Physical Balance is a group of specialist practitioners dedicated to the treatment and relief of musculo-skeletal pain, joint stiffness and bio-mechanical problems. We have been helping people of all ages in the Basingstoke area since 1996. Scroll down to meet the team.
Ian HarrisonDAIR. DO. MSc
Osteopath - Acupuncturist - Radiographer -
Registered with the General Osteopathic Council and the British Medical Acupuncture Society
Ian was born in New Zealand. After qualifying as a Medical Radiographer he moved to Australia for further post-graduate experience. His particular interest was in trauma radiology found in accident and emergency departments. In 1988 he moved to the UK and worked in both the NHS and private health services in England and Ireland specialising in neuro-radiology and cardiology. In 1992 he moved out of London to Hampshire to work as the Radiology Manager of the Hampshire Clinic.
In 1996 he completed his 5-year Osteopathic training, qualifying with 1st class Honours and the ‘Students of the Year' prize. As an undergraduate he worked for 4 years with the British Olympic Osteopath. In 1997 qualified in Medical Acupuncture which he now uses in combination with his Osteopathic skills. The
use of Acupuncture has made treating even the most acutely painful
conditions more comfortable and effective and finds patients benefit
greatly from the combination of Acupuncture and Osteopathy with their symptoms reduced more quickly and requiring fewer treatments. Ian has a traditional, structural approach and strongly believes that
giving the right advice and teaching patients to understand the cause
and mechanism if their pain, is as important as the specific treatment
they may receive.
Postgraduate education is a vital part of everyone's development and helps ensure that patients receive the best, evidence informed treatment and advice. Some of the other postgraduate courses Ian has completed are in Podiatry and Foot Biomechanics, Ergonomics and Manual Handling, Equine and Canine Osteopathy, Electro-acupuncture, Osteoporosis - Diagnosis and Management......... as well a regular attendance to seminars, conferences and study days.
Academically, Ian has been lecturing at the London School of Osteopathy since 1997 and is the module leader for the 'professional studies' cirriculum on the Masters (MSc) program. He speaks at numerous seminars, helps organise local post graduate education and mentors students in his practice. Additionally, Ian is also responsible
for reporting of Bone Densitometry scans (DEXA) for Osteoporosis
assessment on behalf of the NHS at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire
Foundation Trust.
Most recently, Ian gained a Masters degree (MSc) in Evidence Based Health Care from the famous University of Oxford. he hopes to be able to support the further collection of high quality evidence in the treatment of muscul-skeletal pain.
Ian has a lovely wife, 3 teenage sons, a dog and 2 ferrets. He is a lover of out door activities and country sports (particularly anything to do with mountains & rugby).
Caroline GovettBOst
Osteopath (Structural and Cranial) - Acupuncturist .
Registered with the General Osteopathic Council and the British Medical Acupuncture Society
Caroline
graduated from the British School of Osteopathy in 2005 with the
Bachelor of Osteopathy degree. She returned to full time education in
2001 as a mature student following a successful 12 year career in the
television industry. Her decision to change her career path came
following an interest in sports massage which led to her assisting the
massage team at the Finchley Rugby Club in London.
Caroline's
approach to musculo-skeletal ailments such as repetitive strain
injuries, mechanical low back pain, sports injuries and neck pain is
primarily through the traditional structural approach. Not only does
she address the problem with hands on soft tissue and joint
manipulation, she also strongly believes in postural education and the
prescription of exercises which allow the individual to better
understand and manage their own health and wellbeing. She also has a
keen interest in Cranial Osteopathy, a more subtle form of massage and manipulation
appropriate for individuals such as expectant mothers with low back
pain and symphysis pubis dysfunction SPD due to carrying her baby.
Outside
normal clinic hours, Caroline continues her professional development by
attending post graduate course and seminars; these have included
Medical Acupuncture and Osteopathy in the Cranial Field. She is also a
keen skier, an avid follower of Rugby Union and enjoys worldwide
travel. She has been particularly fortunate in being able to take a
number of extended breaks from work to explore Australia, New Zealand,
Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Linda CrawfordMOst BSc
Osteopath - Registered
with the General Osteopathic Council
Linda
graduated from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine with a Masters in
Osteopathy qualifying with first class honours and several awards including
‘Student of the Year’.Prior to this she
had a successful 7 year career in scientific marketing but decided to return to
full time education to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine.
Linda has a
primarily structural approach to the treatment of a variety of conditions.She also has a keen interest in the
neurological system and the underlying cause of pain.Linda strongly believes that helping patients
understand the cause of their pain strengthens their recovery and minimises any
possibility of the problem recurring.
