PhysioPod® UK at Twenty: Two Sisters, DEEP OSCILLATION® and a Dedicated Healing Community

Written by sisters Julie Soroczyn and Mary Fickling, this article celebrates twenty years of PhysioPod® UK by sharing their family business roots, clinical partnerships, and community milestones. A business built on people. Throughout this 20-year journey, from the early days of treating sporting and occupational injury to the latest work in head and neck lymphoedema care, the core of PhysioPod® has remained the same: two hard-working sisters, Mary and Julie, dedicated to a "person-first" structure. Whether supporting Christine Talbot with her patient gatherings, collaborating with Gaynor Leech on World Lymphoedema Day campaigns, or working with Dr Garry Cooper on their independent service evaluation, PhysioPod® UK has proven that business success is best measured by the community it builds and the lives it improves.

On 10th July 2026, we officially mark twenty years since incorporating PhysioPod® UK Limited. What began as a personal discovery has blossomed into a wonderful story of sisterhood, clinical collaboration, and mutual support across the UK and Ireland. As we look back, we are filled with immense gratitude for the therapists, patients, and clinical partners who have walked alongside us on this road. But first:

A Special Anniversary Gift: A Celebratory Gift to Our Therapists

To express our gratitude, we have updated our clinical training notes. For any therapist who purchased their Deep Oscillation unit directly from us, we would love to send you these updated notes as a celebratory gift. Please email info@physiopod.co.uk with your details and serial no, and we will get your copy sent over!

Thank you for twenty years of trust, partnership, and shared healing. X

This is our adventure, you can skip through as you please.  All green text throughout is clickable and will provide additional information.

 

Contents

1. Our Sisterly and Family Story
2. Triumphs in Patient Empowerment and Self-Care
3. The Science: How the Therapy Works
4. Our Scientific and Research Directors
5. Christine Talbot SRN MLD DLT: Our Pioneer of Real-World Case Studies
6. Honoured Clinical and Equine Pioneers
7. Clinical Validation and Elite Sports Endorsements
8. Lipoedema: Two Decades of Advocacy and Lifelong Resources
9. The Voices of the PhysioPod® Community
10. Our Professional Associations and Partnership
11. Looking Ahead: Our Forthcoming Events Calendar (2026-2027)
    

 

Our Sisterly and Family Story

Our adventure began in 2001 when Julie, a Sports and Holistic Massage Therapist, bought a HIVAMAT® 200 from a sports therapist lecturer who was changing his career and had promised she could buy the device once she was fully qualified. After qualifying, Julie recalls going to his house where he retrieved the unit from his attic and tested it on her arm through his vinyl-gloved hand. Julie fell in love with how gentle and amazing it felt. When she got the machine home, she realised there was no manual, so she found the number of the manufacturer, PHYSIOMED in Germany, from the back of the unit and contacted them. Operating and therapeutic manuals were sent over, which she read cover to cover.

Julie quickly began to see outstanding results for pain reduction and swelling management in her Nottingham clinic, and she would tell anyone and everyone about her "magic hands!" She was regularly talking to—and sometimes at!—Michael Schleissing, the PHYSIOMED ELEKTROMEDIZIN representative, about the effective results she was getting and asking more and more questions about the therapy and how it worked.

Eventually, Michael extended an invitation for Julie to go to Germany to shadow co-inventor Wolfgang Walder in his clinic. She was amazed at the applications she saw, including using the therapy over the eyelids and in the acute stages post-injury and surgery. She was excited beyond belief, and her enthusiasm was warmly received by the entire team at PHYSIOMED.

Before she returned home, Dr Jens Reinhold and his father offered Julie the exclusive distribution rights for the UK and Ireland. Their family company, PHYSIOMED, had pioneered the development and original 1988 international patenting of DEEP OSCILLATION®.

Back home, Julie enlisted her sister Mary Fickling. Combining Mary's background in administration, finance, and marketing with Julie's therapy expertise, they established PhysioPod® UK Limited in 2006, trademarking their name in the classes of supply and training. Over the years, Mary has added daily to their website content and Therapist Map, with the support of her husband Chris Fickling who designed their website. Julie's husband, John, (now retired) trained in Germany to offer technical support. Active technical assistance is now provided by Tim Carter (Shelton Technical, UK) and John Scott (Scott Medical, Ireland).

Of particular interest to both Julie and Mary was the successful application of DEEP OSCILLATION® in Lymphoedema which they discovered through the mountain of research papers Julie had returned home with. When Julie's mother-in-law, Maureen, passed away, she had never received any treatment for her condition and had really suffered with it. Julie and Mary did not know at the time that they would change the course of history for this condition for so many individuals living with this chronic condition in clinics and in the comfort of their own homes.

