Physiotherapy
A 45-minute assessment in our gym, then a written exercise plan. No GP referral needed.
Back and neck pain
Almost all of it gets better. What people actually want to know is when.
Low back pain is close to universal — most adults get it at some point — and the overwhelming majority of episodes settle. That statistic is no comfort at all when you cannot put your socks on, which is why the useful thing a clinician can give you is a timescale and a plan rather than a reassurance.
You do not need a GP referral to see a physiotherapist here. Most people come straight to Ewan Shaw or Marta Lindqvist.
Why we usually do not scan you
Imaging early in ordinary back pain does not improve outcomes and can make them worse. Scans of pain-free adults routinely show disc bulges and degenerative changes; being told you have them, when they are not causing your pain, reliably makes people move less and hurt longer.
We scan when there are features that change the plan: significant nerve compression, trauma, or red flags. Then we arrange it quickly and tell you the cost first.
What a first appointment involves
Forty-five minutes. Most of it is watching you move — bending, squatting, walking, reaching — because that is what tells us which structures are irritable and which are simply deconditioned. Hands-on treatment where it helps.
You leave with three or four exercises, written down with photographs, and an estimate of how many sessions this will take.
The red flags we screen for every time
Numbness in the saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, weakness in both legs, unexplained weight loss with back pain, fever, or pain that is markedly worse at night and not eased by any position. Any of those and you need to be seen urgently — call 999 or go to the emergency department for the first three.
Necks are not just small backs
Neck pain with arm symptoms, headaches from the base of the skull, and the deconditioning that follows six months at a laptop are all different problems with different treatments. We assess the shoulder girdle and the thoracic spine as a matter of routine, because the neck rarely fails on its own.
Where we treat this
The clinics involved
Private GP appointments
A 30-minute appointment with a GP. Same doctor each time if you want one.
Minor surgery
Lumps, cysts and skin lesions removed under local anaesthetic. Histology included.
FAQs
Questions people ask
Do I need a doctor's referral for physiotherapy?
No. You can book directly. Some insurance policies still require a GP referral first, so check with your insurer before you book if you are claiming.
How many sessions will I need?
Two to four for a straightforward acute episode; six to eight for something long-standing. You get an estimate at the first appointment.
Should I rest it?
For a day or two at most. After that, movement is the treatment. Complete rest reliably makes ordinary back pain last longer.
Book an appointment
Most appointments are available within five working days. Book online or call us.