Diastasis Recti Abdominis Muscle (DRAM) is a common condition affecting many women during and after pregnancy. It involves the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba, often due to the mechanical and hormonal changes that occur during gestation. While it’s frequently dismissed as a cosmetic issue, DRAM can have significant implications for core function, posture, and quality of life.

What Is DRAM?

DRAM is defined as a separation of the rectus abdominis muscles exceeding 2 cm, typically measured at the umbilical level. This separation results from the stretching and thinning of the linea alba, which accommodates the growing uterus during pregnancy. Although some degree of separation is physiologically normal, persistent or excessive widening can lead to functional impairments.

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Plantar heel pain — especially that sharp pain under the foot when you get out of bed in the morning — is one of the most common foot problems we see in the clinic.

Two recent articles in the British Journal of Sports Medicine give us both a practical roadmap for treatment and a new way of thinking about what happens when pain lingers. Together, they show how to manage plantar heel pain in both the short and long term.

Step 1: Start With the Basics

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Understanding Syndesmotic Injuries

Syndesmosis injuries—commonly referred to as high ankle sprains—involve damage to the ligaments connecting the distal tibia and fibula. These ligaments, including the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (PITFL), and the interosseous membrane, are critical for ankle stability. Injury usually occurs through external rotation or hyper-dorsiflexion mechanisms, particularly in pivoting sports. Such injuries are clinically significant because they often lead to prolonged disability and delayed return to play compared to lateral ankle sprains (Hunt & Wallace, 2022). Early diagnosis is crucial, as untreated injuries may progress to chronic instability, altered biomechanics, and even degenerative joint disease.

Indications for Surgical Intervention

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When it comes to exercise, two of the most common approaches people turn to are Pilates and strength training. Both can play a valuable role in improving health, preventing injury, and enhancing resilience, but they do so through different mechanisms. Understanding the benefits and limitations of each approach, and the evidence supporting them, can help you make an informed decision about which type of training is best suited to your goals.

Pilates

Pilates is a low-impact form of exercise that focuses on controlled movement, posture, flexibility, and core stability. Research shows that Pilates can improve muscle endurance, movement control, and quality of life, particularly in people with chronic low back pain. It is often recommended in rehabilitation settings because of its adaptable and graded approach, which can restore confidence in movement while minimising aggravation of pain. (Wells et al., 2014; Yamato et al., 2015).

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Thyroid disorders can vary in presentation, here we are going to focus on the two most common: HYPOthyroidism and HYPERthyroidism. The cause for both is commonly a result of autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's and Graves’ disease, or less commonly, Iodine deficiency (mostly in countries located further from the ocean). Thyroid conditions affect millions of people globally and while pharmacological treatment remains essential, physiotherapy is emerging as a valuable tool in managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

What does our thyroid do?

The thyroid is essential for production of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones, primarily T3 and T4 are hormones that are critical for controlling body functions including: metabolism, growth and development, cardiovascular function, nervous system function, body temperature regulation, digestive function, and skin and hair health.

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If you’ve ever felt a sudden leak while laughing, sneezing, exercising—or even just walking to the bathroom—you’re not alone. Up to 45% of women experience urinary incontinence (UI) at some point in their lives (1). Whether it’s a few drops during a workout or a sudden urge that’s hard to control, Urinary Incontinence can impact confidence, relationships, and quality of life. But here’s the truth: incontinence is common, treatable, and not something youhave to “just live with.”

Urinary incontinence is treatable, and pelvic health physiotherapy is here to help. This blog breaks down the basics of UI, why it happens, and what you can do to start feeling more confident and in control.

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If you're dealing with nagging shoulder pain that just won’t go away, you're not alone. A common cause of this pain is rotator cuff tendinopathy — a condition that affects the muscles and tendons that help move and stabilise your shoulder.

The good news? A group of international experts recently released updated guidelines (2025) on how to best manage this type of shoulder pain. Here's what they found — in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

What Is Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy?

The rotator cuff is a group of four small muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint. They help you lift, reach, and rotate your arm. These tendons can become irritated over time from:

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Introduction

Pitch-based sports such as rugby, GAA and soccer demand rapid acceleration, cutting, and repetitive loading. These movements create high forces through the feet, ankles, knees, and hips. Physiotherapists often use foot orthotics, custom or prefabricated, to optimise biomechanics, reduce injury risk, and enhance performance.

1. Biomechanical Control & Shock Attenuation

Foot orthoses can limit excessive subtalar joint eversion and internal tibial rotation, both linked to overuse injuries. A meta-analysis by Mills et al. (2010) found that posted moulded orthoses reduced peak rearfoot eversion by ~2.1° and tibial internal rotation by ~1.3°, while also decreasing loading rates during running

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