Kate Turner - Thrive Osteopathy

09/05/2026

This is Sonya!

Sonya qualified in CranioSacral Therapy (an osteopathy derived therapy from the work of Dr John Upledger, an American Osteopath) from the Upledger Institute UK, in 2018.

Following completion of a paediatric course in 2021, Sonya now treats babies and younger children as well as adults. Sonya’s background in midwifery and as a neonatal nurse, makes her especially suited to work with babies and children. She has also trained in Visceral Manipulation for the abdomen which works well alongside CST.

Before discovering CST, Sonya had low energy levels, poor immune function and a multitude of aches and pains. These have all improved considerably with CST, alongside a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. She finds the the Somato-Emotional Release side of the work invaluable for helping patients with emotional drivers for pain and that CranioSacral Therapy is one of the few modalities that works effectively with all aspects of a person.

To book with Sonya, hit the ