May 2026
Welcome back to our monthly blog posts. As you can all tell, we are at the end of spring and heading into early summer, which means we should be moving into warmer and brighter days. I don’t know about you, but this always lifts my mood — who doesn’t love a bit of sunshine?
May brings a big increase in outdoor activities such as cycling, gardening, running, and walking. It’s also a popular time for DIY projects and home improvements – we know this as we are currently under renovations in our home and doing our own DIY etc. While all of this is great for staying active, it can take a toll on your body if you’re not careful.
We often see a rise in back and neck pain in chiropractic clinics at this time of year, as people suddenly increase their activity levels after a quieter winter period. Here are a few tips to help reduce strain:
Gardening posture: Avoid bending from your lower back for long periods. Try kneeling on a pad or using a low stool and keep your spine neutral.
Lifting safely: Bend through your knees, keep the object close to your body, and avoid twisting while lifting.
Pacing activity: Break tasks into shorter sessions and take regular breaks rather than doing everything in one go.
Mental Health Awareness Week
This month also included Mental Health Awareness Week (11th–17th May), a huge national campaign led by the Mental Health Foundation. Each year has a different theme, and this year’s focus was “Take Action.” You may have noticed our Instagram post during the week. We used the website https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ to look at all the information and how we could help.
We also recognise, as a chiropractic clinic, that physical pain can have a significant impact on mental wellbeing. This is something I (Zoe) have personally experienced — during my musical theatre training when I struggled with shin pain, and more recently with chronic shoulder pain. I’ve found chiropractic care incredibly beneficial in supporting my body through recovery, but also in improving my mental wellbeing, as it reassures me that I’m actively taking care of my health.
Spinal health, movement, and posture all play a role in how we manage stress. When your body is functioning well, it’s easier to cope with daily pressures. Many patients find that a holistic approach to care not only helps reduce pain, but also improves sleep, energy levels, and overall mood — helping them feel more balanced both physically and mentally.
National Walking Month
May is also National Walking Month. Matt and I get out walking often, usually three times a day thanks to our lovely dog, Jet! We both really notice how much better we feel simply getting outside, breathing in fresh air, and moving our bodies.
This month encourages people to walk more instead of driving, although we understand this isn’t always practical with busy schedules. Even a quick 10–20-minute walk during your lunch break can make a big difference to both your physical and mental wellbeing.
Walking has many benefits for spinal mobility and posture. Here are a few simple tips:
Posture: Stand tall, keep your head up, shoulders relaxed, and avoid looking down at your phone while walking.
Footwear: Choose supportive, comfortable shoes with good cushioning to reduce impact on your joints.
Avoiding strain: Start at a comfortable pace, especially if you’re getting back into walking, and gradually build up your distance and speed.
As we move out of May and into the summer months, many of us are becoming more active — whether that’s spending time in the garden, walking more, getting back into fitness, or making the most of the long weekend over the Spring Bank Holiday. While this is great for overall health, sudden increases in activity can place extra strain on the body. If you’ve noticed new aches or stiffness, it may be a sign your body needs a little extra support.
Clinic update:
We had a very successful day at North Baddesley Village Day on the 16th of May and are welcoming some new patients to us, we are very grateful that more people are going to trust us with their care.
We are about to send an email to a successful Massage Therapist applicant to join our team, so keep an eye on our socials over the next few weeks where we will be introducing them - it is getting very exciting here at Vital Chiropractic Clinic.
Matthew is going away for a week in June, so there will be no appointments from the 4th of June, and we will be back in clinic on the 11th of June. Please make sure to book around these dates so you don’t miss out while he is away. Zoe will still be working on some of those days so please email in if you need anything.
Thank you to those who read these blog posts every month, I am really enjoying creating them for you– Even if only 2 people read them then I will take that as an accomplishment!
Again, those who wish for us to share any news, if you’re running a marathon, doing any charity events or anything you are happy for us to share and celebrate then please let us know!
So finally, if you’re starting to feel the effects of increased activity this season, it might be worth having a check-up to keep everything moving as it should.
Appointments are limited around early June, so do plan ahead if you’d like to come in for your treatment.