Paul Leigh, Osteopath

In my earlier years I did a wide range of jobs. I've been a labourer on numerous building sites, driven a fork lift truck, worked in a wholefood shop and an off-licence, had a spell as a bicycle dispatch rider, and even a couple of years as a sound recording engineer back in the days of eight-track tape. Having first injured my back at the age of 23 I went on to become very aware of the stresses and strains inherent in different occupations, and their effects on our physical function and levels of comfort.

Also from quite a young age, I have had an interest in meditation, yoga, and Chinese martial arts, and have done trainings in spiritual healing, and therapeutic massage. From each of these pursuits I have had first hand experience of the benefits of relaxation, movement, and touch for musculo-skeletal pain. When I went to study at the British School of Osteopathy at the age of 29, I found that I was already familiar with many of the principles and theories of Osteopathy and manual medicine from my previous experiences. Studying and practising Osteopathy was as natural to me as continuing with my previous interests, and in 20 years in practice I have never doubted my decision to train as an Osteopath.

Osteopathy has a wide range of techniques and Osteopaths will use different techniques according to the needs of the patient. For me personally, with my very varied background experience, the full potential of Osteopathy is found within the 'Cranial' approach. For anyone reading this who has not yet been treated by me, 'Cranial' isn't such as a great term as it (obviously!) implies the head. But the term was originally coined to describe the work of Osteopath W.G. Sutherland, as he found that by employing the sensitivity and precision he himself learned from the founder of Osteopathy A.T. Still, he could use gentle techniques to treat the head. Sutherland went on to teach the same principles in treating any area of the body, principles which were sadly being lost from Osteopathy as many Osteopaths focused on the more dramatic and more obvious techniques. This approach of working with very highly trained sensitivity, and very gentle yet powerful and specific techniques became popularised as 'Cranial' even though it can be applied to the whole body.

My interest in Osteopathy is to help with pain and dysfunction wherever it arises, whether you are a baby or an octogenarian, a fork-lift driver or a full-time mum. If you are unsure if Osteopathy is suitable for you, get in touch and I will see if I can help.

And some more information about my training and qualifications: I am Registered with the General Osteopathic Council, a legal requirement for anyone practising as an Osteopath. I graduated from the BSO in 1996 with a BSc(Hons) Ost. degree. Since then I have taken most of the post-graduate cranial courses of both the 'Biodynamics' curriculum, and the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy, of which I am a Faculty member and Fellow (FSCCO.)