Low back pain affects around 80% of people at some point in their lives (NHS, 2024). Pain in the lower back can range from a dull ache to sharp shooting, and may affect your daily life and mobility.
Neck Pain
Pain in the neck region can often be experienced as feelings of stiffness, reduced movement, and may be associated with headaches, experienced by up to 70% of the population (NICE, 2023).
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD)
TMD can lead to feelings of jaw pain and tension, alongside problems while eating, speaking, and may cause clicking sounds when open and closing your mouth.
Headaches
Headaches are a common problem that can range from mild discomfort to severe pain. Most headaches are caused by tension and daily stress (NICE, 2022).
Whiplash
A neck injury typically caused by sudden forward and backward movement of the head, often from car accidents. This can cause neck pain, stiffness, and headaches.
Disc Herniation (Slipped Disc)
Herniated discs can irritate nearby nerves leading to various symptoms. The most common are in the lower back and can cause low back pain, sciatica, numbness or tingling down the legs, for example.
Sprains/Strains
These are common injuries affecting muscles, ligaments and tendons. The symptoms include pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising and reduced range of motion.
Tendinopathy
Tendinopathy refers to the irritation of a tendon, the tissue that connects muscles to bones. It typically develops due to overuse, repetitive movements or ageing, leading to pain and reduced function.
Rotator Cuff
Rotator cuff injuries, such as tears or tendinopathy, can cause pain, weakness, and limited range of motion in the shoulder.
Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow
These are common overuse injuries caused by repetitive arm and wrist movements leading to tenderness, stiffness and some weakness in grip strength.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
OA is also known as ‘wear and tear’, although in reality it is where the body is actually working hard to repair itself through normal changes as we age. This can sometimes lead to pain, stiffness and reduced mobility.
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
This is a condition where the shoulder joint becomes stiff, painful, and loses range of motion due to inflammation and a tightening of the joint capsule.
Plantar Fasciitis
A condition that is often due to overuse, poor footwear, or excessive strain from activities like running or standing for long periods of time. It causes heel pain, especially in the morning or after rest.
Shin Splints
Shin splints are commonly caused by repetitive stress from running or jumping activities and cause pain along the shin bone.
Sciatica
Pain can be caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the legs. It can cause sharp pain, numbness, or tingling in the lower back, buttocks and legs, often worsening with sitting for long periods of time, or movement.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
TOS symptoms include pain, numbness or weakness in the neck, shoulder and arm due to nerves or blood vessels being compressed between the collarbone and first rib.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
CTS is due to the median nerve being compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist, leading to pain, numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers.
Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy symptoms are caused by a spinal nerve root being irritated or compressed, creating pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the affected nerve’s pathway. It commonly occurs in the neck or lower back.
Low Back Pain
It is estimated that around 50% of pregnant women will experience low back pain throughout and following pregnancy. For many women, this pain begins during the first trimester and continues as the body changes to accommodate the growth of their baby.
Pelvic Girdle Pain
Pain located at the front of the pelvis or low back, which is often exacerbated with walking and climbing stairs. PGP is associated with the increased laxity in ligaments around the pelvic joints.
Neck Pain
Around 20% of women will experience neck pain during pregnancy, resulting from changes to the body and ligament laxity.
Postpartum Discomfort
Postpartum discomfort refers to any pain associated or resulting from pregnancy, e.g., low back pain, pelvic girdle pain, joint pain.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Exercise
Many women significantly reduce levels of exercise upon becoming pregnant, despite the significant benefits to both mother and babies wellbeing. Exercising throughout pregnancy can improve mood, reduce discomfort, reduce risk of pregnancy complications, and support preparation for labour and postpartum recovery.
Head-Turning Preference
A head-turning preference in babies refers to a tendency to consistently turn their head to one side. This may indicate a muscle imbalance and could be linked to factors related to labor and delivery.
Head Flattening
Head flattening, or plagiocephaly, occurs when a baby’s head develops a flat spot due to consistent pressure on one area. This may result from positioning during sleep, muscle imbalances, or factors related to labor and delivery.
Positional Irritability
Positional irritability refers to a baby’s discomfort or fussiness when placed in certain positions. This may be due to muscle tightness, or birth-related factors affecting movement and comfort.
Difficulty Breastfeeding
Difficulty breastfeeding may be associated with a baby’s latch, head or neck mobility, or muscle imbalances. These challenges may be influenced by labour, delivery methods, or underlying tension in the body.
Sports-Related Injuries
In children, sports-related injuries often involve muscle strains, ligament sprains, or impact-related trauma from activities like running, jumping, or contact sports.
Joint Pain
Joint pain in children can result from sports-related injuries or conditions that commonly arise during adolescence, such as Osgood-Schlatter disease. These issues often develop due to growth spurts, repetitive stress, or high-impact activities.
