TOPS Oxford Brookes University

Podiatry visit: Pleasant informal woman without much experience I'd guess. Criticised everything that previous feet people had done, but practical action was only as far as I can remember to fit me up with a small pad on one sole and an insert in my shoe which brings my foot into too much contact with the shoe box, and to scribble on a scrap of paper advice about trainers and exercises. Best thing she did was to suggest that I ask my gp to refer me to NHS foot clinic. Am now waiting for appointment there. I did not by any means feel that my visit was worth the money I paid.

Saw a really nice physio about an issue I had with my knee. She seemed fairly stuck with my symptoms and made me do some pretty simple excersises to ascetain what the injury could be. After none of the exersises troubled my injury she said she wasn't sure and gave me a list of pretty basic exersises to carry out, lunges, stretches etc. After 6 weeks of these my condition didn't improve so I sent an email requesting a further session as I hadn't made any improvement. I was told if I pay a further £70 this could be arrange. I'm sorry but what did I pay the first £70 for? I realise physios can't just make injuries go away, but after visiting a cheaper physiotherapist, they informed me it was my IT band and gave me some specific exercises to carry out. After 3 weeks of these I'm back to full fitness. TOPS were very freindly, but the physio I saw seemed a little out of her depth and the women I spoke to on the phone to discuss further sessions was a little blunt in her replies.

I had sciatica last year and I visited TOPS for advice. Anina Schmidt was fantastic and the simple exercises she suggested helped me to get my lower back muscles moving again. The next time you book an appointment ask for Anina.