Having had a few days of glorious sun and with the clocks about to go forward, it looks like Spring is finally with us.
It’s traditionally a time when we throw open the windows to let the light and air in, get out into the garden but also look around our homes and start to plan a bit of DIY to improve and brighten things up.
Whilst here at Mid Sussex Osteopaths, we don’t want to put a dampener on your DIY, we do want to make sure you don’t cause yourself any unnecessary injury. So, in this newsletter, we look at some of the pitfalls of DIY and what you can do to help yourself avoid any aches and pains.
Oh, and if your DIY project involves a new look bedroom, then you might also want to look at our advice on buying a new mattress. Often overlooked, our mattresses can be a major source of back and neck pain, so even if the bedroom isn’t on your agenda, you still might want to check it out.
But first, and in the spirit of the new beginnings spring symbolises, I’m really happy to announce the arrival of our newest member of the team, Emily Colaluca. I’ll let her introduce herself….

New Team Member
Emily Colaluca
Hi. I graduated with a Masters degree in Osteopathy from The University College of Osteopathy. I have experience in a number of areas including sport injuries, expectant mothers, chronic pain and the elderly. I use a wide range of techniques from soft tissue massage and manipulation to rehabilitation exercises and lifestyle advice.
Prior to working at Mid Sussex Osteopaths, I worked in a busy multi-disciplinary clinic in central London. I saw a huge variety of patients from desk-based workers to athletes.
I’ve always been interested in health and well-being and I like to keep active. I am also keen to continue to develop my skills and am planning to complete my Clinical Pilates in the near future.
I’m really excited to be joining the team at Mid Sussex Osteopaths and I look forward to meeting you soon.
Emily started with us this week and will run clinics on Tuesday afternoons and evenings as well as Friday afternoons.
If you’d like to see Emily, we’re offering a 20% discount on your first treatment with her if booked in March or April. If you’d like to take advantage of this offer just enter or mention the code ‘EMILY1’ when booking in. You can book online or call reception on 01444 360359
Move to improve
As we emerge from the clutches of winter, have you started planning a few DIY jobs and home improvements? Whether it’s a bit of painting to brighten up a room or a refit of your kitchen, we’re a nation of DIYers and spring is an obvious time to get stuck in. But unfortunately, it’s also the time that we see an influx of people with neck and back pain after embarking on some of these jobs.
If that sounds familiar, check out our recent post on quick and simple DIY warm up exercises. After all, prevention is better than cure and they really won’t take very long.

Choosing a mattress
When was the last time you replaced your mattress? If you’re decorating your bedroom this spring, now is a good time to check. An old mattress or the wrong type, could be contributing to your back, shoulder or neck pain? People will change their pillows to see if that helps but their mattress often goes unchanged for years past its sell by date. Given that we spend up to a third of our lives in bed, it’s well worth thinking about whether it’s time for a change.
And here’s the good news? There’s a huge amount of choice and various levels of expense when it comes to choosing a new mattress, so we’ve simplified things for you by putting together a guide to help you choose the right one. So now you have no excuse!

Whatever you’re planning this spring, if it involves getting active, that’s great but don’t forget you should always warm up before doing anything too strenuous. After all, you don’t want to miss out on all the great things our region has to offer because you’ve pulled a muscle or put your back out.
Whether you like to walk, run or cycle, it’s good for the body and good for the soul to get out and about. So, here’s hoping for some great spring weather.
Happy Spring everyone and please get in touch, if you need any help with your warm up.
