Paul Manley, D.O. (ESO 1980), M.A.O.(Manip), Registered Osteomyologist, RSM(Royal Society of Medicine) Specialist in the treatment of Musculo-skeletal problems
33 Chalton St, London NW1 1JD
Opening hours: Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays - 9am to 6pm
I am a Key Worker. The current Covid rules allow visits for medical reasons. February 2021:I have had the Covid vaccination and felt fine. Travel is easy and people are observing the rules with great care.
Over 40 years of experience with musculo-skeletal pain Accurate assessment of your condition Unique treatment methodology and techniques Treatment is safe and sensitively applied. Be assured of a thorough, warm, understanding, effective approach when you consult Paul for help.
Thousands of individuals with all sorts of conditions have been helped by the unique skills developed by Paul:
Back problems Shoulder pain Frozen shoulder Neck pain Headaches Hip Repetitive Strain Injury Knee Ankle Tennis and golfers Elbow Post-fracture rehabilitation Arthritic joints Aching muscles Poor circulation/lymphatic drainage The over 60's are welcome, age is little hindrance to improvement
RSI is a general term used to describe a primary cause of a condition involving muscles and tendons. It can also indicate an aggravating factor of a pre-existing condition. It refers to the repeated use of particular muscle groups as causative and/or aggravating factors. Read more....
Treatment methods
Include deep massage and stretching of muscles and fascia. Paul also uses Trigger point therapy and Myo-fascial release in order to stretch and soften tense, hypertonic muscles coupled with joint mobilisation through very precise, passive techniques. This reduces muscle spasm, increases mobility and creates a healthier state in which damaged tissues can heal and adapt more efficiently.
His methods are individually tailored to take into account the many differences between each persons’ condition and sensitivities.
Paul will do his utmost to: 1. Get you out of immediate pain. 2. Reshape your skeleton, joints and muscles into a more mechanically symmetrical structure. 3.
Restore mobility, co-ordination, muscle strength and increase postural/ergonomic awareness.
I was born in London in 1953 and have lived there for most of my
life apart from a few years in the USA in the late 60’s where my father
practised as an Osteopath in Los Angeles. I first lived for two months in the then
segregated Davenport, Iowa, then in Mexican dominated Downtown Los Angeles for
18 months then in white wealthy Beverly hills for the remainder. Thus, I lived
in a wide variety of cultures and sub-cultures and had to try to fit in with all
of them, the last being the easiest. When I was seventeen we returned to England
to avoid the possibility of me being drafted to go to the Vietnam war.
The first time saw a full skeleton was when I was 3 years old. My Father was
studying Naturopathy and Osteopathy in London. He practised his techniques on me
throughout my childhood and into my adulthood. He would take me around to
various practitioners in order to learn their techniques and perspectives in
England and especially when I was a teenager in the USA. From these people not
only did Dad learned a great deal but I also got an education. He once took me
to a 92 year old Osteopath called Pearl Rittenhouse who had a grip like a
lobster, incisive and precise. The most irritating one was a Chiropractor in
Pasadena who insisted on testing pain points by poking my spine with a ball
point pen and asking which point hurt the most! ALL of them was the answer but I
bluffed in the knowledge that the sooner we were out of there the sooner Dad
would buy me my reward root beer afterwards.
Upon my return to England in
1970 I was now a true misfit. Imbued with the transcendent culture of the late
60’s I sought like minds but found few if any. Surrounded by skinheads and
football fanatics I did my best to fit in. I longed through many recurrent
dreams to find my California again. I was dissolute and started doing jobs after
school and weekends determined to raise enough cash to at least visit my lost
home. So I mopped floors in a Kilburn supermarket, washed dishes, working in a
lab at Northwick Park Hospital and turned 17, 18 and 19.
I did return
twice and also did a round Britain tour in a rusty 1958 Morris Post Office van
that I had turned into a camper van.
I met my Wife to be when I was 19
(1974) and we have been together ever since, she is a very
famous textile artist
and is thoroughly Portuguese.
We were married and I began to realise that
after 3 months of working at Heinz factory would be a lifetime of tedium, okay
for a few weeks but not sufficient for the brain that I was about to take charge
of. So in an unusual move for me (stubborn) I asked my Dad for advice. He
simply replied “Why don’t you do what I do?”. I thought about it for a few
moments and agreed. My interests apart from ignoring school were in the
neurophysiology of perception. So given that I would be studying the Central
Nervous System on my course I was enthused enough to proceed with Dads
suggestion. Thereupon I enrolled in a Diploma course at the London College of
Naturopathy and Osteopathy who let me in with open arms. However, I was not yet
mature enough to succeed there. They had recently suffered a revolt and half the
tutors and a lot of the 3rd and 4th year students had left in order to establish
a more technique and skills based course at the European School of Osteopathy in
Maidstone (ESO). I had decided that I was not ready educationally to jump in at
the deep end again and so enrolled in further education. My grades were high
enough to be acceptable to the ESO and thus I began a new start with a brain
that now had an intense curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
I graduated from the ESO in 1980 following the completion of a four year full-time
course. The four years full time course covered the complete anatomy of
everything human, Neurology, Pathology, Orthopedics, General medicine,
Radiology, Differential diagnostics and most importantly the study of Form and
Function. The ‘Puppet and Strings’ as I call it. My thesis was bravely entitled
‘An Osteopathic approach to cortical pathophysiology’. During my time in
practice I have treated thousands of individuals and have given over 50,000
treatments. I use a myriad of traditional techniques, strictly hands-on and work
with all limbs and joints. I have developed many specialised techniques
(Myo-articulation) especially for Repetitive Strain Syndromes. I also use my own
‘Structural Cranial’ techniques for relieving intracranial pressure and impacted
cranial joints.
I speak
adequate Portuguese, bits of French, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Japanese and
Farsi. They may be just a few words but they are the important ones.
1980: Began practice at 35a Welbeck Street, London, W1. 1981: I was Technical
Advisor to the ‘Vogue book of exercise’ 1981: I taught ‘The Anatomy and
Physiology of movement’ for dance teachers. 1986: As a result of five years
of research into the hydrodynamics of intracranial physiology, I had an article
published in the Journal of Alternative Medicine This was based on research into
breathing patterns and their effects on intracranial pressure patterns.
1993-1995: Another article: Cranial osteopathy and the Pediatric Craniopathies
was published by Bastyr University, Journal of Naturopathic Medicine ( Oregon ),
and The New Zealand Journal of Osteopathy and by Temple University (
Philadelphia), Frontier Perspectives. 1989-1995: I gave seminars in New York,
Philadelphia and Connecticut on 'An Osteopathic approach to intracranial
physiology'. I was asked to join a clinic in Philadelphia and Danbury,
Connecticut as an ‘expert’ diagnostician. These were short stints, I could not
leave my London practice for too long. 2000: Around 2500 seasoned Osteopaths
decided to leave the Osteopathic profession disgruntled with the new regime.
Thus, I and many others joined the Association of Osteomyologists and various
other organisations. 2005: I created my clinic website replete with
interactive anatomy illustrations: www.paulmanley.org 2007: I was invited to
give a lecture to Post-graduate Voice teachers at the Royal Academy of Music. I
turned this lecture into webpages and can be viewed here: voice 2008 to
present: working in full time practice in Central London.
Over time I have found myself
specialising in Musicians problems, but general practice dealing with low backs, necks, shoulders and legs is my everyday love.
Many musicians suffer debilitating conditions which will affect their lives as
performers. As a fellow musician since I was 13 I have every sympathy for them
and have taken a very special interest in Repetitive Strain Syndromes not only
in musicians but also in the general public.
The correlation between what
one is habitually doing with their body and the resultant pain patterns has
become very clear over my years of studying and questioning patients. Many have
found relief through what I deem to be simple, common sense observations.
Patients will often present with fairly typical and predictable pain patterns.
The noting of these patterns has inspired the creation of the ‘Pain Maps’ used
in my online diagnostic projects.
If a patient comes to me who has
exhausted all other avenues I will try to research their condition. As an
example a young Turkish Laboratory worker came to see me on the recommendation
of her Mother who had seen me some 30 years earlier because I had researched the
medications she was taking and brought about a ‘cure’ for her skin condition.
Her daughter had been working in a lab in Didcot UK where she was accidentally
exposed to a deadly gas. She had consulted a lot of doctors who scratched their
heads in puzzlement. She was suffering from fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of
co-ordination and dizziness rather like Multiple Sclerosis. I researched
specifically and soon found the answer buried in the metabolic pathways of
action of this toxin. I prescribed a particular amino acid and gave her some
treatment to her cranium and neck and bingo! Her condition improved back to
normal in around two weeks.
There are so many cases which stick in my
mind. There was a young man who emailed me from Brazil. He had suffered from
cerebral palsy which had contractured his limbs to the degree that it was now
very difficult and painful to walk. He had been a beggar on the streets of Rio
and had been befriended by a man who gave him a career in real estate. Now he
was travelling to Italy to do a deal having stopped over in London to see me. I
gave him the first treatment and upon his return for a second he told me with
great joy that he had never walked so well in all his life. I gave him another
and he messaged me from Italy some weeks later to thank me, he still felt the
marked improvement. What I did with him was simple for me, obvious and very much
worth it for him.
A glass of ice cold water is a miracle in the middle of
the Sahara desert, the same refreshment is normal in Mac Donalds. Miracles can
be little more than a rarity in an otherwise barren landscape shrouded in
medical mystery.
I have treated Hollywood stars, MPs, nurses, GP’s,
CEO’s, cleaners, programmers, athletes, writers, composers and of course many
world famous musicians. Occasionally I have had the pleasure of helping torture
victims.
There are many who get benefit from what I do and the way that I
do it who have also exhausted all other options. But for the many who know me, I am their
first port of call, for others, a refuge in the wilderness of medical
double-speak.
I am here if you need me
Paul Manley
So, whether it is your low back, ankle, sciatica, strained neck, repetitive strain disorder, the knuckle on your left little finger or simply tired, tight muscles almost anywhere in your body, call Paul and make an appointment, or if you simply wish to discuss a problem please give him a call or text right now.
Fees
In light of the hardship being caused to so many of us by the pandemic I have adjusted my fees to make treatment more affordable. Please feel free to discuss any current hardship openly with me.
£90 for a one hour session
£60 for a 30 minute session
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Musicians Clinic
Detailed information about conditions specific to musicians which can blight their lives. Help and advice.
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Migraines and neck strain as caused by being shampooed in a backwash sink.
Trigger point therapy
De-mystifies trigger point therapy and explains when and how it helps with all sorts of problems from RSI to shin splints.
The Pain Mapper Suite
Pain Mapper provides simple illustrated reports and pain tracker diaries which will tell you much more of what you need to know about your particular pain.
Running Gait Analysis
Running Gait Pain Mapper video analysis and Diary defines 64 specific areas of the most common lower limb pain patterns.
Workplace Wellness
Workplace Wellness is a unique, cost-effective method of assessing your employees' musculo-skeletal health and productivity.
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Please Call or Text Paul 24/7 on 07925 616 753
33 Chalton St, London NW1 1JD Opening hours: Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays - 9am to 6pm