Triumphs in Patient Empowerment and Self-Care

We also extend our deepest gratitude to the following individuals who live with chronic conditions and have found relief with DEEP OSCILLATION® at home:

Lincoln (Our Brave Young Champion):

 

Born with a multitude of genetic disorders including Congenital Lymphoedema and Polymicrogyria, Lincoln faced a daunting start in life. His lower limbs, particularly his feet, were heavily affected, and his parents, Chris and Keylie, were given the heartbreaking news that he might never walk or wear normal shoes. Defying the odds, Lincoln took his first steps and walked unaided at twenty-two months! However, active play left him with severe swelling and aching leg pain. In 2016, his nurse Helen Young (St Giles Hospice) and Denise Hardy via PhysioPod UK arranged a six-week trial of Deep Oscillation. The results were phenomenal: his feet circumference reduced by 1.5 cm in just six weeks, enabling his parents to buy his first regular, shop-bought trainers so he could run and play with his peers. Because the NHS could not fund the unit, Lincoln's Auntie Gemma Ball launched a GoFundMe campaign, raising the necessary funds in just two months so they could secure his own Deep Oscillation Personal device. Now twelve years old and non-verbal, Lincoln communicates beautifully via a specialised laptop and has built his daily electrostatic therapy directly into his morning routine, much like getting dressed. He remains a cheekily independent, football-loving, and outgoing young man who continues to run rings around his school assistants in his favourite shocking orange football boots, proving that even the biggest hurdles can be overcome with love, determination, and proactive care. Read his incredibly moving, multi-milestone update: Life with Lincoln Now Six - Born with Multiple Genetic Disorders (including Congenital Lymphoedema): Self-Managing with Deep Oscillation Three Years On

Pauline Bexon:

Based in Swanage, Dorset, Pauline a dedicated fitness instructor (at time she created the video) of almost thirty years who developed secondary lymphoedema in her right leg, one year after undergoing heart bypass surgery. Her leg circumference swelled by five inches, and her initial medical prescription of heavy compression stockings felt like a "diagnosis of doom and gloom." Determined to find relief, Pauline discovered manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) ten miles away, but travelling every two weeks was highly taxing. A breakthrough occurred when her therapist integrated Deep Oscillation via gloved hands, which brought such remarkable relief that her clinical visits were halved. This success inspired Pauline to invest in a portable Deep Oscillation Personal device for self-care at home. By applying her custom twenty-five minute programme three times a week, Pauline kept her leg swelling beautifully under control, allowing her to live a completely normal life, travel easily by carrying her device in her hand luggage, and continue teaching her fitness classes. To help other survivors find hope, Pauline recorded a beautiful video testimonial for a patient support meeting at the Royal Marsden, which has now been viewed over 10,000 times on YouTube. Watch her inspiring story: DEEP OSCILLATION PERSONAL FOR LYMPHOEDEMA SELF MANAGEMENT.

Trevor Spinks:

Trevor is one of our most inspiring patient champions, successfully self-managing chronic Primary Lymphoedema for seventeen years using his dependable, portable Deep Oscillation Personal device both at home and when travelling abroad. He shares that the portable unit effectively unblocks his lymphatic system and provides immeasurable pain relief, famously calling the purchase "the best impulsive decision of his life" as a beautiful victory for active, independent living. Read his full, inspiring seventeen-year testament here: A 17-Year Testament: Long-Term Lymphoedema Management at Home and Abroad

 

Amanda Winter:

At fifty-three years old, Amanda developed severe, painful head and neck lymphoedema following oral cancer surgery, which included selective neck dissection and tongue reconstruction via a skin graft from her left arm. The swelling, tightness, and pain around her surgical scars severely restricted her head movement and drastically impacted her speech and comfort. Seeking relief, Amanda was referred to the Lymphoedema Clinic at St Ann's in Manchester, where therapists first applied Deep Oscillation. The results were unbelievable—within just twenty-five minutes, she experienced instant movement in her neck and rapid, significant improvement in her speech. Highly impressed, Amanda went on to purchase her own Deep Oscillation Personal device to successfully self-manage her symptoms at home. By applying the daily treatment to her face, neck, and surgical scars, she effectively keeps her tissues soft, controls swelling, and has fully restored her mobility and daily confidence. We are profoundly moved by Amanda's selfless heart; by bravely sharing her recovery story, she has shone a gentle, compassionate light on this deeply challenging, isolating condition, offering a true beacon of hope and comfort to other cancer survivors. Read her full, inspiring story here: Head and Neck Lymphoedema - Self Management with Deep Oscillation Personal

