Dr Graham Theobald

BSc (hons), MSST, MPhil, PhD Clinical Director, Lead Clinician and Clinical Educator

Graham graduated initially with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Sports Therapy at the University of Central Lancashire. He has lived in the Lakes since the late 1980’s and has a rich local history working with athletes over the past 15 years. He has completed 10 Ironman triathlons and is a self confessed compulsive obsessive cyclist.

Graham completed his Doctorate (PhD) in 2015 which looked at various treatment protocols for cycling specific knee pain in elite and experienced cyclists. Using the latest 3D biomechanical technology he has pushed the boundaries of current knowledge. This means he sees a lot of cyclists and runners with knee pain in clinic and is known for his specialist work in this area. He combines his clinical work with unique bike fitting skills

Graham has published papers with various well-respected scientific journals (link to Researchgate), has presented at the pre Tour de France scientific conference, the Cycling Science conference in Colorado Springs, The Science of Cycling conference in Varese, Italy, and is a contributor on the Patello-femoral pain Consensus group which meets bi-annually to produce a BJSM consensus statement. He is also a reviewer for two prominent scientific journals. Consequently, his work in this specialist area is recognised both locally, nationally and now internationally. He is also a regular contributor to Cycling Weekly and MBR magazines on a variety of topics.

Academia: Graham is an honorary lecturer at the University of Salford (Manchester) where he works with researchers and Doctoral candidates, alongside active research projects and publications.

Scout Adkin

BSc (hons), MCSP Senior Physiotherapist, Clinical specialist

After graduating from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen Scout worked as a rotational physiotherapist at York NHS Teaching Hospital. Here she worked with a number of multidisciplinary teams in a range of clinical areas. These included stroke, care of the elderly and respiratory where she gained a broad range of skills. She then moved to a static post working as a Musculoskeletal physiotherapist in the outpatient department. She independently managed a busy caseload treating a wide range of conditions, injuries and rehabilitating patients post orthopedic surgery. She led a number of gym rehabilitation classes and the osteoarthritis cohort management group and was involved in a number of departmental projects.

Whilst still working for the NHS she also worked in a private physiotherapy practice to further develop and expand her experience and knowledge in this area.

Scout is an elite fell runner and runs for GB and Scotland. She transfers a lot of her personal experience and knowledge of the sport, including learning from injuries and training mistakes, into her practice as a physiotherapist. Planning, goal-setting and regular re-evaluation of her training has allowed her to take a holistic, goal-centred approach to her practice. She is a motivated and enthusiastic physiotherapist, continually striving to improve her practice to deliver a high quality service.

Scout pioneered our Runfit service and is a specialist running related physio.

Catherine Iredale

BSc (hons), MCSP Physiotherapist

Catherine graduated with a Bsc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy and started her career in the NHS as a Rotational Physiotherapist at Furness General Hospital. She completed core rotations in Stroke rehabilitation and in the Musculoskeletal Outpatients department both within the hospital and in the community.

Prior to gaining her degree in Physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan University, Catherine spent time here at the Body Rehab on placement.

She learned to independently manage a busy caseload using a range of different treatment modalities.

Alongside her work at The Body Rehab, Catherine is also the lead Physiotherapist for Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club where she manages the 1st team both on and off the pitch, working specifically towards injury prevention and early rehabilitation.

Outside of her work life, Catherine is a keen mountain biker and hiker. She loves exploring the local trails both on bike and on foot. She also enjoys a range of water sports such as sailing and paddle boarding.

Catherine is passionate about what she does and strives to provide high-quality treatment with a person-centred and holistic approach.

Lucy Downham

BSc (hons), MSc, MCSP Physiotherapist

Lucy completed her Masters in Physiotherapy at Cumbria University and prior to this studied her undergraduate degree at the University of Leeds in Sports Science and Physiology. Her degree research was focussed around sport performance and injury, looking at the biomechanical contribution to wear rates of hip prostheses during a golf swing. Alongside this looking at the prevention and injury rate of ankle sprains in fell runners in her Masters degree.

Prior to working at The Body Rehab Lucy worked in a nursing home which involved patients with a variety of neurological conditions, on rotation in the NHS at the RLI, and in private practice in Lancaster with a focus on functional exercise and return to sport rehab.

