Course Tutors
Tony Gill
Works as an ESP for North Somerset Primary Care Trust for the MSK Interface service. He works with a special interest in shoulders in the NHS assessing complex shoulder pathology as well as treating in the private sector. He is also an Injection therapist and MSK ultrasonographer, using these skill to enhance his physiotheraputic modalities and is a member of BESS (British Elbow and Shoulder Society). Tony is the Physiotherapy Advisor to the Jitsu Foundation within the UK. Alongside Rhian Witham, he has developed the complete shoulder course, assessment and treatment which has run with incredible success over the last 6 years. He passionately believes in practical teaching and this course reflects his personal and professional approach to assessment and treatment.
Rhian Witham
Rhian Witham is a Chartered Physiotherapist who qualified
from the University of Birmingham in 1996.
Since then she has gained a wide range of experience within the NHS and
Private Practice, specialising in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. She completed her MACP in 2002 and
subsequently her MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy in 2003. This qualification has allowed Rhian to be a
clinical student mentor for Post Graduate MSc Students. Over this time she has developed a special interest
in treating patients with shoulder dysfunction, and is now a member of BESS
(British Elbow and Shoulder Society)
Her current role allows her to lead the North Bristol NHS Trust Shoulder Physiotherapy Team; furthermore she works in an ESP role with Mr Iain Packham, Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon. She also works closely with the other Specialist Shoulder Surgeons within the trust. Her varied caseload includes the most complex shoulder presentations. This experience has enabled her to teach on this subject to a wide variety of Health Professionals – including Specialist Registrars and local GPs.
Her current role allows her to lead the North Bristol NHS Trust Shoulder Physiotherapy Team; furthermore she works in an ESP role with Mr Iain Packham, Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon. She also works closely with the other Specialist Shoulder Surgeons within the trust. Her varied caseload includes the most complex shoulder presentations. This experience has enabled her to teach on this subject to a wide variety of Health Professionals – including Specialist Registrars and local GPs.
Martin Bell, Snr. Orthotist, BSc. MBAPO HPC Reg.
Since graduation (15 years ago) from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Martin has worked within the Prosthetic/Orthotic department of North Bristol Trust. During this time he has developed significant areas of expertise and has specialised in: Dynamic Gait Analysis, Lower Limb Bio-mechanics, Lower Limb Paediatric Orthotics and Orthotic management of the Chronic Diabetic Foot.
He also works for N-Somerset NHS as a specialist assessing and treating biomechanical lower limb dysfunctions.
This course was designed by him to specifically allow professionals already working with lower limb biomechanical problems to enhance their assessment skills and identify mechanical problems and treatment solutions.
He also works for N-Somerset NHS as a specialist assessing and treating biomechanical lower limb dysfunctions.
This course was designed by him to specifically allow professionals already working with lower limb biomechanical problems to enhance their assessment skills and identify mechanical problems and treatment solutions.
Alex Poole
Alex studied BSc sport sciences at Loughborough University and also has post graduate qualification in exercise physiology and biomechanics. . He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and was a former professional rugby player. He has also recently completed his Masters in Sport Science.
Working as a Professional Fittness Instructor for both your average Jo and Elite Athletes has enabled him to understand the wider context of strengh and conditioning programmes, the evidence and how to apply this to a variety of very different clients.
Working as a Professional Fittness Instructor for both your average Jo and Elite Athletes has enabled him to understand the wider context of strengh and conditioning programmes, the evidence and how to apply this to a variety of very different clients.
Huw Griffiths
Huw Griffiths has been practising acupuncture for nearly 20 years. He trained at the College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in Leamington Spa, where he qualified in 1991. As the founding director of The Complete Health Care Clinic, in London’s City Road, EC1, he had the unique opportunity to witness, through his clients, the negative impact of stress on the body due to today’s demanding lifestyles. The prevalence of similar symptoms repeatedly presenting themselves, led him to focus specifically on identifying the causative stresses and alleviating the accompanying conditions. These Included: back pain, insomnia, headaches and migraines, skin conditions, anxiety, fatigue, tummy bloating and digestive disorders, infertility and conception.
