Osteopath in Christchurch, near Bournemouth
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a hands-on way of assessing and treating problems with muscles, joints and the spine. Osteopaths look at how different parts of your body move together, so treatment for a sore neck might also involve your upper back, ribs and shoulders.
Treatment may include soft tissue massage, stretching, joint mobilisation, gentle manipulation where appropriate, and advice on movement, posture and exercise.
Osteopathy is a regulated profession in the UK. Only practitioners on the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) register can call themselves osteopaths, and you can search the register online to check anyone you are thinking of seeing.What can an osteopath help with?
- Back pain, including lower back pain and lumbago
- Neck pain and tension
- Headaches that come from the neck
- Shoulder pain and stiffness
- Sciatica and pain that spreads into the buttock or leg
- Hip pain and joint pain linked to arthritis
- General aches and pains, including stiffness from long periods of sitting
- Muscle tension and minor sports injuries
Mark has a special interest in neck, back and shoulder problems and in headaches. He also has an interest in breathwork, which he can bring into your sessions if it is useful for you.
If your symptoms point to something that needs a closer look, Mark will tell you, and we can arrange an ultrasound scan at the clinic or suggest you speak to your GP.
Conditions we treat
Postural pain • Nerve pain • Joint stiffness • Disc problems • Facet joint pain • Sacroiliac joint pain • Trapped nerve • Posture alignment • Postural pain • Nerve pain • Joint stiffness • Disc problems •
Postural pain • Nerve pain • Joint stiffness • Sports injuries • Disc problems • Facet joint pain • Sacroiliac joint pain • Trapped nerve • Postural pain • Nerve pain • Joint stiffness • Disc problems •
Meet your osteopath: Mark Hiddleston
Mark Hiddleston is registered with the General Osteopathic Council (registration number 8435). He graduated with a BSc in Osteopathy from Oxford Brookes University in 2013, having first qualified in sports therapy and personal training in 1999.
Mark’s interest in osteopathy started when he was a patient himself, treated in his twenties by a well-respected Bournemouth osteopath. He went back into education at 40 to complete his degree, and his approach to health is simple: think well, eat well, exercise well, breathe better and sleep well.
Outside the clinic he enjoys walking, indoor rowing, yoga and resistance training. Find out more on Mark’s profile page.
What to expect at your osteopathy appointment
Your first osteopathy session begins with a conversation about your symptoms, your general health and what you would like to be able to do again. Mark will then watch how you move, examine the area that is bothering you and check the joints and muscles around it.
Before any hands-on treatment, he will explain what he has found and agree a plan with you. Most people leave with a few simple exercises or small changes to try at home.
Follow-up appointments focus on treatment and on progressing your exercises. Mark will review how you are responding at each visit and let you know when you no longer need regular sessions.Why patients from Bournemouth and Christchurch choose Physio Fitness for osteopathy
We take the time to understand the root cause of your condition and build a treatment plan tailored to you, never a one-size-fits-all approach.
You’ll always understand what’s happening, why it matters, and what to do next. No jargon, no unnecessary complexity.
With decades of combined experience and a multidisciplinary team, you’re in safe, capable hands throughout your treatment journey.
Every decision is grounded in the latest clinical research and real-world experience, ensuring consistently high standards of care.
Where appropriate, we integrate advanced treatments like MBST Cell Regeneration Therapy, Ultrasound Scans, Injection Therapy, and Shockwave Therapy to support your recovery alongside hands-on treatment.
Finding our clinic
You will find us at Swallow Barn, Parley Green Lane, Christchurch BH23 6BB, set in countryside just north of Bournemouth, with free parking on site and appointments seven days a week. The clinic is a convenient drive from Christchurch town centre, Highcliffe, Southbourne, Kinson, Ferndown and Wimborne.
If you live in Bournemouth or Christchurch, our area pages have more on the full range of treatment we offer locally.