Corinne:

Following life-changing surgery for an aggressive throat cancer in January 2024, which involved a 15-hour neck dissection, jaw split, and free-flap arm tissue graft, Corinne was left with severe head and neck lymphoedema and dense, solid fibrosis that restricted her head movement and formed a painful collar of discomfort. Under the expert care of Lymphoedema Specialist Nurse Lindsey Lister at Saint Catherine’s Hospice in Scarborough, Corinne was introduced to Deep Oscillation. Working to a depth of 8 cm, the therapy gently glided over her skin without painful pulling or stretching, gradually breaking down the dense fibrosis. The results were dramatic: the heavy, puffy swelling in her face was slimmed, her jawline and cheekbones returned, and treating the deep structures of her throat restored her speech clarity and swallowing function. To secure her physical comfort and vocal confidence for life, Corinne invested in her own Deep Oscillation Personal unit for flexible at-home self-treatment, declaring: "You live with lymphoedema, but with PhysioPod, I'm in control." Read her full, inspiring story here: Living with Lymphoedema - My Story by Corinne

 

 

Honoured Clinical and Equine Pioneers

Our history is shaped by pioneering practitioners who integrated this therapy into their fields:

• Sossi Yerissian MA, Dip. ION, BANT, CNHC, Dr. Vodder & Casley Smith MLD DLT Practitioner
  
  Sossi accepted our invitation in 2007 to visit Nottingham, becoming the first therapist in the UK to combine Deep Oscillation with Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) on Harley Street, London for managing lymphoedema, lipoedema, and post-operative aesthetic and plastic surgery recovery, achieving highly successful clinical outcomes. Sossi has remained a key champion of our work, authoring articles like "The Case of the Swollen Eye" for Massage World Magazine (detailing the successful treatment of a golf-ball-sized eyelid swelling following surgery to remove a benign brain tumour) and generously volunteering her time to support us at exhibitions in the early days of PhysioPod®.

• Lynora Kennedy CDT, Vodder MLD DLT Practitioner & Lymphoedema Therapist - Now Retired
  
  Lynora is a highly respected, now-retired practitioner and former administrator of MLD UK who, in May 2009, became the therapist to introduce Deep Oscillation to Scotland. After her close friend Sossi Yerissian "waxed lyrical" about the remarkable results she was achieving in London, Lynora adopted the therapy for her JTH Therapies clinic in Fife, witnessing astonishing patient successes. Her early cases included helping an arm lymphoedema patient transition from heavy bandaging to a simple maintenance programme, reducing a lipoedema patient's leg volume so she could wear over-the-counter compression tights for the first time in 25 years, and treating a young Dublin breast cancer patient whose results were so remarkable that she cancelled her scheduled liposuction surgery, travelling back to Ireland clutching her new Personal unit via buses and ferries due to the 2010 Icelandic volcanic ash cloud. Lynora also fondly recalls a 78-year-old lady with severe arthritic feet who, after a single treatment, sent a thank-you card celebrating that she had just walked around Tesco pain-free for more than an hour!
  
  
• Andrew Watson BSc, MSc, GSR, ARTC, CSCS, Certified Athletic Therapist & Chartered Physiotherapist
  
  Operating from Raglan Sports Medicine in Dublin, Andrew was the first clinical specialist in Ireland to offer Deep Oscillation. He has written extensively for our NewsMagazine—including his popular column "Thumbs Up for Pain-Free Gardening" and a major PGA feature—and famously introduced the therapy to legendary golfer Eammon Darcy, who carried a Personal device in his golf buggy. Andrew continues to be a clinical leader, and has collaborated with Dr Conor O'Brien at the Sport Surgery Clinic in Santry on sports rehabilitation and a tennis elbow study.
  
  
• Monica Conway MSc Vodder MLD DLT Practitioner & Specialist Lymphoedema Therapist
  
  In 2009, Monica became the first MLD DLT practitioner to work with Deep Oscillation in the Republic of Ireland. After meeting us at a clinical presentation in Dublin, Monica was deeply impressed by the therapy's gentle, pressure-free electrostatic field and introduced it to her practice in County Tipperary, paving the way for dozens of Irish practitioners who followed in her footsteps
  
  
• Catherine Groom: Casley Smith & Vodder MLD DLT Practitioner
  
  Based at Leeds Lymphoedema Service and in private practice at Ilkley, Catherine  submitted outstanding results for complex head and neck swelling which contributed to an article by PhysioPod® in MLD UK's The Journal in 2015. Catherine also contributed a remarkable private case study to PhysioPod® showing that a single post-operative breast lift treatment reduced patient pain from an 8/10 to a virtually pain-free 1/10 ]. Furthermore, she remains a fabulous, trusted proofreader for our educational projects over the years.
  
