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By Duke Autret, Myotherapist Manual therapy is often misunderstood as a long-term solution for managing pain or dysfunction. In reality, it is analogous to a medicine: a temporary aid intended to alleviate symptoms, restore function, and provide the body with an opportunity to recalibrate and heal. Like medicines, manual therapy is most effective when applied strategically during periods of need. Its ultimate aim is not to replace the body’s inherent healing capacities but to support them, enabling recovery and resilience in the long term.  Beyond Symptom Management: A Shift in Perspective from Health Hacks to Lifestyle Change
Many people seek out manual therapy as a way to relieve pain and discomfort, often expecting a quick fix. While symptom relief is a legitimate and valuable outcome, it’s important to recognise a broader issue in health and medicine, one where people prioritise "hacks" over sustainable change. In both conventional and manual medicine, there’s a common tendency to chase interventions that allow us to maintain our existing habits rather than addressing the deeper factors contributing to dysfunction. Whether it’s pharmaceuticals and surgeries in precision medicine or techniques and modalities in physical therapy, the focus is often on removing symptoms rather than understanding and adapting to the body's needs. This "symptom-centric" approach reduces health to a series of problems to be managed rather than a dynamic system to be supported. Yet, real change requires effort, self-responsibility, and often a willingness to step into discomfort. Our modern, fast-paced culture tends to value efficiency and control over deep, systemic adaptation, making it easy to see why people seek out quick fixes. However, when manual therapy is framed as a way to simply get back to habitual patterns rather than an opportunity to reassess movement, posture, and nervous system regulation, it risks becoming just another temporary solution rather than a true facilitator of healing. This isn't to say that symptom relief, pharmaceuticals, or even manual therapy lack value, they can play critical roles in recovery. But they should complement deeper work, not replace it. The real question shifts from “How can I fix this quickly?” to “What is my body asking of me, and how can I better support and be in good relationship with it over the long term?” Temporary vs. Timeless Relief: Building Independence While manual therapy can be highly effective in the moment, the true goal is fostering independence rather than dependence. Temporary relief is valuable, but over-reliance on any intervention can inhibit long-term progress. Someone else might be good at "fixing" you temporarily, but without learning to "fix" yourself, you may never achieve sustainable improvement. Understanding this distinction empowers you to embrace manual therapy as a strategic tool rather than solely a crutch. By focusing on teaching rather than fixing, practitioners guide you towards autonomy and the ability to manage your health independently. Principles Over Strategies: The Foundation of Lasting Relief One of the reasons people fail to find lasting relief, even after trying numerous treatments and exercises, is that they focus on strategies (what to do) rather than principles (why it works). Without addressing the root causes of dysfunction, be they structural, metabolic, or psychosocial, symptoms may persist or recur. Treatment outcomes improve when individuals shift their internal belief systems and engage with deeper understanding. This is why trying "everything" often fails if it doesn’t address the underlying issues. Sustainable change requires a principle-driven approach that integrates manual therapy with strategies addressing the mind-body connection. The Role of Manual Therapy in Healing Manual therapy can provide immediate benefits such as pain relief, improved mobility, and reduced tension. It creates the conditions necessary for the body’s self-healing mechanisms to activate, addressing specific impairments and restoring balance. For example:
Manual therapy also offers more than just biomechanical benefits. Its therapeutic effects also stem from its ability to mirror caregiving behaviours that are inherently soothing and healing to the nervous system and even mental and emotional health. For example:
Avoiding Dependence: The Limits of Manual Therapy Just as overusing medication can suppress the body’s natural processes or create dependency, relying on manual therapy indefinitely risks masking symptoms instead of resolving underlying issues. To promote long-term health, manual therapy should be complemented by broader strategies that empower individuals to take charge of their well-being. For instance:
Integrating Manual Therapy with Broader Strategies To maximise its effectiveness, manual therapy should be part of a comprehensive therapeutic approach. This includes:
Mind Over Matter: Connecting Mental and Physical Healing In many ways the body is a reflection of the mind. Without trying to be overly quantitative, it’s often said that healing is 80% mental and 20% physical. While manual therapy is addressing the physical body it also has the power to influence the mind-body connection. By calming the nervous system, reducing stress, and promoting relaxation, it can create the mental space needed for deeper healing. True recovery involves understanding how the mind and body work together. Manual therapy becomes a catalyst for this connection, empowering you to not only feel better physically but also to approach life with greater clarity and resilience. Beyond the Physical: The Psychosomatic Benefits of Manual Therapy Manual therapy’s impact extends beyond the biomechanical. It can have profound benefits for mental health and overall well-being by promoting physiological and psychological “flow.” This includes:
