https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-11-12 https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/how-abnormal-blood-flow-drives-brain-fog-and-fatigue-in-pots-and-mecfs monthly 0.5 2025-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/01054685-cbb3-4f27-b817-2452c04c6a7b/Wells+2020+A.png Blog - How Abnormal Blood Flow Drives Brain Fog and Fatigue in POTS and ME/CFS - One revealing study looked at what happens during mentally demanding tasks while seated. POTS patients experienced a much larger drop in blood flow to the brain (nearly 8%) compared to healthy people (less than 2%) (Wells et al., 2020). This decrease was enough to cause measurably slower thinking and increased difficulty concentrating (Wells et al., 2020). What's particularly striking is that the drop in brain blood flow during mental tasks was about the same size as what happens when standing up—meaning cognitive effort alone can trigger significant reductions in blood flow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/e1f39bb9-7f5f-403f-b8a3-1e9117e734b8/OI+CBF+change+ME%3APOTS.png Blog - How Abnormal Blood Flow Drives Brain Fog and Fatigue in POTS and ME/CFS What's particularly revealing is what happens when you have both conditions together. In studies that looked at people with both ME/CFS and orthostatic intolerance, four out of seven found that having both conditions led to even greater reductions in brain blood flow than having ME/CFS alone (Christopoulos et al., 2025). This suggests that when these conditions occur together, they may amplify each other's effects on your brain, potentially explaining why symptoms can be so severe. Even more compelling, advanced brain imaging (using a technique called SPECT scanning) on POTS patients with cognitive symptoms found that 61% showed abnormal blood flow even while lying flat (Seeley et al., 2025). The areas getting the least blood were the lateral prefrontal and sensorimotor regions (Seeley et al., 2025). These brain areas are crucial for executive function, planning, memory, and attention—directly connecting the physical lack of blood flow to the brain fog symptoms you experience (Seeley et al., 2025). https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/pain-stress-amp-the-neuro-endocrine-immune-supersystem monthly 0.5 2025-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/bcc5a509-c466-4881-9fab-0b2a62de1457/Screenshot+2025-10-29+at+7.17.40%E2%80%AFpm.png Blog - Pain, Stress, & the Neuro-Endocrine-Immune Supersystem This ensemble includes: 1. The Nervous System: The central command structure. 2. The Endocrine System: The hormone system responsible for managing stress and resources. 3. The Immune System: The defense mechanism against internal threats and injury. These three systems are in continuous communication, utilising a "common chemical language" of hormones, neurotransmitters, peptides, and cytokines, and it’s fundamental goal is to maintain the body's stability and integrity (homeostasis). https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/unpacking-heds-new-research-highlights-the-links-between-brain-blood-flow-autonomic-dysfunction-and-nerve-pain monthly 0.5 2025-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/7bfdde95-e8e8-4902-98aa-e582c0f81e59/Screenshot+2025-09-15+at+11.02.12%E2%80%AFam.png Blog - Unpacking hEDS: New Research Highlights the Links Between Brain Blood Flow, Autonomic Dysfunction, and Nerve Pain - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/interoception-and-autism-lessons-for-rehab-and-wellbeing monthly 0.5 2025-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/baf84266-4c84-4695-8114-362ce320e8ec/Screenshot+2025-09-07+at+7.47.16%E2%80%AFam.png Blog - Interoception and Autism - lessons for rehab and wellbeing - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/is-it-possible-to-thrive-with-chronic-pain monthly 0.5 2025-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/2561a23a-b734-4e18-9da9-52b2caf8c7ff/Thrivepain.png Blog - Is it possible to thrive with chronic pain? A recent qualitative evidence synthesis brought together findings from 17 studies of people living with chronic primary or arthritic pain. Instead of measuring symptom reduction, these studies examined what people themselves described as helping them thrive—maintaining wellbeing and a sense of fulfilment alongside pain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1754806400390-GFNFQO99DKHVOGC32QNQ/Thrivepain1.png Blog - Is it possible to thrive with chronic pain? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1754806413426-947K4PJQKQGGA8H7OT2W/Thrivepain2.png Blog - Is it possible to thrive with chronic pain? https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/when-pain-peaks-why-timing-matters monthly 0.5 2025-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/6d8d60c7-ea5e-4b05-8c3b-da0189ea6c95/Screenshot+2025-08-03+at+11.29.59%E2%80%AFam.png Blog - When Pain Peaks: Why Timing Matters A 2023 systematic review in Pain Practice, which surveyed 39 clinical studies, makes clear that, for many conditions, pain actually follows a circadian cycle - a 24‑hour rhythm tied to hormone secretion, immune activity, nerve signalling and sleep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1754189523101-UZ2Y7FQF1DW0BTBXD9HC/unsplash-image-JhqhGfX_Wd8.jpg Blog - When Pain Peaks: Why Timing