Fibromyalgia & Chronic Back Pain Treatment FAQs - Bath & Bristol
Everything you need to know about fascial treatment for Fibromyalgia and chronic back pain. With over 20 years specialising in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Back Pain, Sports Injuries, Fascia & Myofascial Release - this is your portal for answers, bringing the whole Physology Method together.
SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING FIBROMYALGIA
Can Fibromyalgia be cured, or is it just managed with medication?
Most doctors will tell you Fibromyalgia can only be managed with medication because that's what their training taught them. At Physology in Bath, we've treated hundreds of Fibromyalgia patients who became pain-free by addressing the fascial restrictions creating the pain signals.
Research exists showing that systemic fascial restriction creates the widespread pain, fatigue, and brain fog that defines Fibromyalgia. But fascia isn't yet taught in medical schools as we understand it, so the focus remains on symptom management rather than on addressing the root cause.
We don't reduce symptoms. We target why your nervous system is stuck in a constant threat state. Our Fibromyalgia Focus Guide explains exactly how this works and why patients become pain-free in 4-8 sessions, not just "managing" symptoms for life.
Read Louise's story - told she'd have to learn to live with it, now dancing at her 50th birthday party, pain-free.
Why hasn't my doctor mentioned fascia treatment for Fibromyalgia?
Your doctor isn't withholding information. Fascia simply isn't taught in medical school the way we understand it at Physology.
Medical training focuses on what shows up on scans (bones, discs, nerves) and what can be treated with medication. Fascial restrictions don't show up on MRIs or blood tests, so they're not part of standard diagnostic protocols. The research appears in journals and anatomy textbooks, but it hasn't yet reached mainstream medical training.
We specialise in a niche field that bridges the gap between published research and practised medicine. This isn't an alternative treatment. It's the advanced understanding of connective tissue science that the NHS lacks the resources or training to implement.
Most of our Fibromyalgia patients come to us after exhausting the NHS pathway. See our client reviews from people who were at exactly that point before finding us.
Our consultation process explains what we look for that scans miss.
How is fascia treatment different from the physiotherapy I've already tried for Fibromyalgia?
Traditional physiotherapy focuses on strengthening muscles around painful areas and teaching you to manage symptoms through exercises and pacing. We treat the fascial system as a whole, tracing restriction patterns throughout your body to identify the source of your pain.
Fibromyalgia creates systemic fascial restriction, particularly through your Deep Front Line - the fascial network connecting your breathing diaphragm to your pelvic floor to your core stability. When this system is restricted, it affects everything: your breathing becomes shallow (keeping your nervous system in fight-or-flight), your core feels weak, and pain spreads throughout your body.
Physio treats symptoms at the site of pain. We address the entire connected system that's creating those symptoms. This is why our sessions are 2 hours rather than 30 minutes, and why most patients experience a 30-50% improvement in the first session.
Our Fibromyalgia Focus Guide walks through the complete mechanism and treatment approach.
What causes Fibromyalgia if scans and blood tests show nothing wrong?
Fibromyalgia has a measurable biological signature that standard medical tests don't detect. Research shows Fibromyalgia patients have distinct gut microbiome profiles, altered fascial tissue quality, and nervous system sensitisation - none of which appear on blood tests or scans.
Here's what's actually happening: chronic stress, poor gut health, or physical trauma creates systemic inflammation. This inflammation triggers fascial tissue to thicken and restrict (a protective response). Once the fascia is restricted throughout your body, it compresses the 250 million nerve endings woven through it. Your nervous system starts processing normal sensations as threat signals.
The pain is real. The restriction is physical. The scans just can't see it because they're designed to image bones and discs, not connective tissue quality.
Our Fibromyalgia State guide explains the three systems (gut, fascia, nervous system) and how they interact to cause widespread pain.
This is why you're not imagining it, and why your body has been telling you something true all along.
How many sessions will I need for Fibromyalgia treatment?
Most Fibromyalgia patients need 4-8 sessions to become pain-free, though many feel significant improvement (30-50% pain reduction) after the first 2-hour consultation.
Fibromyalgia is systemic, which means we're addressing fascial restrictions throughout your entire body, not just one area.
First session focuses on your local symptoms and your anatomy trains Deep Front Line (breathing, core, pelvic floor). Sessions 2-4 address your superficial lines (back, front, sides). Sessions 5-8 refine and balance the whole system.
Some patients need fewer sessions if their condition is recent. Others who've had Fibromyalgia for 10+ years may need the full course. Everyone's different, but the pattern is consistent: immediate improvement in the first session, progressive reduction over 4-8 sessions, and sustained results over the long term.
Read Sarah's story - 8 years of Fibromyalgia, tried everything, pain-free after our treatment course.
Book your initial consultation to get your specific assessment and treatment timeline.
Will fascia treatment work if I've had Fibromyalgia for 10+ years?
Yes. The length of time you've had Fibromyalgia doesn't determine whether treatment will work. What matters is whether the fascial restrictions and nervous system sensitisation can be addressed - and they can.
We've treated patients who've had Fibromyalgia for 20+ years and have become pain-free. The tissue responds the same way whether you've had pain for 2 years or 20. It may take slightly longer to release deeper, more established restrictions, but the mechanism is identical.
Chronic doesn't mean permanent. It just means it's been there a long time because nothing has addressed the actual cause yet. Your fascia is living tissue that responds to proper treatment regardless of how long it's been restricted.
Charlotte had back pain for 28 years - walked out pain-free after one session. Louise had Fibromyalgia for years - now dancing at her 50th birthday party. Both are in our client reviews.
The question isn't "how long have you had it?"
The question is, "Are you ready to address it properly?"
Is Fibromyalgia real, or is it psychological?
Fibromyalgia is absolutely real and has measurable physical markers. The confusion stems from the fact that it involves both physical tissue restriction and nervous system sensitisation, which leads some doctors to assume it's "all in your head."
Here's what's real and measurable: Fibromyalgia patients have distinct gut microbiome profiles (90% diagnostic accuracy in research studies), altered fascial tissue quality, elevated inflammatory markers, and demonstrable central sensitisation.
However, the nervous system component is real as well. When fascia restricts systemically, it sensitises your pain receptors. Your brain starts interpreting normal sensations as threats.
This isn't you being weak or imagining pain. It's your nervous system doing exactly what it's designed to do when tissue is under constant mechanical stress.
