On this episode I discuss "shippu" or topical pain relief patches, which are particularly popular here in Japan. What are they, and do they actually work? https://open.spotify.com/episode/30w6gmITXNWFHIv0tkDd0f?si=3BL5U6xXSimWB1lRlttG7Q #tokyo #pain #backpain #physiotherapy

While guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week during pregnancy, recent studies suggest that only about a quarter of pregnant women meet this goal. Resistance training is widely recommended for its many benefits, but often with caution around intensity and volume to ensure safety for both mother and baby. A recent systematic review has shed new light on the benefits and safety of strength training during pregnancy. One of the key findings is th

This is the last article in the series, where we do another "myth flip" and go back the other way. To see the video version. check out our instagram page: https://instagram.com/p/DRVTQoykhAG/ With all the talk about stretching, you might wonder if it’s really worth your time. The answer isn’t so clear-cut. While stretching might not be a cure-all, it remains crucial for many movements and can be particularly beneficial if you have specific mobility limitations impacting pain

Graded exposure is often the most important part of a rehab program for both acute and chronic conditions. The idea is straightforward: gradually load the injured tissue — whether muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve or bone — and increase that load as tolerated to improve tolerance and desensitise the area. To see the video version, check out our instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRDPdFxkx4z/?igsh=MWhianV3dTVmZHhlMA== A practical example from my own rehab: I’m workin

Sore Wrists/Fingers/Hands with Typing? To see the video version, check out our instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ2Zqk6E8NK/?igsh=cXBkNHZhZWZjcTJo We're seeing more and more people working on laptops these days. One of the biomechanical implications of this is that the wrists are put in a position of "ulnar deviation" where they are angled out to the side. Especially if someone is going to working on a desktop to working on a laptop and is not used to this posit

Do you have bursitis? Or have you been told you do? Good news — you probably don’t. Lateral hip pain (pain on the outside of the hip) has long carried the label “trochanteric bursitis,” implying inflammation of the bursa — a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction around joints. That diagnosis tends to push treatment toward anti-inflammatories and rest. But new evidence tells a different story for most people with side-of-hip pain. Why the old label is changing Recent re

To see the video version, check out our instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP4yen4kxGb/?igsh=MTU2amY2eWd0cTM5dQ== While there is certainly nothing wrong with attempting to increase our flexibility, It may not be the most appropriate use of someone's exercise- related time for every person at all times. If we increase our range of motion or naturally have large range of motion but don't have the necessary  coordination or strength to control us through this range w

In this first of a 2 part series, Sam is back with Serenity Flow Yoga founder and instructor Shizuka to discuss yoga-related shoulder pain, particularly with movements such as the handstand and downward dog. To see the clips, check out our instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPzkgF5kwqI/?igsh=YWZ2bGVuOWlrbDU5 #yoga #tokyo #injury #pain #physiotherapist #physiotherapy #physicaltherapist #physicaltherapy

In this clip, Sam is back with Marc from Roppongi CrossFit to continue discussing CrossFit-related injuries. In this first of a two-part...

The “10% rule” is one of the most common pieces of advice in the running world — the idea that you should increase your running volume by...

Whether you're a hyroxer, a marathoner or just a casual 5ker, adding strength training to your running program can do wonders in terms of...

(To view the video version, head over to our instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPKsJcBEv93/?igsh=NHF4Zng3N210dHN4 So when we...

In this post we're back at Serenity Flow yoga studio where founder Shizuka and I cover the topic of "yoga butt" or proximal hamstring...

Regular viewers will be familiar with Pascal, who underwent the revolutionary cross-bracing protocol following an ACL injury earlier in...

This topic is a sensitive and serious one. The "salaryman" culture in Japan has a negative reputation, and for good reason. The fact that...

Pain in the back of the heel in many sports and physical activities is often a sign of Achilles Tendinopathy. However, kicking sports...

Topical pain-relieving patches — or “shippu”  — are everywhere in Japan. If you’ve ever tweaked your back, strained your shoulder, or...

Samson is a physiotherapist passionate about helping people return to the activities they love. A sports enthusiast himself, he has...

In part 2 of our series on exercises for hamstring injury prevention Sam and Magnus go over some more advanced exercises including the...

One of the many things that both tourists and those living in Japan enjoy about the country is the famous hot springs. On this episode I...