Gill Hurst
Since 1998 Gill has worked as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist in both NHS and private healthcare settings specialising in complex pain conditions. Over the years this has taken her from the ski fields of New Zealand to remote communities in the Indian Himalaya. Until recently she practised in central Bristol where she established her work and fortified links with other specialist consultants to provide a ‘scientifically holistic’ approach to rehabilitation. She continues to see the entire range of musculoskeletal conditions and combines manual and movement therapy with acupuncture, yoga and mindfulness as tailored strategies for overcoming pain & injury.
Gill’s work in the field of yoga has been developed through years of study and self-practice and stems from her experience in the ashtanga and vipassana traditions. She teaches yoga as an ever-evolving, daily awareness practice that is accessible to anybody who chooses to investigate their body and mind in this way. She tutors for teacher training courses in the UK on the subjects of anatomy, physiology and adjustment technique. She started the first course in the UK for physiotherapists on the application of yoga in pain and injury management and has continued to evolve this course according to the most current research. She is currently in Canada completing her certificate in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and has commenced an MA in transpersonal psychology. She will be returning to the UK for teaching and clinical commitments.
Gill’s work in the field of yoga has been developed through years of study and self-practice and stems from her experience in the ashtanga and vipassana traditions. She teaches yoga as an ever-evolving, daily awareness practice that is accessible to anybody who chooses to investigate their body and mind in this way. She tutors for teacher training courses in the UK on the subjects of anatomy, physiology and adjustment technique. She started the first course in the UK for physiotherapists on the application of yoga in pain and injury management and has continued to evolve this course according to the most current research. She is currently in Canada completing her certificate in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and has commenced an MA in transpersonal psychology. She will be returning to the UK for teaching and clinical commitments.
Jay Flitter
Is a Chartered Physiotherapist who graduated from The University of Brighton in 1996. His early career was spent at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital in London. During this time, he built up a range of experience and he soon realised that his passion lay in neuromusculoskeletal medicine. He moved into the private sector treating elite and non-elite athletes in the UK and France.
Ultimately, his desire to challenge himself further, and refine both his clinical reasoning and manual skills, culminated in him successfully completing the MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy at the University of Brighton in 2006. He was also awarded the Churchill Livingstone Prize for academic achievement.
Since that time he has worked in private practice and delivered teaching sessions to a range of post-graduate physiotherapists on clinical reasoning and Grade V spinal manipulation techniques.
His course has evolved from his MSc experience, his MSc clinical tutoring experiences and these teaching sessions. The aim of the course is to make learning simple and the techniques learnt, clinically effective. There is a strong focus on not simply giving people a range of techniques, but providing the time to practice and develop the reasoning skills to ensure that the participants are able to apply the techniques confidently and effectively.
He currently practices and teaches in London.
Ultimately, his desire to challenge himself further, and refine both his clinical reasoning and manual skills, culminated in him successfully completing the MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy at the University of Brighton in 2006. He was also awarded the Churchill Livingstone Prize for academic achievement.
Since that time he has worked in private practice and delivered teaching sessions to a range of post-graduate physiotherapists on clinical reasoning and Grade V spinal manipulation techniques.
His course has evolved from his MSc experience, his MSc clinical tutoring experiences and these teaching sessions. The aim of the course is to make learning simple and the techniques learnt, clinically effective. There is a strong focus on not simply giving people a range of techniques, but providing the time to practice and develop the reasoning skills to ensure that the participants are able to apply the techniques confidently and effectively.
He currently practices and teaches in London.
Saskia Blair
currently works at the Spire Hospital, Cardiff at the Centre of Orthopaedic Excellence part time, & runs her own private practice part time. She has a Masters in Sport Physio and has been the British Fencing Physiotherapist for11 years and was the Chief Physiotherapist for the UK School Games for over a decade. She has attended 5 Commonwealth Games as part as the Team Wales physiotherapy team.
Saskia was also the physiotherapist for Team GB at the 2004 Barcelona Holding Camp prior to the Athens Olympics. She has extensive experience using a variety of taping throughout her sporting career including traditional methods and kineseo taping. She delivers teaching to postgraduates on a regular basis and has developed a 1 day and 2 day taping course to enhance therapists skills in this area.
Saskia was also the physiotherapist for Team GB at the 2004 Barcelona Holding Camp prior to the Athens Olympics. She has extensive experience using a variety of taping throughout her sporting career including traditional methods and kineseo taping. She delivers teaching to postgraduates on a regular basis and has developed a 1 day and 2 day taping course to enhance therapists skills in this area.
