Weds 15th July 2026
At this morning’s Wealden Business Group meeting, we tackled a question that physical therapists hear almost daily: “Are there any exercises I can do?”. Interestingly, our speaker Bill Ferguson revealed that when we get injured, we are practically conditioned to think we must immediately start exercising to fix it. However, jumping straight into self-rehabilitation can be a mistake, particularly because competitive sport is inherently dangerous and easily causes injuries. Even more surprising is that the vast majority of physical ailments don’t come from sports at all, but rather from ordinary people doing ordinary things—whether that is straining a back while gardening, overstretching in a yoga class, or developing repetitive strain issues from a computer mouse.
To safely answer the question of what exercises we should be doing, Bill emphasized using targeted exercise beforehand to build a resilient, balanced body. While some people exercise out of fear, poor self-image, or simply because an expert told them to, the healthiest approach is to exercise proactively so that we are physically prepared to play games and sports safely. Bill highlighted that isometric exercise is generally safe and highly effective for building this foundational strength. We were also cautioned to avoid sports that lead to uneven physical development, and instead focus on staying aligned, keeping our legs strong, and maintaining suppleness to push back against the inevitable pull of gravity.
When injuries or wear-and-tear do occur, seeking professional treatment from an osteopath or physiotherapist is an essential step in getting back on track. The group learned how these two professions approach recovery from different angles: physiotherapy has transitioned to place a heavy emphasis on prescribed exercise over hands-on treatment, whereas osteopathy maintains its core focus on body alignment, structural integrity, and ease of movement. Though a future convergence of these two fields is predicted, having a trusted professional to guide your recovery is the absolute best way to know exactly which exercises will help you heal—and which ones might hold you back.
Bill can be contacted at https://www.billferguson.co.uk/ or by email at wfferguson@gmail.com and his presentation can be seen below:
