After years of suffering minor back and hip problems, I developed pelvic-related complications in pregnancy I was in constant pain and confined to a wheelchair for the last few months. After my very healthy son was born, my mobility returned but I was still having serious back and hip pain.

I was referred to Sarah at Physioart by my GP. Having seen various physiotherapists over the years, I did not hold out much hope. But Sarah was different. From the first time I hobbled into her room, she explained very clearly why I was in pain and how my body was responding to that. Because I started to understand the science behind the problem, it really helped me in my recovery.

Sarah is an extremely good communicator, explaining the rationale behind each exercise – meaning I felt more inclined to actually keep them up! Now, a few months later I have very minimal pain and feel physically much stronger than before.

Susie, CEO

Anthony – Testimonial Physio-art

I first met Anthony when recommended by a colleague. I had ripped my calf muscle during an aerobics session and was in some considerable pain and discomfort. I was keen to have immediate treatment to avoid scar tissue forming.

Anthony has a naturally friendly personality, which immediately put me at ease. His professional approach gave me the confidence to believe that I would fully recover and would be able to participate in exercise very soon again. In fact he convinced me I’d be able to run the half marathon in no time!

After six weeks of treatment including ultrasound, friction massage and a bespoke exercise programme I am delighted to say I am fully recovered and would happily recommend Anthony to friends, family and colleagues in the future. Thank you so very much.

Fiona Aged 42.

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you for the great work you’ve done in correcting the problem I had with my knees, hip, back, arm – the list goes on. I just came to you with knee pain yet had all sorts of other injuries I’d been carrying (some for 20 years) assessed and rectified.

It was a pleasure to visit you. Your extensive knowledge of the workings of the human body and where to look for problems was exceptional and gave me great comfort to know I was dealing with a highly knowledgeable professional. It has certainly put my mind at rest that nothing more serious is wrong and that the rest is up to me to ensure these problems do not re-occur.

I am feeling great now, even after the deep tissue massage , and I will have no problem in personally recommending you to anybody in a similar position to me.

Thanks for everything.

Cheers

Jonathan

Some years ago I was recommended by a fellow gym member to seek Sarah’s help regarding a knee problem and she diagnosed some fraying of the cartilage in my left knee.
With specific exercises and help over some weeks things improved and I resumed my workouts at the gym.

More recently I have had some difficulties with the other knee and this time Caroline came to my rescue!
Following Caroline’s advice, doing the targeted exercises regularly and conscientiously, and having acupuncture sessions, the knee has slowly got better.

When I went to see Caroline I felt very ‘down’ about my condition but from that first session I immediately felt stronger and better able to manage my knee problem because together we worked out a plan of action.
Together we worked out some practical strategies to cope with the situation eg. how best to get up from the floor after exercise without holding on to a wall or a prop!
Together we discussed my longer term expectations and adjusted my fitness programme.
I feel Caroline really understands me and has treated both the physical and emotional aspects of dealing with the condition.

I have total confidence in this competent, skilful, approachable and professional team who have helped me tremendously. Both the treatment and support offered by Sarah and Caroline and colleagues are indeed very special. Thankyou very much.

Anne. aged 63years.

I have had intermittent but regular problems with my lower back for over fifteen years and had seen over a dozen different doctors and physios. I had almost accepted the idea that my problem would never go away and that I would just have to live with it. During a particularly bad phase a few months ago when I couldn’t stand up straight due to the muscles in my back being contracted, I went to my GP to get a prescription of anti-inflammatories. While there, he tried acupuncture on my back which much to my surprise helped immediately. I had tried acupuncture before and it had done nothing. My GP recommended Caroline Spearing to me for regular physiotherapy and acupuncture and I decided to give it a try.

On my very first visit to Caroline, she put me through some simple tests and “readjusted” the position of my hips. She explained that the root of my problem is an unstable SIJ joint. From the very first session, I was almost completely pain free for an entire week. That hadn’t happened in years. Since then, I have been following Caroline’s advice to the letter, doing the exercises that she suggests and returning regularly for more acupuncture. We’re currently experimenting to see if monthly appointments keep my problem under control and it’s looking promising.

Caroline is clearly the best physio that I have ever met and it’s down to pure luck that I found her. Although I can be a bit nervous about all the crazy sensations that the needles can induce, I look forward to my visits because Caroline is so much fun to spend time with. That’s a big plus when you are lying on your stomach with your face in a chair with a hole and needles sticking out of you. She’s also great at explaining what’s going on in your body, causing your problem which is very satisfying after so many years of wondering. I can’t recommend Caroline strongly enough.

