Take good care of your tailbone. I didn’t – and my derriere has never been the same since | Adrian Chiles

I once experienced severe pain in my tailbone after participating in an extreme cycling challenge over two decades ago. My general practitioner informed me around ten years later that this was a common occurrence in middle age, a sentiment I have come to acknowledge daily as I approach my sixtieth birthday. Alongside this pain, I now frequently endure discomfort in my shoulders, which has compelled me to approach everyday tasks like reaching for items or fetching objects from elevated locations with caution, as they have become arduous endeavors requiring careful planning.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Alice Roberts, a renowned writer, broadcaster, academic, anatomist, archaeologist, and occasional medical doctor, who is deeply knowledgeable about the human skeleton. Her doctoral thesis focused on the palaeopathological examination of rotator cuff disease in both humans and apes, providing valuable insights into the evolutionary aspects of shoulder pathology.

This conversation prompted a newfound connection between my current discomfort and the experiences of our ancient ancestors, who might have suffered similar challenges while performing manual tasks. These reflections have helped me better manage my shoulder pain, drawing parallels between my present state and the struggles of our forebears.