My Journey with NAT - Suzanne Hibberd

Suzanne Hibberd BSc (Hons) Ost 

I was introduced to NAT by a Client in 2007 - and I've been using their techniques ever since!

I had not heard of the Niel Asher Technique (NAT) until in 2007 a regular patient of mine - Chris - insisted that I learn more about it.

Chris began with a frozen shoulder whilst I was absent from work on maternity leave. He was making very little progress with the usual physical therapy / osteopathic approach and eventually with me being away and out of sheer desperation, he decided to travel 250 miles to seek out treatment from an NAT therapist.

Impressive Results

At that point the night pain that he was experiencing was so extreme it had begun to affect his mental health as well as his physical wellbeing. His response to treatment was so positive that on my return to work he insisted that I research it further. Having completed the NAT Shoulder Master course I was still a little skeptical but intrigued by the positive results from the research done at Addenbrooks.

The Pain Subsided and his Range of Movement Began to Return

The first patient who walked through my door is still one of my most complicated cases to date. A teacher unable to work because both of his shoulders were so completely locked he could not raise them to write on the white board.

I was thrilled to see that over several weeks his pain subsided and his range of movement began to return. This case gave me the confidence to continue using the technique and I have used this approach ever since together with my other osteopathic techniques and advice on exercises and pain management.

Improving Quality of Life

Like all approaches to pain the Niel Asher Technique does not work for 100% of people but the majority, approximately 85% of the frozen shoulder patients I have seen, have had improvements in pain levels and a better range of movement.

In the cases where it does help, it is one of the most rewarding parts of my job as it so radically improves the quality of life of the patients involved, the joy of being able to brush your own hair or put on underarm deodorant for the first time in months cannot be underestimated!

About Suzanne

Suzanne became enthusiastic about osteopathy after experiencing back pain in her late teens as a result of poor working posture. She went on to train at the British School of Osteopathy and graduated in 1998 with an honors degree in Osteopathy.

Suzanne initially worked in London providing osteopathy in two private practices, before moving to work in North Yorkshire in 1999. In 2002 she established Bedale Osteopaths with her colleague Stuart Bentley (Stuart is also NAT certified!).

This trigger point therapy blog is intended to be used for information purposes only and is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or to substitute for a medical diagnosis and/or treatment rendered or prescribed by a physician or competent healthcare professional. This information is designed as educational material, but should not be taken as a recommendation for treatment of any particular person or patient. Always consult your physician if you think you need treatment or if you feel unwell.