Notes from the clinic
The Atlas Journal.
June 2026
Summer running: how to build mileage without picking up an injury
June is peak time to up your mileage, lighter evenings, dry pavements and a calendar full of autumn races. It's also when avoidable overuse injuries fill the clinic. Here's how to build distance through the summer and stay on the road.
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July 2011
Depression and physical health: what to look for, and where to start
Depression is a serious illness that affects family, relationships, work and physical health. Around 1 in 10 people experience it at some point in life. Here's what to look for, and how the right support helps.
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July 2011
Type I vs Type II diabetes: a plain English guide
Type I and Type II diabetes explained in plain English, plus why exercise and a good diet matter at every age.
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June 2011
How circulation works: a walkthrough of cardiovascular physiology
A walkthrough of cardiovascular physiology: circulation, the structure of the heart, blood vessels, blood pressure, electrical impulses and how oxygen reaches your tissues.
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June 2011
Heart palpitations: what they are, what triggers them, and when to worry
What counts as a palpitation, what triggers them, and the symptoms that mean you should get checked out.
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June 2011
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke: what to look for and what to do
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two heat-related conditions that can have serious consequences if left untreated. What they are, how to spot them, and the first response that matters most.
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June 2011
Epilepsy, anti-epileptic drugs and bone health
Long-term anti-epileptic medication can reduce vitamin D and weaken bone, increasing the risk of osteoporosis, osteomalacia and fractures. What to watch for and where osteopathy fits.
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May 2011
Pregnancy after 30: risks, realities and good news
What changes when you give birth after 30: chromosomal risk, miscarriage rates, intervention rates, and the strong outcomes still seen in older mothers.
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January 2011
Fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: an osteopath's view
Fatigue is the feeling of lacking physical or mental energy, distinct from drowsiness. What causes it, when it might be chronic fatigue syndrome, and how osteopathy can help.
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December 2010
Why most people don't breathe properly (and how it affects your health)
Around 70% of patients seen don't breathe correctly. Why breathing matters, how to spot a disordered pattern, and what to do about it.
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December 2010
How to do a sit-up properly (and avoid hurting your back)
Sit-ups, done well: technique, common errors that hurt your neck and back, and why balancing abdominal work with lower-back strengthening matters.
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October 2010
Sport, ageing and joint changes: should you stop?
Sport from a young age can lead to earlier joint changes. Does that mean you should stop? Not really. A look at how activity, anatomy and outcomes interact.
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October 2010
Aerialism, injury and osteopathy: treating circus performers
Aerialism: acrobatics performed in the air, on suspended apparatus including trapeze, rope and silk. A brief overview of the art form, the risks, and how osteopathy helps.
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September 2010
The three most common running injuries (and how to prevent them)
Runner's knee, shin splints and hamstring strains: what they are, why they happen, and how to manage them. Plus a starter return-to-running programme after injury.
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September 2010
Core stability: the four muscle groups that protect your back
The transversus abdominis, multifidus, diaphragm and pelvic floor form the corset that keeps your back working. How they fit together and why weakness here so often shows up as pain.
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September 2010
Why what you do between sessions matters as much as the treatment itself
Osteopathy doesn't cure the body of disease and pain. It removes the obstacles preventing the body from healing itself. That makes what you do between sessions just as important as what we do in clinic.
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September 2010
Pain patterns: what the timing of your pain tells us
When your pain is at its worst tells us a lot. Morning stiffness, end-of-day ache, or pain only on movement, each pattern points to a different group of conditions. A primer.
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September 2010
When to scan: x-ray, MRI, ultrasound and CT explained
Imaging isn't always the first step. When osteopaths refer for scans, which scan is right for which problem, and what each one shows.
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September 2010
Hand and respiratory hygiene in the clinical setting
Hand and respiratory hygiene are two of the most important and easiest precautions against infection. The six-stage handwashing technique and the precautions clinicians take.
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September 2010
Vitamin D, sunlight and your bones
The body makes vitamin D when exposed to UVB. It promotes calcium absorption and is essential for bone, teeth, lung function and nervous-system health. What to know about UK sunlight levels.
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September 2010
Long-distance travel: low back pain, DVT and how to prevent both
The average person travels around 400 hours a year seated. Two problems show up most: low back pain and ankle swelling. Why each happens, and how to prevent them.
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September 2010
What to expect at your first osteopathic appointment
Osteopathy is a holistic approach to the treatment of musculoskeletal complaints. What we ask, what we examine, how we diagnose, and what a realistic prognosis looks like.
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September 2010
Osteoporosis: bone density, fracture risk, and what you can do
Osteoporosis is a progressive decrease in bone mineral density. What it does to the body, who is most at risk, and the lifestyle factors that genuinely move the needle.
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September 2010
Osteoarthritis, ageing and what osteopathy can do
Degenerative changes are part of ageing. What osteoarthritis is, what's actually happening in the joint, and the treatment that genuinely helps.
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September 2010
Arthritis and cold weather: managing flare-ups
Cold weather flares osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis for many people. Why that happens, what helps in the moment, and what to put on your plate.
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September 2010
Neck and upper back pain at the desk: C/T junction dysfunction
Ache across the shoulders, pain on neck movement, occasional shooting down an arm. The C/T junction is where the cervical and thoracic spine meet, and it's where desk posture catches up with you.
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September 2010
Sleeping pills and insomnia: why pills shouldn't be the first answer
Sleeping pills feel like a quick fix. They aren't. Why they don't solve insomnia in the long run, and the position, environment and treatment that actually does.
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September 2010
Children, school bags and posture: a parent's guide
The amount of books, sports gear and equipment children carry in to school is getting out of hand. Why early posture habits matter, and how to set them.
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September 2010
Back pain in athletes and weekend warriors: stability versus mobility
Whether you're playing at Old Trafford on £100k a week or 5-a-side twice a week, understanding the stresses on your back matters. Why both too much and too little mobility cause pain.
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