Dr. David Keller - Blog

I Recommended the Clamshell Exercise for 14 Years. Looking Back, I Wish I'd Taken a Broader Approach. I still think about many of those women. I remember them sitting in my clinic, committed to every exercise I prescribed. They followed their home programmes, came to every appointment and genuinely wanted to get better. Then six or eight weeks later, some of them would return frustrated because they weren't seeing the progress we'd hoped for. Many apologised to me. As though they had somehow failed. They hadn't. I'm a physiotherapist with over 16 years of experience, specialising in hip pain, particularly in women over 50. For much of my career, I relied on many of the exercises that are still commonly used today: clamshells, bridges, side leg raises, resistance bands, mobility work and stretching. These are all well-established exercises and they absolutely have their place. For many people they work very well. For others, they don't. That was the lesson it took me years to fully appreciate. When someone didn't improve, my instinct was often to adjust the programme. Different exercises. Different resistance. More repetitions. Fewer repetitions. More stretching. Less stretching. Sometimes those changes helped. Sometimes they didn't. Over time, I realised that recovery is often more complicated than simply finding the "right" exercise. Recovery Is Rarely One-Size-Fits-All Women's bodies change with age, particularly during and after menopause. Hormonal changes can influence muscles, tendons, joints and overall recovery. Sleep, stress, general health, nutrition and activity levels may also affect how someone responds to rehabilitation. That doesn't mean exercise stops working. It means exercise is only one piece of the picture. Some women recover quickly. Others need a broader approach that considers more than movement alone. That was something I wish I'd understood much earlier in my career. The Conversation That Changed My Perspective Around two years ago, I was speaking with a colleague at a professional conference. She mentioned that some of her patients had started using a nutritional supplement called Flexora alongside their rehabilitation programme. She wasn't claiming it was a miracle. She simply said some patients felt more comfortable and found it easier to stay consistent with their exercise programme. I'll admit—I was sceptical. Over the years I'd seen countless products promising dramatic results, and most failed to live up to the marketing. Still, I decided to keep an open mind. For a small number of patients who had reached a plateau despite remaining committed to their rehabilitation, I suggested they discuss whether a supplement might be appropriate for them as part of their overall wellbeing routine. Some chose to try Flexora. Several later told me they felt more comfortable during everyday activities and found it easier to stick with their rehabilitation exercises. Of course, not everyone reported the same experience, and a supplement is never a replacement for appropriate medical assessment or physiotherapy. But it encouraged me to think more broadly about supporting recovery. What Patients Have Shared Karen, 56 "After months of physiotherapy I felt as though I'd stopped making progress. Once I started paying more attention to my overall routine—including better sleep, nutrition and trying Flexora—I gradually noticed everyday movements becoming easier. I felt more positive about continuing my exercises." Diane, 52 "I was worried about my options and wanted to do everything I reasonably could before making any big decisions. Improving my daily routine, sticking with physiotherapy and trying Flexora helped me feel more confident about managing my symptoms." Petra, 59 "Consistency made the biggest difference for me. Once I found a routine that worked, including my exercises and supplement, I didn't want to stop." What I Tell My Patients Today I never tell anyone to stop physiotherapy. That would be irresponsible. Exercise remains one of the most important parts of managing many forms of hip pain. But if you've been following a programme consistently and aren't improving, it doesn't necessarily mean you've failed. Sometimes the diagnosis needs reviewing. Sometimes the exercises need changing. Sometimes factors like sleep, stress, menopause, nutrition or general health deserve more attention. Recovery often requires looking at the whole person—not just the painful joint. Where Flexora Fits In Flexora isn't a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It's intended to complement a healthy lifestyle and, where appropriate, a rehabilitation programme recommended by your healthcare professional. If you're considering trying it, it's sensible to discuss it with your GP or physiotherapist, particularly if you have existing medical conditions or take regular medication. The company also offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, allowing customers to decide whether it's right for them. My Biggest Lesson If I could go back and speak to the women I treated during those early years, I'd tell them this: You didn't fail. You weren't lazy. You weren't "doing the exercises wrong." Sometimes recovery simply isn't as straightforward as we'd like it to be. Good rehabilitation is about understanding the individual, adapting when needed and recognising that exercise is only one part of a much bigger picture. That's the lesson that changed how I practise today—and it's one I carry with me every day.