Physiotherapy

Strength & Conditioning

guided adventure Services

Expedition & Event Support

Click Here for More Information on Services and Booking!

Recent Highlights

Including two World Record breaking ultra-endurance challenges

Winter Sun Chasing With The Team. Down through France & Andorra into Spain. Ft. Willow the singing dog. As much as I love what I do (and I REALLY do)… it was quite nice to be away not on a job for the first time in a little while. What a life. 🌞⛰️❤️

Another year, another plea to keep those early foundational strength blocks as strength blocks. ⛰️Work to your desired stimulus. Programs that overly-simulate/target balance, muscular endurance or sport-specific movement very likely miss the desired stimulus and fail in their (often unintentional) attempt to convert strength and tissue tolerance that hasn’t yet been built into sport specific performance. ⛰️You’ll struggle to endure what you haven’t yet built. If your goal is strength, tendon health, injury risk reduction, longevity & general health in the broadest sense of the term….then at some point shifting some load would be a good idea. ⛰️Simple, ⛰️Solid, ⛰️Stimulus driven, ⛰️Progressive. For me, my lower body focus over the past couple of months has been a little like this. The movements (some variation in exercises) have been consistent, changing volume and load with time/progression: ⛰️ 1 Squat Movement & 1 Hinge Movement: - mix of unilateral and bilateral - specific to desired stimulus/needs - a few ‘warm-up’ sets ranging 10-5 reps ish - 3 ‘working’ sets (progressed down to 3-5reps toward the end of the block) with good long rest periods (2mins at the very least) ⛰️ Regular Calf/Ankle Work - Ankle niggle this year ⛰️ Core Specific Work - humbled by a movement I used to find fairly easy upon trying a month or so back👀 ⛰️ Included in the warm up is a light stretch and feel out of the body….warm down is spent in the sauna, again with some light movement into range. After a good long break from structured endurance fun, moving purely for the love of it & getting many an hour of rest, my mojo is returning. Feeling lovely and durable again. Time to start training. ⛰️❤️

🎙️I’m giving a talk in a couple of weeks for the Cumbria Branch of the CSP (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy).🎙️ It’ll be centred around supporting ultra endurance challenges from the physiotherapist’s perspective; touching on how I’ve ended up within this niche, exactly how it all goes down whilst out there and what it takes from the support team to get the job done. I also aim to get discussions flowing around themes such as ‘emerging roles within physiotherapy’ and ‘combining physiotherapy with other passions & skills within traditional and unique roles’. It’ll all be nice and informal and where the chat leads is anyone’s guess. If all this sounds interesting then drop a message to the email on the flyer or message me privately and I can point you in the right direction. It would be amazing to get as many different people and voices involved as possible. A few notes on attending: ⛰️CSP members have priority attendance and can sign up via the email on the flyer. ⛰️Non-members are also welcome to join a waiting list should there be space nearer the time. ⛰️It will be streamed online where anyone can join. Again, go through the email on the flyer to gain access. Hope to see a few of you there. ⛰️❤️

Expedition Leader for Executive Stretch - Ighil M’Goun 2024 ⛰️See comments for details on the expedition⛰️ A first international expedition led, coupled with some mountain physioing to keep bodies moving smoothly. A year ago I got an opportunity to work this expedition as the medic/physio… I was truly taken aback by the offer, it being a dream of mine that I believed achievable but not for a fair while down the line. I was struck even more so by how well it went, how comfortable and confident I felt and how well my work was received by the clients. In the taxi back from the airport the chance of leading this year’s expedition was first teased… I couldn’t believe my ears and didn’t until that offer was confirmed early this year. I now find myself having led the trip successfully with all members returning safely, happy and having obtained the life-altering experience for which they were searching. These Executive Stretch expeditions, along with the legendary founder and ‘soul-leader’ John Peck, are so special. How they are is very hard to put into words, needing to be felt by those wishing to understand. They always offer so much more than simply the activity of exploration. Most impressively, for some, they offer a chance to work through and overcome real trauma and difficulties, providing a launchpad into a joyful, successful, adventurous and conscious life beyond. Being responsible for this is a joy and honour that I can’t conceive to be superseded. I now have some time to reflect on this year so far, the greatest year of my life in so many ways. It hasn’t hit but this feels like the start of what is to come on what is my true path in life. I am so grateful to have found that calling. All I have to do now is keep following and saying yes to the opportunities that I appear to be attracting. Again, gratitude is the word, to be ready and able to take the opportunities I am lucky enough to receive. To the humans and animal (Brodie-boy) that make me feel this way, and have helped so much along the way, thank you. What a life. 🇲🇦⛰️🥾❤️

Job done on The Great Desert Challenge. @spencermatthews has completed 30 marathons in 30 days all on sand within the Jordanian desert. I’m once again left insanely grateful to be in a position to support adventures such as these as a physio. What an immense pleasure it has been to work, run, suffer, live and thrive amongst a team such as this. I’m honoured to count myself a part of such a talented group of genuinely amazing humans. The desert Wolfpack has seen and conquered. What a life. 🏃🏽🏜️🐺 📸 @stonevisualsuk @sporttape

How it feels to have just 2 more marathons to get @spencermatthews through successfully on The Great Desert Challenge. No complacency but a final chance soak up the last gifts of movement in a truly magical place. What a life. 🏜️🏃🏽🐺 📸 @stonevisualsuk

The Great Desert Challenge Midpoint Body management insight pt.2/2 🏜️Manage through recovery🏜️ Every day Spencer and I have a session together to review how the body is feeling and how any niggles are tracking, guiding the afternoon’s treatment and further management. This always includes some manual therapy of problem areas; keeping things moving, reducing pain, flushing out swelling and easing high-tone, guarded muscles. We work through the entire lower body to help relax and revive tired, stiff and sore legs ready to go again the next day. This maintains Spencer’s running ability as-well as reducing the potential for future niggles. Guided by our session, I speak to the team doctor @expedmedic. Josh is a legend and a dream to work alongside, giving me an experienced ear to share thoughts and plans with. Together we discuss if any medical management is necessary, with him making the final call. Ensuring Spencer gets the fuel in and quality sleep hours clocked is of extremely high priority for overall recovery. Helped massively by the local Bedouin guides, we work as a team to give Spencer all he needs here. Through all this, Spencer’s body is given the best opportunity to thrive. Through all this, these adventures are given the best possibility of success. 🏜️🏃🏽🐺 📷 @stonevisualsuk @sporttape

The Great Desert Challenge Midpoint Body management insight pt.1/2 Here’s a brief insight of how keeping Spencer’s body in decent nic has looked, a familiar theme for these epic ultra endurance adventures. 🧘🏽‍♂️Calm the athlete🧘🏽‍♂️ Catastrophising is common with a monumental workload in-front. It’s a huge driver of pain, as-well as a serious negative impacter on motivation and recovery. Relieving mental stress relies on an alliance of trust, friendship being a massive bonus. This is best formed naturally, but does require careful work to effectively cultivate in a short time. Shared experiences are useful, as are countless hours running alongside. The power of the athlete knowing that you’ve been there and felt the dread of injury, as-well as seen and managed it with others cannot be overstated. 🏃🏽Manage the stressor🏃🏽 Spencer’s been well under his cut-off time, leaving ample room to ease into where needed. The cue ‘slow down before you’re forced to’ is a good’n, one we’ve used over particular terrain to relieve specific stressors. Small adaptations in gait can be useful. Although, there is a risk of producing potentially harmful repetitive unhabitual movement patterns, or simply giving information overload and massively reducing movement efficiency. Keep it simple, use sparingly and only as needed. We’ve cued an increased cadence alongside easing the pace at times, particularly to calm down some angry extensor and gluteal tendons. If we’re struggling to keep the stress below a tolerable level then strapping/taping is a key option. This can prevent load entering a ‘distress’ zone, causing the niggle to regress into injury… becoming harder to manage and threatening long term damage or the end of the challenge. Luckily @sporttape have provided us with a bag load of lovely stuff to use. Be careful, as overuse may result in unnecessary stress on other areas due to natural movement adaptation from enforced range restrictions. Less obvious risks are also present, such as heat rash from tight tape wrapped around skin in 40C heat. Only use as needed, but when needed definitely use. Pt. 2 tomorrow. Roll on the next 15. 🏜️🏃🏽🐺 @stonevisualsuk

Running is Rehab. My BG attempt was curtailed before it began a few weeks back with an angry tib post tendon. Wasn’t worth the risk with big support running duties out on The Great Desert Challenge alongside keeping Spencer’s body ticking over. So it was on the bike and off the feet for a wee while. Luckily the sand out here is fairly forgiving and we’re moving nice and steady so the intensity is low. At first, it still meant strapping the old boy up to get the necessary miles in, ta @sporttape. Once some solid daily 20milers were hit with minimal to no discomfort it was off with the tape and now the ankle is free and wow it’s bloody nice to have the little fella back. Support duties mean avoiding the risk of needing a full day off running if things need settling… so it’s keeping mileage pain free and very gradually easing up the volume. Solid daily 15miles at the moment without issue, recovery is surprisingly good with big feeds, big laughs and a fair amount of sleep. On the up. Engine feels amazing after a huge BG build, chassis needs a little love and patience still. 🏜️🏃🏽❤️ 📷 @stonevisualsuk

7 days in to @spencermatthews Great Desert Challenge. A magic first week out on this epic adventure ensuring Spencer can cruise through the sand as easy as possible to keep going until the end. What a joy to do so as part of this incredible team, a hell of a lot of fun had, growing stronger and closer by the day. Into the swing of things now. First few niggles have reared up but nothing that can’t be talked through and calmed down whilst running alongside, or eased during an evening’s treatment to freshen up for the next day. See @spencermatthews page or @globals_make_some_noise to get involved in our fundraising attempts. What a life. Bring on the next week and beyond. 🇯🇴🏜️🏃🏽 📷 @stonevisualsuk 🙏🏼 @sporttape

**Update: Sadly a tib-post niggle that hasn’t shaken has made this attempt not worth the risk on this occasion… I’ll be back. 2 weeks on Friday I’m aiming to shake hands with Bob. The plan is to set off at 23:00 19th July on a 19hr schedule. If anyone is up for helping out/knows of anyone who’d be keen then please give me a shout as I could use a few more pacers! I’ve got a solid road crew that can offer lifts where needed. I’ve done the recces and feel confident on the nav so just someone to enjoy the adventure with and carry a little water and some scran really! Drop me a message if you fancy it. For those less in the know of what The Bob Graham round entails: The BG is a loop of the Lakeland Fells starting and finishing at The Moot Hall in Keswick. It was first completed in 1932 by Bob Graham to set the then 24hr record of 42 peaks. Since then it has become a pilgrimage for fell and mountain humans from all over to trod in his footsteps and pay homage to the history and traditions of the sport. Classically, a successful (supported) round is completed in under 24hrs, covering approx 66miles and 27,000ft of elevation gain, using pacers to aid and witness each summit. Taper has begun, along with the associated lethargy and fear of niggles created by an overactive mind. Body feels fell-fit and ready, recces have all gone to plan, bring it on. Overall goal: Embrace an incredible adventure, celebrating movement in the mountains and the history of Lakeland long-distance fell running alongside some cool humans. Take lessons from what is a big step up in distance and duration for me in this 3rd year of running, and apply all that going into the future. 📷 @tommy_leeming_ ❤️⛰️🏃🏽

Recent Testimonials

‘I have had niggles around my knees and ankles that I believed to be seriously problematic to the point that I thought there was a good chance that they could end the challenge, or at least, drastically change it. My physio Jonny however has seen it all before and his calming and professional nature has proven to be spot on every time. I couldn’t be more delighted to have him here with me and I’d go so far as to say that this challenge would be unachievable without him. He has so far, without fail, prevented all problems before they become serious and I’ve started most days on stiff but not bad legs.’
‘You were a stranger to me 7 days ago and now I feel like I’ve known you all my life, you brought so much energy, kept me in me in one piece and went above and beyond.’
“His approach to strength coaching has been routed in research which he has clearly communicated with me so that I can better understand the direction of my sessions. He has introduced me to a variety of new exercises which keeps my sessions fresh and engaging and the feedback that I have received during our in-person sessions has been extremely beneficial to ensure that I am lifting well and has allowed me to feel more confident in the work that I am doing on my own. Since working together, I have noticed significant strength gains both in the gym and across the individual triathlon disciplines that I do on a daily basis.”
“I felt I could completely trust him and valued his explanations and recommendations as well as his hands on treatments. His positivity and enthusiasm is infectious and I would highly recommend him.”
“I had a couple of issues on the trek that Jonny was able to help with in his capacity as a physio. I felt I could completely trust him and valued his explanations and recommendations as well as his hands on treatments. On one occasion I was limping after a 12 hour trek. Within 20 mins Jonny had released the tightness in my leg and I was able to walk comfortably for 10 hours the next day. His positivity and enthusiasm is infectious and I would highly recommend him.”
Item descripti“I never thought I'd see the inside of a gym, let alone at 50 years old! But thanks to Jonny at JH Adventure Physio, I'm not only conquering my gym anxiety, I'm already feeling the benefits of strength training when running the trails too! Jonny designed a personalised six-week program specifically for lower body strength to improve my trail and mountain running. He not only guided me through the exercises, but also created a plan that fit seamlessly into my routine. The best part? Jonny's an avid runner himself! He understands the specific demands of the sport and translates that knowledge into targeted exercises. Combine that with his expertise as a physiotherapist, a genuine love for moving in the mountains, and you've got a dream team for any runner looking to take their performance to the next level. Jonny's patience was incredible, especially during those first few (admittedly awkward) gym sessions. He was able to tweak the plan as needed, ensuring I embraced the benefits. Now, with the first six weeks under my belt and the next block already planned, I'm absolutely loving the process. If you're a runner of any age or experience level who wants to get stronger on the trails, look no further than JH Adventure Physio. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Jonny – A Trail Runner's Dream Team.”on
“Jonny played a remarkable strong part in supporting our High Atlas mountains trek within Morocco. His physio skills were superlative within a challenging, tough environment, matched only by his strength of character, determination, empathy, kindness and attention to the wellbeing of all on the adventure. A true friend to have, be it on expedition or back home. Can't recommend him too highly in any situation that he encounters.”
Fantastic service. Jonny was very knowledgeable and personable. Highly recommend him.