What a weird twelve months we've all experienced. Certain areas of business have managed to struggle along, but for gyms and fitness studios it's been a tough time.
Who in their right mind would have decided last September, when we were in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, to open a physiotherapy clinic and Pilates studio? James Luccock, that’s who. “I have to admit that the effect of Covid-19 on the health and fitness industry wasn’t something I had in envisaged when I decided to launch my own business,” admits James, “but taking the plunge to go it alone wasn’t something I’d taken lightly. I’d spent a lot of time researching and planning exactly what I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it. Thankfully, with my business being in the healthcare sector I was able to stay open and help people manage pain and implement exercises at home. With my business being able to offer virtual services such as Pilates and physio, I’ve been able to keep things ticking along nicely until I can finally launch everything properly.” James is an experienced physiotherapist and because he was classified as being a healthcare professional, he was allowed to remain open, albeit with strict Covid-19 measures in place. It meant that people who required some sort of physio could still attend James’s clinics at his new practice in Ponteland. James has a terrific CV. He graduated in Sport and Exercise Science in Nottingham and then returned to his native North East to complete a degree in Physiotherapy, graduating with a first-class degree at Northumbria University. This led to a physiotherapy position at Sunderland General Hospital where he undertook a number of different rotations before going on to successfully train hospital staff in safe and effective moving and handling skills. He then joined a private practice in Gosforth where he specialised as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist. And now, five years later, James has his own practice in Ponteland where he not only offers a full physiotherapy service, but also rehabilitation programmes,
Titleist golf screening and Pilates classes from his in-house light and modern studio. Oh, and he’s also been one of the region’s most successful nonleague footballers, notching-up over 250 games for North Shields and being part of the team that won the FA Vase in 2015. He’s also an excellent golfer with an enviable handicap. He’s even become a Titleist Performance Institute Medical Practitioner, whereby James can help golfers improve their game by looking closely at how the body works during the golf swing. Clever stuff. He’s even qualified to provide acupuncture and, you won’t be surprised to discover, he’s the go-to person for sports injuries and massages. “I have to say that, in one respect, a year of lockdowns and a lack of activity has forced people to think about their health and fitness. They’re much more focussed and aware of their bodies. I always emphasise that when it comes to physiotherapy and sorting out aches and pains, there is very rarely a quick fix. I concentrate on providing long-term solutions. Put it this way, if someone is suffering pain which has got steadily worse over a couple of years, it’s very rare that this will resolve overnight. I work with people to guide them through the process of putting in the necessary changes to help them become pain free”.
However, especially after the last year we’ve had, I think a lot of people are simply finding that their body is out of kilter… it’s just that something doesn’t quite feel right. It’s invariably a case of coming to my clinic here in Ponteland and I’ll formulate a rehabilitation programme which can help them tweak a few areas of their lifestyle. It’s also important to realise that exercise doesn’t need to be all about pounding a treadmill for hours or lifting weights. There are numerous forms of exercise which help a person’s wellbeing like Pilates, we can even help clients mentally by guiding them to appropriate mindfulness resources.” The first thing you notice when you arrive at PhysioFit is how modern, bright and smart the clinic is. James has put a lot of thought into the layout of the building which means he can offer group sessions, one-to-one programmes and of course privacy. There are three treatment rooms, a bright and welcoming reception along with a fully equipped, light and spacious airconditioned studio.
“We encourage our clients to take an active role in their recovery so that the benefits of physio last long after the problem is resolved. We don’t just treat ‘where it hurts’. As part of this, it’s important that clients understand the treatment methods we can use in order to best help their problem. Once we have them on the road to recovery and fitness we’ll then show them what they can do to maintain their wellbeing.” After that of course, it’s up to you. With a bit of luck, James’s enthusiasm will rub off on you and you’ll catch the fitness bug. You might be able to stick to that New Year’s resolution after all!!