It was definitely not your typical pilates class . . .

Back in June I revamped my nothing ventured blog because this time I was determined to start making those necessary life changes and feel back in control of my life. Luckily public humiliation is no stranger to me (loads of practice taking the BBC News Quiz at Archie’s every Friday) as not many of those well-intentioned intentions have become, shall we say, second nature here at casa az. Yet.

Well okay, I have continued going to yoga three times a week and (usually) go upstairs to ride the dreaded exercise bike for 10kms afterwards, but I hadn’t gone back to pilates classes as intended, mostly because when I tried it last year I just didn’t enjoy the way the class was taught. But then I found out that we have a new pilates instructor at the gym and today I decided to check her out . . .

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Simple therapy ‘best for backs’

Paracetamol and keeping active are the best cures for back pain, according to Australian researchers who warn that other treatments do not work.

A Lancet study of 240 back pain sufferers found anti-inflammatory drugs and spinal manipulation did not make any difference to recovery time.

I love this study because it backs up (no pun intended) what I’ve known for about 25 years. That the best thing for lower back pain is just continuous gentle movement and occasional painkillers, though I do sometimes take an anti-inflammatory for the first day or two.

And that’s it! No muscle relaxants, no bone-crackers, no nuthin else is necessary.

It’s kind of like having a cold. If you rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids and take aspirin your cold will last for about 7 days. If you do none of those things it’ll last a week.