"If it's tight, relax it. If it's stiff, move it. If it's sore, relieve pain."

"If it's tight, relax it. If it's stiff, move it. If it's sore, relieve pain."

As a Chartered Physiotherapist, Sue's aim is to encourage the body to fix itself. Sue says "I want to 'press the right buttons' to trigger the body's own healing response. I'm not a surgeon so I won't take anything out. I'm not a medical practitioner so I won't put anything in. I believe that nature knows best, and that if the body is able to heal itself then it will do so given the right conditions and encouragement. 

My ethos in life is one of no violence, and I will not try to force the body in any way. I know that stress reduces the ability to heal. For this and other reasons I work with the horse rather than against him, aiming for relaxation as part of the treatment process." 

Much of Sue's work comes through word of mouth, and so the results speak for themselves. Many clients choose the option of regular treatment sessions for performance enhancement, to give comfort when there are known underlying conditions, or simply for peace of mind as a preventative measure. All assessments and treatments are tailored to the individual.

Techniques used include:

Massage: Massage involves working and acting on the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids.

Joint mobilisation: Joint mobilisation is a manual therapy intervention, a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint. It is usually aimed at a 'target' synovial joint with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect. When applied to the spine, it is known as spinal mobilisation.

Soft tissue mobilisation: Soft tissue mobilisation is the hands on mobilisation of soft tissues, including fascia, muscle, tendon, ligaments, and more.

Craniosacral therapy: Craniosacral therapy (CST), or cranial-sacral therapy, is a form of bodywork or alternative therapy focused primarily on the concept of "primary respiration" and regulating the flow of cerebrospinal fluid by using therapeutic touch to manipulate the synarthrodial joints of the cranium. To do this, a practitioner will apply light touches to a patient's skull, face, spine and pelvis.

Myofascial release: Myofascial release (or MFR) is a soft tissue therapy for the treatment of skeletal muscle immobility and pain. This alternative medicine therapy aims to relax contracted muscles, improve blood and lymphatic circulation, and stimulate the stretch reflex in muscles.

Spinal mobilisation: Joint mobilisation is a manual therapy intervention, a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint. It is usually aimed at a 'target' synovial joint with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect. When applied to the spine, it is known as spinal mobilisation.

Stretching: Stretching is a form of physical exercise in which a specific muscle or tendon (or muscle group) is deliberately flexed or stretched in order to improve the muscle's felt elasticity and achieve comfortable muscle tone.

Neurodynamics: Neurodynamics is related to communication between different parts of the nervous system.

Muscle energy techniques: Muscle energy techniques are used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscular hypertonicity and pain. Historically, the concept emerged as a form of osteopathic manipulative diagnosis and treatment in which the patient's muscles are actively used on request, from a precisely controlled position, in a specific direction, and against a distinctly executed physician counterforce. 

Joint manipulation: Joint manipulation is a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint. It is usually aimed at one or more 'target' synovial joints with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect.

Exercises: Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons, including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, and merely enjoyment.

Gait analysis: Gait analysis is the systematic study of animal locomotion, more specifically the study of human motion, using the eye and the brain of observers, augmented by instrumentation for measuring body movements, body mechanics, and the activity of the muscles.

Heat: Heat therapy, also called thermotherapy, is the use of heat in therapy, such as for pain relief and health.

Ice: Cryotherapy is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy.

Electrotherapy (TENS): Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes.

Advice and education

The definitions above are mostly taken from Wikipedia in May 2015.