Lucy’s interests have always been around improving athlete performance and promoting a holistic approach to healthy living. This is something she embodies in day to day life. Her interests lie in outdoor activities. Climbing has taken her all over the UK and to some beautiful places across the world. Since being back in the Lake District, fell running has become her mainstay hobby competing in local and ultra-distance races. Lucy loves to swim in the lakes all year round and you will find her in the mountains most weekends. Other interests include cycling and cross-fit.

Lucy has also completed her level 1-3 APPI Pilates qualifications and enjoys incorporating this into her practice.

Sarah Tunstall

BSc (hons), MSc, MCSP Physiotherapist

Sarah graduated as a Physiotherapist from York St. John University in 2007 and embarked straight away working in a Musculoskeletal setting in Penrith whilst also gaining experience offering Physio support for her local Upper Eden Rugby team. A keen and competitive runner she then started working alongside a Fellrunning specialist Physiotherapist in Lancashire where she gained much experience within private practice and developed her practical skills and understanding of many sports, especially running, related injuries. Having spent recent years based in the French Alps, she has juggled her Physiotherapy career with racing competitively on the World and European Mountain Running circuit and has also been a regular face in the GB team over the past 14 years.

On moving back to her Cumbrian roots, she finds herself in the South Lakes and is excited to join The Body Rehab team. Sarah offers experience and knowledge gained from a wide range of Physiotherapy settings from leading SkiFit classes and Trail Running prehab sessions to working clinically in the home of the UTMB in Chamonix, France. Sarah has worked alongside many athletes and is passionate about injury prevention. She uses a hands-on treatment approach and strives to work with the individual to find a long-term management solution for many Musculoskeletal problems.

Roxy Berkeley

BSc (Hons), MSc (Sports Medicine) MSST Sports and Musculoskeletal Therapist

Roxy’s association with us goes way back to our early days. Prior to gaining her degree at UClan, Roxy spent placement time here at The Body Rehab as well as helping the physio team at Barrow Raiders Rugby Club. It was during this time that we realised her existing and potential skills, and the rest is history – Roxy has been with us pretty much from the start. Anyone who has been treated by Roxy will know of her high level of knowledge and superb patient interaction.

Alongside her extensive experience across the entire musculoskeletal system, Roxy has a special clinical interest in the shoulder and is actively involved in research of this complicated area of therapy. She regularly attends shoulder workshops across the UK and has plans to progress her specialty. She is involved in our clinically based research programmes which include writing and submitting scientific papers for peer review. Roxy has worked exclusively with Professor Lennard Funk and retains close links with both him and his specialist services. She was trained by Professor Funk in diagnostic ultrasound of the shoulder.

Roxy completed her Masters (MSc) in Sports Medicine at UcLan which she worked very hard for and achieved a distinction in.

Over the years, Roxy has gained a love of outdoor activities. In her spare time she enjoys exploring the Lakes in the form of running, walking, scrambling and climbing. She has had coaching in climbing, swimming, golf and canoeing to enhance her understanding of each individual activity and apply it to her clinical work. She is also an excellent photographer.

Roxy has two young children who keep her very busy outside of her clinic time. She remains one of our most trusted and experienced clinicians.

Jo Rycroft

BSc (Hons), BASES, BACPR Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Jo has extensive experience working with world-renowned cardiologists and oncologists, having delivered exercise prescription in clinics in Harley Street. She is also an Associate Lecturer at UCLan on the Sports Medicine Masters Programme.

As a keen cyclist and fell runner, Jo spends most her free time out in the Lakes and Dales.

• BASES (British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences) Accredited Exercise Practitioner
• BACPR (British Association of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation) Level 4 Cardiac Rehabilitation Instructor
• Wright Foundation Level 4 Cancer Rehabilitation Instructor
• BSc Sport Science and Physiology – First Class Honours

Linda Ashton

Sports Massage

With 18yrs in the industry, Linda took her passion for massage a step further to qualify in Sports Massage Level 3 & 4 and is a current member of the Sports Therapy Organisation (STO).

Linda works in conjunction with our therapists in the interim rehab of longer term conditions. She also provides pre and post-event massage and maintenance sessions to improve flexibility and mobilisation.

Linda spends her spare time taking advantage of walking in the Lakes and keeping fit and strong with the aid of Crossfit and running around after two children.

Linda also takes part each year at SILVA Great Lakeland 3 day event offering pre and post-sports massage.

