Rae's Anatomy Physiotherapy

31/08/2026

📢 LAST-MINUTE PHYSIOTHERAPY APPOINTMENTS TOMORROW WITH FIONA!

We’ve had a couple of last-minute appointments become available tomorrow:

⏰ 12:30pm – 30 minutes
⏰ 2:15pm or 2:30pm – 45-minute Initial Assessment & Treatment

If you’ve been putting off getting that pain or injury looked at, this is a great opportunity to get booked in with Fiona.

⭐ Here are just a few of the amazing reviews Fiona has received from her patients! ⭐

📞 To book, please contact us directly on 07588 468 380.

Our website is currently down today, so please contact us directly to secure an appointment.

Rae’s Anatomy Physiotherapy

31/08/2026

🌟 A huge shout-out to Ben! 🌟

When Ben first came to the clinic, he was experiencing difficulties with his mobility and had suffered several falls. Since then, he has made amazing progress!

Since starting physiotherapy, Ben has worked incredibly hard and has come on leaps and bounds in a relatively short space of time. He is now moving around the house independently, getting out more and enjoying socialising again.

The difference in both Ben and his wife has been genuinely lovely to see. His confidence has grown tremendously, and we’re continuing to build his strength and balance so that he can remain as active, capable and independent as possible.

At 86 years old, Ben is a brilliant reminder that although age can play a part, it is never the whole story. We often hear, “I’m just getting old,” but it is never too late to start moving, become stronger or improve your quality of life.

A massive well done to Ben your hard work and determination!

25/08/2026

What really influences recovery?

When someone gets better following physiotherapy, it can be easy to give all the credit to a particular treatment or technique. In reality, recovery is usually influenced by many different things.

Natural healing plays a part. So does feeling listened to, understanding what may be causing your symptoms, receiving reassurance and having hope that things can improve. Building confidence in movement and feeling supported along the way can be just as important as the treatment itself.

Physiotherapy should be a partnership. It is about working together, listening to what you are experiencing and understanding what you want to get back to.

Our role is to assess the problem, provide direction and choose the right tools for you at the right time. This could involve hands-on treatment, exercise rehabilitation, shockwave therapy, acupuncture, education or simply helping you find the confidence to move forward.

Sometimes you need a structured rehabilitation programme. Sometimes you just need reassurance or a little push in the right direction.

We would love to take all the credit, but you are the one living with the problem and doing the hard work between appointments.

As physiotherapists, we help to facilitate recovery. We listen, guide and work alongside you, giving you the tools and support needed to get back to what matters most.

Recovery isn’t something we do to you. It is something we work towards together.

20/08/2026

We’re delighted to have both Sara and Jana offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) here at Rae's Anatomy.

Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, low mood, stress, confidence, OCD, health anxiety, or simply feeling a little overwhelmed, CBT can provide a supportive space to better understand what you’re experiencing and develop practical tools to help you move forward.

Appointments are available on Wednesdays and Fridays at our Burntisland clinic, making psychological support more accessible alongside the other services we provide at Rae’s Anatomy.

If you’d like to find out more about CBT, whether it might be right for you, or how to book an appointment, please get in touch with the team.

Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all 🧠💛

At Rae’s Anatomy Mind and Movement, we believe good therapy starts before the first intervention.

We don’t simply sit down, talk about what’s happening and hope things improve. We take the time to understand what is maintaining the problem and what treatment is most likely to help you.

🔎 1. We assess the problem
We explore your symptoms, history, difficulties and goals to identify the main issue and understand what is keeping it going.

🧩 2. We formulate together
We use evidence-based psychological models to make sense of your difficulties. For example, Beck’s model may help us understand depression, while Salkovskis’ model can be used to understand OCD. The formulation helps guide what we actually need to work on.

🌱 3. We consider readiness for change
Therapy involves change, and change can be difficult. We consider where you are in your journey, what you feel ready to work on and what might get in the way.

🤝 4. We prioritise the therapeutic relationship
One of the most important parts of therapy is the relationship between you and your therapist. You need to feel safe, understood and able to be honest. And sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, we simply aren’t the right match, and that’s okay.

Why might therapy not work?

Sometimes it isn't because you have failed at therapy.

