Joel Redman

“I’m really enjoying treating sports injuries at the moment as my masters in Sports Medicine is helping me get my patients back to their favourite sport faster! I’ve always been interested in treating headaches too amongst typical general practice.”

Joel Redman – Osteopathy, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

Joel Redman graduated in Osteopathy from Oxford Brookes University after studying for 5 years and holds a 1st class dissertation in the management of cervicogenic headaches. Joel was taught Osteopathy by James Ruddick and was invited to join the team at Summertown Clinic where he works 3 days a week having previously been working as a sports therapist at the clinic. He also works at another Oxfordshire based clinic 2 days a week with his former chief examiner and an Osteopath who was based at the Olympics.

Joel Redman award winning osteopath

Joel triumpant at the iO awards

In November 2015 Joel was awarded the Institute of Osteopathy Associate of the Year Award – an honour that is judged by a panel of experts. He was also lucky enough to be a finalist the year after. Since winning the award in 2015 he has become a member of the Academy of Physical Medicine, Osteopaths for Progress in Headache and Migraine and holds a committee post (Secretary) for the Oxfordshire Osteopathic Network.

As a previous rugby player (and ardent Welsh supporter) he played at a high level himself and enjoys the challenge of treating sports people, as well as the more typical osteopathic patient. Whilst hanging up his boots in pursuit of his career Joel still enjoys physical challenges and has swapped the pitch for CrossFit, competing in the CrossFit Open and placing 8th in the Rx category at his gym.

In 2017 Joel Redman was selected for and successfully completed the Institute of Osteopathy internship program which saw him form part of the Musculo-skeletal team at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine under Mr Jonathan Hearsey and the late, great Dr Peter Fisher, formally one of the Queens physicians. This saw Joel gain invaluable experience with complex and chronic pathology patients with particular focus on chronic non-specific lower back pain and headache pathways, in an NHS setting, operating at an upper band 6 level within a BPS model of healthcare.

Joel with sponsored athlete Jack Clayton

Joel and Jack Clayton of Oxford Brookes and Nottingham Uni (Sponsored Athlete) at the University World Powerlifting Championships in Czech Republic 2018 where Jack achieved a podium finish.

Joel set up the Summertown Sponsored Athlete Program which sees local athletes in need of care receive specific treatment programs in the run up to an event or competition and has experience in elite level, international sport.

Institute of Sport Exercise and HealthIn pursuit of life-long learning Joel has recently started an MSc in Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health at the prestigious Institute of Sports and Exercise Health (ISEH), part of UCL. Joel works his studies around clinic hours and has already achieved distinction level work in his studies. ISEH is a partnership between the British Olympic Association, The English Institute of Sport, UCL and UCL NHS Hospitals Foundations Trust.

Joel has a broad range of clinical interests, including how alternative methods of healthcare, such as exercise can be used to address the wider burden of disease. Joel uses a hands-on, evidence informed approach to treatment, along with post treatment advice and is able to prescribe exercises to enhance treatment outcomes. Joel has completed additional courses in Western Medical Acupuncture (Dry Needling), Kinesiology Taping and Cognitive Functional Therapy to supplement treatment. These aim to restore his patients back to health quicker and for as long as possible.

Joel holds clinics at Summertown Clinic on Monday (2-8), Wednesday (11:30-8) and Friday (9-6) with evening appointments available for convenience.

Joel’s Posts

Practitioner Summary

– BSc (Hons) Osteopathy with 1st Class Dissertation in managing CGH headaches.

– Western Medical Acupuncture (Dr Anthony Campbell).

– Currently on the MSc Sports Medicine Exercise and Health Program at ISEH (UCL).

– Completed the iO Internship program at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, part of UCLH trust, working in an NHS setting treating complex and chronic pain.

– Experience working Internationally with Elite Level Sports (World Uni Powerlifting Championships).

– iO Associate of the Year 2015.

I particularly enjoy treating patients in the following groups:

  • sports injuries and rehab/performance.
  • Headache and migraine.
  • Patients with complex pathology/multiple co-morbidities.
  • Low back Pain

I take a full case history, then carry out an examination and discuss your diagnosis and the treatment options we have available.

