One of the most common questions I hear in clinic is surprisingly simple: “How do I know if I’m doing too much?” Closely followed by another: “How do I know if I’m doing enough?” Whether someone is recovering from an Achilles tendinopathy, shoulder pain, a fracture, surgery, persistent back pain, or simply trying to regain... Continue Reading →
Hayden et al. (Cochrane Review, 2021) Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise therapy in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain, and to compare its effects with no treatment, usual care, and other conservative interventions. Methods This Cochrane review included 249 randomised controlled trials, representing more than 24,000 participants with chronic low back pain... Continue Reading →
Some months ago, a milestone quietly unfolded: my first ever scientific publication. Co-authored with the brilliant Dr. Clair Hebron from the University of Brighton, this piece represents more than a research project—it’s the culmination of long, sometimes challenging, but deeply rewarding work. The paper is now published in Musculoskeletal Care, and it’s open access—free for... Continue Reading →
Understanding Frozen Shoulder: Causes, Symptoms, and What to Do About It Have you ever heard of frozen shoulder? It sounds like something that happens in the cold, but it's actually a medical condition where the shoulder becomes stiff and painful, making it hard to move. This condition, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is surprisingly common... Continue Reading →
Frozen Shoulder: A Comprehensive Summary for Healthcare Professionals Frozen shoulder (FS), also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a common condition characterized by significant pain and stiffness of the shoulder joint, resulting in functional impairment. This summary synthesizes key findings from four foundational studies, providing an evidence-based overview of FS’s etiology, progression, diagnosis, differential diagnoses, management,... Continue Reading →
The 2018 Meniscal Surgery Guidelines by the British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK) provide a comprehensive roadmap for assessing and managing meniscal injuries. Whether you’re a seasoned clinician or early in your career, these guidelines emphasize evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, and the importance of non-operative approaches where appropriate. Here's a breakdown of the... Continue Reading →
(Greenhalgh, Finucane, Mercer, & Selfe, 2020) Aim: Promote safety-netting as best practice Methods: Editorial + clinical examples Limitations: Author's views In practice: - Working collaboratively with the person to monitor symptoms: Therapeutic alliance, Shared Decision Making- Use time as a reasoning tool: resolving symptoms or red flag developing- Clear communication required- Anticipating patient's at riskImportant... Continue Reading →
Several names exist for this issue: Tennis elbow, lateral elbow pain / tendinopathy, epicondylalgia, epicondylitis … They all refer to the same problem. Foreword: This post has been written in relation to the reading and analysis of 6 recent literature reviews that synthesise the current scientific evidence about tennis elbow . These papers have been... Continue Reading →
(Vuvan, Vicenzino, Mellor, Heales, & Coombes, 2019) Aims: To investigate the effect of an 8-week unsupervised program of isometric exercise compared to a wait-and-see approach on pain, disability, global improvement, and pain-free grip strength in participants with unilateral LET. Methods: RCT in Australia. Inclusion: 18-70 years old, unilateral LET >6 weeks, pain >2 on average,... Continue Reading →
(Hoogvliet, Randsdorp, Dingemanse, Koes, & Huisstede, 2013) Aims: To assess the evidence for effectiveness of exercise therapy and mobilisation techniques for both medial and lateral epicondylitis. Methods: SR on 4 DB, 2 reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality. English, German, French, Dutch language. Quality assessed according to a scale (Furlan). Heterogeneity made... Continue Reading →