We treat both: release physical fascial restrictions and calm the nervous system by removing threat signals. When the tissue stops sending alarm signals, the nervous system recalibrates.
Our Understanding Fibromyalgia Pain guide explains the complete mechanism in detail.
Your pain is real. Your body is telling you something true. We believe you.
Why do I have Fibromyalgia, but my blood tests are normal?
Blood tests measure inflammation markers, thyroid function, and autoimmune indicators - all of which can be normal in Fibromyalgia because it's primarily a connective tissue and nervous system condition, not a blood disorder.
Standard blood tests aren't designed to detect fascial restriction or nervous system sensitisation. They're looking for elevated CRP (inflammation), abnormal thyroid hormones, or antibodies that indicate autoimmune disease. When those come back normal, doctors often conclude "nothing's wrong" because standard tests are limited in what they can measure.
But Fibromyalgia has other measurable markers that standard medical testing doesn't check: altered gut microbiome composition, fascial tissue densification, and pain threshold changes.
This is why our assessment is 2 hours. We're palpating tissue quality, testing movement patterns, and mapping your entire fascial network - things that can't be captured in a blood sample.
Normal blood work doesn't mean nothing's wrong. It means the answer isn't in your blood. It's in your fascia.
What triggers Fibromyalgia flare-ups, and can they be prevented?
Flare-ups happen when your already-restricted fascial system gets additional stress - physical, chemical, or emotional. Common triggers include poor sleep, high-sugar meals, prolonged sitting, emotional stress, or doing too much too fast.
Here's the mechanism: your fascia is already restricted and sensitised. When you add another stressor, the tissue can't absorb it. As the restriction increases, nerve endings are compressed further, and pain intensifies. It's not that you're fragile. It's that your system is already operating at capacity.
The good news: once we release the baseline fascial restrictions through treatment, your capacity increases. The same triggers that used to cause flare-ups no longer push you over the edge because you're not starting from a restricted state.
Prevention involves two things: properly releasing fascial restrictions (which we do) and supporting your tissue through nutrition, hydration, and movement (which we teach you).
Our Fibromyalgia State guide explains the three dials (gut, fascia, nervous system) and how to keep them balanced after treatment.
Flare-ups aren't inevitable. They're a signal that something needs to be addressed.
Where can I get Fibromyalgia treatment in Bath or Bristol?
Physology specialises in Fibromyalgia treatment at our clinic in Bath, serving patients across Bath, Bristol, and the surrounding areas.
We've been treating Fibromyalgia patients for over 20 years using fascial-based methods that address the root cause, not just symptoms.
Most Fibromyalgia patients travel to us after exhausting local NHS options and private physiotherapy. We're one of the few clinics in the UK that specialise specifically in the fascial mechanisms underlying Fibromyalgia, combining manual treatment with gut health protocols and nervous system regulation.
Our 2-hour initial consultation includes full fascial assessment, education about what's happening in your body, initial treatment (most patients feel 30-50% improvement immediately), and a clear treatment plan using our R3 System - the same process we use with Premier League athletes.
Read our Fibromyalgia Focus Guide to understand our complete approach, then book your consultation to start your journey to pain-free.
We're located in Bath and serve the entire Bath and Bristol area.
SECTION 2: UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC BACK PAIN
What causes chronic lower back pain if there's no injury or disc problem?
Most chronic lower back pain comes from fascial restriction patterns that develop over years of compensatory movement, poor posture, repetitive strain, or old injuries that were never properly resolved.
Here's what typically happens: you sit for hours daily, your hip flexors shorten, your hamstrings tighten, and your calves contract. These restrictions pull on your lumbar fascia through connected lines called Anatomy Trains. Your lower back becomes the site where all this tension converges, even though the primary restrictions are in your legs.
The pain feels like it's in your back because that's where the nerve endings are being compressed. But treating only your back misses the restriction pattern, which pulls it into dysfunction. This is why massage feels good temporarily,y but the pain returns - you're treating the symptom site, not the cause.
Our Mapping Your Pain guide explains Anatomy Trains and how foot restrictions can lead to back pain.
We trace the entire pattern, systematically release it, and the pain resolves because we've addressed the root cause.
Why does my back pain keep coming back even after physiotherapy treatment?
Your back pain keeps returning because the treatment you've received addresses the symptom site (your back) without releasing the fascial restrictions pulling it into dysfunction (often your calves, hamstrings, or hips).
Think of it like this: if a rope is pulling a door crooked, you can push the door straight all day long. The moment you let go, the rope pulls it crooked again. Most back pain treatment is pushing the door. We release the rope.
When you get a massage, manipulation, or even physio exercises focused only on your back, you're treating the area under tension. But the tension is being created by restrictions elsewhere along your Superficial Back Line - the fascial connection running from your feet to your head.
Release the entire pattern, and the pain doesn't come back because there's nothing pulling you back into dysfunction anymore.
Our consultation process maps your complete fascial pattern in the first 2-hour session, which is why results last instead of disappearing within days.
Read Daniel's story - 17 years of back pain, tried everything, pain-free in 6 weeks, and it stayed gone.
Can chronic back pain be cured, or is it something I'll have to manage forever?
Chronic back pain can be resolved by addressing the fascial restrictions that cause it. "Chronic" just means it's been there a long time, not that it's permanent.
The medical system often tells you to "learn to live with it" because standard treatments (medication, basic physio exercises, spinal injections) don't address fascial restriction patterns. When those approaches fail, the assumption is that nothing more can be done.
But we've treated thousands of chronic back pain patients who became pain-free by releasing the fascial patterns that conventional treatment missed. The tissue responds regardless of how long you've had pain. Your fascia is a living, adaptable tissue that changes when treated properly.
Pain-free is the standard, not pain-managed. Management is what you do when you don't know how to fix the problem. We know how to fix it.
Our Back Pain Guide explains why conventional treatment fails and how our approach targets the actual cause.
Read Auli's story - facing risky back surgery, she chose fascial treatment instead, and now runs half-marathons pain-free.
Why is my back pain worse in the morning when I wake up?
Morning back pain happens because your fascia has been immobile for 6-8 hours whilst you sleep. When fascial layers are restricted (stuck together rather than gliding smoothly), immobility causes them to stiffen further overnight. The first movements of the day require forcing those stuck layers to move, which creates pain.