The Role of Maintenance in Ongoing Health and Well-being While the goal of manual therapy is often to foster independence and resilience, there is a valid place for ongoing maintenance or management in other certain circumstances as well. For individuals with chronic conditions, high physical or emotional demands, or systemic health challenges, regular sessions can play a pivotal role in maintaining overall health and well-being. Regular manual therapy can:
Manual Therapy: A Complement, Not a Crutch The key to effective manual therapy lies in recognising its purpose:
If you’re struggling with pain, mobility issues, or chronic tension, consider how manual therapy can be a part of your recovery journey. At Simple Wellness, our myotherapists and osteopaths specialise in using manual therapy to alleviate symptoms while guiding you toward long-term health. We combine hands-on techniques with active strategies like movement retraining, strengthening, and lifestyle coaching to help you achieve lasting results. Whether you’re looking for short-term relief or a sustainable plan for well-being, we’re here to support you. Book your appointment today and take the first step toward a healthier, more resilient you! By Peter Pascalis, Clinical Myotherapist 2 Minute Read Low back pain is commonly seen in clinical presentations. The cause of many back pain complaints is myofascial pain (coming from the muscles and fascia) or somatic referred pain (originating from the lumbar discs, facet joints, lumbar ligaments, and referred pain from the sacroiliac joints (SIJs). Other sources of back pain include nerve-related irritations or entrapments, such as sciatica (also known as Deep Gluteal Pain Syndrome) or peripheral neuropathies, where nerves become compressed by bony structures. This is by no means an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all the known causes of back pain, but these are some of the more common ones. Radiculopathy, which involves changes in sensation and strength in the lower limb, can also be associated with back pain.  Why is the cause of back pain important? When treating pain or dysfunction, it is crucial to understand, or at least infer, which structures or factors are involved to provide the best patient care. This knowledge allows us to direct treatment toward its resolution. Somatic pain may require slightly different treatments compared to painful radiculopathy, as different anatomical structures are affected. Treatments beneficial for nerve pathology may not be effective for muscle dysfunction. Some common treatments for muscular pain include soft and deep tissue massage, followed by activity modifications for a period of time, and exercise to address underlying factors such as weakness or instability that need to be addressed for long-term benefit. Dry needling can be very helpful in desensitizing painful structures by improving muscle health and delivering non-painful input into the nervous system, which can override the painful signals arriving at the spinal cord and brain. Nerve disorders can be significantly improved with techniques that decompress vertebral structures, as these are where the nerve roots exit the spine, and mobilization exercises aimed at moving the spinal nerve along its anatomical pathway, affecting the entire leg and spine. Education plays an invaluable role in treatment outcomes, as back pain has a strong association with mental health and other factors that contribute to lowering our pain threshold (the minimum stimulus required for us to perceive pain). Peter is our treating myotherapist who specialises in all things nerve and joint pain! He is dedicated to creating a safe space where he can support you through your recovery. Book your first consultation with him today!
By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist When tackling PCOS it is important to remember that the best treatment is going to be a combination of treatments. Lifestyle changes such as nutritional support, stress management and exercise are all important to help regulate hormonal imbalance and reduce PCOS symptoms. Unfortunately these changes don't have an effect overnight and consistency is key so while you are recovering flare ups and symptom management is going to be super important as this will keep pain under control and allow you to stay motivated and consistent in your recovery. That is where myotherapy comes in!  A Myotherapist's job - in a nutshell - is to keep you moving and/or progressing through treatment by managing pain and inflammation. The same applies for the treatment of PCOS. Myotherapy is able to effectively manage muscle and joint pain associated with all types of PCOS by using manual therapy to encourage blood flow and nutrients to the tissue, release endorphins (your feel good hormones), reduce inflammation and relax muscle tissue. We are also able to support hormone regulation by using massage to calm the central nervous system, reduce stress hormones (such as those associated with adrenal PCOS), increase insulin absorption and decrease blood glucose levels. In addition to the above, your Myotherapist will be able to help you identify aggravating factors and work with you to create a treatment plan that incorporates all aspects of your life to support your PCOS recovery all the while managing your symptoms and reducing your pain, sounds pretty good hey! Megan is our treating myotherapist who specialises in all things women's health! She is dedicated to creating a safe space where she can support you through your recovery. Book your first consultation with her today!
By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist Now that we know the different types of PCOS let's talk about how this relates to your musculoskeletal system and the effect PCOS can have on your muscle, joints and bones. In this blog we will explore the biomechanical implications that can occur as a result of hormonal imbalances associated with this condition.  Individuals with insulin resistance PCOS can experience musculoskeletal symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, low levels of energy, muscle weakness and fatigue due to the decreased absorption rate of glucose into your body's cells and tissues. Glucose and insulin are vital for a healthy musculoskeletal system and when their supply to tissues and cells are disrupted muscle strength and stamina as well as bone mass and density are affected. Those with this type of PCOS may also experience neuropathy (pins and needles) particularly in the hands and arms. Adrenal PCOS is associated with increased stress hormone release from the adrenal glands. When the body is experiencing chronic stress, all systems are affected including your musculoskeletal system. The release of hormones involved in Adrenal PCOS can cause muscle tightness, cramping, spasms, sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) bone fragility and overall increased sensitization. Muscle bone and joint health can also be influenced by chronic inflammation and this is typically seen in those with Inflammatory PCOS. With this condition muscle mass and strength are significantly affected as well as symptoms of muscle and joint pain in response to elevated inflammatory markers. As you can see all of the above types of PCOS can have an affect on your musculoskeletal health due to the underlying chemical processes occurring in the body as a result of this condition. When you receive treatment for muscle or joint pain it is important for your treating practitioner to understand the effect your PCOS type is having on the tissues and bones in your musculoskeletal system in order to treat you effectively. Megan is our treating myotherapist who specialises in all things women's health! She is dedicated to creating a safe space where she can support you through your recovery. Book your first consultation with her today!
By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist Hormones are the chemical messengers involved in various bodily functions and responsible for maintaining balance in your body’s internal environment. So what happens when hormones become imbalanced? Well PCOS is just one hormonal condition that can occur as a result of hormonal imbalances within our bodies. So how do we address this and how can Myotherapy help? While hormones are not within our control, environmental and external factors are and it’s these things that we can use to our advantage when treating hormonal conditions like PCOS.  Understanding your Condition and PCOS Type Did you know that there are 4 different types of PCOS? Unfortunately your PCOS type is something that may not have been disclosed to you when you received your PCOS diagnosis and is the case with many women I treat, however understanding your PCOS type can be vital in determining the best treatment approach to combat your condition. So let me list them.
Insulin-Resistant PCOS Insulin-Resistant PCOS is the most common type of PCOS and this occurs when there is a higher level of insulin in the body. The hormone insulin is released in response to increased glucose (sugar) in the blood. Think of insulin like an uber for glucose (sugar) in the blood, insulin aids transportation of glucose to their destination which is muscle, liver and fat cells. Once transported glucose will be stored in these cells for energy later. When you are experiencing insulin resistance you are still producing insulin however the “insulin uber” is not transporting glucose effectively and now we have too many glucose hormones waiting for their uber to show up, as a result glucose is now accumulating in the blood. Adrenal PCOS Adrenal PCOS occurs as a result of hormones produced in a response to stress. In this type of PCOS a hormone called DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone - Sulfate) is secreted at a higher rate by the adrenal glands and this elevation of DHEA-S contributes to the hormonal imbalance seen in adrenal PCOS. Managing stress in this type of PCOS should be the priority in order to rebalance hormones and treat the condition effectively. Inflammatory PCOS Inflammation is a chemical response to injury or infection, it is our body’s way of healing itself. Usually inflammation is short term and clears up when the injury or infection is resolved. However, in this PCOS type inflammation has been chronic and ongoing over a long time which results in the ovaries producing too much testosterone. If this is your PCOS type it may be worth investigating the underlying cause of chronic inflammation so that it can be resolved or managed effectively. Post Pill PCOS Post Pill PCOS is the onset of PCOS after ceasing the contraceptive pill. This does not occur in everyone after stopping this medication however is something that can occur and is another type of PCOS. This happens as a result of a natural surge of hormones, however, you’ll be happy to hear that this type of PCOS is temporary as your hormones will start to regulate themselves with time. The good news is all of the above types of PCOS can be treated resulting in significant reduction of symptoms and better overall quality of life. The key is understanding your type of PCOS and making the correct lifestyle changes in order to combat PCOS once and for all! Megan is our treating myotherapist who specialises in all things women's health! She is dedicated to creating a safe space where she can support you through your recovery. Book your first consultation with her today!