  
• Dee Stringer: The Late, Wonderful Dee Stringer (Clinical Speaker, Dedicated Therapist & Community Champion)
  
  We pay a very special, deeply heartfelt tribute to the late, wonderful Dee Stringer, a dedicated clinical champion and a dear friend of PhysioPod. As a passionate therapist and speaker, Dee delivered a truly outstanding and highly informative presentation at the National Lymphoedema Conference in 2020, focusing on the clinical benefits of combining Deep Oscillation pre and post liposuction surgery for Lipoedema, as well as its non-surgical role in managing chronic symptoms—including easing the pain of osteoarthritis. Dee was also incredibly generous with her time, travelling on our behalf to provide hands-on treatment massages at the Talk Lipoedema Kent Roadshow to bring comfort, relief, and on-the-ground support to the lipoedema community. She is remembered by us both, and by everyone who had the privilege of working with her, with immense warmth, love, and eternal gratitude.
  
  
• Andrea Wright MCSP AACP Founder of Hands On Physiotherapy & Clinical Champion
  
  Andrea has been an exceptional clinical champion and dedicated advocate who played a vital role in demonstrating Deep Oscillation's therapeutic benefits to the physical therapy community. A major milestone in our clinical story occurred in 2016, when Andrea took to the stage at the prestigious Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) Annual Conference. There, she delivered a landmark lecture exploring the physiology of Deep Oscillation, accompanied by two clinical case studies on pain and tissue stiffness. Her presentation provided a brilliant analysis of how this gentle, pulsed electrostatic field supports tissue softening, improves tissue pliability, reduces pain, and helps manage chronic oedema and stiffness, representing a true standard of clinical reasoning.
  
  
• Chris Boynes, Consultant Chartered Sports & Spinal Physiotherapist 
  
  Chris is a leading chartered sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapist operating clinics in Ebchester, County Durham and in North Norfolk near Fakenham. A phenomenal pioneer and presenter, Chris added Deep Oscillation to his clinical toolkit in 2016 after completing a rigorous trial on 44 patients, which demonstrated outstanding results in pain and oedema reduction, improved range of motion, and enhanced functional recovery. Over the last decade, Chris has stood as one of our most active clinical champions and workshop presenters, hosting hands-on demonstration streams at the Elite Sports Expo (Elevate/COPA), taking to the Holistic Stage at the NEC to share his real-world outcomes, and presenting landmark case discussions at the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) Annual Conferences—including his popular clinical publications exploring the fascinating interaction of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and intramuscular stimulation with Deep Oscillation.
  
  
• Nicky Snazell MCSP BSc, BSc, Fi STOP, Consultant Physiotherapist in Spinal Pain, International Lecturer & Author
  
  Nicky is a world-renowned consultant physiotherapist, Fellow of the Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain, and international pain expert who has been a passionate supporter of Deep Oscillation. She installed the therapy in each of her four Pain Relief Clinics in Stafford, Harrogate, Norwich, and Harley Street, and featured the technology in her third book, The Body, which compiled 30 years of study and clinical practice with integrated western and alternative treatments. Nicky famously praised the therapy as "sheer genius" for protecting a therapist's hands from wear and tear while maintaining the vital connection of touch, calling it "a true Godsend for hands-on therapists." On a personal note, upon developing bronchitis, she was amazed at how the therapy helped her lungs, allowing her to breathe easily and sleep much better. Nicky has also contributed invaluable clinical insights to our NewsMagazine, including her December 2020 article exploring the powerful combination of Deep Oscillation and Western acupuncture for Post-COVID Syndrome (Long COVID) pain management.
  
