I am 68, retired, and live a busy and active life. I have osteoarthritis and have had partial knee replacements in both knees.

The problem before treatment: Throughout my life I have suffered from painful joints and general muscular aches and pains, which were sometimes quite debilitating. Over the years, when problems became acute, I tried a number of treatments at various places. While these usually brought some relief, nothing provided a lasting solution.

In 2019, I began to experience stiffness and pain in my neck. As previous treatments hadn’t been particularly effective, I decided it was time for a change and thought I would try an osteopath. After researching local practitioners, I came across Surrey Physio and booked an appointment with Kay Allardyce.

Treatment: At my first appointment, rather than focusing solely on my neck, Kay assessed my overall posture and flexibility and discussed my lifestyle and medical history. Her approach was very reassuring; at every stage of the treatment she clearly explained what she was doing and how it could help.

I attended a series of appointments during which Kay used a range of techniques including gentle manipulation, ultrasound, exercises and acupuncture, all of which contributed to relieving my symptoms. In addition, I was given a comprehensive programme of exercises to complete at home between appointments. These were demonstrated clearly in the clinic and then emailed to me with straightforward instructions to follow.

Outcome: By the end of six weeks my symptoms had resolved, my mobility had improved, and I felt so much better overall. Kay and I agreed that further one-to-one appointments were not necessary. However, it was clear that an ongoing, more general rehabilitation programme would be extremely beneficial, so I signed up for Kay’s Pilates classes at Surrey Physio.

Pilates quickly became a crucial part of my life. I feel stronger and far more aware of my posture and how I use my muscles. I now attend two classes a week, with small class sizes that allow exercises to be layered and adapted to individual ability.

Using Surrey Physio and attending the ongoing Pilates classes have made a real difference to my wellbeing. I am now more flexible and largely pain-free. Occasionally I still experience a musculoskeletal issue — most recently bursitis in my hip — but I have learnt techniques to manage these, and if needed, consulting Kay or another practitioner at Surrey Physio quickly resolves the problem.

Having just retired in 2019, I was concerned that osteoarthritis, joint pain and a lack of fitness might cause me to become increasingly immobile. Consulting Kay gave me insight into what was possible, and she has supported me in achieving my goal of remaining active and independent.

My message to anyone who thinks they are too old to make changes to their lifestyle and improve their health and wellbeing is simple: it’s never too late. The changes I made in my 60s mean that I am fitter, stronger, more mobile and in less pain than I was in my 40s and 50s.