Business Details
28 Years
experience
Expert Osteopathic Care in Hitchin
Osteopathy First has been providing expert osteopathic care in Stevenage and surrounding areas for over 24 years. Established in 1998, our clinic combines decades of collective experience with cutting-edge techniques to address musculoskeletal conditions through osteopathy, sports massage, and rehabilitation. Our clinical directors, Rob Hill and Hannah Walder, bring elite-level sports medicine expertise from their work with Olympic and Paralympic athletes to benefit patients of all activity levels. Located in Titmore Green near Hitchin, we offer comprehensive treatments including biomechanical assessments, shockwave therapy, and custom orthotics. Our patient-centred approach focuses on identifying root causes of pain rather than just treating symptoms, supported by a team of five registered osteopaths and specialist therapists.We maintain strong professional standards through independent registration with the General Osteopathic Council. With flexible appointment availability and satellite services in Gamlingay, we prioritise accessibility while maintaining the highest clinical excellence. Our commitment to continuous professional development ensures patients receive the most advanced treatments available. Working closely with private health insurers and general practitioners, we facilitate seamless care pathways for our patients. Through evidence-based practice and personalised treatment plans, we help individuals recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and optimise physical performance.
Services
Osteopathy
Sports Massage
Shockwave Therapy
Functional Rehabilitation
Medical Acupuncture
Biomechanical Assessment
Orthotics
Children's Clinic
Details
- Year established: 1998
Highlights and features
- We offer 24 years of specialist osteopathic experience treating musculoskeletal conditions
- Our directors have worked with Olympic and Paralympic athletes at international competitions
- We provide same day appointments for urgent musculoskeletal concerns
- Our practitioners maintain independent registration with the General Osteopathic Council
- We collaborate with major private health insurers including AXA PPP and Simply Health
Associations and certifications
- General Osteopathic Council
What people say
Life changing
Highly recommend
Excellent service
Successful recovery
Professional expertise
Services
Osteopathy
Our osteopathy services use hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions. We address back pain, sports injuries, and chronic conditions through joint manipulation, soft tissue work, and postural correction. Treatment plans focus on restoring structural balance and promoting natural healing processes while considering each patient's unique biomechanics and lifestyle requirements.
Sports Massage
Specialist sports massage therapy addresses muscular tension and enhances athletic performance. Tailored treatments use deep tissue techniques to prevent injuries and aid recovery for runners, triathletes, and active individuals. Sessions combine pre-event preparation with post-event recovery strategies to optimise physical conditioning and movement efficiency.
Shockwave Therapy
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy provides non-surgical treatment for chronic musculoskeletal conditions. This evidence-based approach stimulates healing in conditions like plantar fasciitis and tennis elbow through targeted acoustic waves. Treatment courses typically combine shockwave sessions with complementary manual therapies for optimal rehabilitation outcomes.
Functional Rehabilitation
Our functional rehabilitation programs focus on injury prevention and performance enhancement. Personalised exercise plans address biomechanical imbalances while building strength and flexibility. Developed from elite sports practice, these programs help patients return to optimal physical function while reducing future injury risks through comprehensive movement analysis.
Biomechanical Assessment
Advanced biomechanical assessments use Gaitscan technology to analyse movement patterns. Detailed pressure mapping identifies foot function issues that contribute to knee, hip, and back pain. Custom orthotics are prescribed following comprehensive assessments to correct alignment issues and improve overall musculoskeletal efficiency during daily activities.
People
Rob Hill
Registered Osteopath & Director
Clinical director with Olympic Games experience, specialising in sports injury management and biomechanics. Holds postgraduate qualifications in functional rehabilitation and has developed successful treatment protocols for runners and athletes.
Hannah Walder
Registered Osteopath & Director
Founder with 23 years' experience, specialising in musculoskeletal care and hypermobility management. Completed postgraduate studies in injury prevention and maintains active involvement in continuing professional development.
Claire Cousins
Registered Osteopath
Paediatric specialist with postgraduate training in children's osteopathic care. Provides gentle treatments for infants and children, addressing developmental and musculoskeletal concerns with family-centred care approaches.
Marta Wojciechowska
Sports Massage Therapist
Qualified remedial massage therapist specialising in sports recovery treatments. Provides targeted soft tissue therapy to complement osteopathic treatments and enhance athletic performance.
Chris Tyler
Registered Osteopath
Experienced practitioner with expertise in treating complex musculoskeletal conditions. Applies evidence-based approaches to patient care while maintaining focus on individual treatment requirements.
Questions
Do I need a referral from my GP?
No referral is needed unless claiming through private health insurance. We accept self-referrals for all services.
What conditions do you treat?
We treat back pain, sports injuries, joint problems, headaches, and biomechanical issues using osteopathy and complementary therapies.
Are your practitioners qualified?
All osteopaths are independently registered with the General Osteopathic Council and maintain continuing professional development.
Can I claim through health insurance?
We work with AXA PPP, WPA, Simply Health, Cigna, and other insurers. Contact us before your first visit for assistance with claims.
What are your appointment options?
We offer same-day appointments, evening sessions, and Saturday availability at our main clinic in Hitchin.
