Treatment can relieve your pains
I'm committing an unatural act right now. Sitting here on a chair staring into the black wall of a brightly lit iMac might not feel too bad but it's not what my body was honed to do. And it's not just me. All over the Wharf, happily slapping evolution in the face, office workers are cramming their bones and muscles into strange shapes. Unsurprisingly, many of us aren't coping all that well.
Stiff necks, shortened hamstrings and lower back pain abound.
As my colleague mused the other day - it's the sitting down that kills you.
Fortunately, people like Zoe Mundell exist.
Owner and principle osteopath at New Body Osteopathy, which operates from but independently of Reebok Sports Club, she invited me for a consultation.
Originally an aerobics instructor and personal trainer when the club opened nine years ago, she moved into sports massage therapy and Pilates.
She said: "I had a very bad knee injury and had a lot of treatment but it never got better and then I saw an osteopath who told me my pelvis was out of alignment which effectively made one leg longer than the other.
"He adjusted my pelvis and my knee pain went away immediately. That made me want to be an osteopath. As a sports massage therapist, I started to refer people to him and he said 'why don't you train?'"
Four years later she'd finished a masters in osteopathy, funding herself through an exhausting schedule of personal training and sports thearapy outside long hours spent at university, clinics and hospital.
Two years after graduating she has her own practice.
So what happens when you go and see her?
She said: "The principle of osteopathy is that our body has an inherent ability to heal itself. Its structure governs function so we aim to put the body in the right position so it will function at its best.
"I'll take a brief history of what's brought a patient to see me.
"It might be a back injury or it might be that they're playing golf and want to get better at their sport in terms of their range of motion - a lot of the things we do are aiming to improve people's functional movement.
"Then we'll take their medical history followed by a physical examination and then we'll treat if it's appropriate."
And, after arriving at Reebok and being whisked upstairs to her private treatment room, that's exactly what happens.
Zoe listens patiently as I moan about my various aches and pains. After asking myriad questions about my general health and medical history, I'm asked to strip to my underwear and I am examined.
A session of treatment follows, which while uncomfortable at times is strangely relaxing.
Zoe's slight frame is no indication of the scale of her strength and she manipulates my limbs firmly with confidence and practised ease.
Joints crack and release and I walk out feeling loose and relaxed and more comfortable in my body than I have in years.
Zoe's view is anyone can benefit from a consultation and after only half an hour on her table, I'm inclined to agree.
Half-hour treatments cost £58 for members of Reebok Sports Club and £60.90 for non-members.
A 45-minute consultation is included in the price of your first session.
Readers booking before the end of August, will enjoy 20 per cent off.
Call New Body Osteopathy on 0844 558 1329.
Older/Newer
« History of Thames Barrier on show | Legacy: Just take one street... »
8 Comments
Leave a comment
Read The Wharf's
E-Edition
Zoe's knowledge of the human body, combined with her years of experience with professional sportspeople means she can get right to the heart of a problem. She has worked with me to relieve persistent 'niggles' that I've carried for years and, in addition to a general feeling of well being, my training has also improved. I can't recommend her enough.
I personally recommend Zoe and her team at New Body Osteopathy. I've been to them on a number of occasions over the last year with lower back ache, knee problems and more recently with calf problems. Zoe assesses you brilliantly and gets you back to what you were doing better than before. I've learnt an awful lot too about aches and pains and that the cause (& therefore treatment) aren't always what you think - that's the real value an Osteopath has in my mind.
I can't recommend Zoe and her team highly enough. I went to see Zoe for a swimming related shoulder injury... A course of treatment got me back in the pool. The team are very approachable and immediately put you at ease.
Zoe & her team are not only highly experienced but understand what it means to be in pain, they dont rush you through an appointment or jump to conclusions but listen and advise/treat accordingly. If you see any Osteopath make sure its one at New body Osteo!!!
I have visited Zoe and her team at New Body Osteopathy following chronic back pain and tennis elbow. Their knowledge and treatment is fantastic. They also treated my wife who had suffered with a bad shoulder for a year and this was remedied after only one session!
I have visited Zoe and her team at New Body Osteopathy following chronic back pain and tennis elbow. Their knowledge and treatment is fantastic. They also treated my wife who had suffered with a bad shoulder for a year and this was remedied after only one session!
I have visited other practitioners but now I would only trust Zoe with any injuries I sustain. As an avid runner I injured myself a couple of weeks ago I have seen Zoe twice and she has me pounding the streets again and I am slowly building my miles back up. Zoe is very professional I have total confidence in her treatment.
I recently visited Danny for a couple of issues. Firstly, maintenance work post-back operation and secondly rotator cuff issues in my shoulder from swim training. His knowledge on each area was both specific and accurate. The shoulder has gone from strength to strength and the back has eased fantastically well. Not only was he able to generate positive physical responses but he was also exemplary in being able to back-up his actions with explanations that made perfect sense. I like to know what's going on and so for knowledge, technical ability and "bedside manner" I would thoroughly recommend Danny.