Four simple home hip-strengthening exercises to build glute strength, improve hip stability and support people with hip, knee and lower back pain.

Evidence-informed rotator cuff and shoulder exercises for building 3D strength through rotation and stabilisation, with simple progressions for shoulder, neck and upper-back pain.

Most people with persistent pain reach a point where they feel they’ve tried everything. When nothing works, acceptance can feel like the only option. But what if the problem isn’t that nothing works, it's that the right things haven’t been tried yet? This article explores when acceptance helps… and when it risks becoming learned helplessness.

The biopsychosocial model offers a more complete way to understand pain. While the biomedical model focuses on tissues, it often falls short in persistent pain. This article breaks down how biological, psychological, and social factors interact to shape pain, why structure alone doesn’t explain everything, and how you can start identifying what drives your own symptoms using a simple, practical approach.

Empathy is often treated as a soft skill in pain care. The evidence suggests otherwise. A large 2024 study found that higher clinician empathy was associated with lower pain, less disability, and better quality of life over 12 months. Research also shows that validation strengthens engagement more effectively than immediate advice. In persistent pain rehabilitation, empathy may not just feel supportive, it may shape outcomes.

Is chronic pain after 50 inevitable? A 10-year study tracking 2,631 adults who were pain-free at baseline suggests not. Weekly vigorous activity reduced the risk of developing chronic pain by 26%. Surprisingly, cultural engagement — museums, concerts, theatre — reduced risk by 25%. Moderate exercise didn’t show the same effect. Preventing pain may be about building physical and emotional resilience, not just “staying active.”

In healthcare, we are often told to treat others as we would like to be treated. The Platinum Rule improves on this by reminding us to consider what the other person actually wants. But what if these two principles are not in competition? In persistent pain care, ethical practice may depend less on following rules and more on loosening the assumptions we identify with. When understanding deepens, the Golden and Platinum Rules begin to converge.

The Golden Rule has long guided healthcare practice, but good intentions do not always translate into good care. Drawing on Harvey Max Chochinov’s Platinum Rule editorial, this article explores why dignity, listening, and patient-centred care matter, especially in persistent pain and long-term conditions.

When you stub your toe, swearing might do more than vent frustration—it can actually raise your pain tolerance. A Keele University study found real swear words boosted endurance by over 30%, while made-up ones like “fouch” and “twizpipe” had no effect. Why this happens is still a mystery. What’s clear is that real swearing helps us push through pain in ways scientists are only beginning to understand.

Do you struggle to enjoy exercise? You’re not alone. Many people think they hate exercise, but often it’s just that they haven’t found the right kind of movement. Just like finding the right book can spark a love of reading, finding the right workout can transform how you feel about exercise. In this post, physiotherapist Edward Walsh shares practical tips, personal insights, and guidance on how to discover movement you’ll actually enjoy, even if pain has been holding you bac

Nerve flossing, or nerve sliding, is a gentle technique used to relieve nerve-related pain by moving the nerve back and forth without adding tension. This helps restore blood flow, healing, and normal function. Research shows it can reduce pain and disability, especially for sciatic nerve issues linked to lower back pain. In this post, we’ll explore how to safely perform sciatic nerve flossing, with videos showing both self-guided and assisted techniques.

Listening plays a crucial role in effective persistent pain treatment, yet many clinicians interrupt within seconds of asking a question, missing valuable insights. Each person’s experience of pain is unique, and meaningful care begins with understanding their story. When time is short, choosing to listen well can still shape outcomes. The most effective treatment plans often start with the simplest intervention: giving space to be heard.

New research shows self-compassion reduces depression, anxiety, and disability in chronic pain. Learn how kindness to self can rewire the brain for relief.

Discover the best mindfulness app for starting your practice and how to avoid the pitfall many people run into when they start meditating.

Can persistent neck pain be predicted—and even prevented—within days of an injury? Discover the latest neuroscience and practical strategies

Are You Taking Paracetamol Wrong? Here’s How to Get Maximum Pain Relief