My treatment is based on patient preference and clinical recommendation. Often this involved lots of soft tissue, mobilization (joint movement) and manipulation when required.

I often offer exercise advice and prescription. Sometimes where appropriate I’ll use a form of acupuncture known as dry needling and use sports taping when required.

  1. Why can Osteopathy be so difficult to describe and what is it to you?

To me Osteopathy should be very simple to explain. In short and at its core osteopathy is a philosophy of health care, that’s it, it shouldn’t need to get more overly complicated. Naturally though, health care in any form is complicated. The longer version is that osteopathy is a system of healthcare that places its focus on the ability of the human body to self-heal, self-regulate and to overcome and adapt to a range of stimulus. Factors such as pain, stiffness, stress, inflammation or ill health are all challenges we may face in our lifetime. Whilst our predominant focus is the health and function of the musculoskeletal system, the intention in the philosophy is to help guide the body to a greater position of overall health. Whilst pain and function or performance is typically what brings a patient through our clinic doors, our intention with treatment or advice is to create an environment that helps the body overcome these barriers to health or performance. The overall aim is to create a strong and robust system that can cope with any challenge life throws at it.

2. How does studying an MSc in Sport Medicine, Exercise and Health help your patients?

I’ve always had a passion for exercise, physical activity and been committed to life-long learning. With a strong sports background playing rugby growing up to helping elite level powerlifters more recently, I’ve always loved being in the sporting environment, working with athletes and the challenge of performance or game-day. The idea of developing a strong and resilient system however shouldn’t be reserved solely for athletes or sporty people, should actually be promoted for everyone and is one of the key tenants of Osteopathy! Physical activity doesn’t always mean the gym but does mean developing strategies to develop a strong and robust constitution. If life and its unexpected challenges is game day, then physical activity is what helps develop that resilience. Fundamentally the human body is an anti-fragile system that will respond to stimulus to adapt or change, but it does need stimulus and at an appropriate dosage. Having formal qualifications and training means I’m able to help elite level athletes through injury or to perform at their very best and to help members of the general public with having confidence navigating the stairs, lifting grandchildren, playing sports or having the confidence to return to physical activity, prescribing exercises accordingly.

3. What is the Exercise and Health component of your MSc?

Studying at the Institute of Sport and Exercise Health (ISEH) has allowed me to have access to world class lectures who are leaders in their field across a range of health disciplines. In recent times scientific focus has been placed on how alternative methods of promoting health, such as physical activity, can be used to reduce the global burden of disease, helping to reduce the need for surgical intervention or additional pharmaceutical therapies. Physical activity represents one of the most clinically effective, cost effective strategies we have against a range of diseases from cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental health issues and obesity to name a few. Getting stuck into physical activity however can be difficult or daunting if you are unfamiliar with it, if you are in pain or lack the structure or confidence to get started. Osteopathy is classed as a complementary profession with holistic philosophy. Historically this has produced some extremely colourful descriptions of it as a profession. Since the inception of Osteopathy the holistic approach has always encompassed everything that incorporates health including sleep, stress, nutrition, exercise and the health of the musculoskeletal system. For me an intervention that promotes health, increases immunity, decreases the likelihood of developing disease whilst decreasing the need for pharmaceutical therapies, such as physical activity, couldn’t be more osteopathic in nature. It’s an exciting time that conventional medicine is starting to recognise the effects and benefits of holistic health with more and more research each day.

4. What did you learn from working at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine?

The RLHIM is a world leading, tertiary centre for complex, chronic pain and pathology right next door to Great Ormond Street and part of UCLH. As an integrated medicine hospital we looked to use a range of alternative or complementary interventions to help patients manage their symptoms more effectively. This incredibly rewarding experience saw me form part of the MSK team treating issues such as chronic non-specific lower back pain, chronic headache and migraine, atypical facial pain and complex neurological pathology to name but a few. Having exposure to such chronic and complex pathology really taught me to focus on treating the patient as an individual not a pathology. Using vague or generalised approaches for very specific issues sometimes doesn’t get you very far and just because a patient is in pain doesn’t mean they are depressed, although this can often be the case. Pain is an extremely complex beast that encompasses the biomedical, psychological and social aspects of each patient into what is termed the BPS model of pain and its important to recognise each element equally.

