Why You’re Not Getting Better (And It’s Not Because You Haven’t Found The Right Person Yet)

I need to get this off my chest — because I see it all the time.

People come in, we have a really good session, things make sense, they leave feeling clear on what to do next…

…and then a few weeks later, they’re off seeing someone else. A physio, a chiro, another osteo, maybe a massage therapist too — collecting opinions like Pokémon cards.

Now — don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with seeing different people. Sometimes, having a few people in your corner is actually a great thing. You know what? I actually don’t mind if you see other people. It can be SUPER beneficial

If you want a team — a physio, an osteo, a massage therapist, maybe someone doing acupuncture — cool! Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

But here’s the real talk part…

That’s not usually why people are bouncing from one provider to the next.
Most of the time, it’s not about building a solid team — it’s about hunting for “the fix.”

That one magical treatment or perfect diagnosis that’s going to finally make everything better.

And I get why.
It’s so tempting to believe there’s one thing you’ve been missing — and if you could just find the right person to unlock it, you’d be sorted.But that’s not what’s happening here.

What’s actually going on is this:
👉 You’re still looking for the one person with the magic fix.
👉 The one hands-on trick.
👉 The one new diagnosis that finally explains everything.

I get it — it’s tempting to think the answer is out there. But after years of doing this work, I can tell you — the fix isn’t something someone does to you. It’s what you do consistently after you walk out the door.

“But I’ve Been Seeing You For Ages And I’m Still Not Better…”

Yep — I hear this too. And look, if that’s genuinely because I’m missing something or we’re not a good fit, fair enough.

But if you’re switching exercises every time you hit a roadblock — that’s a different story.

Rehab isn’t meant to be a straight line.
Some weeks, you’ll fly.
Some weeks, you’ll feel like nothing’s changing — or you might even feel worse.

That doesn’t mean the plan isn’t working — it means your body’s reacting to load. That’s literally how adaptation works.

What a lot of people don’t want to hear is this:
We can write you the best, most evidence-based, beautifully tailored rehab plan on the planet —
but if you’re not managing what’s happening outside the clinic, it’s going to fall flat.

• If work is smashing you physically (or mentally), that’s load.

• If you’re sleeping like crap, that’s load.

• If every time your back twinges, you throw the whole plan out and go back to resting, that’s load mismanagement.

Rehab isn’t just the exercises — it’s how you manage your whole life around them.
That’s the honest bit no one puts on Instagram, but it’s the difference between spinning your wheels for months and actually seeing progress.The Real Fix? It’s Boring As Hell (But It Works)

You know what actually gets people better?
It’s not the perfect manual therapy technique or the fancy rehab gadget.
It’s:
✅ Showing up for your exercises (even when they feel too easy or too boring).
✅ Adding load, week after week, so your body learns to tolerate more.
✅ Tracking your progress — not your pain — so you can actually see how far you’ve come.

That’s it.
Boring? Yep.
But that’s the game.

Hands-On Has Its Place — But It’s Not The Full Package

And before anyone comes for me — yes, I still use hands-on treatment.
It’s bloody helpful for calming things down, getting you moving again, and just feeling good.

But if we stop there?
We’re just patching things up — not fixing the reason you broke down in the first place.

Avoidance Is Fear In Disguise

This is the bit people don’t like to hear.

Sometimes, you’re not avoiding rehab because you’re too busy — you’re avoiding it because it’s freaking scary to face what actually needs to change.

• It’s easier to just keep grinding at work and tell yourself you don’t have time for rehab.

• It’s easier to keep seeing someone who makes you feel better for a day, instead of the one who asks you to do the work.

• It’s easier to keep pushing through pain at work, rather than taking some time off to reset and rebuild properly.

But here’s the thing — all that avoidance?
It’s just dragging out the process.
You’re still in pain, still frustrated, and now you’ve lost months (or years) doing everything except the thing that actually helps — facing it head on.

Stop Chasing The Fix — Start Chasing Progress

So if you’re feeling stuck and thinking, “Maybe I need to see someone else,” ask yourself:
👉 Have you actually stuck to the plan long enough to progress it?
👉 Or have you been chopping and changing, trying new stuff every week?

Because rehab is just like strength training.
You don’t get strong by trying a different workout every session.
You get strong by doing the basics over and over again — but heavier.

The Right Practitioner Won’t Promise The Fix

If someone tells you they’ve got the magic answer — I’d be very suspicious.
The best practitioners? They’re the ones who hand the responsibility back to you.
They teach you what to do. They guide you. They support you.

But you’ve got to be the one to put the work in.

Want To Actually Get Better? Here’s The Real Plan:

1️⃣ Find someone you trust — and stick with them.
2️⃣ Follow the plan — even when you’re bored or frustrated.
3️⃣ Track your progress — not just your symptoms.
4️⃣ Trust the process — not the quick fix.
5️⃣ Stop avoiding what you know needs to happen — because the longer you wait, the harder it gets.

That’s it.
Nothing revolutionary.

Not sexy, but it works.