a strong guy, rugby player, used to go to the gym etc. He still does gardening, but because of a previous injury many years ago, he had been warned off any type of heavy lifting, running or significant activity. He came to see me after carrying a 2 year old grandchild around a museum for half a day. So here’s a thing. A formerly strong and fit person who got back pain from carrying a kid around a museum- and in his day to day life, he doesn’t really … Continue reading

Inevitable decline?

I hit a “significant age” in 2019. This, along with the people I see in clinic on a weekly basis has made me think a bit…. If I gave you a list of things that in 20/30/40 years you might not be able to do – would you be scared? Well, here is a list of things that I’ve seen people not be able to do…. Sitting on the floor and then standing up. Standing up off a chair. Standing up off the toilet. Walking up the stairs. Walking down the stairs. Walking to the end of the road. Walking … Continue reading

The girl with the titanium back

Another one from the annals. Yes, I know that the plural of anecdote is not evidence, however, hearing others stories can be empowering to  people. This one starts with a girl of 17 who had had a number of years of back pain, a diagnosis of congenital scoliosis and, following a prolonged period of deliberation, a fairly large operation where titanium rods were inserted into her spine to make it straight. It was only after this that I met this patient – someone going through A-levels, looking at universities, and also looking forward (with some apprehension) to a post school … Continue reading

Oooh- don’t run, it’s bad for your knees.

They look at you as if you’re mad and say: “Oh I wouldn’t run, you’ll ruin your knees” or “I wouldn’t lift weights – it’s bad for you back”. …. And so they sit down in front of the tv with a “sharing” size packet of crisps and proceed to devour the lot. Before heading to the shops in a car, to buy more food- making sure it is low-fat, of course – because it is healthier while trying to stop you from doing the thing that might drag you out of a hole. People feel guilty for not engaging … Continue reading