  
• Emma Holly Founder of Restore Therapy Training, Vice-Chair of the ScarWork Committee, Harley Street Scar Therapist & Educator
  
  
  Emma is a leading global educator who regularly utilises Deep Oscillation at her private London clinic on Harley Street. Delivering the non-invasive treatment directly via vinyl-gloved hands to maintain vital tactile feedback, she recommends the therapy as a truly transformative, pressure-free tool. Emma explains that surgical scars and deep tissue adhesions often feel tight and painful, restricting standard mobility and impeding lymphatic flow. Deep Oscillation makes a profound difference by reducing swelling and inflammation in the early stages of healing, improving lymphatic drainage, and softening tight post-surgical scar tissue so it becomes more flexible and less restrictive—all without requiring heavy pressure. Importantly, she notes that as their scars soften, her clients experience both physical relief and a deep emotional lightness. For individuals living with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, or musculoskeletal conditions where even light touch can feel overwhelming, Emma highlights that the therapy's soothing vibrations calm irritated tissues, reduce muscle tension, and allow the nervous system to settle, promoting a faster, more comfortable recovery.

• Bodo Wisst: Former Peruvian Taekwondo Team Physiotherapist & Equine Bridge Pioneer 
  
  Shortly after we established PhysioPod® UK in 2006, Mary began a deeply inspiring email exchange with Bodo Wisst, a brilliant German sports physiotherapist who was then serving as the Physiotherapist to the Peruvian Taekwondo National Team. Bodo had already spent two years successfully replicating his human clinical rehabilitation successes with Deep Oscillation in the equine world in Germany. At a time when we were focused solely on human lymphatic and sports rehabilitation, Bodo’s fascinating insights, structural comparisons, and encouraging clinical observations acted as a wonderful bridge. He helped Mary map our human success directly over to equines—proving that horses respond with equal joy and efficacy to the pressure-free, soothing electrostatic field. Bodo's early advice provided the scientific spark of confidence that inspired our foray into the equine massage world, paving the way for Europe's first horse treatments.
  
  
• Gill Carter - Founder of Equi-Therapy UK, Equine Massage Therapist & Pioneer
  
  Gill is our esteemed Equine Pioneer who made history by becoming the very first person in Europe to formally introduce Deep Oscillation as a treatment for horses. In September 2007, Gilliyan was introduced to the therapy by Julie Soroczyn at PhysioPod UK. Initially approached to help treat a local horse with a hind limb dysfunction, she witnessed phenomenal results after only a couple of treatments. Following months of intensive trials, Deep Oscillation became regularly offered through Equi-Therapy and as a key rehabilitation treatment at Flawborough Equine, working in conjunction with Emma Hawthorne (Flawborough Equine & Hydrotherapy Centre) and Matthew Barlow (Home Farm Equine) with outstanding outcomes. Since this non-invasive, non-heating therapy can be administered from the first day of injury, it has successfully treated traumatic injuries, overstraining, tendon problems, and haematomas. By generating anti-inflammatory and oedema-reducing effects, the treatment encourages rapid pain relief, deep muscle relaxation, and cell regeneration. Over nearly two decades, Gill has successfully shown how much horses and dogs love these gentle, soothing electrostatic oscillations, training and inspiring animal practitioners across the country to unleash the true healing power of Deep Oscillation.

 

Clinical Validation and Elite Sports Endorsements

 

We achieved NHS Supplier Approval in 2012, and the therapy is used widely across NHS hospitals within Lymphoedema Clinics where appropriate and resources allow. In sports, boxer Carl Froch put the therapy on the map in 2007, followed by golfer Eammon Darcy and Sheffield Wednesday FC, who reported a 50 per cent reduction in hamstring tear recovery times. Many elite football clubs have organically, and continue to be add, Deep Oscillations to their medical rooms as word-of-mouth recommendations travel club to club via physiotherapists and players.

 

Lipoedema: Two Decades of Advocacy and Lifelong Resources

 

Celebrating Our Guest Bloggers and Community Contributors

 

For absolute completeness, several of our clinical partners, sports experts, and patient advocates have written for us many times over 45 issues of newsmagazines, establishing themselves as the regular voices of our community:

• The Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN)
  
  The leading UK patient charity whom we are immensely proud to support and work with. We showcased their ASK THE EXPERTS in A-Z order which were on their You Tube Channel, so that our readers could access the subject they were interested in quickly. We have regularly exhibited at their national LSN patient roadshows (most recently their Birmingham one - June 2026 - which will be reviewed in the September newsmagazine) and their AGMs where we have demonstrated how at-home self-management with Deep Oscillation can empower patients and improve quality of life. We are also incredibly grateful that an article on our recent independent UK Head and Neck Lymphoedema (HNL) service evaluation was featured in the Spring 2026 edition of the LSN's esteemed Lymphline newsletter.
  
