Meet Julieann, the Osteopath Clapham 07929 595 685
My story
Strange thing, but I started life as an Astrophysicist. I also had an interest in theatre and for a while this was my main focus. I flew around the country as Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth”, Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra”, Homily in the “Borrowers”, Charlotte in “Charlotte’s Web” and many other delightful theatre roles. Then, I got a taste for film. Unfortunately, these parts weren’t so easy to come by and I needed another string to my bow. Astrophysics had definitely moved on, so enter stage left massage therapy.
I trained as a sports masseur, set up a little business and then met a wonderful young lady with Rett Syndrome. One thing led to another and I found myself resident at the day care centre that the young lady attended. Once here, I could see that there was a lot more need than my little massage qualification had prepared me for and, having recently become a Christian, I felt compelled to find a way to help. After much thought, I re-trained at the British School of Osteopathy (BSO) followed by the Osteopathic Centre for Children (OCC), where I later became a tutor and lecturer. At the BSO, I honed my skills in the treatment of adults. At the OCC, I learnt how to help prenatal and postnatal women, newborns, infants and children.
In the years that followed, I added to my skill set by attending post-graduate courses in the biomechanics of breast feeding and tongue tie, women’s health, primitive reflex integration, sports rehabilitation, the treatment of scar tissue and the Epley manoeuvre.
Today I run a vibrant and busy clinic from my home in Clapham, where I see a variety of patients with various presentations.
Specialism: Feeding difficulties and tongue tie
Whilst my work with infants is broad, an area of specialism is that of breast feeding and tongue tie. Here at the Osteopath Clapham I work closely with lactation consultants, midwives and tongue tie specialists to try to find non-interventional solutions. Please visit my blog page where you can read my articles “What is tongue tie?” and “When is a tongue tie not a tongue tie?”
Specialism: Sports Rehabilitation
People often ask “What is the difference between Osteopathy and Physio?”. The most simple answer is that physio’s focus on exercise, while osteopaths are more hands on. However, in reality there is a great deal of overlap. Good physio’s recognise the need to develop hands on skills. while good osteopaths come to recognise that exercise is important.
As part of my ongoing postgraduate development, I have added effective rehabilitation to my osteopathic skills, training with a top rugby coach through the ProSport Academy. Exercise, in the form of mini tailored programs or simple but effective tips, are added to every treatment.
Specialism: Epley Maneuvers for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Although benign, BPPV is far from pleasant. Sufferers experience dizziness, vertigo (a sensation akin to feeling drunk), loss of balance and nausea. Fortunately, the solution is fairly simple. It involves a set of head maneuvers that reset the middle ear, the most common of which is called the Epley Maneuver. Having studied the functional anatomy of the ear in great depth during my postgraduate paediatric training and undergone further studies in the application of the Epley Maneuver, as the Osteopath Clapham, I am in a good position to help those with BPPV. For more information please visit the blog section.
Specialism: Neurodiversity and Neurodevelopmental rehabilitation
Having been resident osteopath at the Lambeth day care centre for adults with profound and multiple learning difficulties and the Key Clinic, where I trained in neurodevelopmental rehabilitation, I am more than comfortable with those of different physical and/or cognitive abilities. As such, at my Clapham practice, I see patients with a wide variety of complex needs. These include adults and children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome, Rett syndrome, Fragile X, autism, ADHD, ADD, Asperger’s and retained primitive reflexes.
Please visit my blog page where you can read my article “Neurodevelopmental rehabilitation: What is it? How does it work? Who can it help?”
Specialism: The later years
Having a mum with quite devastating osteoporosis following a difficult menopause, I am drawn towards our lovely older generation, one of whom I shall be in the not too distant future. We all know that, with respect to health, mobility is key. However, through personal experience, I have come to see the very great importance that strength, postural stability and balance play in safe, injury-free mobility. As such, my work with older people is focused on structural analysis and rehabilitation advice, both of which contribute to individualised treatment plans.
The treatment of scar tissue and adhesions
The osteopathic treatment of scars and the deeper, often more problematic, adhesions, involves gentle massage, cranial and biodynamic osteopathy as well as visceral work. A combination that irons out the superficial appearance while also encouraging the healing and release of deeper structures. Please see the “What is Osteopathy?” for more information about these techniques.