Movement, load and recovery
Find out what is actually causing the pain
A full assessment first, hands-on treatment where it helps, and a rehabilitation plan you can keep doing once you leave the room.
We treat people who are sore, stiff, rebuilding after surgery, or trying to get back to a sport or a job that demands something physical.
- 50-minute assessmentEnough time to examine, explain the findings and start treatment in the same session.
- No referral neededYou can book directly. If a scan or a medical opinion is the right next step, we will say so.
- Rehab space on siteFloor area, benches and loading equipment, so exercises are rehearsed with you, not emailed afterwards.
What we treat
Six problems that fill most of the diary
Described the way people describe them when they arrive, rather than in diagnostic codes. If yours is not listed, it is still worth asking — most of what walks through the door is a variation on these.
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01
Low back and neck pain
Acute episodes that stop you moving, and the long-running ache that flares every few months. Assessment covers how you sit, lift, sleep and load the spine.
Signs we look for: pain that changes with position, guarded movement, and a history of repeat flare-ups.
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02
Shoulder, hip and knee joints
Joints that catch, give way, or hurt at a specific point in the range. We test the joint and the muscles that control it before deciding what to treat.
Signs we look for: a painful arc, weakness on one side only, or discomfort that arrives hours after activity.
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03
Sports and training injuries
Strains, tendon pain and overload from running, lifting, racquet and team sports. Plans are written around your season or your race, not around a generic timeline.
Signs we look for: a sudden jump in training volume, recurring niggles in the same tissue, or pain that warms up then returns.
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04
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Structured progression after joint replacement, ligament repair or fracture fixation, staged to respect whatever your surgical team has advised.
Signs we look for: range that has stalled, protective movement habits, and strength that lags behind comfort.
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05
Persistent and long-standing pain
Pain that has outlasted the original injury. Slower sessions, graded exposure, and honest conversation about what is likely to change and over what period.
Signs we look for: symptoms spread over a wide area, poor sleep, and activities avoided for months at a time.
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06
Balance, mobility and confidence
Work for people who feel unsteady on stairs or uneven ground, including strength, gait and the practical business of getting up and down from the floor.
Signs we look for: shortened stride, reliance on handrails, and activities dropped because they feel risky.
Your first visit
Fifty minutes, four parts
Nothing about the first appointment should be a surprise. Here is the shape of it, including roughly how long each part takes.
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Step 01
The history
What happened, what makes it worse, what you have already tried, and what you need to get back to. This part decides most of the rest.
About 12 minutes -
Step 02
Physical examination
Movement, strength and joint testing, plus a look at how you load the area in real tasks. Wear or bring clothing you can move in.
About 15 minutes -
Step 03
Findings and plan
A plain explanation of what we found, what we think is driving it, and a realistic range for how long it should take to settle.
About 8 minutes -
Step 04
Treatment starts
Hands-on work where it is indicated, the first exercises rehearsed with you, and written notes on what to do before the next session.
About 15 minutes
In the treatment room
Hands-on work earns its place
Manual therapy, soft tissue work and joint mobilisation are used to make movement easier in the short term — not as the whole treatment. Most sessions are a mix: some time on the table, the rest spent rehearsing the movement that has been painful.
If a technique is not making a measurable difference by the third session, we change the approach rather than repeating it.
Appointment types
How long each session runs
Choose the assessment if this is your first visit or if you are returning with a new problem. Everything else is arranged with you at the end of a session.
| Appointment | Length | Best for | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial assessment | 50 minutes | A first visit, or a new problem in a different area | Full history, examination, findings explained, treatment started and a written plan |
| Follow-up treatment | 30 minutes | Continuing an active plan | Reassessment, hands-on treatment where indicated, and exercise progression |
| Rehab progression | 45 minutes | Returning to sport, training or physical work | Loading and capacity testing in the rehab space, then the next block of programming |
| Post-surgical review | 40 minutes | Staged recovery after an operation | Range and strength checks against your stage, plus an updated home programme |
| Movement screen | 40 minutes | No current injury, but a history of repeat flare-ups | Task-based screening and a short maintenance programme, with no ongoing course implied |
The practitioner
Hazel Current
“Most people arrive having been told something vague about their back or their knee. The first job is to replace that with something specific.”
Hazel is a registered physiotherapist who runs the clinic single-handed, which means the person who assesses you is the person who treats you for the whole course. Sessions are planned in short blocks with a review point, so there is always a moment to stop and ask whether it is working.
- ApproachAssessment-led, with hands-on treatment used to support active rehabilitation rather than replace it.
- PlanningBlocks of three to four sessions, reviewed together before any further appointments are booked.
- ReferralStraightforward about the limits of physiotherapy, and will recommend a medical opinion when that is the sensible route.
Between sessions
The programme does most of the work
You will leave with a small number of exercises, the reason each one is there, and the rule for progressing it. Short and repeatable beats long and abandoned, so programmes are usually three or four movements rather than a dozen.
Some soreness for a day after a session is normal. Pain that is sharper, spreading or waking you at night is worth telling us about before the next appointment.
Questions
Asked before the first appointment
Do I need a referral before booking?
No. You can request an assessment directly. If your problem needs imaging, medication or a specialist opinion, we will tell you at the end of the first session and write up the findings so you can take them to whoever is managing your care.
What should I wear or bring?
Clothing you can move in, and shorts if the problem is in your hip, knee or ankle. If you have had scans, reports or a surgical protocol, bring them — and if you are being treated for a knee that hurts when you run, bring the shoes you run in.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the problem, but plans are written in blocks of three or four sessions with a review at the end of each block. You should have a clear idea of the likely range after your assessment, and we will say plainly if further sessions are unlikely to add much.
Will treatment hurt?
Some techniques are uncomfortable while they are being done, and some exercises are deliberately taken to the edge of what you can tolerate. Nothing continues if you ask it to stop, and we will explain what a given technique should feel like before starting it.
I am already under the care of a doctor or consultant. Is that a problem?
Not at all, and it is common. Tell us who is involved and what they have advised. Where a surgical or medical protocol exists, rehabilitation is staged to fit it rather than run ahead of it.
My pain has been there for years. Is it too late?
Long-standing pain usually responds differently to a recent injury, but it still responds. Expect a slower plan built on graded activity and capacity rather than quick fixes, and an honest conversation about which parts are likely to change.
What if I need to move or cancel an appointment?
Send a note through the enquiry form with your name and the day you are booked, and we will move you to the next suitable slot. Assessment slots are released each Monday, so rescheduling earlier in the week usually gives you more choice.
Request a slot
Tell us where it hurts
Send a short outline of the problem and when you can attend. We reply with the assessment times that fit, or with a note if physiotherapy is not the right first step for what you describe.
- RepliesEnquiries are answered in the order they arrive, usually within one working day.
- SlotsNew assessment times are released on Monday mornings, including the Tuesday and Thursday evening clinic.
- UrgentFor sudden severe pain, numbness, or loss of power, seek medical assessment first.