The Time to Fix the Roof Is When the Sun Is Shining
Why Ending Physiotherapy Too Early Can Lead to Recurring Injury — and How Brighton & Hove Patients Can Break the Cycle : By Duncan Rock, Physiotherapist and Owner | Life Is Movement Clinic, Hove
“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”
— John F. Kennedy
At Life is Movement, a physiotherapy clinic based in Brighton & Hove, one of the most common (and costly) mistakes I see is this. Someone comes in with an injury — back pain, shoulder pain, knee issues — and we start making real progress. Their pain begins to ease, daily life feels easier, and then... they stop coming. A few months later, they’re back. Same issue. Often worse. It’s a frustrating cycle I see far too often in patients across Brighton, Hove, and the wider Sussex area.
Pain-Free ≠ Problem-Free
We naturally use pain as our main guide to healing. If something hurts, we seek help. Once it doesn’t hurt anymore, we assume we’re fixed. But here’s the truth: pain often disappears before the actual problem is resolved.
This is especially true for:
Back pain
Neck pain
Knee injuries
Shoulder issues
As a Brighton-based physiotherapist, I can tell you that real recovery begins once the pain is gone — when we start building strength, stability, and resilience to prevent the pain from returning.
The Bank Account Analogy
Let’s say being in pain is like being in the red financially. Once the pain is gone, you’re back to zero. But zero still leaves you vulnerable — the next unexpected event (like a sudden long car journey, picking something up awkwardly, or a few bad nights of sleep) puts you straight back into pain.
What we want is to build a buffer — that’s your physical savings account.
Through proper rehab, we develop:
Stronger, more capable muscles
Improved joint mobility
Better postural habits
More efficient movement patterns
This is the key to long-term injury prevention — and the kind of care we focus on at Life is Movement physiotherapy clinic in Hove.
“Is This Just a Way to Get Me to Keep Coming in for Treatment?”
I get it — as a physiotherapist, this might sound a bit self-serving. But I promise you, if I do my job properly, my ideal outcome is that I don’t see you again — or only occasionally, when something new crops up.
My goal is to turn every patient into their own mini-physio. I want you to understand your body, how to maintain it, how to troubleshoot it when something flares up — and how to recognise when you do need a bit of extra help.
This is what we call patient self-efficacy, and it’s at the heart of what we teach at Life is Movement.
Common Mistake: Ending Physiotherapy Too Early
Far too many people in Brighton and Hove:
Stop physiotherapy as soon as pain subsides
Don’t complete their rehab program
Re-injure themselves within a few months
That’s like patching a leaking roof only when it rains. The smarter approach is to strengthen the whole structure while the sun is shining — while you’re feeling okay — so you’re not vulnerable to the next storm.
You Deserve More Than “Just Out of Pain”
Whether you’re dealing with:
Lower back pain
Post-surgery rehab
A chronic shoulder issue
Knee instability
Or just general stiffness or tightness
Let’s move beyond pain relief and focus on true recovery and performance.
Looking for Physiotherapy in Brighton or Hove?
I work with people of all ages and activity levels — from office workers with postural issues to runners, dancers, musicians, and martial artists. Whether you’re:
Looking to rehab an injury
Trying to futureproof your body for a more active life
…you're in the right place.
Let’s Build That Buffer Together
The best time to strengthen your body is before the next flare-up happens. If you're in Brighton or Hove and want help recovering from injury — or preventing the next one — get in touch.
📍 Life is Movement – Expert Physiotherapy and Injury Rehab in Brighton & Hove
