The ghost in the machine - Is musculoskeletal medicine lacking soul?

In recent times there have been, concurrently, increasing volumes of research questioning whether biomechanics have any relevance at all to musculoskeletal medicine; and a blossoming field of Pain Science identifying that perception of, and context for, pain is often more important than the tissues generating the pain in the first instance. From the academic world to social media, much excitement has been generated in supporting this new direction. However, most of the great work arising from the Pain Science arena is focused on pain itself and on the patients' conscious beliefs around their pain.

Descending pronation patterns.

This practical paper is a continuation of previous papers presented in this section discussing over-pronation. The focus of this article is the way that the body has evolved to handle pronation forces in a descending manner from trunk to foot. It was written to accompany the "Toe-tal Function" editorial in the 20:2 edition of JBMT, but didn't make it in for publication.

Don't get caught flat footed - how over-pronation may just be a dysfunctional model.

For many years there has been a long-held clinical belief that a flat or over-pronating foot should be supported; yet in every other part of the body it has long been recognised that use of support (if at all) should generally be limited to acute rehabilitation. Why should the foot be any different? To support a biological structure, in the long term, is to weaken it. Panjabi's model of joint stability offers insight into why the idea of arch support, as well-intentioned as it may have been, may be a dysfunctional model.

Pattern recognition: the miracle of foresight, with the benefit of hindsight.

One of the central skills integral to effective Bodywork and Movement Therapies is pattern recognition. The ability to be able identify key patterns of data and piece them together using skill, knowledge, intuition and reasoning is what can separate great results from mediocre results. One such pattern that has been observed by movement therapists over the last century, infant developmental progressions, are highlighted and contextualized below in the light of evolution.