Expert Osteopathy & Physiotherapy in Brighton & Hove

Historically, osteopaths emphasized manual therapy while physiotherapists focused on exercise rehabilitation. Today there’s significant overlap—many osteopaths prescribe exercises, many physiotherapists use manual techniques.

At our clinic, the distinction matters less than finding the right practitioner for your specific problem. Call us, describe your issue, and we’ll match you to whoever’s best suited—whether that’s structural manipulation (Charles, Jack, Emma), gentle cranial work (Richard), advanced physiotherapy with dry needling (Csaba), or combination of physical treatment and counselling support (coordinating with Sara).

Honest answer: it depends on your problem, how long you’ve had it, and how your body responds.

Acute injuries (happened recently) often improve in 2-4 sessions. Subacute problems (weeks to months) typically need 4-6 sessions. Chronic conditions (months to years) generally require 6-10 sessions, sometimes ongoing maintenance.

We reassess constantly. If you’re improving quickly, we space appointments further apart. If progress stalls, we investigate why and adjust approach or refer elsewhere. We don’t sell packages of 12 sessions because some problems resolve in 3 and others need 8—we can’t predict that in advance.

We give you our best estimate after the first appointment once we understand your problem, and we update that estimate based on your response.

We use evidence-based manual therapy and rehabilitation techniques, selecting what’s most appropriate for your problem:

• Structural Manipulation – High-velocity adjustments for joint restriction (the “cracking” technique—always with your permission).
• Joint Mobilization – Gentler movements to restore mobility without manipulation.
• Cranial Osteopathy – Extremely gentle techniques working with nervous system and subtle body rhythms (Richard’s specialty).
• Soft Tissue Release – Massage, myofascial techniques, trigger point work.
• Dry Needling – Acupuncture needles targeting muscle knots and trigger points (Csaba).
• Exercise Prescription – 3-5 targeted exercises that actually matter, not 47 generic ones.
• Breathwork Training – Oxygen Advantage techniques for chronic pain, stress, performance (Csaba).
• Lifestyle & Ergonomic Advice – Practical modifications for work, sleep, activity.

Different practitioners emphasize different techniques. We match you to whoever’s approach best suits your problem.

We treat musculoskeletal pain, movement dysfunction, and the mental health dimensions of chronic conditions. Common problems include:

• Back & Spine – Lower back pain, sciatica, disc problems, upper back stiffness, rib pain.
• Neck & Head – Neck pain, whiplash, trapped nerves, headaches, migraines, TMJ.
• Shoulders & Arms – Frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injuries, tennis/golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel, RSI.
• Hips & Legs – Hip pain, SI joint dysfunction, knee problems, runner’s knee, IT band syndrome.
• Ankles & Feet – Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, ankle sprains, shin splints.
• Sports Injuries – Strains, sprains, overuse injuries, performance optimization, return-to-sport.
• Chronic Conditions – Fibromyalgia, arthritis, persistent pain, stress-related tension.
• Pregnancy & Postnatal – Pelvic girdle pain, back pain, rib restriction, recovery after birth.
• Mental Health – Depression, anxiety, grief, chronic pain psychology, LGBTQ+ issues (Sara).

Don’t see your condition? Call us—we’ll be honest about whether we can help or need to refer you elsewhere.

All four are GOsC-registered osteopaths, but each has different emphasis and specializations:

• Richard Skudder – Specializes in cranial osteopathy (very gentle techniques), sports injuries, golf performance. Also trained as Physician Associate for broader clinical knowledge.
• Charles Paterson – Structural manipulation expert with additional training in nutrition and naturopathy. Good for lifestyle medicine integration.
• Emma Ross – 35+ years experience (GOsC 1393), specializes in sports injuries, particularly shoulder and neck conditions. Tennis/racquet sports background.
• Jack Peeling – Structural techniques and exercise rehabilitation focus. Basketball background, good for younger athletes and functional movement.

We’ll match you to whoever’s expertise best fits your problem. If you need a different approach mid-treatment, we refer internally rather than keep you with wrong fit.

No, you can book directly with any of our practitioners without GP referral.

However, if you’re claiming through private health insurance, check your policy—some insurers require GP referral letters before they’ll reimburse treatment. We can write to your GP if needed for insurance purposes.

If we identify red flags during assessment suggesting serious pathology, we’ll arrange appropriate medical referral or imaging ourselves.

Initial consultations (45-60 minutes including assessment and treatment): £65-£75 depending on practitioner.

Follow-up sessions (30-45 minutes): £55-£65 depending on practitioner and treatment type.

Counselling sessions (Sara): [Insert pricing]

We don’t sell packages because treatment should be as long as necessary and as short as possible. You pay per appointment, and we discharge you when you’re better—not when you’ve used a pre-purchased package.

Some private health insurance policies cover osteopathy and physiotherapy. Check your policy for details.