Motion Forword - Words of a Therapist: Friendly Neighbour, How Kindness Cures & a Leap of Faith

Welcome to Motion Forword - Words of a Therapist! Number 37! 

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… Your Friendly Neighbourhood Osteopath

For the past 6-7 years I have been using the tag line: Nathan Bull, Your Friendly Neighbourhood Osteopath.

Of the 1000s of people I have seen in that time, only a hand full have outwardly expressed that they cottoned on to its origins.

A friend and colleague of mine at the start of my independent Osteopathic career spun the idea because I was agile, athletic and had my nerdy way about me.

As cheesy as it felt at the time, like a fly in a web, it stuck.

Another big part of why this has stuck is that I wanted to stay true to myself. Being friendly and offering an empathetic ear as part of my care has been one of my strengths. And with people’s health being such a great responsibility, I wanted to put this great power to good use.

My approach tends to consist of the 3 E’s: empathy, education and exercise. Silking together with my osteopathic techniques, my lifestyle advice, ergonomic prompts, dietary changes and stress management, I create an interconnected/multipurpose web that supports and carries those in my care to a better place.

Finally, I am a bit Marvel fan. So if you haven’t got it by now… where have you been?!

Something for you… First, be Kind.

I can’t really remember why this part of Osteopathy caught my attention when I was studying.

But I found myself doing a dissertation research project on how empathy influenced patient outcomes.

The idea was: if you were deemed more empathetic this lead to better health outcomes.

And a lot of the research backed this idea.

Which makes sense right?!

If you feel heard, understood and genuienly cared for, as a result, you feel better about it. It may not immediately change the problem you went for, but you feel like something good will come of it. You are in safe hands.

And the opposite is true. If you feel ignored, dismissed and not taken seriously, you feel nothing can be done and you get, potentially, worse…

These affects could be related to what we call ‘Placebo’ and ‘Nocebo’. But anyway…

I remember feeling so empowered to learn when a doctor was considered more empathetic:

• Diabetic patient’s blood sugars improved more and were more controlled.

• Patients with depression had better anxiety and mood scores.

• Patients undergoing surgery had better pain and activity levels.

All when compared to control (do nothing differently) or unempathetic (actively unhelpful, cold, not human) groups!

This is also true in my realm of therapy. Musculoskeletal.

This paper looked at people with chronic lower back pain and found that those receiving ‘enhanced interaction’ (i.e. friendly, warm, open conversation, empathetic) had 50% better pain outcomes than those with a ‘limited interaction’.

Even when the treatment being received was ‘off’ they had better health outcomes! 🤯🤯

This research, along with my own research, has fundamentally driven how I care for people. No matter what, listen and show I care. Hence… Your Friendly Neighbourhood Osteopath!

A story… Leap of Faith

What would spring to mind if you were told in your young adult life by your health professional that you would end up in a wheel chair by 40?

That is what a recent patient of mine was told.

2 weeks prior to seeing me, a different therapist diagnosed them with hip osteoarthritis (OA). This can also feel like we are doomed but they were given exercises that they persevered with.

Given the history of experiences they had in the past, they were quite rightly nervous about seeing me…

At 69-years-of-age, they came in to see me with a 6 week long hip pain. BUT, they had been doing weekly aquaaerobics, yoga and pilates. (A nice big ‘what do you think about that!?!’)

Yet, they had been struggling with walking, going upstairs and standing for 10-15mins which affected them in their part-time work.

With some reassurance, some re-direction and some treatment they were on the right path and continued to improve over the month or so that I saw them.

They recently emailed in:

‘I was given Nathan’s name by a friend who recommended him. I nearly didn’t attend because of past experiences. I am really pleased I made the decision to see Nathan. Nathan was understanding, supportive, attentive and was able to help with my injury.

Nathan’s positive, professional and friendly approach was what I needed. I would recommend anyone to take the leap of faith. I am glad I did.

Thank you very much’.

A subtle hint…

They were able to get back to their pilates (that they had to stop at the time) and was more comfortable with time and consistency with their exercises.

A combination of the right treatment/rehab delivered in a compassionate, supportive way gave them the confidence to believe in that leap of faith they took with me for a great outcome.

Thanks for reading.


Until next month…

Motion Forword ⏩⏩

Nathan