  
• Gaynor Leech - L-W-O Community Founder & Expert Patient Advocate
  
  Since Mary and Gaynor first connected on Twitter in 2017, a wonderful working partnership and close friendship has flourished. Since founding the L-W-O Community in 2013 to support those living with primary, secondary, and paediatric lymphoedema, Gaynor has been a tireless champion of patient self-care. Over the years, she has stood as our most prolific guest blogger, contributing over 25 highly personal, educational columns covering vital topics like lymphatic travel planning, GP blood pressure monitoring, and mammograms. Gaynor is also our trusted project collaborator and proofreader, and she was the inspiration behind our joint national awareness campaigns for World Lymphoedema Day and Lymphoedema Awareness Month. In 2020, following a chat with Mary, we had a "brain wave" to loan Gaynor a Deep Oscillation unit for a month, which happily resulted in her own glowing review and our own dedicated, prestigious page on the L-W-O Community website. Gaynor even nominated Mary as a National Self Care Champion in 2021 and introduced us to other key figures like Fiona Stevenson. We are immensely proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Gaynor to ensure the patient's voice is always heard and valued.
  
  
• Jane Wigg RGN, MSc (Director of the Lymphoedema Training Academy & Near Infrared Lymphofluoroscopy Mapping Pioneer at LymphVision):
  
  Jane is a multi-award-winning nurse consultant who has dedicated over 32 years of her life to clinical pioneering, innovation, and education in the field of lymphology. As an esteemed clinical expert in our community, Jane has been an invaluable educator and a guiding light for our readers. Though we have know Jane since we launched, our collaboration blossomed in early 2021 when we and Gaynor Leech (L-W-O Community) teamed up with Jane for a special Lymphoedema Awareness campaign; what started as a fabulous video message of support quickly turned into Jane generously agreeing to answer direct questions from the community. This gave rise to her highly successful, regular "Dear Jane" and "Ask the Clinical Expert" NewsMagazine columns, where she has contributed at least 19 deeply educational Q&As and training news features, explaining with beautiful clarity how a healthy lymphatic system works, how lymph channels form, and how lymph nodes function. We deeply value Jane’s commitment to clinical excellence—from her pioneering work with Fluoroscopy Guided Manual Lymphatic Drainage (FG-MLD®) or the 'Fill & Flush' method, to her popular wellness contributions including "Choose Happy!" for Happiness at Work Week, "Laughter Yoga, An Added Skill to the Mix", and her deep-dive review "ICG Imaging - A Decade of Learning and Progress"
  
  
• Dean Attwood: Mindset & Performance Coach and Anxiety Expert 
  
  We met Dean some years ago, and his profound passion for helping others made a lasting impact on us both. When we first launched our NewsMagazine, Dean was one of the very first contributors we approached; we knew his dynamic, energetic energy and unique style of communication would bring immense value to our readers. As a Mindset Coach, anxiety expert, and co-director of Integral Workplace Wellness alongside Bel Hardman, Dean has authored at least 14 invaluable columns. His articles provide practical, deeply compassionate strategies for mental well-being, including "Sustainable Compassion: Setting Healthy Boundaries in Clinical Practice" (which explores the silent burden of compassion fatigue for dedicated practitioners), "The Importance of Solitude for a Healthy Mind", "Spring Cleaning Your Mind", "Practising Self-Care this Christmas Season", and his highly moving, personal piece "Real is Rare". Dean’s guidance offers a vital clinical and emotional anchor for both therapists and patients across our community.
  
  
• Bel Hardman: Lipoedema Advocate & Life Coach
  
  We met Bel through Dean Attwood, with whom she co-directs Integral Workplace Wellness. Bel lives with Stage 2, Type 4 Lipoedema, and underwent four private liposuction surgeries between December 2021 and December 2022. To support her recovery, Bel invested in her own Deep Oscillation Personal device, which she considers a complete game-changer for pre-surgery preparation, moving lymph flow, reducing inflammation, managing post-op pain, and scar work—not to mention her entire family now uses it on their own injuries! As a Stress, Resilience, and Nervous System Coach, and creator of the Lipoedema Emotional Support Circle Facebook group, Bel has contributed at least 8 profoundly moving columns for our NewsMagazine. Her articles beautifully shift the focus to the emotions that live underneath, covering "Calm Within the Chronic" emotional care, overcoming limiting beliefs, refined sugar-free nutrition, full self-acceptance.
  