Gordon Bosworth
Gordon spent his formative years in the Royal Air Force (1976-1992) where he trained as a Physiotherapist in 1980 at QEMH Woolwich and the RAF Halton School of Physiotherapy: further studies took him into Osteopathy and Chiropractic. He completed tours of duty on various units including Rehabilitation Units Headley Court and Chessington. On leaving the RAF and became Head of Rehabilitation at the Police Rehab Centre in Goring on Thames until 1997 when he moved into Private Practice.
He has been fortunate to be apart of the Great Britain Teams at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano (1998), Japan, Salt Lake City (2002), USA and Torino, Italy (2006).
He was appointed Medical Lead for the Canadian Speed Skating Team ( Long & Short Track) at the Vancouver (2010) Olympic Games and more recently as Chief Physiotherapist to United Kingdom Athletics/British Athletics at the London Olympic Games (2012).
He has acted as a Consultant to several Professional football teams including Bolton Wanderers FC, Liverpool FC, Wigan FC, Derby County FC, Queens Park Rangers FC and currently he is Consulting for Sunderland AFC and the Cornish Pirates Rugby Team.
Gordon has been involved in sport for most of his life and in elite sport, as a practitioner, since 1992. Gordon has a specialist interest in performance related MSK issues and in particular the spine and pelvis.
He has been fortunate to be apart of the Great Britain Teams at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano (1998), Japan, Salt Lake City (2002), USA and Torino, Italy (2006).
He was appointed Medical Lead for the Canadian Speed Skating Team ( Long & Short Track) at the Vancouver (2010) Olympic Games and more recently as Chief Physiotherapist to United Kingdom Athletics/British Athletics at the London Olympic Games (2012).
He has acted as a Consultant to several Professional football teams including Bolton Wanderers FC, Liverpool FC, Wigan FC, Derby County FC, Queens Park Rangers FC and currently he is Consulting for Sunderland AFC and the Cornish Pirates Rugby Team.
Gordon has been involved in sport for most of his life and in elite sport, as a practitioner, since 1992. Gordon has a specialist interest in performance related MSK issues and in particular the spine and pelvis.
Jason Seaton
qualified in 1995 with a degree in Physiotherapy and went on to do a diploma in Sports medicine.
Since then Jason has worked in the NHS and with various sports teams including Weston Rugby Club, South West Women’s Hockey League and British Gymnastics as the Physiotherapist for the Great Britain Sports Acrobatic Team. He provided medical cover for them at various World Championships including the World games in Japan, where he also the physiotherapist for the Great Britain Tumbling and Trampoline Teams.
Jason has completed his Society of Orthopaedic Medicine qualification and has a masters level qualification in Injection Therapy. He works full time in the NHS as a knee specialist physiotherapist and as an extended scope practitioner for the North Somerset MSK Interface service. Jason also works part time in a private physiotherapy clinic. He developed an interest in Knees after injuring his own knee back in 1999 which required surgery. After returning back to international competition, Jason started to develop his assessment and treatment skills around the knee. This consequently led to Jason working along Mr Michael Radford, Orthopaedic Consultant knee specialist. Jason has since developed the knee service at Weston General Hospital alongside Mr Radford especially around ligament reconstruction.Professionally Jason’s main interest is the knee, especially ACL and ligament injuries, alongside anterior knee pain. Further interest also includes sports injuries and sports specific conditioning.
Since then Jason has worked in the NHS and with various sports teams including Weston Rugby Club, South West Women’s Hockey League and British Gymnastics as the Physiotherapist for the Great Britain Sports Acrobatic Team. He provided medical cover for them at various World Championships including the World games in Japan, where he also the physiotherapist for the Great Britain Tumbling and Trampoline Teams.
Jason has completed his Society of Orthopaedic Medicine qualification and has a masters level qualification in Injection Therapy. He works full time in the NHS as a knee specialist physiotherapist and as an extended scope practitioner for the North Somerset MSK Interface service. Jason also works part time in a private physiotherapy clinic. He developed an interest in Knees after injuring his own knee back in 1999 which required surgery. After returning back to international competition, Jason started to develop his assessment and treatment skills around the knee. This consequently led to Jason working along Mr Michael Radford, Orthopaedic Consultant knee specialist. Jason has since developed the knee service at Weston General Hospital alongside Mr Radford especially around ligament reconstruction.Professionally Jason’s main interest is the knee, especially ACL and ligament injuries, alongside anterior knee pain. Further interest also includes sports injuries and sports specific conditioning.