It could be because:

• The therapist isn't the right fit for you
• The treatment approach isn't appropriate for your difficulties
• Therapy is too unstructured or doesn't provide practical strategies
• You aren't yet ready to make the changes required
• Important information is being held back because it feels too difficult or embarrassing to share
• The strategies discussed aren't being practised between sessions
• Expectations about how quickly change should happen aren't realistic
• There are external circumstances that therapy alone cannot change

Therapy isn't a magic fix. It is a collaborative process.

Your therapist brings knowledge, structure, evidence-based techniques and guidance. You bring your experiences, honesty, willingness to explore difficult things and a commitment to trying new approaches outside of sessions.

And sometimes, the most therapeutic thing we can do is recognise that a particular approach or therapist isn't right for you, and help you find what is.

The goal isn't simply to provide therapy. It's to provide the right therapy for the right person, at the right time. 💛

18/08/2026

Manipulation: it looks dramatic, it sounds dramatic… but what is actually happening?

As the Irish say, “What’s the craic?” ☘️

The "crack" or popping sound you sometimes hear during manipulation is called cavitation. A rapid change in pressure within the joint results in the formation of a gas-filled cavity.

It isn't a bone “going back into place”, and getting a louder crack certainly doesn't mean you've had a better treatment!

So, what is manipulation actually doing?

Rather than “realigning” the spine, manipulation provides a rapid mechanical and sensory stimulus to the joint and nervous system. This can temporarily alter pain processing, reduce the feeling of stiffness and make movement feel easier.

What effects might we see?

Immediately afterwards, some people may experience:

Reduced pain
Increased range of movement
Less stiffness
Easier or more comfortable movement

These effects are often short-term — but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

That temporary improvement can create what we call a “window of opportunity.”

So, what do we mean by a “window of opportunity”?

If manipulation temporarily reduces pain or stiffness and makes movement feel easier, we can take advantage of that period to get you moving, introduce exercise, build confidence and gradually expose your body to the things it needs to do.

And this is where exercise becomes incredibly powerful.

Why is exercise so powerful?

Think about it for a second…

Through something as simple as movement and exercise, we can provide the body with a stimulus — a reason to adapt, become stronger, more resilient and more capable.

Depending on what we're trying to achieve, exercise can help us:

Build muscle strength, power and capacity
Improve tendon capacity and resilience
Stimulate bone formation and maintain bone density
Improve joint mobility and function
Improve balance, coordination and proprioception
Improve cardiovascular and respiratory fitness
Improve metabolic health and insulin sensitivity
Help regulate blood pressure
Support a healthy body composition
Stimulate the body's own pain-modulating systems
Reduce pain and sensitivity in many persistent pain conditions
Improve our tolerance to work, sport and everyday activities
Build confidence in movement and reduce fear of activity
Improve sleep
Support mental wellbeing, mood and cognitive health
Reduce the risk of several long-term health conditions
Reduce the risk of falls
Help prevent or delay frailty and age-related loss of muscle
Maintain mobility and physical function as we age
Help us remain independent for longer
Improve our ability to recover from periods of illness, injury or inactivity
And ultimately, help us keep doing the activities that give our lives meaning

Geek alert 🤓 — isn't that amazing?

We have this incredibly powerful tool that can help facilitate recovery and make our bodies stronger, more resilient and more capable of dealing with the demands we place on them.

And one of the best parts?

Exercise is relatively inexpensive and can often be done almost anywhere!

So, where does manipulation fit in?

I like to think of manipulation as one tool in the toolbox.

Used appropriately, for the right person, at the right time and for the right reason, it can help reduce pain, ease stiffness and make movement feel easier.

But it shouldn't be relied upon in isolation or simply repeated session after session.

And importantly, manipulation isn't putting your spine “back into alignment.” Your vertebrae aren't repeatedly slipping out of place, and you shouldn't need someone to continually “put you back in.”

Ultimately, education, self-empowerment, exercise and gradually building confidence and capacity are much more important for creating meaningful, lasting change.

Manipulation can help along the way, but it isn't the thing that “fixes” you.

18/08/2026

🎉 **Meet Fiona!**

With over 22 years of experience across the NHS and private practice, Fiona is an experienced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with a passion for helping people reduce pain, recover from injury and get back to doing the things they enjoy.

Fiona treats a wide range of musculoskeletal problems, including back and neck pain, joint and muscle problems, sports and running injuries, and persistent aches and pains.

Alongside her musculoskeletal experience, Fiona also has a special interest in women’s health and postnatal physiotherapy, supporting women with their recovery following pregnancy and childbirth.

