About
I work with chronic and acute pain, musculoskeletal disorders and soft tissue injuries and have a gentle and holistic approach to treatment.
​I have a bachelors degree in osteopathy and a diploma in sports massage. During the osteopathy degree I became fascinated with the connective tissue known as the fascia, a complex network of fibres that weaves together every aspect of the body from muscles, ligaments and tendons to bone and organ systems. This incredible network of fibres contributes significantly to pain, structural dysfunction and even disease. It is the underlying cause of most issues found in the structure.
As I became more in tune with the fascia it became clear to me that certain techniques associated with the profession of osteopathy were actually damaging the tissue structure, in particular the high velocity thrusts (HVT's), more commonly understood as 'cracking' the back/hips. These techniques are highly invasive and cause a cascade of negative responses in the tissue structure - a short term fix with long term damage. The original approach to osteopathy was holistic and treated the whole body through gentle manipulation of the spine and viscera.
It began just over 100 years ago with a medical doctor in America called Andrew Taylor Still, who after losing all of his children to spinal meningitis believed the system and his profession had failed him. He began exploring a different approach to the body based on the underlying principle that the body will heal itself if given the right environment to do so, gently manipulating the structure to allow good blood and nerve supply to tissue and by removing structural obstructions - never whacking it for a quick result.
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Andrew Taylor Still was the first person to write about fascia in his work but only now is this fascinating tissue being brought properly to light and explored and these discoveries are bringing about a whole new understanding of the body and disease. Working with the body at this level promotes long term healing and health.
I work under the title of manipulative therapist - this title was created for people who hold a degree in osteopathy, do not work under that title, but choose to be insured to the same level. Many osteopaths are deregistering/not registering at all with the General Osteopathic Council due to how the practice is changing and how it is moving away from the original essence of what it was.
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