Amy Hunter studied at the British School of Osteopathy and graduated in 2009 with Distinction. She is registered with the General Osteopathic Council and has practised as an Osteopath in various multidisciplinary clinics in Sussex since graduating. Amy also has a first class Anatomy degree from Edinburgh University and until recently, lectured in anatomy to the undergraduate students at the European School of Osteopathy.
Amy has recently undertaken extra training to specialise treating women in their perimenopausal and postmenopausal years, and the extra challenges that this period in their life brings. She has also volunteered with an arthritis charity delivering chronic pain management courses. She is also trained in Dry needling and has a Sports massage qualification. Amy demonstrates anatomy to other Osteopaths and manual therapists at Brighton and Sussex Medical School every now and then, gives talks at Brighton Natural Health Centre to other movement therapists, and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Amy's holistic approach to treatment uses a combination of gentle osteopathic techniques to help ease pain and restore normal movement and function, as well as discussing lifestyle, diet and exercise, and helping people to understand how their body works and what they can do to help themselves.
Amy is experienced in working with musicians and dancers and can help with musculoskeletal issues - joints and tendon problems, muscle tension or weakness, nerve pain or irritation - sympathetic overload (stress), breathing, pelvic floor issues. headaches and jaw problems. She also offers clinical musculoskeletal assessment (standing/ sitting/ lying, active and passive) basic clinical testing (nerve provocation, reflexes etc), massage, manipulation, MET, strapping, exercise advice, lifestyle advice and basic nutritional advice.
As a dancer and clinician, Ann Coxhead has many years experience of the mechanics of the body, working with singers, actors, dancers and musicians. Her services for performance professionals include Osteopathy, laryngeal manipulation to treat muscle tension dysphonia in singers and professional voice users, breathing techniques, and Floor-Barre work.
Osteopathic diagnosis and treatment is available for a wide range of medical conditions including the spine and all peripheral joints. Treatments are tailored to your specific injuries. Observing and accessing anatomical and postural technique. Including hip knee and ankle alignment at the barre for Dancers. Making tissue specific diagnosis. Hypermobility, scoliosis and differences in speed of growth in young dancers can all be managed. Integrating the injury into the dynamics of the whole body and building self confidence. Using deep soft tissue and muscle energy techniques, facial release, articulation and manipulation if required. Rectifying bio-mechanical faults helps to increase circulation, venous supply and lymphatic drainage speeding up healing time.
Ann sees patients in Brighton, Parsons Green, and monthly at the English National Opera. She is a member of the Osteopathic Performing Arts Care Association (OPACA), the British Voice Association and One Dance UK.
Chloe Spencer graduated from the University College of Osteopathy (formerly the British School of Osteopathy) with a Masters in Osteopathy (MOst). With a background in singing, both in teaching and performance, she specialises in care of the voice, and is a member of two local choirs. She is also a member of OPACA - the Osteopathic Performing Arts Care Association.
Chloe can help in all musculoskeletal disorders, muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) & any physical-based voice issues.
Chris Blackburne works with many performing artists including professional dancers and acrobat/trapeze artists treating biomechanical pain and injury. He is based at Chelsea Pharmacy Medical Clinic, London SW3 3DH.
"Over the last 10 years I’ve specialised in pain, injuries and dysfunction in the body’s Musculoskeletal System: bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue.
My passionate continuous research focuses on in-depth understanding of the context and causes of the injury or chronic disease in my field of expertise.
Through my personal 20 years of practicing Martial Arts (Wing Chun Kung Fu) and years of working with popular dance companies, ballets, circus and professional sports people - I understood that physical pain and discomfort is never that simple if the goal is to bring musculoskeletal system back to full working capacity.
Classic medical diagnostics strengthened by a functional medicine approach gives forward thinking osteopaths now great tools to identify both intrinsic causes and factors of the health problem, whether they are physical, environmental, psychological or nutritional.
Only working closely and attentively together with the patient, we may ensure highly tailored treatment programs, its successful implementation and long lasting results."
Elodie Frati is an Osteopath with clinical interests in dance injuries and hypermobility syndromes. Before becoming an Osteopath Elodie studied to be a contemporary dancer and graduated from Contemporary Dance: BPA (Hons) from Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
Elodie is experienced in treating dancers, musical theatre performers and circus artists. She can help with issues relating to musculoskeletal injuries, post op rehab, ongoing rehabilitation for return to stage, and vocal fatigue. Elodie offers services in manual therapy, rehabilitation and K-tape.
Glenn Sontag is a registered Osteopath with both The General Osteopathic Council (GOSC), The Osteopathic Performing Arts Care Association (OPACA) and RAMP (Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners). Glenn also studied for an MSc in animal osteopathy with The European School of Osteopathy, where he gained a Masters with distinction in 2018.
