Baker Holland Osteopathy

25/07/2026

Taking a break from being online now, until Monday 3rd Aug. Reception will help with any queries in the mean time.

08/07/2026

During this hot weather , I am lucky that the clinic, being in the basement of a very old and well-constructed building, remains somewhat cooler than outside! However, if you are concerned to attend or feel unwell because of the temperature, please do not hesitate to contact me about your appointment.

03/07/2026

So many tenets of injury mechanisms go on to be shown to be not quite as predictive as first thought. Runners with achilles tendonitis - this alters the gait mechanics, not the other way round. PainScience.com reports:

‘Science rarely has a satisfying answer, but today it can tell you at least this much: Achilles tendinitis probably causes gait glitches, and not the other way around, according to a big new Czech study with a better-than-average design. Jandacka et al’

What works? What doesn’t? Why? Rational, opinionated reviews of treatment options, and many handy tips. Strong pro-science bias.

01/07/2026

From my colleague at Nene Valley Osteopathy - I often explain this to people, but this graphic is a nice summary. A picture tells a thousand words 👍🏼

🦴 Disc degeneration… is it really the cause of your pain?

If you’ve ever been told you have “wear and tear”, “degenerative discs” or “arthritis in your spine”, it can sound worrying.

The truth is a little more reassuring.

As we age, our spinal discs naturally change. They lose some water content, become less flexible, and may appear bulging or worn on scans. These changes are incredibly common—and often completely painless.

👉 In fact, the latest research continues to show that many people with significant disc degeneration on MRI have no back pain at all, while others with severe pain may have very little visible change on imaging.

This is why we don’t treat MRI scans—we treat people.

At Nene Valley Osteopathy, we look at the whole picture:
✅ Your symptoms
✅ Your movement
✅ Your lifestyle
✅ Your goals

Disc degeneration doesn’t automatically mean your back is “wearing out,” nor does it mean you should stop exercising. In many cases, the right combination of movement, strength, manual therapy and education can help you regain confidence and get back to doing the things you enjoy.

Remember: A diagnosis on a scan is just one piece of the puzzle—not the whole story.

If you’re struggling with back pain or have questions about an MRI result, we’d be happy to help you understand what it really means.

📅 Book your appointment today and let’s get you moving again.

10/06/2026

Ain’t that the truth?

01/06/2026

PCOS has been renamed (about time too) to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome)

06/04/2026

Took the very dirty and ‘missing several important bones’ skeleton in The Northampton Clinic home with me today, as part of the on-going refresh of the Osteo room there. Gave him a nice hot bath. Maybe too hot, as some of his discs fell out while he was soaking! What fascinated me when reassembling him was how each disc (when I got the right level for each disc) slotted into its home perfectly. Very easy to feel when I had not got it in the correct place. A place for everything, and everything in its place.

01/04/2026

Great graphics and a useful summary of how bones respond to strain/strength training.

26/03/2026

From April 1st, the ‘rules’ on how a GP (primary care) can refer you into secondary care in the NHS are changing. In simple terms, the initial referral will not result in you automatically visiting a specialist (in many cases this has been so for a while), it will be an email exchange between GP and specialist, providing advice and guidance. The aim is to reduce outpatient waiting lists. The specialist may decide, of course, that they do want to see you, but if your symptoms can be managed with the GP being guided or advised on steps to take, the specialist may not need to see you. This saves everyone time and reduces demand in a system that is heavily burdened.
This might also mean that you need to take a more proactive role in ensuring that your concerns are represented accurately by the GP, especially if you are have a complex health history, or if you and the GP do not necessarily see eye to eye on your situation.
Osteopaths will be happy to write a letter for you when referring you to your GP - don’t be afraid to ask for this. They can summarise the key points of your issue, and present why this matters to you in particular, which may help you feel more confident undertaking the discussion with the GP.

12/03/2026

Hi everyone,

I’m sharing the flyer for the Black Men’s Wellbeing Festival that my Northampton Clinic colleague, Taffy, has been involved in organising. It’s an online series running over 8 weeks and focuses on mental health, wellbeing and community conversations.

As many of you will know, Black men tend to be underrepresented when it comes to accessing therapy and early help seeking, so this is an important area to publicise.

I’d really appreciate it if you could share or forward the flyer to any individuals, groups, or organisations you think might benefit from it. It’s open to anyone, but particularly aimed at Black men across the UK.

Thank you.

Milton Keynes Talking Therapies, together with our community partners, invite you to the Black Men’s Well-Being Festival.