World Spine Day is a great opportunity to think about something we often take for granted - our spine. Your spine supports your body, helps you move, protects important structures and plays a key role in everyday activities. From sitting at your desk and driving, to exercising, lifting, walking and sleeping, your spine is involved in almost everything you do. This World Spine Day, we're looking at some simple ways you can support your spinal health and reduce the risk of pers

Starting a new fitness programme is a great way to improve your strength, fitness and overall wellbeing. Whether you're returning to the gym, taking up running, joining a fitness class or preparing for a new sporting challenge, it's important to give your body time to adapt. Doing too much too soon is one of the most common ways people end up with an avoidable exercise injury. Here are 3 simple ways to reduce your risk of injury when starting a new fitness programme. Build Up

Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed that one shoulder sits higher than the other, your head sits slightly forward, or you tend to lean to one side? Your posture can reveal a lot about how you move throughout the day. While there is no such thing as one “perfect” posture, the positions you spend the most time in can influence how your body feels. Your daily habits, from sitting at a desk and driving to exercising or relaxing on the sofa, can all affect the way you m

Menopause is a natural stage of life, but the changes that come with it can affect much more than hormones. Many women experience changes in sleep, energy, muscle and joint comfort, posture, mobility and how their body feels day to day. While chiropractic care does not treat menopause or replace medical care for hormonal symptoms, it can be a valuable part of looking after your musculoskeletal health during this stage of life. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we take a personalised ap

Have you ever found a small, tender area in your shoulder, back or leg that feels tight and painful when you press on it? You may have described it as a "muscle knot." Muscle knots are extremely common and can affect anyone, from office workers and busy parents to runners, gym-goers and athletes. But what exactly causes them, and what can you do when they just won't seem to go away? At LMH Optimal Therapy, we regularly see patients experiencing muscle tension and tightness, s

When you're working towards a fitness goal, it's easy to focus on the visible parts of your training: how far you run, how much weight you lift, or how many workouts you complete. But there is another part of your fitness plan that is just as important, and often overlooked: recovery. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we see many active people who are highly committed to their training but don't always give their body the same attention between workouts. It's important to remember that

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek treatment, affecting everyone from office workers and parents to runners, gym-goers, and those with physically demanding jobs. If you've been struggling with stiffness, muscle tension, or recurring back pain, you may be wondering whether sports massage could help. The simple answer is that, for many people, sports massage can help by reducing muscle tension, improving mobility, and supporting recovery. While it isn

Running is one of the most accessible ways to stay fit, improve cardiovascular health, and boost mental wellbeing, but staying injury-free is key to enjoying the sport long-term. Many running injuries aren't caused by a single event, instead developing gradually due to small training mistakes that build up over time. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we regularly help runners recover from injuries and improve their movement so they can continue doing what they love. Here are some of th

We all know how important a good night's sleep is, but when you're dealing with aches, pains, muscle tension or stress, getting quality rest isn't always easy. Poor sleep doesn't just leave you feeling tired the next day - it can affect your mood, concentration, recovery, immune system and even how your body responds to pain. While chiropractic care and sports massage aren't treatments for sleep disorders, many patients tell us they're sleeping better after beginning care. Wh

This month marks a very special milestone here at LMH Optimal Therapy - we're celebrating three years in our Poole clinic! Over the past three years, we've had the privilege of helping hundreds of people move better, recover from injuries, manage pain, and prioritise their health. Whether you've visited us for chiropractic care, sports massage, sports therapy, pregnancy care, or simply for advice on staying active, we'd like to say one huge… Thank You! Your support, recommend

If you've ever found yourself stretching every day but still feeling stiff, tight, or restricted, you're certainly not alone. Many people assume that stretching is the key to improving flexibility and mobility, and while it can be incredibly beneficial, it's only one piece of the puzzle. True mobility is about much more than simply lengthening muscles. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we often see patients who have been stretching regularly but continue to experience recurring tightne

When it comes to improving your health, one of the simplest and most effective forms of exercise is often overlooked: walking. You don't need an expensive gym membership or specialist equipment to experience the benefits. A regular walk can help improve your physical health, support your mental wellbeing, and even reduce everyday aches and stiffness. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we often encourage patients to stay active as part of their recovery, and for many people, walking is a

Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints we see at LMH Optimal Therapy. Whether it's a dull ache after a long day at your desk, pain when reaching overhead, or discomfort that keeps returning after exercise, shoulder problems can have a significant impact on your daily life. The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, allowing us to lift, throw, reach and rotate with ease. However, this range of movement also makes it more vulnerable t

Whether you're training for your first Hyrox event, smashing CrossFit workouts, or following a functional fitness programme at your local gym, recovery is just as important as the training itself. These styles of training challenge your strength, endurance, mobility, and cardiovascular fitness all at once. While they deliver fantastic results, they also place significant demands on your muscles and joints. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we work with many Hyrox competitors, CrossFit

With Wimbledon starting from 29th June, many people might feel inspired to pick up a racket, return to the court, or play more regularly over the summer. Tennis is fast-paced, demanding, and great for fitness, but it also places repeated stress on the body. Serving, twisting, sprinting, lunging, and sudden changes of direction all require strength, mobility, coordination, and recovery. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we work with tennis players of all levels, from social players to c

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care and sports massage. While many people assume the problem is coming directly from their back, the root cause can often be found elsewhere - for example in the hips. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we frequently see patients with lower back pain that is linked to tight hips, reduced mobility, and prolonged periods of sitting. Understanding the connection between your hips and lower back could be the key to

Whether you're commuting to work, tackling mountain bike trails, or enjoying long weekend rides along the coast, cycling places unique demands on the body, and while it is often considered a low-impact sport, the repetitive nature of riding, combined with long periods in a fixed position, can create stiffness, muscular imbalances, and recurring aches and pains over time. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we work with cyclists of all abilities to help improve mobility, support recovery,

If you’ve ever experienced sharp pain in the bottom of your heel when getting out of bed in the morning, there’s a good chance plantar fasciitis could be the cause. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of foot and heel pain, affecting runners, gym-goers, people who stand for long periods at work, and even those who simply spend a lot of time on their feet day-to-day. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we regularly help patients manage foot pain and tightness through sports

Golf may not always look physically demanding, but anyone who plays regularly knows how much stress it can place on the body. From repetitive swinging and twisting to long hours walking the course, golf places significant strain on the spine, hips, shoulders, and lower back. Without good mobility and recovery, this can lead to stiffness, discomfort, reduced performance, and recurring injuries over time. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we regularly work with golfers looking to improve

Whether you cycle competitively, commute daily, or simply enjoy weekend rides, cycling places unique demands on the body. Long hours in a fixed riding position, repetitive movements, and strain through the spine, hips, and shoulders can all lead to tightness, discomfort, and reduced performance over time. At LMH Optimal Therapy, we regularly work with cyclists looking to improve mobility, reduce pain, recover more effectively, and keep their bodies functioning at their best.