Glenn has worked with actors, TV news journalists, public speakers / politicians, singers, singing coaches, circus performers, stunt performers, comedians and musicians (mostly wind and string instruments). He can help with issues relating to varied musculoskeletal conditions (not just spinal), non-spinal regions including shoulder / elbow / hip / knee, hands / feet and head / facial, acute / recent strains and chronic strains, repetitive injuries, common presentations for neck / middle back / lower back / pelvic problems, pregnancy (over 3 months) and post-partum. Glenn offers bespoke assessment and treatment, ultrasound treatment and dry needling.
Hannah Marsh is an Osteopath with a background as a professional dancer. She has experience in working with dancers, actors and musical theatre performers.
Hannah can help with musculoskeletal issues (head to toe), injury treatment, injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, strength and postural guidance and training, and with biopsychosocial aspects of dance training/performing. Her services cover manual therapy, Pilates, rehabilitation and 'prehab' exercises, performance technique and strength training for dancers.
"I understand the pressures of being a performer and the importance of having a support network to facilitate growth, development and peak fitness within the training and performing environment".
Helen Wither is a registered Osteopath who has been in family practice for over 16 years. Helen has a first class BSc Honours degree in Osteopathy from the College of Osteopaths and has been registered with the General Osteopathic Council since 2007. Helen was the winner of the Reg Oakes Prize for "First in Class" in 2007. She is a member of the Institute of Osteopathy and the Osteopathic Obstetric, Pelvic, Abdominal and Respiratory Association. Since 2009 Helen has been a member of the Cheshire Osteopaths Group and continues to meet regularly with other osteopaths and professionals, both in Cheshire and North Wales, for training and research. Helen has completed Breastfeeding Support certification for Health Professionals through the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers and has worked for a number of years as part of a network of professionals supporting babies and new parents - Cheshire "Pregnancy, Baby and You". Helen has special interests in treating babies, children and during pregnancy; and in treating performing artists (dancers, musicians, vocalists). She continues to provide specialist osteopathic treatment for young dancers and teachers at a ballet school in Cheshire.
Helen can help with issues relating to back and hip pain and restrictions in achieving optimum technique, ankle and foot issues, pointe work issues, postural and technique problems for dancers (including arm placement, breathing, turnout, flexibility, use of the foot), vocal and throat problems, postural problems and pain in musicians.
Osteopathy, Pilates and Sports Massage practitioner with a particular interest in postural and ergonomic factors that affect the way in which the human spine works, especially in the context of dance and the performance arts. Jenefer has a background in dance and movement, plays piano and sings. She has treated instrumentalists, singers, actors and dancers (ballet, contemporary and musical theatre) and is based at Shoreham Osteopathy Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea. Please ask for Jenefer as this is a group practice. Since November 2023, Jenefer is also practising 9am-1pm at Valentine Voice Care Centre, Lewes.
Johanna Chatelain is an Osteopath graduating with distinction in Master of Osteopathy from the University College of Osteopathy. She enjoys treating people of all ages and backgrounds. Coming from a musical and artistic background herself, she has developed a keen interest in treating performing artists which has led her to complete a postgraduate certificate in Performing arts medicine at the University College of London. Joanna is part of the Institute of Osteopathy (iO) and the Osteopathic Performing Arts Care Association, and is registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC).
Johanna uses a wide range of different treatment methods from soft tissue release, joint articulation, and adjustment, as well as exercise-based rehabilitation. She believes in using a holistic and individualised approach to each patient. Each treatment is therefore customised to the patient’s individual needs, with the aim to reduce pain, remove barriers to recovery and educate patients to promote a greater recovery and reduce the chances of reoccurrence.
She is passionate about providing the best patient care and optimal management to allow the best possible outcome for each patient. Johanna is fluent in French. She has worked with numerous performers including supporting Strictly Come Dancing.
I am an Osteopath inspired by the voice and experienced helping professional voice users overcome issues related to misuse and injuries. As an Osteopath with nearly thirty years of experience, as well as being a trained opera singer, I have the skill, insight and understanding to help performing artists including singers, actors and dancers. I can help with voice problems including hoarseness, loss of vocal range, vocal fatigue and muscle tension dysphonia. I am experienced with shoulder issues as well as more typical issues such as back and neck pain, knee injuries, foot injuries, ACL injuries, mobility issues that osteopaths are trained to treat. I also have special interests in hypermobility and in hip impingement issues (cam and pincer) and have worked in facilitating diagnosis of labral tears and rehabilitating patients post operatively following hip arthroscopy intervention. Labral tears are often missed, especially in the hypermobile population, who may be more likely to experience impingement due to their increased range of movement, especially if they are dancers or acrobats and routinely flex their hip joints to the extreme.
