Take good care of your tailbone; I didn’t - and my derriere has never been the same

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 18, 2026

Broadcaster Adrian Chiles has shared his struggles with chronic shoulder pain and coccyx issues as he approaches 60, revealing how these conditions impact everyday activities. His discussion with anatomist Professor Alice Roberts highlighted the evolutionary roots of his shoulder problems and the vital role of the coccyx in pelvic support, emphasizing the need to acknowledge and manage age-related physical challenges.

Adrian Chiles, a broadcaster and writer, reflects on the physical challenges associated with aging, focusing particularly on chronic shoulder pain and issues related to the coccyx. Approaching his 60th birthday, Chiles describes enduring ongoing discomfort in both shoulders, conditions that have transformed simple tasks like reaching for items into carefully considered efforts.

During a recent conversation with Professor Alice Roberts, a well-known anatomist, archaeologist, and medical doctor, Chiles found some solace in understanding the evolutionary and anatomical underpinnings of his shoulder problems. Roberts’ doctoral research examined rotator cuff disease from a comparative perspective involving humans and apes, linking modern ailments to ancient biological traits. This connection offered Chiles a new perspective on his pain, likening his experience to that of early humans enduring similar physical strains.

Chiles also recounted his long-standing difficulties with his coccyx, or tailbone, which have persisted since an intense cycling event for Sport Relief nearly two decades ago. He described episodes of sharp, electric-like pain triggered by certain sitting positions. When discussing this with Roberts, she revealed that she has personal experience with coccyx injury as well, having sustained damage after falling from a table.

Roberts explained that the coccyx is composed of several small fused vertebrae at the base of the vertebral column and serves a critical function despite its small size. It acts as an attachment point for pelvic floor muscles, which help support internal organs. Without the coccyx, the proper anchoring of these muscles would be compromised, potentially leading to severe pelvic organ prolapse.

The conversation underscored the importance of caring for the coccyx and recognizing its role beyond being a vestigial structure. Both Chiles’s experience and Roberts’s insights highlight how aging bodies contend with longstanding physical vulnerabilities and the significance of understanding the anatomy behind these conditions.

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