As you move throughout the day, the tissue warms up, blood flow increases, and the fascia becomes slightly more pliable. The pain reduces not because the restriction is gone, but because the tissue has temporarily loosened. By the next morning, it stiffens again.
This is a classic sign that your issue is fascial, not structural. If you had a disc problem or nerve compression, movement would typically make it worse, not better. Fascial restriction follows the opposite pattern: stiff and painful with immobility, temporarily better with movement.
Properly releasing fascia restrictions means you wake up without stiffness, because the layers can glide naturally even after hours of stillness.
Our "What Breaks The Ideal" guide explains how immobility, posture, and repetitive strain can create fascial restriction over time.
What's the difference between acute and chronic back pain?
Acute back pain typically occurs suddenly (often after a specific injury or movement) and typically resolves within a few weeks as tissue heals. Chronic back pain persists for 3+ months and doesn't respond to standard treatment because it's rarely caused by a single injury - it's caused by long-standing fascial restriction patterns.
Here's the key difference: acute pain is typically associated with tissue healing. Chronic pain is usually fascial restriction, creating ongoing mechanical stress that prevents healing.
When acute back pain doesn't resolve properly, it often becomes chronic because the initial injury created a compensation pattern. You start moving differently to protect the injured area. This creates fascial restrictions in other areas. Months later, the original injury has healed, but the compensation pattern remains, creating new pain.
This is why chronic back pain often has no clear "injury" to point to. The cause isn't a single event - it's accumulated restriction over time.
We treat chronic pain differently from acute pain. Chronic requires mapping and releasing the entire compensation pattern, not just treating the site of pain.
Our Back Pain Guide is specifically for chronic pain that hasn't responded to conventional treatment.
Why do scans and X-rays miss the cause of my back pain?
Scans and X-rays are designed to image hard tissue (bones, discs) and, in some cases, soft tissue (nerves, muscles). But fascia - the connective tissue web that wraps everything - doesn't show up clearly on standard imaging because it's not dense enough to create contrast on MRI and it's too thin to appear distinct on X-rays.
Even when scans show disc degeneration, bulges, or arthritis, research proves these findings are often irrelevant to your pain. Studies show that 30-50% of people with no back pain at all have disc bulges, herniations, or degeneration visible on MRI. Meanwhile, you can have excruciating pain with a completely clear scan.
The scan tells you about the bone and disc structure. It doesn't tell you about tissue quality, fascial glide, or restriction patterns - which is where most chronic back pain actually originates.
This is why hands-on palpation assessment is essential. We can feel what scans can't see: where fascia has lost its glide, where layers are adhered, where restrictions are pulling your spine into dysfunction.
Our Mapping Your Pain guide explains how we assess what imaging misses.
You're not imagining it. The scans just aren't looking in the right place.
Can stress cause real physical back pain?
Yes. Stress creates real, measurable physical changes in your fascial tissue that cause genuine back pain. This isn't "psychosomatic" or "all in your head" - it's a direct physiological response.
Here's the mechanism: chronic stress activates your sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight). This triggers the release of stress hormones that cause fibroblasts (fascia cells) to differentiate into myofibroblasts - contractile cells that tighten your fascia. Over time, this creates chronic fascial tension and restriction, particularly through your back and shoulders.
Your nervous system also increases muscle guarding when stressed, which compounds the fascial restriction. The result is real, physical tissue tension that creates pain - not imagined pain, actual mechanical compression of nerve endings.
We don't tell you to "just relax." We release the physical fascial restrictions that stress has created, AND we address the nervous system component by calming the threat signals your body is receiving.
Our Traditional Healthcare guide explains why the mind-body connection in chronic pain is misunderstood by conventional medicine.
Stress causes physical tissue changes. Those changes create real pain. Both need to be addressed.
What is the best treatment for chronic back pain in Bath and Bristol?
The best treatment for chronic back pain addresses the fascial restriction patterns creating your pain, not just the symptoms at the site of pain. At Physology in Bath, we specialise in tracing these patterns throughout your body and systematically releasing them.
Most chronic back pain comes from restrictions in your Superficial Back Line - the fascial connection running from your feet to your head. We assess where along this line your primary restrictions are (often calves, hamstrings, or hips) and release them in sequence.
This is why our sessions are 2 hours instead of 30 minutes: we're treating the entire pattern, not just your back.
We combine manual fascia release with education on movement, posture, and maintenance to ensure results last. Most patients feel 30-50% improvement after the first session and become pain-free within 4-8 sessions.
Our Best Treatment For Back Pain guide explains the complete Physology Method and how it differs from conventional approaches.
We serve patients across Bath, Bristol, and the surrounding areas. Book your consultation for a tailored assessment.
Why does my back pain radiate down my leg (sciatica)?
Pain radiating down your leg (often called sciatica) happens when something compresses or irritates your sciatic nerve. But here's what most people don't know: the compression often isn't coming from a disc herniation (which is what scans look for) - it's coming from fascial restriction in your piriformis muscle or surrounding tissue.
It is more accurately known as piriformis syndrome, yet your GP rarely understands this.
Your sciatic nerve runs directly through or under your piriformis muscle (a deep hip rotator). When fascia is restricted in this area, it compresses the nerve, creating pain that shoots down your leg. Scans show a "normal" spine because there's no disc problem. But the nerve is absolutely being compressed - just not where doctors are looking.
We also see sciatic-like symptoms created by trigger points in your glute muscles that refer pain down your leg, mimicking true sciatica. The pain is real, the pattern is reproducible, but it's coming from fascial restriction and trigger points, not nerve root compression.
Release the fascial restriction around the piriformis and glutes, decompress the nerve pathway, and the leg pain resolves - often immediately.
Our Mapping Your Pain guide shows how we trace these patterns and why conventional treatment misses them.
We find what imaging can't see.
Why does my MRI show nothing, but I'm still in agony?
MRIs show bones, discs, and nerves brilliantly - but they can't detect fascial restrictions. Fascia is the connective tissue web that wraps every muscle, nerve, and bone in your body. When it becomes restricted, thickened, or adhered, it pulls joints out of alignment, compresses nerves, and creates the deep aching pain you're feeling.
Research shows that 95% of chronic low back pain can't be traced to a specific structural cause visible on scans. That's not because nothing's wrong. It's because scans aren't designed to image fascial tissue quality or restriction patterns.