By Ethan Farr, Sports Myotherapist & Exercise Scientist It’s the start of a new year and perhaps your resolution is to get back into running or just lose weight through running. Well here at Simple Wellness we’re here to support you! Even if it means you don’t need to see us due to injuries caused by running unprepared. I myself have decided to add running back into the lifestyle and here are a few things I have learnt to help keep me injury free and motivated enough to keep coming back to running. 
2. Set Clear, Manageable Goals for the short term, medium term and long term When you begin running, it’s easy to get excited and push yourself hard at first. But as with any new activity, it's important to start slow, set achievable goals, and gradually build up your stamina. Short-term goals: These should focus on developing consistency in your routine. For example, your goal could be to run for 15-20 minutes three times a week for the first few weeks. As you become more accustomed to the activity, you can gradually increase the time or distance. The goal here is to make running a regular habit without overloading your body. Medium-term goals: Once you’re comfortable with short runs, you can aim to increase the duration or intensity. Maybe you want to be able to run a 5K in a few months or increase your pace. At this stage, you might also consider incorporating interval training or hill runs to build strength and endurance. Long-term goals: After several months, your long-term goals could involve running a race, achieving a personal best, or running longer distances (like a 10K or marathon). Having long-term goals helps keep you motivated and focused on your progress. By breaking down your goals into short, medium, and long-term milestones, you ensure steady progression without overexertion, and it helps prevent the mental burnout that can come from unrealistic expectations and keeps you motivated because you are meeting your goals. 3. Educate Yourself on Running Form Running might seem like a simple, instinctive activity, but your body’s mechanics matter a great deal. Poor running form can lead to inefficiencies and increase the likelihood of injuries. Posture: A proper running posture starts with standing tall. Engage your core and avoid leaning too far forward or backward. Your shoulders should be relaxed, and your arms should move naturally with a slight bend at the elbows. Keep your head upright, looking forward, not down. Foot strike: Now this is highly contentious. It has been said that where your foot lands is crucial for maintaining efficiency and preventing stress on your joints. A lot of running coaches say you want to land midfoot (not on your heel or toes) but the current research shows very little impact on improved running performance or reduced injury risk from striking with the midfoot and some research shows what can actually increase risk of injury is trying to change how your foot strikes naturally to a midfoot strike. So I suggest going with what feels natural when it comes to how your foot is landing when running, avoid overstriding, which can put excessive force on the body. Think of keeping your steps light and quick. Breathing: Breathing rhythm is another often overlooked element of running. Practice deep belly breathing rather than shallow chest breathing to help reduce fatigue and increase oxygen delivery to your muscles. Aim for a consistent rhythm that matches your stride (e.g., inhale for two steps, exhale for two steps). As a beginner, it might take time to fine-tune these elements, but focusing on proper running form from the beginning will help you run more efficiently and reduce strain on your body. 4. And finally listen to your body While it’s great to have goals and be motivated, it’s equally important to listen to your body’s signals. Running is a high-impact activity, and pushing too hard too soon can lead to injuries like tendonitis, stress fractures, or muscle strains. If you feel pain (beyond just normal muscle soreness), it’s crucial to take a step back. Incorporate rest days into your weekly routine to allow your muscles and joints time to recover. If you're experiencing discomfort or tightness, consider stretching or using foam rollers to alleviate tension. As a Myotherapist, I recommend regular maintenance treatments such as soft tissue therapy to help keep muscles pliable and reduce the risk of overuse injuries. In conclusion, starting your running journey can be an exciting and fulfilling process, but it’s crucial to take it one step at a time. By investing in proper footwear, setting achievable goals, learning the basics of running form, and listening to your body’s needs, you can build a solid foundation for a lifelong running practice. Remember: your body needs time to adapt. Be patient, be consistent, and most importantly, enjoy the process of getting stronger, faster, and healthier with every step you take. If you want to see the difference a sports myotherapist/exercise scientist can make to your running journey, book yourself an appointment with me or call us on 03 8204 0970.
Happy running! |
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