Matters - Working with the body’s rhythm https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/mindfulness-for-chronic-pain-what-really-works monthly 0.5 2025-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1753604981543-U3RYBHXM28NLFDQU6926/unsplash-image-yu68YtSelPQ.jpg Blog - Mindfulness for Chronic Pain: What Really Works? Mindfulness has become a popular tool in modern pain care—offered in apps, therapy rooms, and yoga studios alike. But for people living with chronic pain, it’s worth asking: What kinds of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) actually help—and how should they be structured to make a difference? A major 2025 review published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research sheds important light on these questions. The researchers set out to compare not just whether mindfulness works, but which types work best, how they should be delivered, and how much is enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/04d3862f-f449-4f42-8c2f-6ee123fc8b26/Screenshot+2025-07-27+at+6.27.21%E2%80%AFpm.png Blog - Mindfulness for Chronic Pain: What Really Works? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1753604689749-BTHIJR0WHK88CZI2WK09/unsplash-image-TrY_YA-xx4o.jpg Blog - Mindfulness for Chronic Pain: What Really Works? If you’re living with persistent pain and exploring mindfulness, this review suggests: It’s not just about meditating more—it’s about doing it in a structured, supportive format, like MBSR or MBCT. The type and dosage matter. Dropping into a random meditation app or trying daily 5-minute practices might help—but the evidence is strongest for group-based, 8-week programs. Mindfulness can support pain relief, better functioning, and improved mood—as long as it's tailored and consistent. For clinicians and allied health professionals, this study offers a valuable evidence base to guide recommendations, referrals, or program design. It also underscores the need for further research into the long-term sustainability and comparative impact of different mind–body approaches. https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/impact-of-tool-use-on-distorted-limb-perception-in-complex-regional-pain-syndrome monthly 0.5 2025-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/ad1168b9-2c25-4a68-b907-c9f7bc7cbda1/Screenshot+2025-05-26+at+7.21.36%E2%80%AFpm.png Blog - Impact of Tool Use on Distorted Limb Perception in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1748318651790-7U0DBHEIT14HSIUKQ8N2/Screenshot+2025-05-26+at+8.02.32%E2%80%AFpm.png Blog - Impact of Tool Use on Distorted Limb Perception in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1748318649307-9L7DJFEJH3IV6LP4YPEK/Screenshot+2025-05-26+at+8.09.21%E2%80%AFpm.png Blog - Impact of Tool Use on Distorted Limb Perception in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1748318660864-BXCJIHG27X91H66VTFPG/Screenshot+2025-05-26+at+8.05.12%E2%80%AFpm.png Blog - Impact of Tool Use on Distorted Limb Perception in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1748318665335-C29Q49JIFQ3Y29NVI0X2/Screenshot+2025-05-26+at+8.09.06%E2%80%AFpm.png Blog - Impact of Tool Use on Distorted Limb Perception in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/beyond-the-nervous-system-rethinking-nociplastic-pain monthly 0.5 2025-05-10 https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/dysautonomia-explained monthly 0.5 2023-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1697777731501-VDIOZYLCZYUHNB2RJXQS/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Dysautonomia Explained - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/2sbkkgtpvgc53k8vx1za59c376chni monthly 0.5 2022-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/d1bb0f69-5e32-4c71-a1c7-9f4b7d2c0c51/pain+evolution+paper.png Blog - Does Chronic Pain arise from an evolutionary mismatch? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/the-myth-of-core-stability-amp-low-back-pain monthly 0.5 2021-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1614129688568-O4C8T0F9WODS6HZ5DQUI/Picture+1.png Blog - The Myth of Core Stability & Low Back Pain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1614130007697-CNE38X84CHESDFMQ5OEG/Pic+2.png Blog - The Myth of Core Stability & Low Back Pain Much of this contrast seen above can be put down to the distinctions between the old biomedical model and the modern, more holistic biopsychosocial model. The older biomedical model was purely focused on objective physical signs of pathology and presumed the source/origin of diseases and illness lie in these physical signs. Which then meant all modes of treating such diseases and illnesses focused solely on pathological structures themselves (e.g. protruding lumbar discs, joint osteoarthritis etc). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1614130336711-GRHE4C3GKEIFRM45JLYC/BPS.png Blog - The Myth of Core Stability & Low Back Pain Whereas the newer Biopsychosocial approach, pioneered by George Engel over 30 years ago, frames illness and disease from a broader perspective, integrating biological factors (e.g. joints, muscles and tissues), with psychological (e.g. stress and anxiety) and social (low socio-economic status, close personal relationships) factors to understate and treat such issues from a more holistic view (6,8). