I graduated with a first-class honours’ degree in physiotherapy from the University of Birmingham in 2006, following a previous degree in Biology at the University of Bristol. I worked for 5 ½ years at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, where I later specialised as a musculoskeletal outpatients physiotherapist. I was fortunate enough to build up a wide knowledge based including orthopaedic surgery; fracture clinic and obstetrics and gynaecology. I also managed classes for low back pain, shoulder and lower limb and hydrotherapy. I therefore feel accomplished in seeing a diverse client group, typical here at Park Physiotherapy.
My greatest interest, passion and specialism is in sports injuries, and from 2011 I worked in a specialist sports medicine clinic in Kensington, before moving to Park Physiotherapy in 2014. I am experienced with managing elite athletes but most typically, the amateur ‘weekend warrior’ whom are often sitting at a desk all week and juggling family life; who then want to complete an ironman at the weekend! Not only do I enjoy the initial acute injury management but also helping my clients with future injury prevention, often incorporating strength and conditioning and guidance on their sports specific training programmes. As a mother of 2 young children I enjoy the challenge of helping women with pregnancy related problems especially those wanting to return to fitness and sport. I have a specialist interest in knee and shoulder injuries.
I have a very positive, ‘can do’ attitude with my clients and I feel very strongly about empowering my clients to help achieve and exceed their goals at any age. I enjoy using a wide range of approaches, usually involving exercise rehabilitation and postural assessment alongside manual or soft tissue treatments. This is often supplemented by the use of taping, gait analysis and Pilates.
I am keen sportswoman myself, having competed in numerous triathlons, marathons and most recently the Norfolk Superhero 2019; I understand what it is like to be injured! I was brought up on a dairy farm in Leicestershire and have competed on horses since a young age so I understand the complexities of working in a rural environment and also dealing with horses.
I studied for my BA (Hons) Sports Science and Education in Canterbury in late ‘80’s, and my BSc Physiotherapy in Manchester in early 90’s. I started my Physiotherapy career in outpatient Departments in both the NHS and BUPA, firstly in Yorkshire, and then in Norfolk.
I have been an Occupational Health Physiotherapist since 2002, working within the Occupational Health and Health & Safety Teams, on a self-employed basis, in a variety of companies in Norfolk and Suffolk; this included 13 years at Lotus Cars. This has given me 20 years experience working on musculo-skeletal problems in the working population as well as looking at their workplace settings.
While working in Occupational Health, I realised the need to further my knowledge of Ergonomics; to understand the reasoning behind musculoskeletal injuries being treated. I completed my MSc Health Ergonomics in 2013. Through these studies and skill base, I take a bio-psycho-social approach to physiotherapy and ergonomic assessments, looking at the ‘why’ to musculoskeletal issues.
I enjoy using a holistic approach in my work, looking at not only systems at play in the work environment, but also patients’ lifestyles and other factors that may contribute to their musculoskeletal signs and symptoms. I realise the importance of patients’ understanding of their musculoskeletal issues, and discuss, educate and advise patients, to promote required adjustments to posture and lifestyle activities for optimal recovery.
I am the mother of 4 gorgeous boys, aged between 19 and 28. I enjoy swimming in rivers, and our fantastic Norfolk sea. I spend my ‘free’ time walking, cycling and talking. I bought a saxophone 20 years ago, and have finally found the time to have lessons, and practice at home to the delight of my husband and children.
Nicola Vineyard qualified at Pinderfields College, Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 1985. After working in Mundesley Rehabilitation Hospital in Norfolk for a time, she moved back to her home in Essex.
She then started work in the East London area working for the NHS at Newham General Hospital and Barking Hospital. Here she gained a sound knowledge of all aspects of physiotherapy both inpatient and outpatients She also worked in the London Chest Hospital for a short period of time being involved with all respiratory treatments including post cardio- thoracic surgery rehab.
Nicola realised quite quickly in her career that she had a love of outpatient treatments as this enabled her to work closely with patients providing effective treatments and rehabilitation programmes. Due to her love of sports injuries she became involved with the Metropolitan Police sports Club in Essex treating the rugby and football teams. For several years she was involved with the London Youth Games, treating injuries sustained in the varied sports by the young athletes.
After working in a private hospital in London for several years she opened up her own practice in Essex in 1991 specialising in musculo-skeletal Physiotherapy and Acupuncture. The workload was varied; from sports injuries, biomechanical, muscle, joint, ligament and tendon problems to post-surgical orthopaedic treatments, treating both young and old.
She built up a close relationship with London Consultants in all orthopaedic specialisations sitting in on their clinics and attending surgery to observe operations at first hand. This enabled her to have a clearer understanding of the patients’ needs and therefore providing a more efficient and effective treatment programme.
Nicola feels a physiotherapist is like a detective. The body is wonderful, complicated and finely tuned. A physiotherapist must take a holistic approach to each individual. They must question and examine the patient thoroughly and then having all the clues in place come to a conclusion resulting in the best possible plan of treatment.
Nicola enjoys all aspect of physiotherapy but has a keen interest in acute sports injuries especially foot and knee injuries. She encourages her patients to use video imagery in clinic to help them understand good and bad postural habits and to have a record and clearer understanding of the exercises taught. She also uses taping techniques to offload injured areas as well using it to help reinforce correct postural positioning of the body both during activity or at rest.
