Sue Falber VHT Practitioner

18/09/2025

Ooo love a bit of internal anatomy…

Human Anatomy Internal Organs 🎖️🔥

16/09/2025

Interesting….

30/05/2025

Invisible But Powerful: How Sound Helps Us Heal from the Inside Out

By Jim Donovan, M.Ed.

In 2019, I nearly died.

After a sudden bout of septic shock, I was given a 20% chance of survival. I spent weeks in the ICU, underwent multiple surgeries, and lost my ability to speak above a whisper. Recovery was long, and for a while, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get my voice—or my energy—back.

But what ultimately helped me return to health wasn’t just medical care. It was vibration.

I mean that literally.

As a lifelong musician, I already knew the therapeutic potential of sound. But through my recovery, I learned just how powerful it could be—when used intentionally—to help the body rebalance, rewire, and restore itself from the inside out.

This isn’t just personal. It’s physiological. And today, I want to share with you one of the most overlooked healing pathways that every one of us carries inside our own body: the vagus nerve.

The Vagus Nerve: Your Body’s Built-in Recovery System

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in your body. It winds from your brainstem down through your face, throat, heart, lungs, and into nearly every organ in your torso. It's part of your parasympathetic nervous system—the one responsible for rest, digestion, and repair (Breit et al., 2018).

When this nerve is activated properly, it signals to your body that you are safe. That’s when healing can begin.

But many people today live in a near-constant state of stress, which inhibits vagal tone—the strength and responsiveness of this nerve. Poor vagal tone is associated with anxiety, chronic inflammation, cardiovascular issues, and even depression (Garland et al., 2021).

Here’s where sound comes in.

How Sound Stimulates the Vagus Nerve

Research shows that vocal activities like humming, chanting, or toning can stimulate the vagus nerve through the muscles at the back of the throat and vocal cords (Porges, 2017). These practices help to slow the breath, deepen exhalation, and promote parasympathetic activity.

One of the simplest examples is humming with the lips closed and tongue pressed gently to the roof of the mouth. This directs vibrational energy into the face and skull, which are rich in vagal nerve pathways. People often report a calming, buzzing sensation and a noticeable shift in their mental and physical state after just a few repetitions.

In fact, when participants in my workshops practice just 60–90 seconds of intentional sound, many experience visible softening in their facial tension, deeper breathing, and even clearer vision.

It’s a powerful reminder: Sound is more than something we hear. It’s something we feel—and something we can use.

Sound + Intention = Self-Regulation

When I first began teaching sound-based healing, I thought the voice was simply a tool for expression. But I’ve since learned it’s also a tool for regulation.

Intentional vocalization triggers the release of feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and nitric oxide, all of which support stress relief and emotional balance (Zaminy et al., 2022). More importantly, these practices are free, accessible, and already built into every human body.

You don’t need to be a singer to use them. You just need to be willing to make a sound.

One Sound, Repeated Regularly

The best results come from consistency. In my daily life, I use these practices while walking, before bed, and when I feel tension rising. Even one sound, practiced regularly, can shift your baseline.

Sound healing isn’t magic. It’s nervous system hygiene.

You already carry the tools inside of you. My invitation? Use them.

References

Breit, S., Kupferberg, A., Rogler, G., & Hasler, G. (2018). Vagus nerve as modulator of the brain–gut axis in psychiatric and inflammatory disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 44. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00044

Garland, E. L., Thomas, E. A., & Beck, A. C. (2021). Mind–body interventions and the vagus nerve: Mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15, 630229. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.630229

Porges, S. W. (2017). Vagal pathways: Portals to compassion. In E. M. Seppälä, E. Simon-Thomas, S. L. Brown, M. C. Worline, C. D. Cameron, & J. R. Doty (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science (pp. 189–202). Oxford University Press.

Zaminy, A., Heshmati, M., & Shariat, A. (2022). The neurochemical and psychological effects of vocal exercises: A review of mechanisms behind sound-based interventions. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, 21(3), 85. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2103085

06/05/2025

Interesting news ..

Scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University have just made a new discovery that could change how we fight Lyme disease.

They found a weak spot in the bacteria that causes Lyme, a tiny but powerful enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase (BbLDH). This enzyme helps the bacteria grow and survive in the body. Without it, the bacteria struggles to spread.

Why is this so big news? Because this enzyme could now be targeted. If we block it, we could stop Lyme disease in its tracks.

This breakthrough, published in the journal mBio, is a big step forward in the fight against a disease that affects thousands every year.

To read the full article click the link! https://asm.org/press-releases/2025/march/researchers-discover-achilles-heel-of-lyme-disease

10/03/2025

£158 per session !!!! This is unbelievable ! And apparently BUPA only pay their referral practitioners £30 !
I charge just £45 a session plus mileage and work on the body holistically - which means that I work on the compensations as often the issue you think is the problem comes from using the incorrect muscles for the job as the ones you should be moving have switched off due to tension or strain.
If you are interested in starting Spring with a 'new you' but are unable to start exercising due to pain in your hip/ back or shoulders then feel free to message me for more info or to book an appointment.

Find out about Bupa UK’s private musculoskeletal services, including physiotherapy, osteopathy and other treatments to support your muscles, bones and joints.

27/02/2025

Addressing the fascial adhesions with VHT and you can look to release the restrictions in the hip joint. I have successfully used VHT with clients before and after hip replacement surgery and have also used it in clients who have then gone on to avoid having surgery and are much freer and pain free in their movement.
Fascia is not just on one plane like your skin covering it is a 3D web that covers and connects the superficial, deep and subserous layers with intertwining sheaths. It needs to be released from restriction and adhesion in order that the fibres can move freely VHT with its unique 3 part vibrational move allows such a release in the fibres to take place.

