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.

Could weakness in the muscles that control hip and shoulder rotation contribute to pain elsewhere? I explore 33 studies linking ‘3D muscle’ function with neck, shoulder, back, hip and knee pain and explain what the evidence to date suggests.

Can you be strong in the gym but still lack strength where you need it? Introducing 3D strength: my theory about overlooked hip and shoulder muscle weakness, why one side may be weaker, and how this could contribute to neck, shoulder, back, hip and knee 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.

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.

Do you believe you can influence your pain, or that it simply happens to you? This belief, known as locus of control, quietly shapes recovery in persistent pain. Research suggests that people with a stronger internal locus of control report lower pain, less disability, and better treatment outcomes. Recovery is not just about tissues. It is about agency. And agency can change biology.

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.

Topaz lived with back pain for 14 years after a horse-riding accident. At its worst, her pain reached 9/10, affecting her work and hobbies. Through a tailored rehab programme focused on strengthening, pain education, and gradual return to activity, she reduced her pain, stopped medication, and even hit her first home run in softball. Today, her back pain has completely resolved, showing recovery is possible even after years of suffering.

Persistent pain isn’t just about the body tissues, it’s also about the brain’s predictions. Predictive processing shows us that pain is shaped by expectations as much and sometimes more than sensations. When the brain strongly expects pain, pain can be felt even without ongoing damage. The good news? By updating these predictions through education, mindfulness, safe movement, and context shifts, you can help your brain write a new, less painful story.

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

Can a common mineral help rewire chronic pain? A 2013 RCT found that intravenous and oral magnesium significantly reduced neuropathic low back pain and improved mobility over six months. Acting as a natural NMDA receptor blocker, magnesium may calm central sensitization—making it a promising, affordable tool in pain management. Explore the study findings and the neuroscience behind this overlooked supplement.