Motion Forword - Words of a Therapist: Running ½ Marathons, Over Scanning and Pressing on
Welcome to Motion Forword - Words of a Therapist! Number 26!
Motion Forword is about discussing the combined benefits of movement with a positive mental attitude. Using my personal/professional experiences, evidence-based research and some of your own experiences.
Bringing some hope, positivity, happiness and maybe usefulness to those, perhaps like yourself, that needs a pick me up.
Something about me…I did a thing!
Over the last few months I have been preparing myself for a half marathon run in Dorking at Denbie’s Wine Estate.
21.1km’s of running up and down a vineyard in Surrey with water AND wine stops around the course!
It has been a long time since I did a half but I felt like the training I had been doing (often in the midday heat during summer) had prepared me reasonably well for the challenge.
Despite the unpresidented amount of hills that were involved I was really happy with my time (2h16) and actually, for the most part, enjoyed it.
I came 70th out of 1514 people, 51st of the men (717) and 24th in my age category (379).
I have to take these results with a big pinch of salt though as most people were dressed up as dalmatians, hobbits, spartans or in some other outrageous outfit that would inevitably slow you down!
But the point wasn’t the time. It was enjoying something I didn’t think I could enjoy. Once upon a time, I hated running.
But things change.
I would encourage you to challenge your preconceived beliefs about what you can or can’t do, what you like or dislike and maybe surprise yourself! You never know…
You may untap something you turn out to love…
Something for you…Overdiagnosis: making people sick in the pursuit of health
What’s the harm in getting it checked?
When you have symptoms e.g. chest pain, abdominal pain, back pain, blurry vision, dizziness, numbness etc it is good to get it diagnosed by a qualified practitioner and then have a pathway to treat it.
But what if you didn’t have any symptoms?
Would you get checked… just in case?
Is that always a good idea?
I’ve been listening to an audiobook: Overdiagnosis by H Gilbert Welch, that asks that question…
The book goes through multiple medical examples of where screening (i.e. ‘being safe than sorry’) isn’t necessarily without harm.
In this book, he gives examples in sceening for prostate cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis, thyroid cancer, hypertension (high blood pressure), hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol) and diabetes mellitus where trying to ‘catch it early’ doesn’t actually change long-term outcomes for those destined to get the disease. But in fact can lead to OVERdiagnosis, over treatment (e.g. a mastectomy when you may not have needed it), the complications of these treatments, major negative psychological impacts and the socioeconomical impacts of all the extra treatment/assessments/examinations etc.
It gets more complicated when you consider (especially in the USA) the litigation involved with under or misdiagnosis. So the medical community have become reliant on screening to ‘just check’ to show they did what they could even though perhaps medically there wasn’t a reason.
I see this a lot in my clinic where patients ask for a scan thinking it will show the problem. A bit like my airport security anology. But often we find things on the scan that have nothing to do with our problem. Lots of misdirection and red herrings.
This is why talking to my patients and understanding their problem as best as I can is more important for making the right diagnosis than getting a scan.
Don’t get more wrong, I have referred people for scans, it is necessary but only when it makes reasonable sense. I.e. the symptoms are there! I’m sorry, but pain on it’s own (no matter how severe) is not enough for me to refer you for a scan.
Believe it or not, I have your best interests at heart here. Too often have I had patients have scans and not given the right feedback or support after and it makes them feel WORSE!
It is ALWAYS weighing up the benefits vs the risks because even screening can lead to harm.
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Have you ever had pain, seen the doctor, referred for a scan and then to be told ‘There is nothing wrong with you’? Give me an email and let me know!
A story…+1 Press up Challenge Continued…
I managed it!
I got to 32 press ups! Thanks to everyone who followed along!
It took 40 days as there were days when I forgot and days when I needed to rest but I did it.
And guess what?! it Felt so much easier to do. My body had adapted and got better at doing it. It’s still hard! But I can do it.
And just to prove it to myself, at the time of writing (30th September 2025) I did 33 press ups! Proof here.
Demonstrating that despite 6 days since my last 32 press ups the gains I have made have carried over.
This highlights the importance of rest days/time between large bouts of exercise to allow yourself to continue to perform and push the boundaries even more.
Make rest part of your training/recovery/rehabilitation programme.
Thanks for reading.
Until next month…
Motion Forword ⏩⏩
Nathan