We follow the Maitland Concept of manual physiotherapy, carried out by our specially trained, highly qualified physiotherapists. Whether you need help to recover from an injury or are looking to enhance your general abilities in day to day life, or in your chosen sporting field, we are here to help. This special concept combines individual and specific treatment with the therapist's clinical experience and the latest scientific findings. In addition to joint mobilisation and manipulation of the extremities and spine, the concept makes use of neurodynamic techniques, muscle stretching, stabilising exercises and specifically adapted exercises that you can do at home. We treat all types of musculoskeletal pain be it joint, muscle, tendon, nerve, ligament pain or sporting injury. 

The Maitland Concept explained by our physiotherapist, Caroline Hennigan 

I considered embarking on a Masters degree but questioned whether this would give me the outcome I desired. My drive and desire was to be a better Physiotherapist and in the end I felt a Masters degree would have been more of an academic achievement. Looking at the more clinical alternatives, I witnessed colleagues dashing off for example, on a “knee
course”, then a “shoulder course”, then a specific “technique course” which resulted in disjointed and ever changing clinical practice. I had already at this point, attended an introductory course to the Maitland Concept and could see that further study in this area would give me what I wanted – a way of thinking and a framework within which I would have the tools to become the Physiotherapist I wanted to be. The Maitland Concept puts the patient at the very heart of clinical care. Rather than treating a body part or a diagnosis e.g. an arthritic knee, you are dealing with, for example, a retired lady frustrated because she is unable to get down onto the floor to play with her grandchild (because of a lack of bend in the knee, as a result of the arthritis). Already a more meaningful relationship is established. The concept then provides a framework for thinking. It is a unique problem solving approach to truly analysing each individual’s symptoms and subsequent functional limitation,
paying attention to the detail and assessing and identifying the most appropriate treatment techniques and methods of implementation (as opposed to following treatment recipes based upon a medical diagnosis, which can often be incorrect and not always relevant). As the Maitland Concept is based upon a system of analytical thinking then it is relevant to every patient and every condition. It is all encompassing and is inclusive of techniques of assessment and treatment championed by other “camps” in the world of physiotherapy. So I completed Level 1 of the “International Maitland Teachers’ Association” of courses in the UK before going to complete Level 2a and Level 2b in Finland (there were no Level 2 courses running in England at the time).  I see a wide cross section of patients. The way I work means I am as happy seeing an athlete back to form as I am helping a plasterer back to work. A typical patient experience would involve identifying their main issue e.g. not being able to participate in sport, experiencing pain whilst driving, feeling anxious about funny sensations in their arm. Following this would be a careful and analytical conversation, which would help me to build up a picture of what may or may not be causing their problem. A physical examination would confirm / rule out the components of the problem. I would then explain to the patient, the source of their symptoms, the reasons their problem developed and the thought processes / clinical reasoning under pinning the treatment plan. There tends to be a physical aspect to treatment with “hands-on” techniques aimed at reducing pain, restoring movement and promoting an ideal environment for healing. Key areas of dysfunction identified during the examination are then re-examined to justify the validity of the treatment techniques used. To support treatment there is usually a home exercise element. Once again however, the process of ongoing assessment and thoughtful analysis means that any exercise advised is based on sound clinical reasoning, rather than plucked from a recipe book (and can be thought of as self treatment).

Caroline Hennigan

Physiotherapist,

MCSP, HCPC

Caroline qualified from Nottingham University last century meaning she has many years of experience in Physiotherapy. She has a passion for clinical excellence, the pursuit of which has seen her study the Maitland Concept both at home and abroad. She feels privileged to be in a profession where she can have a positive influence on people’s lives and thrives on the mental agility required to be a physiotherapist, or as she prefers to call it…a human engineer.

Matthew Newton

Physiotherapist

MCSP, HCPC,
MMACP, MIMTA,

Diploma in Injection Therapy

Matthew qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist from Sheffield in 1988. Since then he has gained experience in various places around the UK and in North America. From 1999-2017 he also worked in an Extended Scope role of Physiotherapy as an Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Practitioner. In this role he worked as a first contact practitioner and gained experience in requesting
medical investigations such as blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound scans, MRI scans and nerve conduction studies. He is also qualified in the administration of steroid injections. This role demanded an efficient and
effective approach to differentiating sinister pathology and non-neuromusculoskeletal pathologies from mechanical problems. He has presented some aspects of his work at the Extended Scope Practitioner Conference in London in 2005. He gained a post graduate certificate in manual therapy from Sheffield
Hallam University in 1996 and then went onto the International Maitland Teachers’ Association (IMTA) course programme which he completed in 2001. He gained his Orthopaedic Manual Therapy qualification in 2005 and became a member of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP).

In 2013 Matthew qualified as a member of IMTA, which teaches a programme of courses in spinal and joint manual therapy. He frequently teaches post graduate Physiotherapists throughout Europe, Russia, Mexico and in the UK.

Recently he was the Consultant Editor for the latest editions of both the Maitland’s Peripheral and Vertebral Manipulation textbooks and contributed to the writing of Maitland’s Peripheral Manipulation. 

Matthew remains a clinician and has worked in the private sector since 1999. He is an advocate of manual therapy applied appropriately on the basis of sound clinical reasoning and individual patient need and is committed to promoting evidence based, quality care for all patients.

Jenny Blizard 

Physiotherapist

MCSP, HCPC

Jenny, our clinic director and physiotherapist, qualified in 2004 with a first class honours degree in physiotherapy. Since then she has completed a post graduate diploma and certificate in Women's Health and is currently working her way through the Maitland Concept of Manual Therapy and training which she started in 2012. This special concept combines individual and specific treatment with the therapist’s clinical experience and the latest scientific findings. In addition to joint mobilisation and manipulation of the extremities and spine, the concept makes use of neurodynamic techniques, muscle stretching, stabilising exercises and specifically adapted exercises the patient can do at home. Jenny's background in International triathlon and athletics clearly draws like minded sports enthusiasts to come and see her. As well as treating injuries, Jenny likes working with longer term clients to improve their overall function and reduce injury risk factors. A clients potential for attaining good health and aiming for sporting goals beyond what they feel currently capable of, is often limited to their own poor perception of what can actually be achieved with a little bit of help and guidance.