Doctors' Notes: Backs

What's Up Docs?

BBC

Health & Fitness, Nature, Science

4.4 • 659 Ratings

🗓️ 16 September 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken continue their conversation with Dr Mindy Cairns, Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Associate Professor at the University of Hertfordshire.

They discuss how mental health issues can contribute to back pain, what women can do to manage back pain during pregnancy, and the difficulties of living with long-term back pain alongside other medical conditions. Plus, are there any types of beds and chairs that are good for our backs?

If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or Whatsapp on 08000 665 123.

Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Dr Mindy Cairns Producer: William Hornbrook Executive Producers: Rami Tzabar and Jo Rowntree Editor: Kirsten Lass Assistant Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable Social Media: Leon Gower Digital Lead: Richard Berry Composer: Phoebe McFarlane Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby

At the BBC: Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:07.5	It's like going into an ice path with your hands as the ice.
0:10.8	In 2025, we were here for the entertainment.
0:13.8	Ellis and John.
0:14.9	Have you not considered just coffee, which is what I do?
0:17.6	Sightracked with Annie and Nick.
0:19.4	Stevie Wonder, welcome. I'm pleasure. Loyal Carnar is with us. We want to hearract with Annie and Nick. Stevie Wonder, welcome.
0:21.4	My pleasure.
0:22.2	Loyal Carnar is with us.
0:23.3	Want to hear all about Glastonbury.
0:24.5	And Celebrity Traitors Uncloaked.
0:27.1	Welcome to Uncloaked, Alan.
0:28.8	Oh, thanks for having me, Ed.
0:30.5	The winner.
0:31.2	I know, still hasn't sunk in.
0:32.8	Get the best of 2025 with podcasts on BBC Sounds.
0:40.2	Welcome to Doctor's Notes. This is the bonus content we put together each week because
0:45.2	we always have far more questions for our experts than we can fit in the main episode of
0:50.1	WhatsApp Docs. I'm Chris Van Tulligan. I'm here with my brother. That's me, Dr. Zand.
0:55.6	And we have just finished recording an interview with Dr. Mindy Ken's. She's a specialist
1:00.5	musculoskeletal physiotherapist and an associate professor at the University of Hartfordshire.
1:08.8	In the main app, we talked about uncomplicated lower back pain.
	...

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