Tensor Fasciae Latae and Gluteus Maximus Muscles: Do They Contribute to Hip Abduction?

Analysis by Physio Meets Science

“👉 The classic hip abductors include the gluteus medius (Gmed) and minimus (Gmin) muscles. They are innervated by the superior gluteal nerve (SGN). These muscle groups are highly important to function of the hip joint and are relevant for a stable stance and locomotion (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19136181/, .hhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30182152/ hhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21212373/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21212373/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16255022/).

👉 Thus, good abductor strength is essential for locomotion without walking aids (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15001980/). Furthermore, abductor function is crucial for more demanding movements such as fast walking, walking uphill, running, squatting, and climbing stairs (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12127184/).

👉 The tensor fasciae latae (TFL) and the gluteus maximus (Gmax), innervated by the superior and inferior gluteal nerves (SGN/IGN), respectively, are located in immediate anatomical proximity. They are discussed to partially compensate for the function of the classic hip abductors. Nevertheless, the main function of the Gmax is extension and external rotation of the hip and the main function of the TFL is flexion of the hip and stretching of the fascia latae with stabilizing effect on the knee (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22109658/).

📘 In a brand-new study, Hoch and colleagues (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39733244/) intend to investigate the amount of abduction force generated by the TFL, the gluteus medius and minimus, and the Gmax. This knowledge may help to understand the compensatory mechanisms that occur when the hip abductors are insufficient. Specific training of these potentially compensating muscle groups can, therefore, be a decisive component in the treatment of patients with hip abductor insufficiency, for example, in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with neurological diseases, regarding preparation (prehab) for patients undergoing hip surgery or in the case of already established irreversible weakness.

👫 Participants:

➡️ Ten healthy adults (5 males, 5 females) aged 22–29 years participated.

➡️ Exclusion criteria were a history of the lower extremity, hip, or lower back pain, resp. surgery, neuromuscular disorders and pregnancy.

💡 Experimental Setup:

➡️ Sequential nerve blocks were applied to weaken the TFL, Gmed/min, and Gmax muscles selectively.

➡️ Abduction forces were measured in the lateral decubitus position under three hip positions: 30° flexion, neutral, and 30° extension.

🦵 Muscle Weakness Induction:

➡️ Nerve blocks were confirmed via electromyography to ensure selective muscle paralysis.

📊 Data Collection:

➡️ Maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) were tested using a dynamometer.
➡️ Statistical significance was determined using one-way repeated measures ANOVA.

📈 Results:

✅ General Observations:

▶︎ Hip abduction force was highest when all muscles were intact and significantly reduced following muscle-specific nerve blocks.

✅ Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL):

▶︎ TFL contributed to abduction force primarily in 30° flexion, reducing it by 15% after paralysis.
▶︎ Its role in neutral and extended positions was negligible (-6,2 -12%).

✅ Gluteus Medius and Minimus (Gmed/min):

▶︎ Gmed/min were the primary contributors to abduction, accounting for over 60% (61,5%-63,3%) of force across all positions.

▶︎ Paralysis resulted in a two-thirds reduction in abduction force, rendering some participants unable to complete tasks in certain positions.

✅ Gluteus Maximus (Gmax):

▶︎ Gmax contributed significantly to abduction, with force reductions ranging from 43% to 56% across positions after paralysis.

▶︎ It was especially relevant during hip flexion.

🔑 Conclusion

✅ TFL: TFL has a minor role in hip abduction, mainly during flexion. Its primary function remains hip flexion and stabilization.

✅ Gmed/min: These muscles are the dominant abductors and crucial for hip stability and locomotion.

✅ Gmax: Previously underestimated, Gmax emerged as a significant contributor to abduction, particularly in flexed positions. Strengthening Gmax may help compensate for hip abductor insufficiency.

⭕ Limitations:

▶︎ The study measured abduction in specific, static positions, limiting real-life applicability.

▶︎ Compensatory mechanisms for chronic muscle weakness were not evaluated due to the acute nature of nerve blocks.

▶︎ No differentiation between different parts of the specific muscles.”

- Physio Meets Science

📸 Illustration: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-00897-9_2

http://www.secretlifeoffascia.com

06/02/2025

Excellent start to a Thursday morning Part 1 of my FIrst Aid Refresher completed and the practical part 2 to follow next week 👍

27/01/2025

Knees ....far too complicated and pretty much a ridiculous design to do the job they are expected to do.......

The Knee Joint: “The knee joint is a synovial joint that connects three bones; the femur, tibia and patella. It is a complex hinge joint composed of two articulations; the tibiofemoral joint and patellofemoral joint. The tibiofemoral joint is an articulation between the tibia and the femur, while the patellofemoral joint is an articulation between the patella and the femur.

The knee joint is the largest and arguably the most stressed joint in the body. The arrangement of the bones in the joint provides a fulcrum that translates the actions of the flexor and extensor muscles of the knee. The arrangement of the extracapsular and intracapsular and ligaments, as well as extensions of muscles that cross the joint, provide the much needed stability that counters the considerable biomechanical stress brought upon the joint. As a hinged joint, the knee joint mostly allows movement along one axis in terms of flexion and extension of the knee in the sagittal plane. It also allows slight medial rotation during flexion and the last stage of extension of the knee, as well as lateral rotation when “unlocking” the knee.”

- Bradley Blair Osteopath

Image .official

06/01/2025

All the more reason to book in for a VHT session from the comfort of your own home….help ease those aches and pains of winter weariness..

The need to sit by a fire, that's what it is.