  
• Gavin Neate: Founder of WelcoMe
  
  Since we first connected with Gavin on Twitter in July 2021—when he was the only person to step forward with an answer to a question Mary raised on hidden disabilities—a wonderful friendship and professional alignment have flourished. As the award-winning creator of the world-first WelcoMe WebApp (and National Diversity Award Entrepreneur of Excellence), Gavin has contributed at least 9 deeply educational guest articles for our NewsMagazine, including "Handles for Forks", "WelcoMe to Democracy", and "Bridging the Gap Between Accessibility and Food Safety". Gavin's work beautifully brings alive a vision for a truly accessible, anxiety-free future for all. We were absolutely thrilled when WelcoMe recently added Lipoedema to its recognised conditions list, creating vital on-the-ground awareness for the 11% of the female population living with this chronic condition.
  
  
• Fiona (Fee) Stevenson: Accessibility Advocate, Author & Community Supporter 
  
  Introduced to us in February 2021 by Gaynor Leech, Fiona (Fee) Stevenson is a Scope Awards Purple Pioneer Finalist. Since 2013, Fee has been a dedicated member of the Jayne Sargent Foundation, which helps cancer patients, their families, and friends obtain vital support and enjoy social meet-ups in Telford—including free monthly swimming sessions at the Telford Golf and Spa Hotel (to which the remaining funds of Swimming After Surgery were proudly gifted). She also enjoys canal trips through the Lyneal Trust. Fee has contributed at least 5 outstanding articles to our NewsMagazine, including her collaboration with the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC) on designing inclusive documents and raising vital awareness about the photosensitivity risks of virtual backgrounds. A passionate carriage-driver, Fee also won Second Place in the RDA National Creative Writing Competition 2025 for her touching story, "Turning Things Around."
  
  
• Sue Hansard: Retired Nurse, Lymphoedema Specialist & Writer
  
  We first met Sue in 2008 at the British Lymphology Society (BLS) Annual Conference in Belfast, and over the last 18 years, a wonderful, close relationship has flourished. Sue has stood as our highly valued professional advisor, project proofreader, and close friend. She dedicated her career to helping others, running her own independent lymphoedema service, First LymphCare, for a magnificent 20 years, while simultaneously working part-time for 17 of those years across three different Lymphoedema Services in the Midlands. In March 2023, following ongoing COVID-related health issues, Sue made the difficult decision to close her service and retire from active clinical practice—a bittersweet milestone she beautifully documented for us. Sue has contributed at least 5 popular blogs and poems to our NewsMagazine that explore both clinical and deeply personal landscapes, including "A Significant Date", "Life After Retirement", "Workplace Bullying: What is it? Does it Really Happen?", and her profoundly moving tribute, "Dementia – Finding Mum", which focused on the beautiful, silent connection she and her gentle mother developed because of her dementia.
  
  
• Jacqueline Smith (Jax): Lipoedema Patient Advocate & Blogger
  
  We first connected with Jax on Instagram and immediately knew her powerful story deserved a wider audience. After enduring a heartbreaking misdiagnosis of ovarian cancer—which led to unnecessary surgeries and chemotherapy—Jax was finally correctly diagnosed with Stage 3 Lipoedema by Mr Vasu Karri. A passionate advocate for raising awareness, Jax has written 4 deeply moving articles for our NewsMagazine, including her diagnostic story, her practical advice on dietary triggers and managing Lipoedema "swell hell" in social situations, and the beautiful day she and her daughter Lucy finally swam together.
  
  
• Gemma Levine FRSA 
  
  
  Renowned for her iconic black-and-white photography, including portraits of Princess Diana, Gemma has lived with lymphoedema for sixteen years. She was crowned Charitable Champion 2026 at the Mayfair Times Community Awards for her tireless advocacy, which successfully inspired a historic 4.8 million pound donation for lymphoedema research. Since April 2020, we have proudly supported Gemma by promoting her beautiful photography books—including Aqua: A Medical Mystery, Golden Threads, and Chapters of My Life—through promotional music videos, with all proceeds directly benefiting the St George's Hospital Charity Lymphoedema Appeal. Gemma also created a beautiful nature calendar supported by Dame Judi Dench and hosted a glamorous fundraising evening at Claridges, standing as a true beacon of hope and generosity in our community.
  
