Stillpoint Osteopaths

23/06/2026

Stillpoint osteopaths value continued education. Part of this for us is always coming back to the anatomy understanding it reviewing it and reading about new information that relates to it.

Dr Andrew Taylor Still the founder of Osteopathy "The osteopath must remember that his first lesson is anatomy, his last lesson is anatomy, and all his lessons are anatomy." The Philosophy and Mechanical Principles of Osteopathy (1902)

20/06/2026

This weekend I'm excited to be supporting one of my mentors, Julie Fendall, as she teaches a course on how osteopathy can support mothers throughout pregnancy.

I'm also incredibly grateful that two of our team, Janice Huang and Olivia Wells, continue to prioritise their professional development and will be attending the course alongside me. We believe that ongoing learning helps us provide the very best care for our patients.

Pregnancy can highlight pre-existing strains and imbalances in the body, turning what should be an exciting journey into months of discomfort. Lower back pain, pelvic pain, indigestion, difficulty breathing, disrupted sleep, the list can be long.

What many people don't realise is that some of these symptoms may be influenced by restrictions in the spine, tension through the muscles and connective tissues, or a nervous system working overtime to adapt to the many changes pregnancy brings.

Osteopathic treatment aims to gently improve movement, reduce tension, and support your body's natural ability to adapt as your baby grows. By helping the body move more freely, we can also help prepare it for the physical demands of labour and birth.

Every pregnancy is different, but you don't have to simply "put up with" discomfort. If you're expecting and wondering whether osteopathy could help, we'd love to support you. Call Stillpoint Osteopaths.

18/06/2026

At Stillpoint Osteopaths, we believe that great teamwork doesn't just happen in the clinic, it grows from the connections we build with each other outside of work too.

Last weekend we celebrated a very special birthday for our wonderful friend and former teammate, Sarah Jackson. Although she's no longer part of the Stillpoint team, she's still very much part of our extended family and yes, we're always trying to convince her to come back!

To celebrate, a few of us took part in a ring-making workshop at The Jewellery Collective. There was plenty of fire, hammering, filing, laughter, and by the end of it all, each of us had created our very own ring.

It was such a fun experience and a great reminder that taking time to connect, laugh, and create together strengthens the relationships that make our team so special. Those friendships naturally carry back into the clinic, helping us communicate better, support one another, and ultimately provide even better care for our patients.

A fantastic afternoon with an amazing group of people!

Hope you enjoy our photos at the wonderful https://www.jewellerscollective.co.nz/

16/06/2026

At Stillpoint Osteopaths, we value being able to provide care for the whole family from newborn babies to the oldest members of your family.

Every stage of life comes with unique challenges and different healthcare needs. That's why our team is committed to ongoing education, ensuring we continue to provide the highest standard of osteopathic care tailored to each age group.

Whether it's supporting a growing baby, helping a busy parent, or improving comfort and mobility for older adults, we're here to help every member of your family thrive.

Thank you for trusting us to be part of your family's healthcare journey.

13/06/2026

Is tightness at the front of your hips contributing to your lower back pain?

Last week, we talked about how improving hip extension (the ability to move your leg backwards) can help reduce strain on the tissues of the lower back. Restricted hip movement is often overlooked in routine low back assessments, yet improving hip mobility and strength can play a significant role in reducing pain and preventing recurring episodes.

So, where should you start?

A great first step is stretching your hip flexors, a group of muscles that connect the lower back, pelvis, and hip. When these muscles become tight, they can limit hip extension and increase tension through the lower back.

By gradually improving flexibility in the hip flexors, you can begin restoring normal hip movement and reducing unnecessary stress on your lumbar spine.

Once mobility has improved, targeted strengthening exercises can help build stability and support long-term results.

If persistent or recurring lower back pain is affecting your quality of life, the team at Stillpoint Osteopaths can help. A thorough assessment can identify the underlying factors contributing to your pain and provide a clear, personalised path forward.

https://www.stillpointosteo.co.nz/

10/06/2026

What is Functional Movement Coaching?

If you're someone who seems to injure yourself every time you start a Pilates class, yoga session, or gym programme, even when you're being careful, Functional Movement Coaching may be the missing piece. Many people have underlying movement patterns that place extra stress on their joints and muscles, making exercise frustrating and sometimes painful.

Functional Movement Coaching is about understanding how your body moves and identifying the patterns that may be contributing to pain, stiffness, or recurring injuries. By observing posture, sitting, standing, walking, and movement habits, it’s possible to uncover compensations that have developed from poor movement patterns, weakness, previous injuries, or trauma.

With over 30 years of experience helping clients improve their strength, flexibility, and movement quality, Sharon Lightfoot-Pound has developed a keen eye for recognising these patterns. With great care and precision, she helps people build a strong foundation for movement so that everyday activities and exercise don't result in days of discomfort.

Whether you're returning to exercise after injury, struggling with recurring pain, or simply wanting to move better, Sharon can help you take the first steps towards a more active and comfortable life.

Contact Stillpoint Osteopaths to learn more about Functional Movement Coaching and start your journey back to confident movement.

09/06/2026

06/06/2026

Lower Back Pain: The Hip Connection

Ever wonder why your lower back pain keeps coming back?
Sometimes the problem isn't your back.

It could be an old ankle sprain that never healed properly, a previous ACL reconstruction that's changed the way you load your leg, or stiffness and weakness through your hips affecting how your body moves.

Research has shown that people with lower back pain often have reduced hip mobility, particularly through hip rotation. When the hips aren't moving as well as they should, the lower back often must compensate. Over time, this can place extra stress on the joints, muscles, and ligaments of the lumbar spine, contributing to recurring pain and discomfort.

This is why assessing the relationship between the hips and lower back is so important.

One of the things osteopaths do particularly well is look at the body as a whole. Rather than focusing only on where the pain is, we look for the underlying factors that may be contributing to it. Sometimes the source of ongoing back pain can be found somewhere completely different.

If you're experiencing recurring episodes of lower back pain, or you've been dealing with constant discomfort, we'd love to help.

Contact Stillpoint Osteopaths today to find out what's really driving your pain.

02/06/2026

Janice, an experienced osteopath and acupuncturist, understands the wholistic nature of the body. Not only does she take the time to really assess and think about your complaints she also has acupuncture as part of her skill set for rapid muscle and fascial ease.

Get in touch if you think you think you may benefit from a treatment with Janice Huang.