When fascia loses its normal glide between layers, it creates mechanical tension throughout your entire posterior chain. Your pain is real and physical. The restriction is measurable through palpation. The scan just can't see it.
Our Back Pain Guide explains what scans miss and how we trace restriction patterns throughout the entire fascial system, not just the site of pain.
Read Charlotte's story - 28 years of back pain, clear scans, and walked out pain-free after one session.
SECTION 3: FASCIA & OUR APPROACH
How is fascia treatment different from physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy typically focuses on strengthening muscles around painful areas, improving range of motion through exercises, and teaching pain management strategies. Fascia treatment addresses the connective tissue restrictions that are creating the dysfunction in the first place.
Here's the key difference: physio treats muscles as isolated units and focuses on the site of pain. We treat fascia as a connected whole-body system and trace restriction patterns to find where your pain actually originates - which is almost never where you feel it.
For example, your chronic shoulder pain might be caused by restrictions in your opposite hip through the Spiral Line (a diagonal fascial connection). Physio would strengthen your rotator cuff. We would release your opposite hip, and your shoulder pain would resolve without ever touching your shoulder.
We also spend 2 hours per session rather than 30 minutes because properly releasing fascial restrictions requires sustained pressure and time for the tissue to respond. Quick treatments simply can't access the deeper fascial layers where chronic restrictions live.
Our Best Treatment For Back Pain guide explains the complete Physology Method and how it differs from conventional approaches.
Physio treats symptoms. We treat systems.
Why hasn't my doctor mentioned fascia as a cause of chronic pain?
Your doctor isn't withholding information. Fascia simply isn't taught in medical school with the depth and clinical application we understand. Medical training focuses on systems that can be imaged (bones, organs, blood vessels) and conditions that can be treated with medication or surgery.
Fascial restriction doesn't show up on standard imaging, can't be treated with medication, and doesn't require surgery - so it falls outside the scope of what most GPs are trained to diagnose or treat.
The research exists in anatomy journals and manual therapy literature, but it hasn't been integrated into mainstream medical education yet.
This creates a gap: patients with chronic pain caused by fascial restriction are told "nothing's wrong" because scans are clear and blood work is normal. They're offered pain management because the medical system doesn't have tools to address what it can't see on imaging.
We specialise in this gap. We've spent 20+ years studying fascial anatomy, understanding restriction patterns, and developing assessment methods that don't rely on scans. This isn't alternative medicine - it's an advanced understanding of connective tissue science.
Our Traditional Healthcare guide explains why conventional medicine misses fascial causes of chronic pain.
Your doctors did their best. The training gap is the problem.
What is fascia, and why does it matter for chronic pain?
Fascia is the connective tissue web that wraps every muscle, nerve, bone, and organ in your body. It's not just a wrapper - it's a continuous three-dimensional network containing 250 million nerve endings (six times more than muscle tissue). When fascia is healthy, it allows smooth movement, transmits force efficiently, and keeps everything properly aligned.
When fascia becomes restricted through injury, repetitive strain, stress, or prolonged immobility, it loses its ability to glide between layers. This creates mechanical tension that pulls joints out of alignment, compresses nerves, and sends constant threat signals to your nervous system. The result is chronic pain that doesn't show up on scans because imaging is designed to look at bones and discs, not connective tissue quality.
Most chronic pain - whether Fibromyalgia, back pain, neck pain, or widespread body pain - originates in fascial restriction patterns that conventional medicine doesn't assess or treat. This is why you can have excruciating pain with completely clear scans.
Our Myofascial Release guide explains the role of fascia in chronic pain and how we address it.
Fascia is the missing link between what you feel and what scans show.
What is myofascial release, and how does it work?
Myofascial release is a hands-on technique that applies sustained pressure to fascial restrictions to restore tissue glide and reduce mechanical tension. Unlike massage (which works superficially on muscles), myofascial release targets the deeper fascial layers where chronic restrictions develop.
Here's how it works: when we apply slow, sustained pressure to restricted fascia, we're stimulating mechanoreceptors (sensory nerve endings) that send signals to your brain. Your nervous system interprets this as "safe" rather than "threat," allowing the protective muscle guarding to relax. As muscles relax, we can access deeper fascial layers and release adhesions that form when tissue layers stick together.
We also create mechanical changes at the cellular level. Sustained pressure causes fibroblasts (fascia cells) to reorganise, ground substance (the gel between fibres) to become more fluid, and blood flow to increase locally. These aren't temporary changes - we're creating lasting tissue reorganisation.
The Physology Method is our specific version of myofascial release, blending multiple techniques and guided by the Anatomy Trains theory to address whole-body fascial patterns rather than isolated tight spots.
Our Myofascial Release guide explains our specific approach in detail.
How does fascial restriction cause widespread pain like Fibromyalgia?
Fascial restriction causes widespread pain through three interconnected mechanisms: mechanical compression of nerve endings, nervous system sensitisation, and systemic inflammation.
First, fascia contains 250 million nerve endings throughout your body. When fascia restricts and thickens (particularly through your Deep Front Line - the fascial network connecting breathing to core stability), it compresses these nerve endings mechanically. This creates constant pain signals from multiple body regions simultaneously.
Second, your nervous system interprets these constant threat signals as danger. Over time, it becomes hypersensitive - turning up the pain volume on everything. Normal touch feels painful (allodynia). Mild pressure feels excruciating. This is central sensitisation, and it's a direct result of chronic fascial restriction sending unrelenting signals to your brain.
Third, restricted fascia impairs lymphatic drainage and circulation, causing local inflammation to linger. This inflammation further sensitises nerve endings, creating a feedback loop: restriction causes inflammation, inflammation worsens restriction, and pain amplifies.
Our Fibromyalgia State guide explains how gut health, fascial restriction, and nervous system sensitisation interact to create the Fibromyalgia state.
It's a system in dysfunction. Treat the system, resolve the pain.
What is the Physology Method, and how is it different?
The Physology Method is our unique system that combines manual fascial release, Anatomy Trains assessment, gut health protocols, and nervous system regulation to address chronic pain from multiple angles.
Most practitioners treat one system: physios treat muscles, nutritionists treat diet, therapists treat stress. We integrate all three because chronic pain - especially Fibromyalgia - requires addressing the fascia, gut, and nervous system together.
