My Values as a Clinician & Why I Don’t Fit the Rehab Mold!

I don’t really fit the mold of the traditional rehab clinician, and honestly, I’m okay with that.

Over the years, I’ve seen the rehab industry get stuck in the same outdated routines, recycling the same buzzwords and “fixes” that sound good in theory but don’t actually help people get better. I built my practice around doing the opposite: cutting through the noise, ditching the gimmicks, and helping people take ownership of their recovery.

So here’s what I believe in, and what I don’t.

Only focusing on core strength for low back pain is fucking stupid

Let’s start with a classic myth: “If you’ve got back pain, you must have a weak core.”

This idea has been thrown around for decades, and it’s caused more confusion than clarity. Too many clinicians jump straight into “core strengthening” without ever actually testing someone’s core strength. Feeling your abs or watching you move doesn’t count as an assessment.

And here’s the kicker: low back pain is rarely caused by one “weak” muscle. It’s a complex experience influenced by load, movement habits, recovery, stress, sleep, and about a dozen other factors. Strengthening your core isn’t bad, but pretending it’s the fix? That’s lazy and outdated.

Passive treatments don’t fix people

Dry needling, massage, manual therapy, mobilisations, “release” techniques — I use them occasionally, but let’s be honest: they don’t fix shit.

They can help relieve pain in the short term, usually through something called Descending Nociceptive Inhibitory Control (DNIC). In plain English, that means “pain inhibits pain.” It’s temporary, like turning the volume down for a bit, but it doesn’t solve the underlying issue.

If all your sessions revolve around someone poking, cracking, or needling you, you’re not fixing the problem. You’re renting relief.

“Rehab should be pain-free” — yeah, about that…

This one drives me mad. The same clinicians who say “exercise should be pain-free” are also the ones jamming needles into people and calling it therapy. Make that make sense.

Pain during exercise isn’t automatically dangerous. Discomfort is part of the process, especially when you’re rebuilding strength, capacity, or confidence in a sore area. The key is understanding what the pain means, not avoiding it altogether.

Pain-free isn’t the goal. Function, resilience, and confidence are.

You don’t need a weekly tune-up or adjustment

You’re not a car. You don’t need a “tune-up” every week to stay functional.

Some clinicians love creating dependency, keeping people coming back forever. That’s not healthcare, that’s business.

My job is to make you independent. I want you to understand your body well enough that you don’t need me every time something flares up. If I’ve done my job right, you’ll eventually walk out of the clinic not needing to come back.

That’s the whole point.

Nobody’s got the magic fix

If you meet a clinician who claims they’ve found the solution, run.

Pain and rehab are complex. There are hundreds of things that can help, and different approaches work for different people. The moment someone tells you “this is the only way,” what they’re really saying is “I’ve stopped learning.”

There’s no single right way to help someone move and feel better. My job is to find your way, to test, adapt, and build a plan that actually fits you.

The Bottom Line

Rehab shouldn’t be about fear, dependency, or gimmicks. It should be about education, empowerment, and progress.

I’m not here to sell miracle fixes. I’m here to help you understand your body, rebuild trust in it, and move with confidence again without needing a clinician in your back pocket.

If you’re ready for an honest, no-BS approach to rehab that actually helps you get back to doing what you love, book an appointment today.

Book a session with The Movement Therapy EP team
 
Let’s rebuild your strength, confidence, and independence without the fluff.