Little tip for the travellers amongst you: don't carry heavy bags and wear high heels at the same time....both are pretty unkind to your back, and putting both together is reaLly daft and asking for a back spasm. If you have to carry a heavy suitcase it is better to carry 2 (one on each side) that june, as you centrally load the spine rather than just one side, and the spine is much stronger in this position. Drink lots of water! Try to stand up and walk around a bit at least once an hour if on a long haul flight, and placing a rolled up towel or jumper in the small of you backwill help delay the onset of low back ache. The key is to keep moving.

Patients beware...I have been 'experimenting' with acupuncture this week. I did a course just before christmas (an agonising weekend might I add...a few needles in a spasmed muscle is pretty much pain free, but 50 needles all over your body in the space of 2 days is just mean! Yes we suffer for the cause of helping you guys!!). I did the course because I got bored of having patients telling me about how fabulous it was when another osteopath did it on them, and why didn't I do it? Well, I do now...but only experimentally...you are all my guinea pigs. I have to see the proof of somthing working before I believe in it. And I have to say, so far so good...we may have found a replacement for the evil elbow technique many of you have experienced. I need to see the results over the next few months to be completely convinced, but for the few acute spasmed backs I treated this week, the needles worked a treat. Just to warn you...if you have muscle and you're on my treatment couch, it's going to get a needle in it, so don't bother rocking up if you're queezy! Anyone got any experiences to share on the use of acupuncture for their muscle/joint/back/neck pain?

HI DE HI CAMPERS...HAPPY NEW YEAR! Yes, we are fed, watered, rested and ready to crack the world! Hoping you all had a fabulous festive season? I decided to be all clever this year, and spent New Year in France...South of France..Nimes...which we have re-named Marie-Celeste. I have one thing to say about New Year in France - ? - where are all the people? Did someone evacuate the country without letting us Brits know? Wondering around the empty streets at 11.30pm looking for the fireworks...at 12am all the boats in the harbour parped their horns for a few mins, a few fireworks were heard (not seen) in the far distance and then silence again. Very bizarre. We decided it wasn't really new year yet anyhow, and retreated to our place of rest, lit a bonfire and celebrated an hour later with the rest of Britain. Won't be visiting France again for New Year celebrations! Thanks for the hospitality an all but I prefer a bit of festive spirit myself...the Circle in Manchester would probably have been a better call. The Thames in London would have been pretty fab. In fact ANYWHERE would have been more exciting. Luckily I do yoga and meditation so I kind of liked the quiet, meditative entrance to 2007...! Oh yes and thanks to whoever broke into the clinic over the festive season - really good of you to leave the hard drive.