For chronic back pain, gut issues are less common, and nutritional changes are not usually needed.
Our assessment maps your entire fascial network using Anatomy Trains theory (the science of how fascia connects in continuous lines throughout your body). We identify which primary restrictions are causing downstream pain and systematically release them in 2-hour sessions.
Between sessions, we address gut health through targeted nutrition guidance, as research shows that gut inflammation directly affects fascial tissue quality.
This is the method we developed, applied with Premier League players from 2013-2018, in which we served as soft-tissue specialists when medical teams couldn't identify root causes.
We've adapted it specifically for chronic pain patients who've exhausted conventional options.
How is your approach different from massage or chiropractic treatment?
Massage works superficially on muscles to reduce tension and improve circulation. Chiropractic adjusts spinal alignment. We release fascial restriction patterns throughout your entire connected system, which is why results last rather than disappearing within days.
Here's what makes us different: massage feels good temporarily because it relaxes superficial muscle tension, but it doesn't address the deeper fascial restrictions creating that tension. Within 48 hours, the restriction tightens the muscles again. Chiropractic care can improve joint mobility in the short term, but if fascial restriction pulls the joint out of alignment, the misalignment returns as soon as the restriction reasserts itself.
We're not adjusting or relaxing. We're releasing the physical adhesions between fascial layers, reorganising tissue at the cellular level, and addressing whole-body patterns that keep pulling you back into dysfunction.
This requires 2-hour sessions with sustained pressure - not 10-minute adjustments or 60-minute massages.
Our Sports Massage guide explains how our approach differs from traditional massage therapy.
Massage and chiropractic have their place. But if you've tried both repeatedly and pain keeps returning, the problem is deeper - and that's what we specialise in.
Why are your sessions 2 hours instead of 10-30 minutes?
Releasing fascial restrictions properly requires time. Fascia doesn't respond to quick pressure - it requires sustained, slow force applied to specific restriction points to create lasting tissue change.
When we apply pressure to restricted fascia, several things need to happen: mechanoreceptors must signal your nervous system that it's safe to release protective muscle guarding (60-90 seconds). Ground substance (the gel between fascial fibres) needs to be warmed and become more fluid (2-3 minutes per area). Fibroblasts need time to begin reorganising (sustained pressure over 5-10 minutes). None of this happens in a 30-minute session.
Additionally, we're not just treating the pain site. We're assessing and releasing entire fascial lines - from your feet through your legs, hips, back, shoulders, neck, and head. Mapping the complete pattern and systematically releasing primary restrictions takes time.
Two hours also allows us to educate you during treatment. You'll understand exactly what we're feeling, why it's restricted, and how it connects to your pain. This isn't just treatment - it's a comprehensive assessment, release, and education in one session.
Our consultation page explains what happens in a 2-hour session and why this time investment creates lasting results.
Quick fixes don't fix chronic problems. Time does.
Do you use the same treatment for athletes and for patients with chronic pain?
The assessment method is identical - we map fascial restriction patterns using Anatomy Trains regardless of whether you're a Premier League player or someone with 10 years of Fibromyalgia. The tissue responds the same way. The restriction patterns follow the same anatomical rules.
What differs is the goal and timeline. Athletes need performance optimisation and injury prevention - they're functional but want to perform better or recover from acute strain. Chronic pain patients need pain elimination and return to normal daily function - they're often barely functional and have been suffering for years.
Athletes typically need 3-6 sessions for acute issues or ongoing maintenance. Chronic pain patients typically need 6-12 sessions to unwind years of compensatory patterns and nervous system sensitisation.
But the technique, the knowledge base, and the precision are identical. We don't have different methods for different people. We have one method based on fascial anatomy that works regardless of your starting point.
Our Premier League credentials aren't why we do this work - they're just proof the method works under the highest scrutiny.
Same method. Different applications. Equal precision.
What is Anatomy Trains and why does it matter?
Anatomy Trains is a map of how fascia connects throughout your body in continuous lines, developed by Tom Myers through decades of cadaver dissection and clinical observation. Instead of viewing muscles as isolated units, Anatomy Trains shows how they're linked by fascia into functional chains that transmit force and movement.
For example, your Superficial Back Line runs from the bottom of your feet, through your calves, hamstrings, back muscles, and neck, all the way to your forehead - as one continuous fascial structure. When any part of this line is restricted, it affects the entire line. This is why tight calves can cause lower back pain, or why neck tension can stem from hamstring restrictions.
This matters because it explains why conventional treatment fails: treating just your back when the restriction is in your legs doesn't work. You have to release the entire line to resolve pain permanently.
We use Anatomy Trains as our assessment framework. When you come in with back pain, we don't just assess your back - we palpate your entire Superficial Back Line to find where the primary restriction actually is. Then we release it systematically, which is why results are immediate and lasting.
Our Mapping Your Pain guide explains Anatomy Trains in detail with examples.
Your body is connected. Treatment needs to respect that.
How does fascia relate to Fibromyalgia specifically?
Fibromyalgia is fundamentally a condition of systemic fascial restriction combined with nervous system sensitisation. Research shows that patients with fibromyalgia have altered fascial tissue: it's thicker, less hydrated, and denser than healthy fascia.
This systemic restriction happens primarily through your Deep Front Line - the fascial network connecting your feet, pelvic floor, psoas, diaphragm, and neck. When this line is restricted (often triggered by chronic stress, gut inflammation, or physical trauma), it affects everything: your breathing becomes shallow, your core feels unstable, and pain spreads throughout your body because the restriction is everywhere, not localised.
The Deep Front Line is also intimately connected to your autonomic nervous system (the vagus nerve runs through it). When fascia restricts here, it keeps your nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode, which further sensitises pain receptors throughout your body. This is why Fibromyalgia feels systemic - because the fascial restriction IS systemic.
When the Deep Front Line restrictions are released, breathing improves, the nervous system calms, and pain reduces. This is why most Fibromyalgia patients feel significant improvement after the first session when we focus on this line.
Our Understanding Fibromyalgia Pain guide explains the complete fascial mechanism.
Fibromyalgia isn't mysterious. It's predictable fascial dysfunction.
Why can't I just stretch to release fascia myself?
Stretching pulls on the ends of muscles and fascia, but it doesn't release the adhesions where fascial layers have stuck together deep within the tissue. In fact, aggressive stretching can make fascial restrictions worse by forcing tissue that isn't ready to lengthen.