Nicola moved to Norfolk and joined the Park Physiotherapy team in September 2016. As a member of Physio First, Nicola achieved Quality Assured Practitioner status in 2018 and continues to maintain this.
I am a Specialist Physiotherapist in the field of Neurology. I have always had a keen interest in Neurology and am a member of ACPIN (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology). I trained at the Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre in Birmingham and worked in Northamptonshire prior to coming to Norfolk. I have worked in the NHS for over 20 years in inpatient rehabilitation, Community and Neurology outpatient settings and still work in the NHS presently. I have worked locally on a Specialist Complex Neurology Rehabilitation Unit and a Stroke rehabilitation unit. I have experience of working with Head Injury, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Spinal Injury, Guillaine Barre Syndrome, Transverse Myelitis, Muscular Dystrophy, Adult Cerebral Palsy patients and with Older People in the Community. Together with this I have some experience in the private sector visiting patients in their own homes. I have completed many courses on Stroke Rehabilitation, Multiple Sclerosis and Spinal Injury.
I have knowledge of management of neurological muscle Tone issues and can advise on Splints and walking re-education. I also have an interest in advising on wheelchair and bed positioning for long term postural issues.
My aim is to work with my patients and their families to maximise my patients potential and working towards realistic aims. I am experienced at managing and supporting those with long term conditions and enabling patients to function at work as well as in their own homes and Care situations. I pride myself on being able to see my patient holistically (taking into consideration their lifestyle and day to day activities). My aim is to be able to support and work with my patient closely to help them achieve their best outcome.
I am a specialist physiotherapist in pregnancy and pelvic health. I have many years of experience working with pregnant women with lower back pain, pelvic girdle pain and hip pain. Also helping women after birth with recovery of their pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscles.
I am a specialist in all areas of pelvic health physiotherapy, which includes: bladder and bowel incontinence in women and men; pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain conditions.
It is so important to see a specialist physiotherapist who is highly skilled and knowledgeable about the problem you are experiencing. I would be very happy to provide this service to you. I will provide a thorough assessment and design a treatment programme that is tailored to your individual needs. Should you require input from any other healthcare professionals, I will advise and help to facilitate this.
Working from Park Physiotherapy gives me the opportunity to see patients quickly and the time to help you with your problem.
I have been working as a Specialist Physiotherapist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2009 and continue to do so. I have completed many advanced courses and qualifications: Post Graduate Certificate in Continence Physiotherapy; MSc in Advanced Musculoskeletal Research and Practice, which have enabled me to achieve full membership of the Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP). This means that I provide a very high standard and quality of care.
I graduated from King’s College, London in 2004 and have worked in the NHS at various locations in the South-East of England. I spent two years working at St Thomas’ Hospital London in a specialist pelvic floor unit between 2009-2011 where I treated men and women with bladder and bowel problems. More recently I have been treating an increasing number of men receiving treatment for prostate cancer to help to restore and improve pelvic floor function and bladder control before and after treatment.
I am passionate about all areas of pregnancy and pelvic health and raising public awareness of what physiotherapy can offer. I also have personal experience of the impact of pregnancy and birth on the body and returning to exercise afterwards.
I am the owner of Park Physiotherapy and Lead Clinician. I qualified as a physiotherapist from Guys Hospital in 1979. I worked in hospitals in Norwich and Cape Town, returning to England to work in the NHS community setting before starting my private practice in Dereham in 1990. From 1992 I worked privately from Hingham GP surgery and also started Park Physiotherapy at Weston Park in 1998. In 2012 we moved the practice from Weston Park to the purpose built clinic at Leys Farm, where I live with my husband. Leys Farm is a working farm and more details can be found here.
Over the years the practice has grown from strength to strength “I have concentrated on developing a practice which provides high quality physiotherapy treatment using experienced physiotherapists who are specialists in their field.
I achieved Quality Assured Practitioner status from Physio First as one of the initial cohort of physiotherapists in 2017 and have maintained this status since then.
My special interest is in musculoskeletal problems and I have concentrated on developing this area of my practice over the last 20 years. In 2014 I completed a Masters degree in Advanced Musculoskeletal Research and Practice at UEA with my final dissertation on physiotherapy treatment of cervicogenic headaches. I also have a special interest in treating Migraine Headaches and Tinnitus using gentle mobilisation techniques on both the cranium (skull) and cervical spine (neck). In 2016 I completed training in Connect Therapy, https://ljlee.ca/ established by Dr. Linda Joy Lee, as a total body approach to the physiotherapy assessment and treatment of complex problems. Although I have now been qualified for many years, the continued challenge of treating patients constantly stimulates the need for more education which I am passionate about.
I am married to a farmer and also grew up on a working farm. I have an in depth understanding of the effect that working in this environment has on the musculoskeletal system of our body. I have ridden and looked after horses all my life, until recently. Always active in sport, as a teenager I was a competitive swimmer in Leicestershire and played hockey at club level in Norfolk. My current activities are more sedate; dog walking and gardening.
