Aah Christmas.... whether you’re a fan or not, it definitely asserts its presence…and that includes Christmas-specific injuries. I kid you not, so to add to your Christmas cheer, I’m going to tell you about those physical dangers lurking amidst the mistletoe. Come January, we physios see a whole host of Christmas-related injuries at our clinics. Back injuries, fractured ankles, all kinds of bumps and bruises. To help you avoid these, I’ve complied my top 5 Christmas injuries

#lymphaticsystem #lymphatics   If you are wondering what the lymphatic system is or does, believe me, you are not alone. It is THE most forgotten-about and neglected system in the body but I promise that by the time you finish reading this, you will be a fan. To whet your appetite, here are 4 fun facts about your lymphatic system:   1)     Without it, we would be 3-4L bigger every day . That’s right, we swell and go back to size every day and it’s our lymphatic system that do

The cause of Accidents The risk & safety industry uses a phenomenon known as the Swiss Cheese Effect to describe how accidents occur. Imagine you've got 5 slices of Swiss cheese ( all with holes in them and each hole representing an accident risk factor). If you stack the slices together to make one super-thick slice, you then can see if the holes line up. If the holes from all 5 slices line up, then your super-thick slice has a clear hole going through it – the equivalent

Going plastic-free is obviously good for the planet…… but it’s also hard work, inconvenient, expensive and (worst of all) you risk becoming holier than thou and annoying everyone (Ha Ha! Is this kind of like going vegan???). Being a green warrior takes a delicate balance of trying your best while also turning a selective blind eye to things. I also know that the greater expense incurred is something that not everyone is in a position to choose, particularly when there is a f

#whiplash #whiplashrecovery #chronicpain #physiotherapy # nervoussystem   Whiplash injuries are one of the most complex things for a physio to treat….and sometimes one of the most frustrating because they don’t quite obey the normal rules for soft tissue injuries! You’ve got insurance claims in the mix, emotional response to the accident adding in a psychological/trauma element to the pain and the whole thing gets a bit messy for use simplicity-loving physio folk. Whiplashe

Thankfulness is all the buzz these days and ‘counting your blessings’ has never been cooler. Not only that, but the research shows that...

#lowbackpain #backpainprevention #physiotherapy #yogaforbackpain Low back pain is one of the biggest causes of sick leave in the Western...

In Limerick we have a slang saying that something is ‘chronic’ meaning hopeless/crazy/mad so I need to give you a medical explanation of...

Because it impacts on the success of my physio treatments, I often check to see if patients have, what I like to call, an over-sensitive...

Most people have this idea that doing a meditation retreat is relaxing, giving you time to unplug from life and slowly pondering your...

I’m on a meditation vibe at the moment, because I am finding it so helpful since I started doing a daily practice in January.  I also...

By now, I’m convinced that poor breathing can contribute to ill-health, not because I’m a yoga teacher and we’re meant to believe in...

About 10 years ago, I was asked to write a chapter on fatigue for a physiotherapy book. Then, a few years ago, I had to take a painful...

All about me How I got involved in healthcare. I landed in hospital for a month when I was 11 with osteomyelitis of my right hip,...

This is a collection of Q and As about lymphoedema that I did on social media during March 2023 for Lymphoedema Awareness Month. Q1: What...

I hate the word ‘chronic’. It sounds, well….. kinda chronic! In medical terms, chronic pain is considered to be pain lasting longer than...

Lymphatics are a subject close to my heart but sadly they either get ignored or get such a bad press – mainly because when they are...

Relaxation: just the mention of it makes some people YAWN with boredom and others go a bit crazy and run for the hills. And, by golly,...

All the evidence points to the fact that exercise, both aerobic and strength training, improves the quality of life in those living with...

There is no doubt that yoga attracts more women than men here in Europe, but I want to change this! #menneedyoga. My own yoga teacher is...