Fiona takes a friendly, supportive and individual approach to treatment, working closely with each person to understand what matters to them and helping them build the confidence and strength to get back to the activities they enjoy.

If you're struggling with an injury, ongoing pain or would like some support with your recovery, Fiona is here to help.

📢 Fiona has two last-minute appointments available TODAY

🕐1:45pm
🕒 3:00pm

Both are available for an initial physiotherapy assessment and treatment.

📍 Rae’s Anatomy Physiotherapy, Burntisland

👉 Get in touch or book online today:
https://www.raesanatomyphysiotherapy.com/appointments

17/08/2026

📢 LAST-MINUTE PHYSIO APPOINTMENTS – TOMMOROW

Due to a couple of cancellations, we have some 45-minute physiotherapy appointments available tomorrow (Tuesday 18th June).

🕐 1:45pm – Fiona
🕒 3:00pm – Fiona

Perfect if you’ve been meaning to get a new injury or ongoing problem assessed, or if you’re looking for some help getting back to doing what you enjoy.

📍 Rae’s Anatomy Physiotherapy, Burntisland

Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

📩 Message us to book or book online.

06/08/2026

👋 Meet Annabelle!

With nearly 30 years of experience across the NHS and private practice, Annabelle has a special interest in spinal and pelvic pain.

Alongside her work in the clinic, she continues to work as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner in Fife's Orthopaedic Spinal Clinic, assessing and managing complex spinal conditions alongside Orthopaedic Consultants and Neurosurgeons.

Known for her friendly, down to earth, approachable nature and wealth of clinical experience, Annabelle is passionate about helping people understand their condition, reduce pain, and return to the activities they enjoy most.

If you're struggling with back pain, neck pain, pelvic pain, or a musculoskeletal injury, Annabelle is here to help.

📍 Rae's Anatomy Physiotherapy, Burntisland
📞 Get in touch to book an appointment today.

22/07/2026

💙 Supporting Your Mind as Well as Your Body 💙

At Rae's Anatomy Physiotherapy, we know true wellbeing comes from caring for both body and mind. We're excited to share that our psychological therapy service is growing, and with that growth comes more ways to support you.

Please join us in welcoming Jana, who is joining the team as our second Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (CAAP) delivering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We’re so pleased to be able to offer more appointment times as demand increases.

Jana brings over five years’ experience in NHS mental health services, offering evidence-based CBT for anxiety, low mood and other common mental health challenges. She’s also worked in third-sector settings supporting people through bereavement, dementia, acute mental health crises and suicidal distress.

Warm, compassionate and non-judgemental, Jana tailors therapy to each person, helping you understand what’s keeping you stuck and teaching practical, lasting skills to move forward. She supports people with anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, overthinking, emotional overwhelm and the effects of difficult life events.

As a certified yoga teacher for 13+ years, Jana sometimes brings gentle, body-based practices from Nurture Yoga into therapy where it’s helpful, a gentle complement to CBT that can support emotional well-being.

If you’ve been thinking about reaching out, this could be a gentle first step. New CBT appointments with Jana will be available from August at our Burntisland clinic.

📍 Rae’s Anatomy Physiotherapy, Burntisland
📅 Appointments with Jana from August
📧 To book, email: [email protected]
📞 Or call: 07445 839224

We’re here whenever you’re ready, and we'd be honoured to support you

21/07/2026

"I've got pain at the front of my knee... I just need to strengthen it, right?"

Not necessarily.

Strengthening is often an important part of rehabilitation, but it's rarely the whole answer.

Anterior knee pain (patellofemoral pain) is usually the result of the knee being exposed to more load than it currently has the capacity to tolerate. The challenge is identifying "why" that has happened.

Contributing factors can include:

• Joint mechanics
• Muscle strength and capacity
• Muscle flexibility
• Movement patterns during activities such as running, squatting, and climbing stairs
• Training load and recovery
• Previous injury and overall physical conditioning
• Footwear and other external factors
• Thoughts, beliefs, and confidence around pain and movement

This is why two people with the same diagnosis can require completely different rehabilitation programmes.

Rather than simply asking, "What structure is causing the pain?", a better question is:

"What factors are increasing and influencing the load on the knee, and how can we improve its ability to cope?"

The aim of rehabilitation isn't just to make the knee stronger. It's to improve its capacity, modify the factors driving excessive load where appropriate, and help you return to the activities you enjoy with confidence.

Every knee has a story. The key is understanding yours.