Conditions we commonly treat
- Lower back pain and sciatica
- Neck pain and cervicogenic headaches
- Shoulder pain, rotator cuff problems and frozen shoulder
- Knee pain, including osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain
- Hip pain and gluteal tendinopathy
- Tennis elbow, wrist and hand pain
- Heel and foot pain
How we treat it
Find the source, not just the site
Where it hurts and what is causing it are often different places. Shoulder pain can come from the neck, knee pain from the hip. We test systematically rather than treating the loudest symptom.
Hands on treatment to make movement possible
Manual therapy, soft tissue work and joint mobilisation reduce pain enough to move properly. This is the part that gives quick relief, though it is not what produces lasting change on its own.
Loading is what actually fixes it
Tissue gets more tolerant by being asked to do more, gradually. Your programme is built to load the specific structure that is struggling, at a dose you can actually manage.
You leave understanding your own problem
Knowing what is happening, what aggravates it and what to do about it is protective in itself. People who understand their pain recover faster and panic less when it flares.
What your first appointment involves
- 1
History
What happened, what makes it better and worse, and what you need to get back to.
- 2
Examination
Movement testing and hands on assessment to identify which structure is producing your symptoms.
- 3
Explanation
A plain language account of what we found, including what it is not, which is often the more reassuring half.
- 4
A plan you start that day
Treatment in the session, plus the specific things to do before the next one.
When it is worth booking in
- Pain that has not settled after two to three weeks
- The same problem keeps coming back every few months
- Pain that wakes you at night or is worse in the morning
- Pins and needles, numbness or weakness anywhere
- You are avoiding activities you used to do without thinking
- Painkillers are becoming a routine rather than an occasional help
How long does it usually take?
Most people need 6 to 12 sessions, with a home programme between visits.
Common questions
- Do I need a doctor's referral?
- No. You can book directly with us. If we find something that needs medical review or imaging, we will tell you and write to your doctor.
- Do I need a scan first?
- Usually not. Scans frequently show changes in people with no pain at all, so a scan on its own rarely explains symptoms. We will tell you honestly if imaging would change the plan.
- How quickly will I feel a difference?
- Many people notice something after the first or second session, often from understanding the problem as much as the treatment. Lasting change from a loading programme takes six weeks or more.
Further reading
- Lower Back Pain: What Actually Helps in the First Two Weeks
- Sciatica: What It Actually Is, and What Genuinely Helps
- Knee Osteoarthritis: Why 'Wear and Tear' Is the Wrong Way to Think About It
- Piriformis Syndrome: A Diagnosis That Is Usually Wrong
- Golfer's Elbow: Pain on the Inside of the Elbow
- Headaches That Start in Your Neck
- Hip Bursitis and Pain on the Outside of Your Hip at Night
Book an appointment
Start with a musculoskeletal physiotherapy assessment
Your first appointment is a full assessment: history, hands on examination and movement testing, followed by an explanation of what we found and the plan to fix it. You leave with something to do that day, not just a follow up booking.
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am to 8:00 pmSunday: By appointment