Sheila Cozens , BSc (Hons) (Physiotherapy), MCSP, Lic.Ac., Cert Ed

Current employment

Director in Movement Education Services (MovES) offering courses in the Neuromuscular Approach to Human Movement including Efficient Handling and Moving, Re-educative Neuromuscular Strappings techniques and Conditioning Movements; Kinesiology in Health Care; Tai Ch'i and Qigong in Self Care and Therapy; and Acupressure.

Freelance movement consultant.

Part-time healthcare practitioner.

Relevant experience

Physiotherapist in NHS from 1977-1985 initially as a rotational Basic grade progressing to Senior11 ITU/Surgical; Senior Out-patients with a remit to set up and run a GP referral service; Senior 1 OPD which included various Clinical areas of speciality ( Mobilisations/ Manipulations requiring MACP Basic and Advanced Spinal qualifications; study and practical knowledge of the McKenzie Approach; running a Back-school within the Hospital; provision of training in back-care for staff which generally extended to include lifting and handling).

Private practice from 1985-1993: skills and services drawn from the above together with various complementary therapies created a specialised focus in preventive and re-educative measures. In addition throughout this period regular handling and moving training for various groups was undertaken.

Professional involvement in teaching the Neuromuscular Approach started in 1991 after attending a Basic Course run by Lesley Crozier and then attending a series of other Handling and Moving Courses both for patient-handlers and the Industrial sector by her.

Teaching (as part of MovES) for post-registration and post-graduate physiotherapists, other health care professionals and non-professionals, and in the industrial sector from 1992-present day.

Sheila is particularly interested in the relationship between movement and its effects upon the organisation and functioning of body systems, and consequently upon health and well-being as well as how the organisation and function of different body system influences muscle activity and movement capacity.

Since her initial qualification as a healthcare professional Sheila has continued her personal and professional development via study of specific physiotherapy modalities, various complementary therapies and systems of healthcare including the Neuromuscular Approach to Human Movement, Touch for Health (Instructor), Applied and Clinical Kinesiology (including nutritional and allergy testing), Tai Ch'i and Qigong, Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Reiki and Vortex Healing.

She is currently involved in teaching, ongoing development and research into the Neuromuscular Approach to Human Movement and also runs a part-time practice offering an integrated holistic approach to healthcare.

In the clinic knowledge and skills gained from the various disciplines of practice are utilised to research potential causes of and the relationship between signs and symptoms in order to identify not only efficient therapist-based strategies but particularly to develop individualised self-care programmes to empower people in improving their health and well-being levels, to enable change, and to support therapeutic intervention.

This combined approach has been found to be helpful for people interested in preventive health care, maintaining and/or improving health and well-being as well as offering therapy for specific signs and symptoms.

It has also proven useful for patients with chronic and complex problems. Many patients also attend other therapists, and the methods outlined have proven useful over the years when other therapies have required additional support to enable them to become more effective.

Publications

Touch for Health ; Therapy Weekly, June 1989

A Neuromuscular Approach to Handling and Moving (with Lesley Crozier ); Back Exchange Newsletter, Issue 6.2 1994

The Neuromuscular Approach (with Lesley Crozier) in RCN/ BPA Guide to the Handling of Patients, 4th Ed, 1997