5. What is sports taping and how is it different to traditional taping techniques?

Sports taping, Kinaesio taping or K-Tape is a specialising type of latex free, acrylic based adhesive tape with a cotton and nylon fabric. The tape has the ability to stretch to 180% of its original length and when used correctly can help to provide stability, proprioception and feedback to a joint and help reduce pain without significantly reducing mobility. Traditional taping typically uses a rigid, zinc oxide based tape. Whilst fantastic for immobilising certain structures, such as significantly sprained ankles, the rigid nature dramatically reduced movement in the joint and surrounding area. With updated evidence behind rehab and tissue healing promoting the benefits of moving a joint and surrounding tissue early, K-tape helps to provide stability without limiting mobilty. Its water-proof so you can shower or swim with it, you can keep it on for up to 3-5 days and as its latex free is typically well tolerated by most people. You can also use it diagnostically in that if pain is reduced and structures feel much more stable using artificial support with tape, it shows that there may be a window of opportunity to strengthen a structure in the long-term. For me I find it great use on troublesome knees and acute shoulders.

Intermittent Back Pain – Testimonial

"I have been attending Summertown clinic for several years due to a back problem and have nothing but positive words to describe the staff and the...

Chronic Low Back Pain – Testimonial for Joel Redman

After two years of constant lower back pain I went to see Joel who has made a huge difference in only 3 sessions. Joel is very knowledgeable and...

Transformative Treatment – Testimonial for Joel Redman

"The most transformative and effective osteopathic intervention I have yet experienced" Name: Ross Fergusson, University Lecturer...

Persistent Shoulder Pain – testimonial for Joel Redman

“2 year ago I’d stupidly imagined that my shoulder would get better on its own, but 22 months on it was a real mess. After a few sessions of...

Mrs L. – Testimonial for Joel Redman

"Very pleased and impressed with Joel Redman's massage yesterday. He listened carefully, explained things and adjusted his treatment to what I...

Our Osteopathic Team

We've got a lovely community of like-minded professionals, and our Osteopathic team are at the heart our clinic.

Our diverse group of osteopaths offer the Oxford community one of the UK's leading groups of osteopaths. As a group with have experience teaching the next generation of osteopaths, are fellows of distinct osteopathic groups, and have been involved with elite sports medical teams. We cover the scope of populations you might expect osteopaths to deal with from paediatrics, sports injuries, care of the elderly, to rehabilitation and antenatal care, we have an osteopath who has experience treating patients like you.

James Ruddick

Principal Osteopath

James Ruddick enjoys helping people out of pain, and back to optimum health. Having taught at the UCO, and been involved in elite sports he has a wide variety of experience.

Joanna Ruddick

Principal Osteopath

Jo has lots of experience treating babies, children & pregnant women. She is a fellow of the SCCO and uses cranial & other gentle & effective techniques to restore health & rebalance the body.

Duncan Cameron Mitchell

Osteopath

Duncan has over thirty years experience.
He remains inquisitive & keeps learning. He practices a patient centred approach.

Gitte Pedersen

Osteopath

Gitte's particular interest is in treating older patients & women during pregnancy & treating babies & children.
She has also taught osteopathy & worked at the Osteopathic Centre for Children.

Joel Redman

Osteopath

Joel is an award winning Osteopath (iO Associate of the Year in 2015) and has worked in an NHS and elite sport setting. He is currently undertaking an MSc in Sports Medicine at the ISEH (UCL).

Atlanta Kyte

Osteopath

Atlanta is an all rounder, she enjoys treating the elderly & pregnant ladies but is also happy treating sports injuries. She uses medical acupuncture too.

Andrew Nicholettos

Osteopath

Andy has additional qualifications and clinical expertise in Strength & Conditioning and Sports Medicine practice. He uses a blend of hands on techniques with personalised exercise prescription.

Joel’s treatment is often covered by the UK’s best health insurers! Please check you policy t&c’s before your appointment.