Wellingborough firm dubbed the 'Joe Wicks of physio' after helping clients in lockdown

A Wellingborough firm has been dubbed the 'Joe Wicks of physio' after continuing to support clients during lockdown.

Stronglines is a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapy service and has been based at Nene Court on The Embankment for four years.

They offer three main services of physio, health and performance, but when coronavirus struck, they had to find ways to adapt.

Managing director Fred Braithwaite said: "We had worked hard to build the company to where it was and then Covid-19 hit and put the world on its knees.

"Stronglines looked for innovative ways to maintain care for its clients.

"We set up online with virtual physio so that we could protect our staff and our clients while delivering our services.

"We have been able to reach everyone who has access to a computer/tablet/phone with ease and most importantly, kept people moving forwards during this difficult time.

"We have become many people's face of hope.

"A way of reaching out of the groundhog day feel of lockdown.

"People look forward to their sessions with us.

"They can vent to us about stresses they are experiencing, keep us updated with niggles that develop due to working long hours from a laptop, or because they have been doing excessive exercise making the most of the sun.

"We have been dubbed the Joe Wicks of physio!"

Stronglines helps people in various ways, including those who want to regain a level of activity or maintain an active lifestyle.

They also help those with chronic disease, including people living with and beyond cancer.

The performance side sees them working with some of the best sports people around.

Social media has been one way Stronglines has been able to interact with customers during lockdown, including sharing 'how to' videos.

They have also been teaming up with other organisations, including putting together a swim specific injury prevention programme with The Swim Cube in Brixworth.

They are working with Hope Northampton to keep homeless people physically active and raise awareness of the importance of well-being for mental health in this community and British Blind Sport to help keep blind athletes healthy and injury-free during this period.

Looking ahead, Fred said: "Currently we are busy making changes to our clinic so that we can carry out face-to-face appointments while maintaining staff and client safety.

"Our virtual physio platform will carry on alongside this.

"We can reach anyone on the planet now."

And he added: "We want to change the profession and how people see physio and what’s more, we want to change people’s lives for the better."

Stronglines has provided some ways to avoid pain related to sitting for long periods while working from home:

- People spend thousands on orthopaedic chairs but simply varying the surface you sit at can help hugely eg perch stool, standing, hard chair, soft chair, gym ball

- Weight bear more through the feet meaning less pressure on your back

- Avoid long periods sitting still – this reduces the shortening of muscles to the chair position

- Maintain as neutral a spine position as possible – sitting rounded will weaken the collagen in the discs of your spine

For more help and advice go to www.stronglines.co.uk