Mitchinhovepark

02/06/2026

Asymmetry, we’re really not that symmetrical from the start. And it’s not until we expose our bodies to prolonged sequences of movement (let’s say running) that we start to realise how our asymmetries begin giving us some interesting feedback.

Even as children, we naturally develop preferred movement patterns. Over time, repeated movement creates repeated loading… and repeated loading creates adaptation.

Being left or right handed isn’t just preference, it shapes how force is produced, absorbed and repeated through the body over years.

What’s interesting is that injury risk doesn’t always sit where people expect.

Sometimes the weaker side struggles because it lacks strength, control or resilience. Sometimes the dominant side breaks down because it’s overloaded constantly.

And asymmetry can be demonstrated on a macro level. Ever thought about driving and how finely calibrated your right foot becomes controlling the accelerator with such finesse and fluidity?

The body adapts to what we repeatedly ask of it, for better or worse.

So how can we improve symmetry?

Maybe we move away from rigid “10 rep rules” in the gym and instead train each limb to a controlled level of fatigue individually. And once you identify the less dominant limb or muscle group, perhaps adding an extra set exclusively to that side could help close the gap over time.

It’s just an idea, but it’s often something I’ll introduce with clients.

27/05/2026

Not every muscle injury is catastrophic!
Some strains are just a tightness you notice during training. Others stop you instantly. The mistake most people make is treating all injuries the same.

The severity of the damage usually determines:
✔️ how long recovery takes
✔️ how much load the tissue can tolerate
✔️ how likely it is to flare up again

Getting the early stages right can massively reduce the chances of turning a small issue into a long-term problem.

If you’ve picked up a calf, hamstring, groin or muscle injury recently, don’t just “wait and see” for 6 weeks.

19/05/2026

The body doesn’t find the right pathway for movement, it finds the pathway of least resistance!
A day rarely passes in clinic where I don’t use this phrase with a patient. But I believe my drawing pin in foot analogy explains it best!

Imagine you step on a drawing pin.
Instantaneously, you receive a signal from the injured area notifying your brain of immediate trauma. Just as quickly, you react by removing pressure from the site of injury. If you’re brave enough, you’ll pull the brass tack from the underside of your foot, maybe apply compression or stick on a plaster.

From that point onwards, your brain remains highly aware of the injury and, as a result, you begin changing your walking gait to steer around the trauma point. In other words, you find a different pathway of movement.

The brain’s first rule is self preservation (well… maybe breathing comes first!), but the point remains the same: regardless of the injury, the body will reconfigure the way you move to avoid further damage or discomfort.

The longer an injury is present, the longer the body compensates. Over time, those movement patterns become increasingly obscured.

What this phrase really means is that the body prioritises protection over perfection.

When pain, weakness, restriction or injury is present, the nervous system naturally chooses the easiest and safest way to keep you moving, not necessarily the most efficient way. The body adapts by shifting load, avoiding discomfort and recruiting different muscles or movement patterns to compensate.

In the short term, this is intelligent and protective.

But over time, those compensations can become habitual. The “pathway of least resistance” may reduce pain initially, yet eventually create overload, stiffness or dysfunction elsewhere in the body.

So the goal in rehabilitation isn’t just reducing pain, it’s restoring confidence, strength and efficient movement so the body no longer feels the need to compensate.

19/05/2026

We need to talk! If you find yourself continuously shifting from one injury to another, struggling with niggles that never quite go away, or simply feeling like your body’s working against you lately… we need to talk!

I work with athletes and non athletes alike, helping delve through the beautiful bittersweet anatomical puzzle that creates muscular mayhem up and down the body.

I’m based at the Hove Park Bowling Green Pavilion (a stone’s throw from Hove Park Café) where the focus is simple: honest treatment, proper support and helping people move and feel better again.

Support doesn’t just stop at the clinic door either. Expect the occasional check in text from me making sure progress is happening… and seeing if you’re still doing your homework

If you’re unsure whether I can help, just send me a message and we can have a quick chat.

I also currently offer a 3 for 2 treatment package for all new patients visiting the clinic.

More info and online booking can be found at mitchinhovepark.com

If you keep bouncing from one injury to another, or that stubborn pain just refuses to shift… we need to talk! I work with runners, athletes and everyday humans trying to get their bodies working properly again. My job is to untangle the sometimes frustrating anatomical puzzle behind injuries — ...

07/05/2026

How’s your squat test?
Your squat says a lot about how your body moves. If you can comfortably hit a deep squat with your heels down, you likely have great ankle mobility and flexibility. If your heels lift or you need to bend forward excessively, it could suggest stiffness through the ankles and calves that may need some work. The squat test isn’t about “good or bad”, it’s about understanding your body and where you can improve to stay moving well and reduce injury risk. How does your squat look?

05/05/2026

Feels like a Knot!
Feels like a knot, but ‘NICE’ (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance limits me from describing it as one. Technically, a knot is formed by looping and tying one end over the other, which isn’t the case here. So calling it a knot could be considered inaccurate and misleading. That said, when patients come in with a tight restriction in their upper traps or neck, often described as a hot poker causing severely compromised neck movement and difficulty looking left or right… it feels like a knot. Truth be told, putting analogies aside, it’s more about muscle fibres that have contracted, tightened and failed to release. They form hard, tender lumps, creating pressure and giving you that familiar “knot-like” sensation. Deep tissue therapy and some trigger pointing can help release the area, reduce the pressure and allow the muscle fibres to perform as it should. Knot or not is irrelevant, relieving this temporary, awkward limitation is what matters. Book in today and let me show you how I can help.

18/04/2026

The Royal Albert Hall Marathon, one of the strangest endurance events ever staged… 524 laps in circles while a band played to stop the crowd falling asleep!
In 1909, runners took on a full marathon inside the Royal Albert Hall. no scenery, no variation… just the same bend, again and again.
If you’ve ever looped a car park, a pier, or your local block… you’ll understand exactly how brutal this really is.