Common Conditions We Treat
This section covers the most common conditions encountered at the practice.
Persistent Low Back Pain: Understanding and Targeting the Real Causes
At Brook Physio, our approach to spinal pain goes beyond scans and quick fixes. Research shows that only 10% of chronic low back pain cases have a clear, identifiable pathology, meaning most imaging often doesn’t explain your symptoms. Over-reliance on X-rays, CTs, or MRIs can lead to treatments that fail to address the root causes.
For the majority of patients, chronic low back pain is best understood through a bio-psychosocial model, considering physical, lifestyle, ergonomic, psychological, and structural factors. Our focus is on identifying your individual pain drivers and tailoring management accordingly.
With this patient-centered approach, we have helped many people regain function and confidence, even after other conservative or surgical treatments have failed.
Shoulder Pain: Understanding and Restoring Function
The shoulder is the body’s most mobile joint, which makes it versatile but also prone to pain and injury. At Brook Physio, we assess and treat a wide range of shoulder conditions—from sports injuries and post-fracture recovery to age-related joint problems.
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Common Shoulder Conditions We Treat
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): Painful stiffness caused by tightening of the shoulder capsule, limiting movement.
Rotator Cuff Tendon Disorders: From inflammation and degeneration to partial or full tendon tears.
Shoulder Impingement / Tendon Irritation: When rotator cuff tendons become irritated due to repeated stress or narrowing of the space beneath the acromion.
Non-Specific Shoulder Pain: Pain without a clear structural diagnosis, influenced by muscle control, movement patterns, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors like stress or beliefs about pain.
Why Muscle Control Matters
Shoulder stability relies on coordinated rotator cuff and scapula muscles. Weakness or poor control can disrupt movement, increase irritation, and contribute to pain. Our assessment looks at posture, movement patterns, and specific dysfunctions to identify what’s driving your symptoms.
Advanced Assessment Tools
We may use diagnostic ultrasound to confirm findings, guide treatment, and show you what’s happening in your shoulder.
Personalised, Targeted Treatment
Your treatment plan is tailored to your needs and goals, and may include:
Manual therapy and soft tissue techniques to reduce pain and improve mobility
Motor control retraining to restore coordinated muscle function
Education and advice to reduce your concerns, address pain beliefs, and support self-management
Knee Pain: Move Confidently Again
The knee is a key weight-bearing joint connecting the hip and foot, essential for daily movements and sports. Pain doesn’t always mean damage within the knee itself—it can result from how your hip, foot, or lower back move and interact with the knee.
A Whole-Limb Approach
At Brook Physio, we assess how your pelvis, hip, knee, and foot work together, identifying movement patterns or weaknesses that may be contributing to your pain.
Conservative Management Works
Most knee problems—whether related to cartilage, ligaments, or muscles—improve without surgery. Because the knee relies heavily on surrounding muscles for stability, targeted therapy can be highly effective.
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Tailored Treatment Includes
Manual Therapy: Restore normal movement and reduce pain
Personalised Exercise Programmes: Progressive, goal-focused exercises for strength, flexibility, and control
Education and Advice: Understand your knee, manage symptoms, and prevent recurrence
Our aim is to bridge the gap between injury and a safe return to your daily activities, sports, or work.
Sports Injuries: A Whole-Person Approach to Recovery
Millions of people enjoy sports, whether competitively or for fun, benefiting physically, mentally, and socially. However, injuries—both sudden and gradual—can disrupt this positive experience.
More Than Just Physical Injury
While some injuries involve clear tissue damage, many sports-related pains and limitations don’t fit neatly into a specific diagnosis. Instead, they often arise from a complex interplay of factors including:
Movement and biomechanical patterns
Muscle imbalances and flexibility
Training loads and recovery balance
Psychosocial influences such as stress and anxiety
Sleep quality and lifestyle demands
Beliefs and attitudes about pain and injury
Recognising this complexity helps us avoid a narrow focus on ‘fixing’ tissue damage alone and instead support your whole-person recovery.
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Individualised Assessment
Our detailed assessment explores your movement quality, control, flexibility, and strength, but also considers lifestyle, stress levels, sleep habits, and your mental and emotional wellbeing. This comprehensive view allows us to identify factors that may be limiting your performance or prolonging symptoms.
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Tailored Rehabilitation
Treatment focuses on restoring function and resilience through progressive exercise, movement re-education, and lifestyle advice. We help you develop skills to manage pain, reduce injury risk, and improve your capacity to meet the demands of your sport and life.
Where appropriate, we use diagnostic tools like ultrasound to gain insight, but we always prioritise your experience and goals in shaping care.
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Collaborative Support
Our physiotherapists work with you—and when needed, with wider health professionals—to create a supportive, personalised recovery plan. Our aim is not just to get you back to sport, but to help you thrive in all aspects of your health and performance.
Our aim is to help you return to sport with confidence, minimising risk and maximising performance.
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Osteoarthritis Care: Stay Active, Stay Strong
Osteoarthritis is often misunderstood as simple joint “wear and tear.” While age-related changes are common, pain and disability are not inevitable. Some people with clear joint changes on scans have little or no pain, while others with minimal changes may experience significant symptoms.
At Brook Physio, we focus on improving movement, reducing pain, and helping you maintain an active, fulfilling life.
Personalised, Evidence-Based Management
Our approach addresses strength, mobility, lifestyle factors, and daily activity demands. Treatment combines education, exercise, and practical strategies to help you manage symptoms and slow progression.
Your Recovery Plan Includes
Targeted Exercise: Build strength, flexibility, and joint support
Pain Management & Education: Understand your condition and manage symptoms
Lifestyle & Activity Advice: Optimise function and maintain independence
Our goal is to help you stay active, confident, and in control of your osteoarthritis.
Other Conditions We Treat
This section covers many of the common conditions encountered at the practice. The list is not exhaustive and we would ask you to contact us if you have any specific queries about a condition which you do not see on the list.
Persistent low back pain
Chronic neck pain
Osteoarthritis
Chronic tendon pain
Nerve pain
Fibromyalgia
Widespread pain
Chronic fatigue
Whiplash
Hypermobility
Tendinopathy
Migraines and tension headache
Stress related disorders
Chronic joint related pain
Complex regional pain syndrome
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Book an Appointment
To make an appointment please call 020 8501 1449 and speak to our reception staff or use our contact form to send us a message.
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You can self-refer or be referred by your GP or consultant. Skype and Zoom consultations are available.
T: 020 8501 1449