Alex Dear MSc

Physiotherapist

After graduating from Nottingham University with a Master’s degree in Chemistry I was working as a management consultant for Deloitte.

That’s when I was introduced to CrossFit, Weightlifting and Strength and Conditioning.

At the time I wasn’t enjoying my job and I was struggling to cope mentally.

Looking back now, I was depressed, and the only thing that kept me sane was my training.

Lifting weights became a part of who I am and getting strong was my number 1 priority.

It helped me to relieve all of the stress from my daily life and build a level of confidence I’d never had before.

I loved it so much that I wanted to help other people get the same physical and mental benefits from strength training that I had.

So I decided to quit my job and go back to University to study Physiotherapy. 

As a student I noticed that Physiotherapists were great at helping the general population.

People who needed help getting out of chairs or couldn’t get up stairs.

But they didn’t know how to help people who loved lifting weights.

They weren’t taught about the physical demands of strength training…

And they weren’t able to fix peoples injuries for good.

So I did an internship as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Performance Hertfordshire.

Gaining the knowledge to bridge the gap between rehab and performance.

I worked with a variety of athletes from Arsenal Ladies Academy, Saracens Mavericks, England Golf, England Ladies, England Netball and Northern Ireland Netball. 

And when I graduated I worked for Tottenham Hotspur Academy and in the NHS.

The thing was, in the NHS I felt like I couldn’t give anyone the help that they actually needed.

Many of the people I met told me they had poor experiences of Physiotherapy.

Many had been told to stop training.

Many had been told to stop doing what they love because it was dangerous. 

When I was injured I found it extremely difficult to find someone I could trust.

Who understood the demands of my sport.

Wasn't going to tell me to stop Weightlifting.

There weren't any services to solve that problem.  

So I created Strength Physiotherapy.

A specialist sports rehabilitation service.

At Strength Physiotherapy we take a top down approach to rehab.

That means we try to keep you doing the thing that you love.

If you have pain running, squatting or deadlifting we won't tell you to stop.

Instead we'll make adjustments to your training programme.

If you fix your injury without stopping training so you can get strong AF and safely hit PB’s Strength Physiotherapy is the service for you. 

Physiotherapy

Injury, illness or disability stopping you from training? Physiotherapy will get you back. It includes the diagnosis, treatment and management of injuries. It also reduces the risk of future injuries. 

It includes advice, education and exercise prescription to improve your function. Get control over your pain. Return to doing what you love.

We treat a variety of conditions including:

• Orthopaedic and sports injuries

• Sports physiotherapy

• Spinal and extremity sprains and strains

• Post surgery rehabilitation

• Tendonitis/ tendonosis/ tendinopathy

• Back pain

• Neck pain

• Muscle/ Ligament injuries

• Concussion and Post-Concussion Rehab

• ACL rehab

• Arthritis

• Sports Medicine

Treatments include:

• Rehabilitation Services

• Strength and Conditioning

• Biomechanical assessments

• Strength testing

• Exercise prescription

• High end rehabilitation

• Sports rehabilitation

Strength and Conditioning

What is it?

Strength and Conditioning is training. It uses exercise prescription to perform two functions: improving athletic performance and decreasing the risk of injury. It includes strength training, plyometrics, energy systems development, speed and agility. It encompasses all aspects of physical development for the athlete: strength, speed and power.

Why do it?

Training has been shown to enhance performance when structured appropriately. This requires knowledge of the athlete, the sport and their position. With this information a strength and conditioning coach can perform a needs analysis to identify which physical qualities are necessary for the sport and position and work on improving the athlete's weaknesses and ultimately their performance.

How does this relate to Physiotherapy?

If you are an athlete who's unable to partake in aspects of their training then utilising strength and conditioning principles you can still improve your athletic performance despite suffering from pain or injury. Traditionally a Physiotherapist would tell you to rest and stop training. However, here at Strength Physiotherapy we realise that this is an optimal time to work on other aspects of your physical performance to ultimately help you return to the pitch/ platform/ field a better athlete. A well-designed strength and conditioning programme can increase your tolerance to training and decrease your chance of injury. More time on the pitch/ field/ platform means more time practicing your sport and ultimately increased levels of performance in the long run.

What if I already have a coach?

If you already have a coach for your sport then we can contact them. This way we can work on physical attributes that will make you a better athlete for your sport.

Do I need to be injured?

No, if you are not currently injured a strength and conditioning programme is the perfect way to supplement your sport specific training with improvements in athletic performance i.e. make you fitter, faster, stronger and more robust. Our service will give you an individualised programme based on your strengths and weaknesses and the demands of your sport. This can be optimised around your competition schedule to maximise improvements in your performance without sacrificing your performance in your sport.

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