The marvellous Uckfield College recently hosted an inspiring Careers Fair that shone a spotlight on many careers, including the diverse and rewarding field of osteopathy. I was thrilled to represent the osteopathic profession and share insights into its vast potential with the next generation.

Have you noticed that after a winter of battling colds and coughs, your shoulders seem to bear the weight of the season?

We've been seeing a lot of lingering coughs and a sense of sluggishness left over from the winter months. It seems like a lot of us just haven't been able to shake off that feeling of depleted energy and mental fuzziness.

Targeting a wide audience, including general readers, medical professionals, therapists, and individuals involved in the sporting world, Wildy successfully bridges the gap between specialised knowledge and lay understanding. She describes the place osteopathy can play in mental health care in an accessible, easy-to-understand manner. 

Stretching has had a mixed press in recent years with doubt being thrown upon its usefulness in preventing injuries and improving sports performance.

But there is a strong relationship between stretching, tissue healing and health. This magic plays out in the connective tissue of the body.

During the lockdown, I have heard correspondents recording podcasts from inside airing cupboards. Many of us have been zooming from our bedrooms. Families have dispersed around their houses variously propping up laptops on whatever comes to hand.

Pippa Middleton has recently written an article in praise of osteopathy, having taken her one-year-old son for treatment. In Waitrose Weekend this week, she describes her experience: “I was fascinated to see how calming it was for him"

The litany of aches and pains it produces makes it seem so.

My veterinarian friend said that if I were a horse, she'd probably shoot me. I was in her car in the first week of recovery from a complete Achilles' tendon tear and was keen to hear about the equine approach to this injury. Mine was a result of being over competitive and middle-aged on a netball court.

Two years ago we acquired a puppy and duly attended dog training classes. With four children at home the outcomes were limited; although our then six year old became much more obedient and her recall is now excellent. The dog behaves well on home turf but is awful when we visit somewhere with new smells. At our local dog show last year, I unexpectedly arrived at the feet of a man and his Labrador, when my eager hound pulled me to them across the grass on my stomach.

In 1997, I stood in a large cupboard in a Welsh mansion, packed in with a dozen friends. My heart pounded as I stilled my breath to silence in the cramped space. I rank the moment from 22 years ago among my best memories. It reminds me of the sweet glee that comes from play.

The pain from plantar fasciitis can range from an irritating niggle at the end of a long run to constant pain getting up and walking. There are a lot of self help measures to try before seeking treatment.

Knees are tricky joints, they they have to compensate for any vagaries in how our feet work whilst walking, soak up hip restrictions and compensate for stiff spines or tight muscles.