When she first sees you, Susannah will ask you to tell her about the problem and your lifestyle, including work, sports and other interests so that she can understand the impact on you and the demands that you put on your body.  She may also ask you about other areas of your life such as stressors at work and home, as your body is not a machine and healing physiology is influenced by many factors.

She will then have a look at the area, gently checking joints, muscles, nerves and other soft tissues.  Often a problem in one area can be linked to or caused by something in another area.  For example, a shoulder problem may be related to the pelvis, so she may look further afield than just the area you’ve told her about to understand what’s “driving” the problem.

This means that treatment is not just about relieving the symptoms, but also getting to the root of what’s caused them and applying that to your activity or sport.  This is often the key to lasting improvement.  She’ll talk you through this process and help you to understand your body better, so that you know what to expect, and how soon you will be able to see progress.  As you know, your body doesn’t function in isolation separate from your brain, so your belief system, understanding of why you’re experiencing your symptoms and your worst-case scenarios of what might be going on are part of the picture.  

Treatment usually begins in the first session and Susannah will discuss the treatment plan with you.  You’ll also be given advice about what to do whilst you’re recovering.  Often exercises will be given so that you can re-train movements or strengthen muscles at home, speeding up the recovery process.

Although some patients only need one session, many people need several treatment sessions, particularly if the problem is long standing or complex.