About Derek
About Derek
I'm Derek, a CORU-registered physiotherapist and the founder of Midlands Physio.
A physiotherapist who believes the best treatment starts with understanding the problem
I qualified as a physiotherapist in 2014, but my route into physiotherapy wasn't a traditional one.
Before becoming a physio, I spent around ten years working as a tennis coach. I had always been interested in exercise, movement and health, and after years of coaching I decided to go back to college as a mature student and train as a physiotherapist.
From a spare room to Midlands Physio
When I first qualified, I started practising part-time from a spare room in my house while continuing to work as a tennis coach in the afternoons and evenings.
As the practice grew, I quickly outgrew that room and moved into premises in the town. In 2019, Midlands Physio moved into the clinic where it is based today.
It's been a gradual journey rather than something I set out to build overnight, and I'm proud of how the practice has developed over the years.
I'm still very passionate about exercise
Exercise has always been a big part of my life.
I played tennis competitively as a junior and continued playing for many years. I still get out on the tennis court occasionally, but these days running is my main form of exercise.
You'll find me taking part in everything from 5Ks to half marathons around the country. And despite being in my 40s, I'm still running faster than I ever have and continuing to set new personal bests.
That's something I enjoy about running — you're always working with where you are now and seeing what you can achieve.
It also means I understand the frustration of having an injury interfere with something you genuinely enjoy.
Always learning
Becoming a better physiotherapist has always been important to me.
Since qualifying, I've continued to invest heavily in my professional development through postgraduate courses, clinical mentorships, online education and working alongside other physiotherapists and rehabilitation coaches. Much of this learning has focused on exercise rehabilitation, persistent pain, strength and conditioning and helping people return to the activities they enjoy.
This ongoing learning has shaped the way I work today. Rather than relying on one particular treatment or approach, I try to understand what is contributing to someone's problem, explain it clearly and work with them to build their movement, strength and confidence.
A particular interest in back pain and running
I've had my own experience of injuries and periods of back pain over the years, and being a keen runner has given me a real understanding of how frustrating it can be when something stops you doing the activities you enjoy.
Over time, this has led me to develop particular interests in helping people with back pain and working with runners.
I see a lot of both in the clinic, from people dealing with their first significant episode of back pain to runners trying to get back to training, build their capacity or achieve a new goal.
It's also why I've developed online programmes. Not everyone can get to the clinic, and sometimes people want a structured way to continue working on their recovery or build strength and mobility at home.
My approach
Ultimately, I want people to leave the clinic with more than just temporary relief.
I want you to understand what may be contributing to your problem, know what you can do to help yourself and feel confident getting back to the things that matter to you.
That might mean getting back to work, returning to running, playing sport, getting back to the gym — or simply being able to get through your day without constantly thinking about your pain.
Understand the problem. Build your capacity. Get back to doing what you enjoy.