Richard Doran-Sherlock Osteopathy

27/11/2025

A recent Environmental Physiotherapy Association roundtable event inspired me to write the central piece of this month’s newsletter – an argument that air pollution is a significant contributory factor to low back pain. This is a topic which is not often discussed, and I’m hoping that more people working at the intersection of planetary and human health highlight it in their work and advocacy.

Other topics include:
• The History of Stone-Lifting in Ireland
• Dealing with the Volume of Medical/Health Research
• Addressing online Medical Misinformation
• What Happens When you Swallow a Piece of Lego

Putting the finishing touches on it this evening, and sending it out tomorrow.

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physiotherapy

Richard Doran-Sherlock Osteopathy Email Forms

31/10/2025

It has been two months since my last newsletter, and due to several factors, I haven’t had a chance to work on a long form article as per usual. Instead, I’ve taken a look at some recently published papers and how they impact my clinical decision making.
Topics include:
‘Text Neck’ and Neck Pain
Elective Orthopaedic Surgery, Pseudoscience and Resource Use
Sleep and its Impact on Injury and Performance
When Biomechanics Matter
Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD)/Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos (hEDS) – Diagnosis via Blood Test?
Lifting Technique and Back Pain
Snake Anti-Venom and Environmental Justice

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28/08/2025

https://mailchi.mp/e8f36b54b264/richard-doran-sherlock-osteopathy-newsletter

“I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain”

26/08/2025

“What would happen, if we managed anxiety like we commonly manage pain? What if we told people who were suffering with general anxiety disorder, or an acute anxiety attack, that they needed to avoid all stressful situations as that could result in things spiralling out of control? Temporarily avoiding acute stressors or triggers may be necessary from time to time, but would we recommend this indefinitely? What if people were encouraged to book ‘maintenance appointments’ every month/year to screen for any potential negative thoughts which may lead to an episode of anxiety? What if we told people that the slightest concern or worry is something which requires treatment, lest it lead to some horrible occurrence down the line? Doing so may validate the experience of someone who is suffering in the moment, but it is a recipe for an awful future of withdrawal from the world, and utter dependency on clinicians to intervene at highly regular intervals. Effectively, this management approach would cultivate anxiety about anxiety, and is likely to consolidate the vicious cycle of suffering.”

This month’s newsletter will be sent out later this week, and focuses on an essay looking at the parallels between anxiety and pain, and how treatment of one informs the other. Other topics include inequality and chronic pain, and medical misinformation arising from AI/LLMs.

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23/07/2025

The June-July Newsletter can be read here:

I hope that you are having a lovely summer! I took a break from the monthly newsletters and some time off work in June to spend time with my wife for our anniversary, and am now finishing some writing which I had started working on in May.

22/07/2025

After a break for June, the monthly newsletter returns and should be going out tomorrow.

This edition looks at how and why manual handling practices don’t seem to reduce the risk of occupationally driven low back pain, and the social and political factors which shape the beliefs underpinning why we continue to do something which doesn’t seem to work.

Other topics include a fantastic exploration on why rating medical professionals may cause more harm than good, sexism and pain interference, and kettlebell training and the elderly.

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