Mary Monro is an Osteopath registered with the General Osteopathic Council with over twenty years experience in treating musicians, actors and crew with all sorts of health problems. "I use gentle, hands-on techniques, including cranial osteopathy to help you achieve better health".
Mary offers osteopathy, cranial osteopathy, vocal osteopathy and paediatric osteopathy, and she can help with issues relating to difficulties or limitations with the voice e.g. jaw, sinuses, palate, neck, diaphragm issues, physical aches and pains related to performance and anxiety and stress related issues.
David Propert provides Osteopathy, including Cranial Osteopathy, for athletes, performers and creative professionals. He is based at Calmer Clinics, Dolphin Square.
Martial artist, pianist, french horn and guitar player. Works with performers - musicians, actors, dancers, singers - presenting with musculoskeletal pains linked to performance activities. Has a grounding in posture and biomechanics, pain physiology and stress.
Has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company since 2000 and seen many hundreds of performers, helping with injury prevention, safe lifting and handling on stage, raked stages, exercise, warm up, musculoskeletal problems.
Lazarus trained as a classical dancer before becoming an Osteopath in 1997, and is very experienced working with dancers and all performance professionals. Can help with dance technique advice from an anatomical point of view to rehabilitation. Discussion and planning on performance optimization strategies. Lecturer at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine. Completed the UCL Masters in Performing Arts Medicine. Practices at Shades Clinic, Ealing is a BAPAM Assessing Clinician at our London clinic.
Osteopath and Pilates Rehabilitation Instructor. Clinician at BAPAM and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Very experienced treating singers, musicians, actors and dancers. Expertise includes movement, jaw issues, neck and laryngeal tension affecting singers, exercise, injury prevention and rehabilitation. Private practice at Hermes Health, Chiswell Street, London.
Royal Opera House Occupational Health Adviser. Works with performers from all fields. Pilates, osteopathy and acupuncture. No appointments are currently available privately.
Alison Judah is a consultant osteopath who practices in Hammersmith, West London and in Hove East Sussex. She qualified in 1992 from the London School of Osteopathy with a Diploma in Osteopathic Medicine and then from Kingston University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Osteopathy. She undertook a Post-Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Osteopath at the Osteopathic Centre for Children. Alison has undertaken further training in the specialist area of caring for performing artists including the voice.
SPECIALIST OSTEOPATH TO THE PERFORMING ARTS
MUSICIANS
Alison helps many musicians by diagnosing the cause of their injuries, assessing them with their instrument rehabilitating them back to fitness and advising on furture injury prevention. Where it is possible musicians should bring their instrument with them to the appointment. Ergonomic assessments can also be carried out in a performance space. Musicians have busy schedules and she can arrange private MRI scans and xrays where necessary so as to get a diagnosis quickly and get them back to performing as soon as possible.
OSTEOPATHY FOR THE VOICE
Singers, Actors, Teachers and other Professional Voice Users
Performers need their voice to be agile, the delicate muscles surrounding the vocal cords need to be balanced as do the muscles of breathing. The voice can also be affected by other mechanical strains in the body. Alison will do a full assessment to establish the cause. If it is due to a mechanical strain then osteopathic treatment can help or osteopathy can help with rehabilitation back to fitness after other treatment is necessary such as surgery. Alison works with both Professional and Amateur Singers and Actors to help them carry on working without injury. She has undertaken specialist training in Laryngeal Manipulation and Performing Arts Medicine. With a busy schedule and often a stressful environment teachers and public speakers often aren't aware that they are straining the voice and body and teachers in particular often end up damaging the voice.
Symptoms of Voice Problems May Include:
Tightness in throat
Voice cutting out at points
Restriction in chest
Back or neck pain
Alteration in quality of voice
Breathing Problems
It is of course always important to check that voice problems are not due to a more pathological cause for which further medical investigations may be necessary. Alison always carries out a full examination and will assess your condition if you need further examinations or medical tests she will refer you to the most appropriate specialist.
ACTORS
Actors often have to wear heavy costumes, work in awkward poses and carry heavy props all this can cause strain. Alison can help with treating the cause of the injury and with advising on injury prevention.
CAMERA OPERATORS AND OTHER PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS
The use of cameras can cause strain to the neck and back leading to nerve impingement, pain and tingling in the shoulders, arms and hands. Any symptoms experienced should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent long term damage.
CLINICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL
Alison has been working in private practice for over 25 years. She has also worked with GPs in Sussex and London and worked as a Paediatric Osteopath at the Osteopathic Centre for Children in London seeing very complex cases. The experience she has gained allows her to diagnose and treat extremely complex problems and Alison is often referred cases where people have previously seen many health professionals. She has clinical experience in treating the specific needs of performing artists and the specialist area of voice problems. Alison also advises companies and organisations on injury prevention and carries out clinical ergonomic assessments in many different environments.
ALISON OFFERS:
Consultations for Advice on Posture and Injury Prevention
Understanding of the needs of Performing Artists
Advice/ Treatment for professional and Amateur Performers
Treatment for singers with muscular / joint strain affecting the voice
Specialist Laryngeal Manipulation for voice problems
Speedy referrals for MRI scans and xrays where necessary
Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy experienced working with performers and creative practitioners.
Nicky trained at the Arts Educational School, Tring Park and the London Contemporary Dance School. She performed professionally for 15 years with many leading international choreographers including Aletta Collins, Charles Linehan, Martin Lawrance and Jasmin Vardimon. Nicky performed at Sadlers Wells’ first ever Breakin’ Convention, and appeared in BBC2’s Dance for Camera film, The Lift. During her professional dance career she was described as ‘mesmeric and fascinating’ by the London Evening Standard, and ‘powerful and stately’ by The Times.
Nicky has taught at many of Britain’s leading dance institutions including The Royal Ballet School (White Lodge), Central School of Ballet and Elmhurst Ballet School. She led the Contemporary and Choreography courses at English National Ballet School between 2005 and 2009, with her students winning several international contemporary dance prizes under her tutelage, including The Prix de Lusanne & Beijing International Ballet Competition. The Dancing Times declared her a ‘superb teacher’.
In 2005 Nicky qualified as an osteopath at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine. After graduating Nicky accepted the job of Anatomy Lecturer at the London Contemporary Dance School, a post she held for seven years, and she continued to be their in house osteopath for a decade. As well as running a busy osteopathy practice Nicky is also regularly in demand by international dance and theatre companies; she was lead therapist on both series of the BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance and ITV’s Let’s Get Gold, and is Richard Alston Dance Company’s osteopath. In March 2016 Nicky had the honour of being invited to be part of a group of ‘Inspiring Women in Dance’ at Sadlers Wells theatre.
Aside from dance, Nicky has experience in martial arts, circus skills, climbing, running and gymnastics. She has a vested interest in optimal biomechanical functioning and myofascial release techniques (including myofascial dry needling) and always focuses on identifying the cause of pain opposed to simply treating symptoms. Nicky is also part of the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) team at the London Contemporary Dance School where she has been instrumental in devising screening protocols, training and treatment for elite level adolescent dancers.
Watch an interview with Nicky about hypermobility at Dance UK’s The Future: New Inspirations conference 2015, here.
Nonica Papageorgiou is an osteopath who has experience working with people of different ages, treating a wide variety of neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions. She graduated with Distinction in Masters of Osteopathic Medicine from The University College of Osteopathy.
She has extensive experience working with dancers from amateur to elite level. In addition to that, she has experience working with musicians. She herself says: ‘I am very passionate about educating my patients to create a healthier environment in the world of performance. My treatment is tailored to the individual's needs. I work closely with other professionals to provide a multidisciplinary management.’
Prior to her career as an osteopath, Nonica was a professional ballet and contemporary dancer. She trained at the Greek National Ballet and London Contemporary Dance School and performed internationally for 11 years.
Nonica specialises in treating dancers and other performing artists, and is a member of the Osteopathic Performing Arts Care Association and One Dance UK Healthcare Directory. Furthermore, she is registered with the General Osteopathic Council and is a proud member of the Institute of Osteopathy.
Sandie Ennis is an Osteopath with extensive experience in working with dancers. Sandie has followed postgraduate studies including cranial and classical Osteopathy, pain science, rehabilitation, women’s health, and training in paediatrics at the Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy in London (aka Osteopathic Centre for Children – OCC). Sandie completed her UK training and certification with Body Control Pilates (BCP) in 2000.
Sandie works on performance enhancement and injury support in dancers. She provides manual therapy, splints, equipment modification, exercise and health education.
Trevor England is an Osteopath and member of the Institute of Osteopathy and the Osteopathic Performing Arts Care Association (OPACA). He has worked with the body all of his life, firstly as a performing artist. In 2004 he retrained in Sports and Remedial massage, Orthopaedic/Medical Acupuncture, Pilates and Osteopathy. Since then he has helped many people who have experienced pain, joint and mobility problems.
Along with his clinical practice, Trevor is a qualified teacher, mentor and coach. He teaches Sports Massage, Sports Rehabilitation and other CPD workshops for manual therapists at a variety of colleges, private institutions and at an Osteopathic University in London.