Here's the problem: when fascia is adhered (layers stuck together), stretching applies force to the entire line without addressing the specific restriction point. Your nervous system interprets this forced lengthening as a threat and responds by tightening protective muscle guarding. The restriction is actually in place to protect you from perceived danger.
What releases fascial restrictions is sustained, specific pressure applied directly to the adhesion point, combined with sufficient time for the tissue to respond. This signals safety to your nervous system, allowing protective guarding to be released. Only then can the deeper fascial layers actually reorganise.
Gentle movement and targeted stretches help maintain fascial health after treatment. But they can't release established restrictions - that requires hands-on assessment to locate the restriction and a precise technique to release it properly.
Our Myofascial Release guide explains why manual release is essential for chronic restrictions.
Stretching maintains. Manual release restores.
SECTION 4: TREATMENT & RESULTS
What happens in the first consultation at Physology?
Your first consultation is 2 hours and includes a comprehensive assessment, education, initial treatment, and a clear plan forward. Most patients feel 30-50% improvement by the time they leave.
We start by listening to your complete story - not rushing you through a 10-minute appointment. We need to understand your pain history, what you've already tried, and your daily routine.
Then we assess your entire fascial system through palpation and movement testing, tracing restriction patterns along Anatomy Trains to find where your pain actually originates.
Once we've identified your primary restrictions, we explain our findings using videos and anatomical models so you understand what's happening in your body.
Then we begin treatment, usually focusing on one area (you choose the one that's most painful that day), so you can feel the immediate difference our approach makes.
You'll leave with a clear treatment plan using our R3 System, understanding how many sessions you'll likely need and what to expect along the way.
Our consultation page outlines the complete first-session process.
Two hours. Complete assessment. Immediate results. Clear plan.
Will I feel results immediately, or does it take time?
Most patients feel measurable improvement during the first session - typically 30-50% pain reduction in the area we work on. This isn't a placebo. It's the immediate tissue response when fascial restriction is released properly.
Here's what happens: when we release a primary restriction point (say, your right calf that's been pulling on your entire Superficial Back Line), the mechanical tension through that line reduces instantly. You can feel it - suddenly you can bend forward further, or your lower back feels lighter, or you can take a deeper breath.
These are measurable, functional improvements that happen on the treatment table.
However, a lasting resolution requires addressing the complete restriction pattern over multiple sessions.
The first session demonstrates that the method works and provides significant relief. Subsequent sessions systematically release the entire fascial network so improvements compound and become permanent rather than temporary.
Some patients notice further improvement a day or two after sessions, as tissue continues to reorganise. You might feel slightly stiff the next day, then wake up day two feeling remarkably better as your nervous system integrates the changes.
Read Charlotte's story - walked out pain-free after one session. Read Daniel's story - immediate relief, complete resolution in 6 weeks.
Immediate improvement. Progressive results. Lasting change.
Is myofascial release treatment painful?
The treatment involves therapeutic discomfort, not pain. There's an important difference. When we apply sustained pressure to restricted fascia, you'll feel intensity - a deep ache or burning sensation as tissue releases. But it should never feel sharp, intolerable, or like we're forcing through your body's protective responses.
This is nothing like the pain you feel from a sports massage or deep tissue massage, which we describe as actual pain. With Myofascial Release, most people say for the first time that we have "touched" their pain, because the therapeutic discomfort is right where they have been trying to describe to their GP or Physio.
We work with your nervous system, not against it. If pressure crosses from therapeutic intensity into actual pain, your nervous system goes into protective mode, and muscles guard harder, which prevents release.
We're constantly checking in with you to ensure we're at the right depth.
Most patients describe the sensation as "hurts so good" - intense but satisfying, like when you press on a sore muscle, and it aches but also feels like it's releasing something that needs to be released. You'll often feel immediate relief when we release a restriction point, which confirms we're addressing a real issue.
Some areas are more sensitive than others (feet, deep hip rotators, jaw), so we adjust pressure accordingly.
The goal is always tissue release, never tolerance testing.
Our Myofascial Release guide explains our approach to working with your body's responses rather than forcing through them.
What if I've had chronic pain for 10+ years - can this still work?
Yes. The length of time you've had pain doesn't determine whether treatment will work. Tissue responds to proper fascial release regardless of whether restrictions have been there for 2 years or 20 years.
In fact, because it takes 3-5 years of being in the traditional healthcare system to realise it won't help you, most people are at least 5-10 years into their journey when they arrive at Physology.
This is why we say we specialise in long-term chronic pain.
Chronic doesn't mean permanent. It just means it's been there a long time because nothing has addressed the actual cause yet. Your fascia is living tissue with fibroblasts that actively respond to mechanical input.
When we apply sustained pressure to restriction points, those cells reorganise regardless of how long they've been in a dysfunctional pattern.
You might need slightly more sessions if the restrictions are deeper or more widespread due to years of compensation. Someone with 20 years of pain might need 10-12 sessions, whereas someone with 2 years might need 6-8. But the mechanism is identical, and the outcome is the same: pain-free.
Charlotte had back pain for 28 years - walked out pain-free after one session. Louise had Fibromyalgia for years - now dancing at her 50th birthday party. Both are in our client reviews.
The question isn't "how long have you had it?" The question is, "Are you ready to address it properly?"
Can this work if everything else has failed?
Yes, because we're not doing what "everything else" has done. If you've tried physio, chiropractic, massage, medications, injections, and nothing has worked, it's not because you're unfixable - it's because none of those approaches addressed fascial restriction patterns.
Most treatment focuses on the site of pain (your back, your shoulder, your neck) or tries to manage symptoms with medication. We trace the restriction pattern to find where your pain actually originates, which is almost never where you feel it. This is why conventional treatment fails and why our approach succeeds even after years of failed attempts.
The common thread in all your previous treatments: they treated isolated structures (muscles, joints, nerves) without understanding how fascia connects everything into functional lines. Once you address the connected system, results that seemed impossible suddenly become straightforward.
Read Daniel's review - "tried NHS specialists, physios, chiropractors and researching exercises myself over several years. None of them could identify the issue, and none of them helped. Once I met James and Physology, it was literally the first session, and there was such a release."
Everything else failed because everything else was looking in the wrong place.
Do results last, or will the pain come back?