An enduring
desire to learn has drawn Linda to continue her professional development
outside of clinical hours, currently pursuing post graduate training in Medical
Acupuncture.In addition, Linda is an
enthusiastic horse rider and skier, and enjoys learning all variety of unusual
sports, including qualifying in skydiving several years ago.She is especially interested in foreign
travel and recently was fortunate enough to have an extended trip to Borneo
which included mountain climbing, jungle trekking and scuba diving.
Catherine FletcherBSc (Hons) MChS
Podiatrist / Chiropodist
Registered with the Health Professions Council
Catherine
has a Podiatry Honours Degree from Huddersfield School of Podiatry and
is registered with both the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and
with the Health Professions Council.
She
originally developed her interest in Podiatry through her association
with sports (and injuries) with Basingstoke and Mid-Hampshire athletics
club, and this lead to a further interest in the working of lower limb
as a whole.
Throughout
her training Catherine worked in a busy NHS clinic and since graduation
has worked as a private practitioner in the commercial sector. Within
both these environments she has had experience with many different
patients including diabetics and children, two areas which are of
particular interest to her.
Catherine
is fully trained in general Chiropody such as nail care, corns, hard
skin and more advanced Podiatric treatments such as biomechanics for
foot, ankle and knee pain. Nail surgery for persistent nail problems is
also provided.
Long term, Catherine is keen to continue her studies and plans to explore a more multi-disciplinary approach to treatment.
Joe AllnuttBSc (Hons) DipST MSST
Sports Therapist
Joe
Allnutt is a sports therapist dedicated to giving a high quality
personalised treatment regime for a whole range of sports injuries. Joe
graduated from the University of Chichester in 2004 with a Bsc (Hons)
in Sports Therapy and is fully registered with the Society of Sports
Therapists.
As
a keen sports man Joe participates in a variety of different sports
including cricket, football and golf. As a complement to this and his
clinical work Joe also works as the principle sports therapist to the
Basingstoke Bison Ice Hockey team and lectures at Basingstoke College
of Technology in sports massage. He also worked for 1 year with the
Hampshire County Cricket 1st team squad, helping some of the
world's top sportsmen back to full fitness, an experience he frequently
draws upon within clinic.
Jane Cottrell ITEC VTCT MCThA
Massage Therapist
Jane gained the ITEC
Diploma in Holistic Body Massage with Distinction and the VTCT Diploma in
Indian Head Massage in 2006. She studied locally at Basingstoke College of
Technology and Newbury College. In 2007, Jane achieved the ITEC Diploma in
Aromatherapy with Credit after studying at Newbury College. Jane is also a full
member of the Complementary Therapists Association.
Jane had an interest
in Complementary Therapies for some years before deciding to undertake the
necessary training to become a therapist. She has a particular interest in how
the benefits of massage and aromatherapy can help promote a feeling of general
well being to the mind and body.
Jane also works as a
Registered Veterinary Nurse in a busy Veterinary Practice carrying out various
nursing duties as well as training Student Veterinary Nurses.
Jenny Fowles BSc(Hons). MAR
Reflexologist –
Registered with the Association of Reflexologists
Jenny completed
her Registered General Nurses Training at St.Thomas’ Hospital London in
1991.After spending some time gaining
general nursing experience at St. Thomas’ Jenny relocated to Salisbury where she worked on a General Surgical
Ward.
Jenny’s keen
interest in Nutrition led her to apply for a position within the clinical
department of Cow and Gate Nutricia
(based in Trowbridge). During this time
Jenny had numerous roles but was ultimately responsible for setting up the
Nursing Service for Nutricia’s Home delivery service - Homeward.Whilst with Nutricia Jenny completed her
honours degree in Nutrition support.
During Maternity
leave Jenny decided to have a change of career and became very interested in
Reflexology.She spent a year attending
the London School of Reflexology after which she was awarded a Diploma in
Reflexology and became a “Member of the Association of Reflexologists” -MAR.
Jenny lives in Overton with her husband and
young son and is a keen sailor.
Sam ChampionITEC MCThA
Sports Massage Therapist
Sam studies at the Basingstoke College of Technology, gaining the ITEC Holistic Massage Diploma. She continued studying and qualified as a Sports Masseur after gaining her ITEC Sports Massage Diploma. She is a member of the Complimentary Therapists Association.
In 2003 she gained a Premier qualification in personal training. This further inspired her interest in anatomy, physiology and a better understanding of the importance of maintaining the body as well as training it. Sam Recognises how Sports Massage can enable the body to carry out its day-to-day activities or return to training much more quickly.
Sports Massage does not have to be confined to to those in sports training, as it is also beneficial in improving posture, increasing flexibility, reducing back ache, calming tension headaches and over-coming those aches and pain due to stress, commuting, DIY, gardening ..........
Sam has lived in Basingstoke for over 20 years. She is
married with two young boys. She enjoys an active lifestyle involving walking,
gardening, cycling and has a passion for horses. She regularly rides and
competes in local dressage competitions.
