*/
Suffering from pains or aches? There are three key areas to focus on, advises Christopher Belderbos
Barristers are subject to all of the usual musculoskeletal problems affecting office workers. However, they also suffer their own particular stresses and strains, exacerbated by the nature of life at the Bar. In particular: (i) spending long hours at a desk encourages the back to become rounded, the shoulders to hunch forward and the neck to arch backwards; (ii) standing or walking for long periods in shoes that offer little support causes the arches in the feet to collapse and roll in. In order to compensate the hips then rotate out causing the spine to twist, the weight to fall forward and back and shoulders to round; and (iii) transporting awkward and heavy bundles to and from court causes an uneven distribution of weight through joints and muscles. Combined with an understandable reluctance to take time off work, these factors cause fatigue in the muscles and wear and tear in the joints, and can lead to longer term problems.
Christopher Belderbos runs the Ludgate Clinic on London’s Fleet Street which specialises in physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture and yoga. Visit: www.ludgateclinic.co.uk
Our musculoskeletal system is constantly seeking a balance between the forces of opposing muscle groups. Getting the balance wrong whilst doing even simple things like sitting at a desk or being on our feet all day can result in injury.
Top tips:
Keeping the muscles and joints flexible will make them less prone to strains and will reduce fatigue.
Top tips:
Stretch 1: Lying on your back and keeping the knees and ankles together gently lower the legs to one side and rotate your head to the opposite side. Let your arms rest out beside you at 45 degrees.
Stretch 2: Sitting crossed legged interlock your hands behind your back and gently raise your hands.
Gently hold these stretches for 10-30 seconds before slowly returning to the original position. Always seek professional advice if you have an injury.
Don’t let your back muscles do all the work.
Top tips:
Barristers are subject to all of the usual musculoskeletal problems affecting office workers. However, they also suffer their own particular stresses and strains, exacerbated by the nature of life at the Bar. In particular: (i) spending long hours at a desk encourages the back to become rounded, the shoulders to hunch forward and the neck to arch backwards; (ii) standing or walking for long periods in shoes that offer little support causes the arches in the feet to collapse and roll in. In order to compensate the hips then rotate out causing the spine to twist, the weight to fall forward and back and shoulders to round; and (iii) transporting awkward and heavy bundles to and from court causes an uneven distribution of weight through joints and muscles. Combined with an understandable reluctance to take time off work, these factors cause fatigue in the muscles and wear and tear in the joints, and can lead to longer term problems.
Christopher Belderbos runs the Ludgate Clinic on London’s Fleet Street which specialises in physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture and yoga. Visit: www.ludgateclinic.co.uk
Our musculoskeletal system is constantly seeking a balance between the forces of opposing muscle groups. Getting the balance wrong whilst doing even simple things like sitting at a desk or being on our feet all day can result in injury.
Top tips:
Keeping the muscles and joints flexible will make them less prone to strains and will reduce fatigue.
Top tips:
Stretch 1: Lying on your back and keeping the knees and ankles together gently lower the legs to one side and rotate your head to the opposite side. Let your arms rest out beside you at 45 degrees.
Stretch 2: Sitting crossed legged interlock your hands behind your back and gently raise your hands.
Gently hold these stretches for 10-30 seconds before slowly returning to the original position. Always seek professional advice if you have an injury.
Don’t let your back muscles do all the work.
Top tips:
Suffering from pains or aches? There are three key areas to focus on, advises Christopher Belderbos
The Bar Council continues to call for investment for the justice system and represent the interests of our profession both at home and abroad
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Q&A with Tim Lynch of Jordan Lynch Private Finance
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
The Amazonian artist’s first international solo exhibition is wholly relevant to current issues in social and environmental justice, says Stephen Cragg KC
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
It’s been five years since the groundbreaking QC competition in which six Black women barristers, including the 2025 Chair of the Bar, took silk. Yet today, the number of Black KCs remains ‘critically low’. Desirée Artesi talks to Baroness Scotland KC, Allison Munroe KC and Melanie Simpson KC about the critical success factors, barriers and ideas for embedding change
In the final part of a series celebrating the Bar Pro Bono Award winners, Ramby de Mello and Doughty Street Chambers share the stories behind their awards
