David Graham
Osteopath · Leeds
GOsC-registered osteopath. Practising in Leeds. Teaching across the UK.
I’ve experienced first hand what it’s like to be in pain and unable to use your body how you want. At my worst, I couldn’t even do a single push-up. I’ve had long-standing shoulder pain for most of my adult life. It started when I was 18 and decided to work out without really knowing what I was doing.
I came back to fitness in my late 20s. I didn’t want to go through the rest of my life in pain, and I wanted to feel confident in my body and physical capabilities. I hired a personal trainer (now a good friend) and started to take my health seriously. I was making good progress, but pain was still holding me back. He recommended osteopathy to me and it was a real turning point. It gave me a deep understanding of my own body, movement and function.
I was asking endless questions of my osteopath. I became fascinated with anatomy and how the body works. I managed to get a handle on my shoulder pain, some neck issues and headaches, and some further injuries along the way. This led me to want to become an osteopath myself. I wanted to understand how we end up in pain, how we can recover and, ultimately, help others through the same thing.
I studied at the University College of Osteopathy, formerly the British School of Osteopathy, the oldest school in the UK, and qualified in 2021. I started out in my home county of Cumbria, spent time in London and now practise in Leeds and West Yorkshire. I’ve treated patients from all walks of life, from farmers and office workers to manual workers and people who play sport.
In the treatment room I use a hands-on approach, combining osteopathic techniques with soft tissue massage, joint manipulation and dry needling / medical acupuncture. I’ll also give you things to work on between sessions, because what you do outside of treatment is a big part of getting better.
I know from my own experience how osteopathy can help relieve pain and support a more active life. While I’ll happily admit it isn’t a magic bullet (and I won’t promise that for you either), it can be an excellent treatment and works best when you stay active and look after your body. I live that myself. You’ll often find me in the gym or out on the bike.
Everyone deserves help with pain. I don’t believe we should just suffer, letting pain dictate our physical activity and drain our enjoyment of life. I became an osteopath to help others the way it helped me. If you’ve got pain, injuries or physical issues holding you back, then I want to help you.
University College of Osteopathy
Reg. No. 10852
Two Clinics · Leeds
What to expect from me
I’ll take the time to thoroughly understand your whole problem before I treat. This means finding out what’s driving your pain, how long it’s been there, what’s stopping you recovering and what you want to get back to.
I’ll explain to you in plain language what I think is going on and why. I want you to understand your problem so you can play an active part in your recovery.
I’ll be up front with you about what I think is happening, including when I’m not certain. Pain isn’t always clear cut, and sometimes we don’t know exactly what’s driving it. When that’s the case, I’ll tell you.
I won’t automatically tell you to stop the things you love as a first resort. My goal is to get you back to doing what you love. If something has to change, it’ll be temporary and with the aim of getting you back as soon as possible.
I won’t keep you coming back for endless treatment when it isn’t working. If what we’re doing isn’t working, then the plan changes or we stop.
If I’m not the right person to help you, I’ll tell you and point you towards someone who is.
Whether you come back for occasional maintenance treatment is entirely your choice. Osteopathy can help keep us moving well and feeling our best. But I won’t pressure you into ongoing treatment that you don’t need.
I also teach other practitioners.
Alongside my clinical work as a Registered Osteopath, I teach massage, manual therapy and clinical skills in London and across the UK, including for the North London School of Sports Massage (NLSSM).
I love passing on my knowledge to others who are starting or already in a career in manual therapy and helping them become the best practitioners they can be.
If I sound like the right fit for you,
let’s get started.
Book online at either clinic and choose me as your practitioner. New patients welcome. No GP referral needed.