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1614131024606-UQPVA1V1USOYTAJNENYF/Screen+Shot+2021-02-24+at+11.43.04+am.png Blog - The Myth of Core Stability & Low Back Pain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1614131406718-DNKET9DV8RNFSG6R2XZP/1112_Muscles_of_the_Abdomen_Anterolateral.png Blog - The Myth of Core Stability & Low Back Pain The TA is commonly categorised into the ‘local’ subgroup of trunk or ‘core’ muscles which are supposed to control single vertebral segments and are responsible for their stabilisation (4). The larger subgroup of ‘global’ trunk muscles are not directly connected to the spine but support and affect spinal orientation without direct segmental influence (4). When a person then presents to the clinic complaining of back pain – the common approach has been to prescribe isolated trunk muscle strengthening and control exercises that address the so called ‘local’ subgroup of muscles, such as the transverse abdominus, multifidus and obliquus internus abdominus (4). When held up to objective investigation, we actually see trunk muscles work as a functional unit, with muscle activations shifting depending on the specific movement task (4). The notion that muscles in the trunk can be specifically split up into groups and trained separately is a reductionist and false notion (4). In a critical review of the literature on ‘core stability’, Wirth et al. states that there is no supporting evidence for the basic assumption that those with low back pain have activation deficits or atrophy of core muscles like the TA or multifidus (4). They also comment that an activation deficit or muscle atrophy is more likely to be the result of pain rather than the cause (4). Whilst the available science supports exercise as a beneficial treatment for LBP, the reality is (as always far more complex) more dynamic and interactive than our simple models can often explain (7). Hence, we return to the previously mentioned Biopsychosocial model to better explain what we currently understand about back pain and how to best rehabilitate it. As we have seen, back pain is not well understood by solely framing it within a biomedical framework (1). Many people have been shown to display pathological and degenerative signs on imaging (e.g. disc prolapse and joint degeneration on X-rays and MRI) without any reported pain (REF). Evidence clearly states that most low back pain is non-specific, meaning that it is not possible to identify a single origin (there are often many) of a patient’s symptoms (7). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1614131872342-ESJTMOHZ3PIXRRWH8HAD/pic+3.jpg Blog - The Myth of Core Stability & Low Back Pain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1614131949032-ERDSVBBN2SPC3L3CR2S0/pic+4.jpg Blog - The Myth of Core Stability & Low Back Pain The Biopsychosocial model more appropriately explains how multiple factors in a person’s life can influence their illness experience. This is best visualised in the image above. As mentioned in my previous blogs – Pain is best understood as a protective mechanism of the nervous system related to a balance of danger and safety messages we receive (6). Structural damage is only one of those, and as mentioned above, it is not always a reliable indicator of why someone is feeling pain. https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/pain-sensitivity-is-reduced-by-exercise-training-a-meta-analysis-amp-systematic-review monthly 0.5 2020-12-12 https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/category/Chronic+Pain monthly 0.5 https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/tag/Exercise monthly 0.5 https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/tag/Physiotherapy monthly 0.5 https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/tag/Exercise+Therapy monthly 0.5 https://www.yogicphysio.com/blog/tag/Chronic+Pain monthly 0.5 https://www.yogicphysio.com/classes daily 0.75 2025-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/1613958185327-6D1B6SQMMT4K5K8XEUP1/SBCreativeCo-Oliver-058.jpg Classes Classes: YOGA & MEDITATION Ritual Palm Beach - Thursday 6:15pm Click on the image to book https://www.yogicphysio.com/aboutme daily 0.75 2025-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/8b35b4a1-aaf0-4ba8-ae32-960a48bcbacc/StudioWell-52.jpg https://www.yogicphysio.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-10-20 https://www.yogicphysio.com/offerings daily 0.75 2025-10-20 https://www.yogicphysio.com/newsletter-sign-up daily 0.75 2025-10-20 https://www.yogicphysio.com/home daily 1.0 2026-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/492718db-81b1-4aa2-9f57-06ab0d131c8b/yogic-physio-oliver-crossley-physiotherapy+copy.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/4431499a-0a5e-4aba-a7b2-9c86cb6682fd/StudioWell-56.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/98cf11c6-17c1-4982-b2e4-f8fb1f268286/NOLI7409-1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/d46698c0-7195-4c84-8c0f-4efa0ac44121/NOLI7466.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/9d252903-ecd1-46d3-9259-ee30c327aba1/NOLI7522.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/daf924bb-da38-4455-b1e7-f2a52ccbab9e/StudioWell-54.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eb385bde617077404449ae1/dce21358-ed6b-4a50-a349-3fc65f4bf9a5/NOLI7277.jpg https://www.yogicphysio.com/faqs daily 0.75 2025-10-20