John Flannigan
John has been a 1st aid Instructor since 1983 and has taught widely over the South West including Government Departements and the NHS. Within Bristol he has taught in the North Bristol NHS in Southmead and Frenchay.
John takes a particular interest in Sport 1st aid and is also the Junior Secetary of North Bristol RFC.
He bispokes his sport 1st aid to the problems encountered on pitch-side and with general sporting acitivities to ensure the attendees gain the maximum from the courses offered within this sub-speciality of 1st aid.
John takes a particular interest in Sport 1st aid and is also the Junior Secetary of North Bristol RFC.
He bispokes his sport 1st aid to the problems encountered on pitch-side and with general sporting acitivities to ensure the attendees gain the maximum from the courses offered within this sub-speciality of 1st aid.
Melissa Calcraft
Melissa Calcraft is a Chartered Physiotherapist who qualified from the Bristol School of Physiotherapy in 1978. Since then she has gained a wide range of NHS experience in both Bristol and Edinburgh with 25 years specialising in Hand Therapy. She completed an MSc in 2000 and a PgCert Education in 2006. Her experience has also included a lecturing post at Queen Margaret University and research for the British Association of Hand Therapists. An extremely experienced hand therapist she has taught wrist and hand assessment for over 20 years. She has developed this course with an understanding that not all therapists have the chance to work in a dedicated hand centre but will still assess and treat the wrist and hand on a regular basis. She has tailor made this course with this in mind.
Andy Sexton
Andy spent four years working as head of road and time trial sales at Planet X Bikes, Britain's fastest growing bike brand, during which time he fitted over five hundred riders on road, time trial and triathlon bikes. While working at Planet X he identified the need to be able to offer accurate, professional bike fitting services to riders wishing to buy bikes without being able to try the actual bike for size first and riders wishing to optimise their riding position to increase performance, avoid injury or improve comfort. He started Bike Science with these aims in mind. Andy has performed over two thousand bike fits in his role as head fitter at Bike Science Bristol with cyclists ranging from complete novice to professional athlete. As well as fitting riders Andy has also raced triathlon and cycling events up to Ironman distance for 20 years and has a very good understanding from both the rider's perspective as well as the fitters.
Andy is qualified sports massage therapist, British Triathlon Level 2 coach and became only the second person in the UK to become a Retul certified bike fitter having trained at the Retul University fitting centre in Denver, Colorado with world renowned bike fit guru Todd Carver. Andy currently runs Bike Science and performs fits in the Bristol Bike Science studio. http://www.bike-science.com/
Andy is qualified sports massage therapist, British Triathlon Level 2 coach and became only the second person in the UK to become a Retul certified bike fitter having trained at the Retul University fitting centre in Denver, Colorado with world renowned bike fit guru Todd Carver. Andy currently runs Bike Science and performs fits in the Bristol Bike Science studio. http://www.bike-science.com/
Gavin Kelly
Gavin qualified in 2002 with a Degree in Physiotherapy, He works in the NHS as a Shoulder specialist and privately as an msk physiotherapist assessing and treating a wide variety of disorders. He has also worked with Bristol City Football Academy and as a Senior Physiotherapist with ten years experience working in both Orthopaedic and Outpatient settings
As a former judo player competing at both County and National level, Gavin now spends his free time either training for triathalon or biking.
Adam Gold
Adam graduated in physiotherapy from the University of the West of England in 2005. He has worked in MSK outpatients since 2008 with a special interest in spinal pain, pain management and shoulder conditions. Adam now also works alongside one of the shoulder consultants as an extended scope practitioner. Adam has completed his Diploma in orthopaedic medicine and an MSc module in acupuncture. He has gained an MSc level qualification in injection therapy which now forms an integral part of his practice. Adam has also qualified as a non-medical prescriber and uses this knowledge to aid in the management of pain in both acute and chronic conditions. Adam has 2 young children who occupy most of his spare time! He also enjoys endurance sports, regularly taking part in long coarse triathlons, marathons and ultra-marathons.