Paul Tierney

Running Technique Coaching Specialist and Sports Massage

Paul is a running coach with a wealth of experience in technique coaching, scientific support and provision of training programmes. His one-to-one sessions are designed for all runners from beginner to elite-level athletes who would like to learn the skill of running more naturally and efficiently.

Your first session with Paul would involve the identification of any potential strength and mobility issues, video analysis of your running technique and foot function followed by one-to-one coaching to improve your running skill. A customised training programme is provided.

Paul is also a certified Sports Massage Therapist trained in deep tissue massage and myofascial release as well as pre and post-event treatments. These treatments are designed to relax and condition muscles, improving mobility and circulation while reducing movement-related pain and discomfort.

Paul can be contacted directly on 07960470415, or please feel free to contact Di at Clinic on 01539822746 with any enquiries. Also see his personal website for further information https://www.missinglinkcoaching.co.uk/

Renee McGregor

Sports Dietician & Eating Disorder Specialist

Renee is a leading Sports Dietitian and Eating Disorder Specialist with over 20 years experience working in clinical and performance nutrition.

Renee is the Nutrition Lead for both the English and Scottish National Ballet where she was actively involved in producing the consensus statement about the management of REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) in Dance. She works with a number of other teams and brands including Hour 7, The North Face and premier league women’s football, providing nutritional and clinical guidance for both performance and health.

She is passionate about working with athletes and their health and regularly provides expert commentary on understanding how the body works, optimising hormonal health and how this impacts our performance.

On top of this Renee specialises in supporting individuals and athletes of all levels and ages, coaches, and sports science teams to provide nutritional strategies to enhance sports performance and manage eating disorders and REDs. This is reflected in her work on social media too, priding herself on proving an educational hub for both the professional and everyday athlete.

Renee has recently completed her Mindfulness Training in clinical practice which she uses within her holistic approach, alongside assessing hormonal health, and other key biomarkers, to help athletes and individuals both physically and emotionally.

Renee is also a best-selling author, with her most recent book, More Fuel You which is already on its 3^rd print run since publication in June 2022.

She writes a monthly column for Runners World and is often asked to comment and provide technical support on documentaries, news and media. She was the clinical advisor for the BBC documentary, Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia.

She is an ambassador for outdoor brand Montane.

When not inspiring others with her incredible work, Renee can be found running the mountains and chasing the trails, most likely training for a crazy ultra-marathon. In 2022 she became British Trail Running Champion in her age group over the short course and 3^rd female at The Spine Sprint. Last year she came 4^th female and had a top 10 finish, racing in Upper Mustang, Nepal.

Steve Vaughan

MSc MBPsS Sport & Exercise Psychology

Steve completed his MSc in Psychology (Distinction) at the University of Stirling before going on to gain an MSc in Sport Psychology (Distinction) from Liverpool John Moores University. He is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society and is currently undertaking a Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology at LJMU where his research focuses on thoughts and thought processes of endurance athletes.

Following a career in NHS management, Steve embarked on a career change and has been working with individuals involved in various different sports including cycling, triathlon, snowboarding and martial arts. His practice centres around individual needs by working collaboratively to focus on aligning well-being, exercise and sporting needs.

In his spare time Steve is a keen triathlete, cyclist and skier as well as an explorer of hills and mountains. He lives in Kendal and is in the process of ‘collecting the Wainwrights’. He has been lucky enough to climb Mount Kilimanjaro as well as explore some of the Himalayan foothills in Nepal. In the past Steve was a Great Britain Age-group triathlete and his own goals aim towards doing this again.

Di Theobald

Clinic Manager

Di has been involved with the clinic from its conception and is integral to the smooth running and success of the business. She meets and greets the clients and does all the background work which keeps the clinic on its feet.

Di is passionate about customer satisfaction and the provision of a first class clinical experience for all clients. She is the cornerstone of our operations and annoyingly efficient!

Lisa Meth-Cohn

Clinic Administrator

Lisa is totally passionate about customer satisfaction and the provision of a first-class clinical experience for all our clients. Alongside Di, she is the cornerstone of our operation and without her we could not function as well as we do. Our clinical team relies on them to co-ordinate bookings, arrange imaging, communicate with consultants and we would never be without their skill, organisation, and constant smiling faces.