You'll see that some of our reviews were written 8 months after finishing treatment, and the patients are still pain-free.
Results last when we've released the complete fascial restriction pattern, and you maintain basic tissue health through movement, hydration, and stress management. This isn't temporary symptom relief - we're creating structural tissue reorganisation that remains unless you recreate the restriction pattern.
Here's what determines whether results last: if we only treat your back but don't release the calf and hamstring restrictions pulling it into dysfunction, pain returns when those restrictions reassert themselves.
But when we release the entire Superficial Back Line systematically, there's nothing pulling your back into pain anymore. The restriction pattern is resolved.
Some patients need occasional maintenance sessions (every 3-6 months) if they have physically demanding jobs or high stress levels. Others remain pain-free indefinitely after their initial treatment course. It depends on your lifestyle and how well you maintain the basics we teach you.
We're creating lasting change, not temporary relief.
Can I continue my current medical treatment alongside fascia therapy?
Absolutely. Fascial treatment works alongside medical care, not instead of it. We're not asking you to stop medications, cancel appointments with specialists, or abandon medical advice. We're addressing something your medical team isn't equipped to treat - fascial restriction.
Many patients continue taking prescribed medications during treatment and gradually reduce them as pain improves (always under their doctor's supervision, not ours). We've successfully worked with patients who are seeing rheumatologists, pain specialists, and GPs simultaneously.
We will educate you on how medications affect fascial tissue. Some medications (particularly long-term NSAIDs or opioids) can affect tissue quality and healing response. We'll discuss this openly so you can make informed decisions with your medical team.
We're not competing with the NHS or private medicine. We're filling a gap in knowledge and treatment that the medical system doesn't currently address. Your GP focuses on medical management. We focus on fascial restriction. Both have value.
Complementary, not competitive. Collaborative, not conflicting.
What's the success rate for Fibromyalgia and chronic back pain patients?
Based on 20+ years of clinical experience treating thousands of Fibromyalgia and chronic back pain patients, the vast majority achieve significant improvement (90%-100% pain reduction) when they complete the full treatment course and follow nutrition guidance (if it's required for Fibromyalgia only)
The only time we say "We'll have to see how far we can get you" is when someone has had surgery. 80% of patients still achieve full results, but some surgeries remove parts or add parts (e.g., metal frames to the spine), and these changes are often irreversible. We would still say that, in all cases, we can offer significant life improvement that can be sustained with regular maintenance sessions.
For everyone else, the speed of success depends on three factors: completing enough sessions to address the complete fascial pattern (not stopping after 2 sessions when you feel better), making necessary nutrition changes to reduce systemic inflammation (particularly important for Fibromyalgia), and maintaining basic tissue health through movement and hydration after treatment.
Patients who commit to the process become pain-free. Patients who expect one session to fix 10 years of restriction, or who aren't willing to address gut health alongside manual treatment, see improvement but not resolution. This is obvious, of course, but we still like to mention it. The process works, so we need to be able to walk you through it.
Our client reviews show real outcomes from real patients - 28 years of back pain resolved, Fibromyalgia eliminated, Premier League athletes injury-free for years. These aren't exceptional cases. They're representative of what happens when the root cause is addressed properly.
We are not allowed to guarantee outcome times due to industry legislation.
But what we do guarantee is clear, measurable changes as we go through the process, session by session. We are results-focused, and you do not need 10 treatments to determine whether it's working.
You will leave your consultation knowing, not hoping. And we'll make clear, measurable changes each time you visit.
How long should I wait between treatment sessions?
We typically recommend sessions 2 per week for the first 2 weeks. This is where we make 75% of the changes, and most people are close to pain-free. We then continue spacing them further (10-14 days) as your system stabilises. This timing allows tissue to reorganise between sessions whilst maintaining momentum.
Here's why timing matters: after each session, your fascia undergoes cellular reorganisation for 48-72 hours.
Fibroblasts are actively remodelling, the ground substance is rehydrating, and your nervous system is integrating the changes.
If we treat again too soon (within 2-3 days), we interrupt this process. If we wait too long (5+ days), restriction patterns can reassert themselves before we complete the full release.
Think of it like compound interest - each session builds on the previous one. Regular sessions lead to progressive improvement; the gains from session 3 wouldn't be possible without the foundation established in sessions 1 and 2.
Consistent spacing. Progressive results. Strategic timing.
Do you work with the NHS?
We're a private clinic and don't operate within the NHS. This isn't because we're exclusive - it's because the NHS doesn't yet teach fascia the way we understand it, and their 10-minute appointment slots don't allow for the 2-hour sessions that actually create lasting, pain-free results.
The NHS does brilliant work within its constraints, but those constraints mean you'll be offered medication for symptom management, not treatment that addresses the root cause.
We specialise in a niche field that isn't yet part of standard medical training. This field is integrated into Premier League medical teams because it's the future of pain and injury treatment. The Premier League medical team doesn't face the same restrictions as the NHS, allowing it to bring new research to clubs more quickly.
Most of our patients have already been through the NHS pathway - physio, scans, pain management - and were told there's nothing more that can be done or that they'll need to learn to live with it. Our client reviews are full of people who were at that exact point before finding us.
We're not here to replace your GP. We're here for when the system has run out of answers, but your body is still telling you something's wrong.
Read more about why scans miss what we find.
The NHS tried their best within their framework. We work outside that framework because the solution requires it.
SECTION 5: PRACTICAL & BOOKINGS
How much does treatment cost at Physology?
Our initial 2-hour consultation is £200 and includes a comprehensive fascial assessment, education on what's happening in your body, initial treatment on one area (most patients feel 30-50% improvement), and a clear treatment plan going forward.
Follow-up sessions (also 2 hours) are £200 each. Most patients need 4-8 sessions, depending on condition severity and how long they've had pain. This means the total investment typically ranges from £1,000 to £1,600 for a complete treatment course that helps you achieve pain-free results.
Some patients who take longer only need a few more sessions, and by that point, sessions are spread far apart.
We understand this may seem a significant investment, especially after you've already spent money on treatments that haven't worked.
We invite you to consider what you're actually paying for: 20+ years of specialised knowledge that the NHS doesn't teach, 2-hour sessions instead of 10-minute appointments, and treatment that addresses root causes rather than managing symptoms indefinitely.
