Meet the Team
Physiotherapists for private treatment in Kendal, Cumbria and Lancashire
Kerry Singleton
Background
When I reached the point of deciding which career pathway to choose in my mid teens, the 2 options I decided on were either physiotherapy or nursery nursing. After a period of work experience in a nursery, I decided on the former!
My desire to become a physiotherapist partly came about during my teens, after a couple of injuries where I fractured my wrist and a bone at the base of my thumb, and also ruptured a tendon in my finger playing basketball at school. The physiotherapy I received at these times evidently had a positive effect on me, as ultimately it has led me to the career I have now.
Professional Experience
I trained at the Manchester School of Physiotherapy between 1998-2001. After qualifying I took up a post as a Junior physiotherapist in an NHS trust near Liverpool where I rotated through a number of different specialities such as Respiratory care, Orthopaedics, Burns and Plastics and Musculoskeletal Outpatients.
I moved back home to the Lake District in 2003, where my next physiotherapy challenge was working at BAE systems Ltd in Barrow-in-Furness as an Occupational Health Physiotherapist, including a Team Leader position for 3 years. I worked there for around 8 years in total, which was an extremely interesting and varied job, incorporating sickness absence management, fitness for work assessments, functional rehabilitation and DSE and manual handling assessments. It also involved front-line triaging of musculo-�-skeletal and orthopaedic problems, both acute and chronic, and all stages of orthopaedic rehabilitation from early to end-stage, which was facilitated by us being fortunate enough to run 3 weekly rehab sessions.
I finished my post at BAE Systems at the end of September 2014 to concentrate more on the area of private practice and sports injury treatment. I have worked here alongside Cath Turner, and the growing number of fellow physiotherapists since 2005.
I was lucky enough to be selected as a volunteer physiotherapist for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, where I spent 2 weeks treating athletes from varying nations who were competing in the discipline of shooting. This was a fantastic experience from the application and interview process, to the pre-games training we were required to participate in, to the first day on shift in the satellite Athletes Village where I was based, and most definitely the fellow volunteers I met along the way. The experience gave great insight into dealing with elite athletes who were training and competing, so physiotherapy had to take into account the mental and emotional as well as the physical aspects of any injury.
My Approach
Treatment should be a two-way commitment, between the physiotherapist and you. During the assessment and treatment we can look at identifying the potential cause of the problem, incorporate modalities and techniques to assist with pain-relief and advise on how to improve movement and function. However, equally, if not more important is taking any board any advice or exercises which are advised by the physiotherapist to complement your recovery. Whether it is making changes to your posture, your running or cycling technique or a specific exercise plan, your input is essential too!
Previous training I have completed includes Kinesio-Tex taping, numerous acupuncture courses so I am fully qualified as an acupuncture practitioner, MSK imaging, The art of Running, Bike-fitting package, and the first in the APPI Pilates Matwork series.
Personal Interests
As a family we were always active, and at school I played in the hockey, netball and rounders teams. I maintain an active lifestyle now, regularly cycling and running both on and off road. I don't particularly exhibit a competitive streak but have taken part in a few local events as part of the Lakeland trail series, completed my first sprint triathlon in 2013, and last year participated in my first sportive, the Ladies of the Lakes event, cycling around Coniston from Ulverston.
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