Dr Jodi Tommerdahl
Lecturer, Age 40

I have been a chronic pain sufferer for almost 17 years (since I was 11), I was eventually diagnosed 7 years ago with Hypermobility Syndrome (EDS type III).  I discovered PhysioArt when a colleague and I realised we had the same illness; I had recently had a massive downturn in my health and she advised me to see a certain GP and these wondrous physiotherapists.  I saw Caroline initially for a shoulder problem that I was worried about as I had had similar pains in the other shoulder which had resulted in surgery – something I was keen to avoid.  My shoulder problems were assessed and an exercise plan developed, ultrasound onto the tender point also helped with pain reduction.  I have not needed surgery and am able to prevent flares using the advice I was given.

I have also had knee and hip problems, followed lately by severe instability in my SI joints.  Caroline has treated this using mobilisation and by exercise to stabilise my whole core, also teaching me a technique for ‘putting it back in’ when I feel the joint slip.  One bad slip nearly resulted in my going to A&E, but perseverance with this technique enabled me to relocate the joint and avoid hospital.  Subsequent to this, I had a lot of pain in my hip, SI joint; a session of acupuncture relieved the worst pain and regular ultrasound on my hip is helping with pain levels there. 

Caroline is the best physio I have ever been treated by, and I’ve seen a few!  She gives me a responsive treatment; treating current issues as they arise but never losing sight of the bigger picture - Hypermobility.  We get along well; she is very understanding and perceptive, analysing problems swiftly and absolutely correctly.  I always enjoy our sessions together and she has a knack of explaining the biomechanics of my various problems in a patient friendly way. 

I am still in pain, but it is lessening and mostly under control, a far cry from how it used to be; I could not cope without this support. At PhysioArt it is about educating the patient and helping them to understand their bodies as much as the treatment itself.  I simply cannot recommend them highly enough.

Francesca Yates, PhD Chemistry Student, 27

I had loads of pain in my feet until I met Sarah. She is great fun and always makes me laugh quietly to myself. She has helped me understand my foot problem and she has even made some of the pain go away.

Matthew, age 10

I came to know Sarah through her treatment of my two young sons. Having mentioned to Sarah various repetative aches and pains she encouraged me to take charge of them. Through helping me understand why I kept getting pain in the same place every few months she showed me how, with gentle exercise, amendments to posture and rethinking how I used my body I was able to conquer pain I thought I would just have to live with.
Sarah works in a friendly, relaxed, efficient way with people of all ages.
Giving them confidence to understand why they are in pain and to help them help themselves to stay pain free and mobile.

I received rehabilitation physiotherapy from Sarah for a presumed spinal cord injury. Through learning core-strengthening exercises my pain control has improved dramatically. Sarah also educates on the psychology behind pain, and helps you to understand the cause for your pain. This enables you to cope with chronic pain in a more positive way.

I have also received acupuncture from Caroline. A prolonged course of therapy, with gradual weaning of treatment episodes has successfully managed an acute flare-up of my symptoms.

Through the combination of rehabilitation physiotherapy and acupuncture I have been able to remain off medications previously required to treat my symptoms for over a year, and have remained relatively pain free. I would recommend anyone with chronic musculoskeletal or neuromuscular pain to see Sarah or Caroline at PhysioArt.

Dr N Ratnaraja, Specialist Registrar in Microbiology, 37

I had suffered from chronic back pain for a number of years. As a result of this pain I had seen many professionals over the years such as Osteopaths and Chiropractors, but to no real avail. I contacted Sarah at PhysioArt about two years ago, because not only had my back pain started to increase, I had also developed pain in my right hip that basically prevented me from walking any
great distance. Sarah conducted her assessment and was able to inform me that my posture was pretty poor and that I had been overcompensating on one side, thus certain muscle groups were not working together as they should. This was the first time in all the treatment I had undergone in the past that someone actually conducted a thorough assessment of my difficulties. Sarah identified a plan of exercise and treatment that was to last a number of months with a view to overcoming and correcting these difficulties. Prior to seeing Sarah, the treatment I had received only seemed to work in the short term.

As treatment progressed it was not long before I noticed some improvement. The home exercise programme Sarah set out for me, along with regular sessions with Sarah helped me to correct my posture and strengthen or even wake up the muscles that the rest of my body was overcompensating for. After around 6 months of treatment the pain that prevented me from walking had gone. We then focused more on the chronic back pain that had been part of my life for many years. Again after a number of months this pain also alleviated. In the past I have been told by other professionals not to play tennis or go to the gym, thanks to Sarah at PhysioArt I can now use the gym without any problems and have joined a local tennis club and play social tennis on a regular basis.

The treatment I received from Sarah can only be described as life changing for me, which sounds a tad corny, but the pain I had been experiencing was really interfering in many aspects of my life. I found Sarah very easy to talk to and felt that her understanding and positive approach really helped to motivate me. I cannot fault the treatment received and would highly recommend PhysioArt to anyone who requires input from a highly experienced and skilled physiotherapist such as Sarah.

Dr C Morrell, Clinical Psychologist, 39