  
• Lymphoedema United:
  
  Our relationship with Matt Hazledine and Lymphoedema United represents the very best of community on-the-ground support. We were delighted to attend the Second Regional Roadshow at the Moya Cole Hospice, which raised £325 and featured our engaging "Two Ronnies" interview-style presentation on Deep Oscillation. We were also privileged to support the inspiring 5th Charity Golf Day at the Forest of Arden. The day began with a clinical Q&A led by Rebecca Elwell and concluded with a dinner where we shared a table with Professor Peter Mortimer. We extend our warmest thanks to Matt, his wife Vikki, and his dedicated family team for organising these seamless community celebrations. We were absolutely delighted to learn 5th Lymphoedema United Charity Golf Day, raised a staggering £8,616 for vital lymphoedema research. It was a true privilege to connect with so many dear friends, patients, and clinical experts at this uplifting celebration, and we are already looking forward to supporting their wonderful community again in 2027.
  
  
• Mr Vasu Karri: Consultant Plastic Surgeon & Founder of The Karri Clinic
  
  Mr Karri is an internationally recognised specialist in lipoedema and lymphoedema surgery, and the founder of The Karri Clinic in East Yorkshire. He actively recommends Deep Oscillation therapy prior to lipoedema liposuction for Stage 3 and selected Stage 2 sufferers, finding that pre-operative application softens stubborn fibrosis and fat. This allows liposuction to proceed with significantly less tissue trauma, resulting in less bleeding, reduced bruising, and a more comfortable recovery. Mr Karri has documented outstanding pre-operative results, including the successful removal of 6.4 litres of fat from a lipoedema patient following a single 30-minute session the day before surgery. Post-operatively, he advocates combining Manual Lymphatic Drainage with Deep Oscillation to dissipate post-operative oedema and facilitate rehabilitation. A passionate advocate for advanced care, Mr Karri attended the first World Congress on Lipedema in Potsdam, Germany, endorsing Deep Oscillation and reporting back to PhysioPod that Deep Oscillation is a highly valued, mainstream treatment in Europe.
  
  
• Associate Professor Ramin Shayan: Consultant Plastic Surgeon & Director of the O’Brien Institute, St Vincent’s Institute for Medical Research
  
  Ramin is a world-renowned senior academic plastic surgeon based at the University of Melbourne and Director of the O'Brien Institute Department, specialising in addressing serious, unmet clinical needs in lipoedema, vascular malformations, and tissue regeneration. We first had the privilege of connecting with Ramin in 2022, and we have been deeply inspired by his world-leading research in vascular biology and lymphatic science ever since. Ramin has contributed several highly prestigious and informative review updates for our NewsMagazine, including his expert reflection on the Lipedema World Congress 2025 and his landmark June 2026 guest blog, which broke down his team's pioneering paper in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology exploring why lipoedema selectively affects specific areas of the body. We are incredibly proud to celebrate Ramin's brilliance and global contribution to our healing community.

Our Professional Associations and Partnerships

 

British Lymphology Society (BLS): Science, standardisation, and community care have always guided our work. Our original introduction to BLS was in 2008, when we received an invitation to facilitate the presentation of a clinical pilot study on Deep Oscillation at the BLS Annual Conference in Belfast. This randomised controlled trial, titled 'Effect of Treatment with Low-intensity and Extremely Low-frequency Electrostatic Fields (DEEP OSCILLATION®) on Breast Tissue and Pain in Patients with Secondary Breast Lymphoedema' (Jahr et al., 2008), was conducted at the world-renowned Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany and presented by Dr Kirsten Mathiske Schmidt. The study compared 12 sessions of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) alone against MLD combined with Deep Oscillation, concluding that adding Deep Oscillation to standard MLD treatment significantly enhanced outcomes—leading to noticeable alleviation of pain, swelling reduction, and improved limb mobility. 

In the early years of growth, PhysioPod® held a Corporate Membership with BLS attending conferences in Birmingham to showcase Deep Oscillation to delegates. We continually refer to their scientific guidelines on MLD and cellultis.

 

Looking Ahead: Our Forthcoming Events Calendar (2026-2027)

As we step into our third decade, we look forward to meeting you at our upcoming events:

Ireland's First Lipoedema National Conference: Join us in Cork on Saturday 29th August 2026 (Cork International Hotel), supporting Lipoedema Support Network Ireland. Learn more

Skin to Scar Care International Conference: Aberdeen on Saturday 3rd October 2026, featuring holistic oncology scars, women's health, and lymphoedema sessions. Learn more

The Swallows International Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Blackpool in November 2026, discussing care for head and neck lymphoedema and radiogenic fibrosis. Learn more

The Second Scar Symposium: Birmingham NEC on 12th March 2027, demonstrating our gentle, tissue-softening electrostatic therapy. Learn more

 

 

 

With all our love and sisterly pride

Julie and Mary 

Please email if you would like more information of any part of this article or wish to enquire about device information to info@physiopod.co.uk