Have you ever worried or been told that your posture is “bad” or that a curved or slouched back means something is wrong? The good news is that there is no perfect or normal posture. Everyone’s bodies naturally vary and the spine is designed to move and adapt to different positions throughout the day.

The presentation of back pain can be worrying, frustrating and exhausting. It can arrive suddenly or build gradually over time. It can understandably lead to questions of “what have I damaged?” and “If I move will I make it worse?”

Pain is real but is not a reliable indicator to measure tissue damage. Pain is an interpretation of an electrical signal produced by the nervous system in response to changes in mechanical, thermal and chemical inputs. Your brain and spinal cord can turn up or down the sensitivity to these inputs. Stress, poor sleep, fear, worrying beliefs and focusing closely on pain can increase sensitivity. To start turning the volume down it is important to understand your pain, impro

Ageing is a natural part of life, but pain does not have to be. While many believe sore joints and daily discomfort are inevitable, pain should never be dismissed as “just getting old". Pain is personal and subjective, yet unfortunately older adults are often undertreated. Misconceptions, reluctance to “be a bother,” and the complexity of multiple medications all contribute to pain being overlooked.

While there is currently no complete cure for OA, you can live a great, active life with OA. Being active can actually reduce your symptoms. There are three layers to OA management: