As a dancer and clinician, Ann Coxhead has many years experience of the mechanics of the body, working with singers, actors, dancers and musicians. Her services for performance professionals include Osteopathy, laryngeal manipulation to treat muscle tension dysphonia in singers and professional voice users, breathing techniques, and Floor-Barre work.
Osteopathic diagnosis and treatment is available for a wide range of medical conditions including the spine and all peripheral joints. Treatments are tailored to your specific injuries. Observing and accessing anatomical and postural technique. Including hip knee and ankle alignment at the barre for Dancers. Making tissue specific diagnosis. Hypermobility, scoliosis and differences in speed of growth in young dancers can all be managed. Integrating the injury into the dynamics of the whole body and building self confidence. Using deep soft tissue and muscle energy techniques, facial release, articulation and manipulation if required. Rectifying bio-mechanical faults helps to increase circulation, venous supply and lymphatic drainage speeding up healing time.
Ann sees patients in Brighton, Parsons Green, and monthly at the English National Opera. She is a member of the Osteopathic Performing Arts Care Association (OPACA), the British Voice Association and One Dance UK.
Chloe Spencer graduated from the University College of Osteopathy (formerly the British School of Osteopathy) with a Masters in Osteopathy (MOst). With a background in singing, both in teaching and performance, she specialises in care of the voice, and is a member of two local choirs. She is also a member of OPACA - the Osteopathic Performing Arts Care Association.
Chloe can help in all musculoskeletal disorders, muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) & any physical-based voice issues.
I am an Osteopath inspired by the voice and experienced helping professional voice users overcome issues related to misuse and injuries. As an Osteopath with nearly thirty years of experience, as well as being a trained opera singer, I have the skill, insight and understanding to help performing artists including singers, actors and dancers. I can help with voice problems including hoarseness, loss of vocal range, vocal fatigue and muscle tension dysphonia. I am experienced with shoulder issues as well as more typical issues such as back and neck pain, knee injuries, foot injuries, ACL injuries, mobility issues that osteopaths are trained to treat. I also have special interests in hypermobility and in hip impingement issues (cam and pincer) and have worked in facilitating diagnosis of labral tears and rehabilitating patients post operatively following hip arthroscopy intervention. Labral tears are often missed, especially in the hypermobile population, who may be more likely to experience impingement due to their increased range of movement, especially if they are dancers or acrobats and routinely flex their hip joints to the extreme.
Osteopath and Pilates Rehabilitation Instructor. Clinician at BAPAM and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Very experienced treating singers, musicians, actors and dancers. Expertise includes movement, jaw issues, neck and laryngeal tension affecting singers, exercise, injury prevention and rehabilitation. Private practice at Hermes Health, Chiswell Street, London.
Alison Judah is a consultant osteopath who practices in Hammersmith, West London and in Hove East Sussex. She qualified in 1992 from the London School of Osteopathy with a Diploma in Osteopathic Medicine and then from Kingston University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Osteopathy. She undertook a Post-Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Osteopath at the Osteopathic Centre for Children. Alison has undertaken further training in the specialist area of caring for performing artists including the voice.
SPECIALIST OSTEOPATH TO THE PERFORMING ARTS
MUSICIANS
Alison helps many musicians by diagnosing the cause of their injuries, assessing them with their instrument rehabilitating them back to fitness and advising on furture injury prevention. Where it is possible musicians should bring their instrument with them to the appointment. Ergonomic assessments can also be carried out in a performance space. Musicians have busy schedules and she can arrange private MRI scans and xrays where necessary so as to get a diagnosis quickly and get them back to performing as soon as possible.
OSTEOPATHY FOR THE VOICE
Singers, Actors, Teachers and other Professional Voice Users
Performers need their voice to be agile, the delicate muscles surrounding the vocal cords need to be balanced as do the muscles of breathing. The voice can also be affected by other mechanical strains in the body. Alison will do a full assessment to establish the cause. If it is due to a mechanical strain then osteopathic treatment can help or osteopathy can help with rehabilitation back to fitness after other treatment is necessary such as surgery. Alison works with both Professional and Amateur Singers and Actors to help them carry on working without injury. She has undertaken specialist training in Laryngeal Manipulation and Performing Arts Medicine. With a busy schedule and often a stressful environment teachers and public speakers often aren't aware that they are straining the voice and body and teachers in particular often end up damaging the voice.
Symptoms of Voice Problems May Include:
Tightness in throat
Voice cutting out at points
Restriction in chest
Back or neck pain
Alteration in quality of voice
Breathing Problems
It is of course always important to check that voice problems are not due to a more pathological cause for which further medical investigations may be necessary. Alison always carries out a full examination and will assess your condition if you need further examinations or medical tests she will refer you to the most appropriate specialist.
ACTORS
Actors often have to wear heavy costumes, work in awkward poses and carry heavy props all this can cause strain. Alison can help with treating the cause of the injury and with advising on injury prevention.
CAMERA OPERATORS AND OTHER PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS
The use of cameras can cause strain to the neck and back leading to nerve impingement, pain and tingling in the shoulders, arms and hands. Any symptoms experienced should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent long term damage.
CLINICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL
Alison has been working in private practice for over 25 years. She has also worked with GPs in Sussex and London and worked as a Paediatric Osteopath at the Osteopathic Centre for Children in London seeing very complex cases. The experience she has gained allows her to diagnose and treat extremely complex problems and Alison is often referred cases where people have previously seen many health professionals. She has clinical experience in treating the specific needs of performing artists and the specialist area of voice problems. Alison also advises companies and organisations on injury prevention and carries out clinical ergonomic assessments in many different environments.
ALISON OFFERS:
Consultations for Advice on Posture and Injury Prevention
Understanding of the needs of Performing Artists
Advice/ Treatment for professional and Amateur Performers
Treatment for singers with muscular / joint strain affecting the voice
Specialist Laryngeal Manipulation for voice problems
Speedy referrals for MRI scans and xrays where necessary