I’m an Osteopath, Pilates Instructor, ex professional ballet and contemporary dancer and mum to 2 little girls..
I first came across Osteopathy whilst a student at The Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. During this time I had many injuries, usually related to overuse/overtraining. I found my body responded really well to the hands on, body-wide approach to treatment getting me back into action faster than other forms of treatment I’d tried.
In the final year of my dance training I sustained a serious foot injury, which meant months off from dancing (and weight bearing in general) just after graduation. It was a stressful and frustrating time. A daily Pilates-based body conditioning workout was all I could do. The silver lining… a quicker return from injury, with improved strength, posture and mobility than previously. This inspired me to train as a Pilates Instructor whilst in between dance contracts and I completed my training with Body Control Pilates in 2007.
Going on to retrain as an Osteopath in 2011 felt like a natural progression and I qualified with Distinction from the British School of Osteopathy in 2016 and was an academic prize winner in my third year. Since then, I was fortunate enough to work as part of the Healthcare Team for the young dancers’ programme at the London Contemporary Dance school alongside various other general Osteopathic practices.
Having my girls in 2019 and 2022, I have first-hand experience of the exhaustion and physical and emotional pressures of family life. I also understand the frustrations of trying to ‘recover’ from pregnancy and birth when there just isn’t time! I love supporting Mums in finding their bodies again at whatever stage they are after having children.
I enjoy treating patients from all walks of life, but a few specific areas I can help with:
- Overuse injuries – Injury doesn’t always mean stopping exercise completely. In fact, continuing some form of exercise is often important for recovery. With my combined clinical and exercise expertise, I’m well-equipped to help tailor your workouts to better aid recovery.
- Injury prevention – Sometimes, we just feel stiff and tight no matter how much stretching or self-care we do. Having regular treatments when our body isn’t feeling quite right can help us get back on track and prevent injury happening in the first place. We send our cars in for regular MOTs so why do we not do this for our bodies?
- Sports-related injuries – With my lifelong background in Dance, Pilates and Yoga, coupled with 4 years of experience working with the C.A.T. healthcare team at the London Contemporary Dance School, I am well-placed to manage sports-related injuries and can create tailored, evidence-based rehabilitation plans specific to your injury.
- Managing longer term issues – We can tolerate a certain amount of discomfort day-to-day without it seemingly affecting our normal activities. However, when pain or niggles are ignored and persist for awhile, the body may not be able to compensate as well and other issues gradually emerge that exacerbate the initial problem. I can help you to understand these compensatory patterns and how to work with them as well as giving specific treatment and exercises to help manage symptoms in the longer term.
To book a session with Lucy please call the clinic on – 07932022503 or email info@fourhealth.co.uk. You can also email Lucy directly if you have any specific questions about how she may be able to help at lucy@fourhealth.co.uk