This is a long-term solution, and the overall cost of becoming pain-free is lower than the cost of all the treatments that haven't worked.
Most patients tell us they wish they'd found us years earlier, when they calculate what they've spent on physio, massage, medications, and lost work time that provided only temporary relief.
Because this is results-oriented, your consultation is the only appointment where you won't know whether it's working until you attend. All other appointments, you'll feel like you're actually paying for a percentage of pain to leave your body each time.
Payment is due at the time of service. We accept cash and bank transfers.
Do you offer payment plans for treatment?
We don't currently offer formal payment plans or finance options. Payment for each session is due at the time of treatment.
We understand the cost can be a barrier, especially when you're already financially stretched from years of ineffective treatment and potentially reduced work capacity due to chronic pain.
We offer flexibility in session scheduling. If you need to space sessions further apart for financial reasons (every 2-3 weeks instead of weekly), we can adjust your treatment plan accordingly. We note that this is not ideal, and you may not follow the same trajectory as clients who receive treatment at optimal times. It may take slightly longer to achieve results, but the outcome remains the same.
We also encourage you to view this as an investment that eliminates ongoing costs. Once you're pain-free, you're no longer spending money on regular physio appointments, medications, massage sessions, or taking time off work due to pain flare-ups.
Contact us if you have questions about treatment costs or session scheduling that fits your budget.
Can I claim treatment on private health insurance?
This depends entirely on your specific insurance policy. Some private health insurance plans cover manual therapy or musculoskeletal treatment, whilst others don't. You'll need to check your policy details or contact your insurance provider directly to confirm coverage.
What we can provide: detailed treatment receipts that include the services provided, treatment dates, and our clinic information. Many insurance companies require you to pay upfront and then claim reimbursement afterwards, so you would submit these receipts for potential reimbursement.
What you'll need to check with your insurer: whether fascial treatment or myofascial release is a covered service under your plan, if there are session limits or annual maximums, whether you need a GP referral first, and what their reimbursement process involves.
We've had patients successfully claim treatment through various private health insurance providers, but we can't guarantee your specific policy will cover it. The responsibility for confirming coverage and submitting claims lies with you.
If you have insurance questions, contact your provider before booking to understand your coverage.
Where is Physology located in Bath?
We're located in Bath and serve patients across Bath, Bristol, and the surrounding areas. The exact clinic address and directions are on our contact page, with a clickable link to Google Maps.
Our location is easily accessible from both Bath city centre and the Bristol area, with free parking available outside. Most patients from Bristol find the journey takes 20-30 minutes, depending on their starting point.
Every patient is seen by James, who has 20+ years of specialised experience, rather than being passed to junior practitioners.
Contact us to book your consultation, and we'll provide full location details and directions in your confirmation email.
Do you treat patients from Bristol and the surrounding areas?
Absolutely. We serve patients across Bath, Bristol, and the wider region. Many of our long-term clients travel from Bristol, Keynsham, Saltford, Corsham, Chippenham, and even further for treatment because there are very few practitioners in the UK who specialise in fascial-based chronic pain treatment the way we do.
The journey from Bristol to our Bath clinic typically takes 20-30 minutes, which is a small investment for 2-hour sessions that actually resolve chronic pain rather than just managing symptoms temporarily.
We understand travel can be challenging when you're already in pain. Many patients schedule their first few sessions weekly to maintain momentum, then space them further apart (every 10-14 days) as improvement progresses, reducing travel frequency.
Read our client reviews - many are from patients who travelled from Bristol and surrounding areas because they couldn't find this specialised approach closer to home.
Some clients who travel from further away stay in a local hotel and have their treatment plan arranged differently.
If you are too far away to attend twice-weekly sessions during the first few weeks, please contact us, and we'll explain how travelling patients are processed.
How do I book a consultation at Physology?
The easiest way to book is through our contact page, where you can send us a message via live chat and talk with us right now. If it is out of hours, use the same chat option and leave your contact details.
We'll respond within 24 hours to confirm availability and schedule your initial 2-hour consultation.
We'll schedule your consultation, provide exact location details and directions, and send you appointment confirmation. Payment is taken at the time of service.
Before booking, we recommend reading our Fibromyalgia Focus Guide or Back Pain Guide to understand our approach and ensure it aligns with your needs.
What should I bring to my first session at Physology?
Bring comfortable clothing you can move in easily - loose shorts or leggings and a vest top or t-shirt work well. We need access to your skin for palpation, so avoid sports bras, tight jeans, or other restrictive clothing.
If you have any medical imaging reports (MRI, X-ray), bring copies or digital versions. Whilst we don't rely on scans for diagnosis, they can provide useful context about what's already been ruled out medically.
If you're taking medications (particularly pain medications, anti-inflammatories, or anything affecting tissue), bring a list or know the names and dosages.
Finally, bring any questions you have about your condition, our approach, or what to expect. Your first session includes comprehensive education time during which we explain exactly what we're feeling, why it's restricted, and how it relates to your pain. No question is too basic.
Most importantly: bring your complete pain story. We want to hear everything - what you've tried, what's worked temporarily, what's failed, how pain affects your daily life. This context is essential for accurate assessment.
Do you offer home visits in Bath and Bristol for patients who are unable to travel?
We don't currently offer home visits. Our clinic setup includes specialised equipment, anatomical models for education, and the controlled environment necessary for thorough fascial assessment and treatment.
More importantly, fascial treatment requires a professional treatment table that allows proper body positioning and therapist leverage to apply sustained pressure effectively. Home visits would compromise treatment quality because we wouldn't have the right setup to perform techniques properly.
We understand that severe pain can make travel difficult. However, most patients concerned about travelling find that the immediate relief during the first session makes the journey worthwhile.
Many patients who arrive barely able to walk leave moving significantly better.
If transportation is genuinely impossible due to severe mobility limitations, we recommend first consulting your GP to rule out any acute medical issues requiring urgent intervention.
If they've cleared you medically and you still can't travel, we're unfortunately not the right solution at this time.
For everyone else, the journey to our Bath pain clinic is a small investment in treatment that actually resolves chronic pain rather than just manages it.
Still have questions about Fibromyalgia or chronic back pain treatment at Physology?
We're here to help. Contact us via live chat, and we'll respond within 24 hours.
Ready to start your journey to pain-free? Book your initial 2-hour consultation and experience the Physology difference.
