Tell us about your first steps in the profession

I trained at King’s College Hospital London and qualified in 1991 – so a long time ago! My early career began with a two-year rotational post at Guy’s Hospital in London as a basic grade physiotherapist, which provided me with a solid foundation in various physiotherapy disciplines.

During a period of travelling, I worked in Brisbane, Australia. I specialised in hydrotherapy, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and the experience broadened my international perspective on physiotherapy practice. On returning to the UK, I secured a more senior role at St George’s Hospital in south London, where I specialised in musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy.

At St George’s, I became an extended scope practitioner working in orthopaedic clinics. I established a haemophilia clinic and ran a satellite unit, which was a fantastic period of professional growth and I developed specialised skills in managing complex cases.

What made you set up your own clinic and how has your career progressed?

After gaining significant experience in various clinical settings, I moved out of London and worked in several private practices in my locality. This exposure to private practice gave me insights into practice management and direct patient care outside the NHS framework. I went on to set up my own private practice on a part-time basis, which allowed me to implement my vision of patient-centred care while managing family life.

Timely support is vital

I have always been an advocate of patients getting the right and timely support, which led me to establish PhysioFast Online in 2016. See: physiofastonline.co.uk/ for more information. I could be seen as an innovator launching a ‘physio via video’ service pre-Covid when such telehealth approaches were far from common. I secured investors for this venture and participated in a NatWest accelerator programme that provided invaluable business coaching and allowed me to mix with entrepreneurs across all business areas, not just healthcare. This digital platform was created to ensure patients could access quality physiotherapy services without the barriers of travel or lengthy waiting times. The PhysioFast team currently works with a number of large organisations providing quick access to quality physiotherapy advice as well as direct care to the public.

Chairing Physio First

My career has since progressed in multiple dimensions. More recently, I became the chair of PhysioFirst, the organisation that supports private physiotherapists in the UK running their practices. See: https://www.physiofirst.org.uk/ for more information. Physio First is the voice of physios working in the private healthcare sector, ensuring that the public can access physiotherapy in a timely manner and supporting the physios in all ways to help them provide that care, to make that difference. As chair, one of my key priorities is to continue building our membership base, as the larger we are, the bigger voice we have in advocating for both patients and practitioners. This role has allowed me to meet physiotherapists across the country and beyond.

Involvement with ACPOHE

I also sit on the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (ACPOHE) committee, where I strongly advocate that work should be every physiotherapist’s business – whether in a dedicated occupational health role or not. Understanding the impact of health on work and work on health is crucial for all physiotherapists to provide holistic care that enables patients to maintain or return to meaningful employment.

In the academic realm, I serve as a guest lecturer at various universities, speaking about health innovation and MSK care. I also help educate on skills required for supportive self-management, sharing my expertise with the next generation of physiotherapists. Additionally, I have spoken at international conferences and continue to do so, bringing my insights and expertise to global audiences in the physiotherapy profession.

We hear you’ve worked with colleagues to launch an online academy tackling pain issues. Tell us more

In 2017, I met Pete Moore, who was an absolute inspiration in terms of how he had managed to get himself out of a rut and had learned to live well with his pain. I was immediately drawn to his simple yet effective approach to pain management via the Pain Toolkit. For more information, see: https://www.paintoolkit.org/. Many clinicians can get stuck in the complexity of pain science, and therefore sometimes having that simple approach to start you off – the ‘keep it smart but simple’ philosophy – really works wonders for patients.

‘For clinicians, the Pain Toolkit Academy course delivers what patients would have wanted them to know – the real insights that bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and lived experience of persistent pain’

Pain Toolkit Academy

I continued to work with Pete, and we established the Pain Toolkit Academy in 2023. For more information, see: https://paintoolkit.thinkific.com/. We’ve never claimed that it’s the answer for all, but unless you know where to start, you’re not going to help people along on their journey. The Academy builds on Pete’s well-established, renowned and worldwide-used Pain Toolkit and aims to make these evidence-based self-management strategies more accessible to both clinicians and patients. It involves a number of other healthcare professionals, including specialist pain physio Grainne Daniels and psychologist Sue Peacock.

Part of the team is Dave Oxley, another persistent pain patient and successful self-manager. His lived experience along with Pete’s adds invaluable authenticity and practical insights to our programme. This is true collaboration at work with the patient’s needs and wants at its very core. For clinicians, the Pain Toolkit Academy course delivers what patients would have wanted them to know – the real insights that bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and lived experience of persistent pain.

How can physios tap into this?

Physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals can access our specifically designed clinician course through the Pain Toolkit Academy website. For more information, see: https://paintoolkit.thinkific.com/. This course is comprehensive yet practical, really nailing down how to explain concepts like pacing to patients and how to work together to help people live a better and fuller life despite persistent pain.

There is a reasonable cost associated with the course, reflecting the expertise and resources provided, but we’ve worked hard to ensure it remains accessible to individual practitioners and larger organisations alike. We offer both individual licences and organisational packages for clinical teams wanting to upskill together. The current cost is £90 per individual. See: https://www.paintoolkit.org/contact if you want multiple licences or have any queries.

The course provides continuing professional development hours and includes downloadable resources that clinicians can immediately implement in their practice. We also offer ongoing support through our community forum where physiotherapists can discuss cases and share successful strategies.

What’s in it for people living with pain?

Many patients get locked into the medical model of care, and the patient course which is also available on the Pain Toolkit Academy provides participants with very basic and useful skills to start to self-manage their persistent pain. The patient course is designed to be achievable and affordable at £15 for patients who are seeking help and need a structured starting point.

The course is based around the Pain Toolkit skills:

• goal setting/action planning
• pacing daily activities
• problem solving
• meaningful movement (keeping active, stretching/exercise)
• knowing what to do if something goes wrong (having a setback plan)

We focus on empowering patients to take an active role in their pain management journey, rather than remaining passive recipients of care. The online format means that people can work through the material at their own pace, in the comfort of their homes, and revisit sections as needed.

Have you had any feedback from users you can share as yet?

We’re delighted with the feedback we’ve received from both clinicians and patients who have engaged with our courses. Here are five short quotes reflecting the general experience of patients who have completed the Pain Toolkit course:

1. ‘The Pain Toolkit Academy gave me the simple tools I needed to take charge of my life again.’
2. ‘This course transformed my understanding of persistent pain; I now feel empowered instead of defeated.’
3. ‘I now have practical strategies that help me manage my persistent pain day by day.’
4. ‘Participating in the Pain Toolkit course was a game changer for my wellbeing and confidence.’
5. ‘I never realised I could actively participate in managing my persistent pain until I took this course.’

Healthcare professionals have similarly reported that the clinician course has enhanced their confidence in supporting patients with persistent pain and provided them with practical communication strategies to better explain complex pain concepts:

• ‘Before taking this course, I struggled with patients who weren’t making progress. The Pain Toolkit has given me a structured framework that helps patients take ownership of their recovery journey’

• ’What I value most about the Pain Toolkit Academy is how it bridges the gap between complex pain science and practical patient care. My confidence in handling challenging persistent pain cases has grown tremendously’

• ’The course gave me practical strategies I could immediately use in the clinic. My patients have responded so positively to the toolkit approach, and I’m seeing better adherence to self-management plans.’ 

I feel genuinely honoured to be involved with Pete Moore and Dave Oxley and the Pain Toolkit Academy. Seeing the positive impact it has on both clinicians’ practice and patients’ lives is tremendously rewarding and drives us to continue our work in this space.

How do you relax and look after your own wellbeing?

I’m a firm believer in practising what I preach when it comes to physical activity and wellbeing. I love walking and make it a priority in my weekly routine – there’s nothing like fresh air and movement to clear the mind and energise the body. Plus my dog needs her daily walks!

More recently, I’ve embraced a new challenge by entering Hyrox competitions as a doubles event. For those unfamiliar, Hyrox combines functional workouts with running intervals – it’s quite the test of endurance and strength! As a woman in my fifties, I’m passionate about shattering stereotypes around age and fitness. I’m a champion for women taking control in midlife, showing that this stage of life can be one of strength, adventure, and new beginnings rather than limitation.

By participating in these events, I’m deliberately leading by example, demonstrating to my patients and colleagues that age is just a number when it comes to physical challenges. Many women in midlife begin to feel invisible or that their prime has passed, but I’m determined to challenge that narrative. Whether it’s completing a tough Hyrox event or building a successful business in the digital health space, I believe in pushing boundaries at every stage of life.

My own fitness journey keeps me connected to the challenges my patients face – the need for motivation, the importance of goal-setting, and the satisfaction that comes from progress. It also ensures I maintain my own physical and mental wellbeing while juggling the demands of clinical practice, business leadership, and my role with Physio First.

Of course, life is all about balance! I’m not averse to unwinding with the odd glass of red wine or gin and tonic – a small pleasure that reminds me that wellbeing encompasses both activity and relaxation. After all, sustainable health practices need to include enjoyment alongside discipline.

Katie Knapton 

Email: katiek@physiofitonline.co.uk

See: www.physiofastonline.co.uk

For more information about ACPOHE, see: acpohe.csp.org.uk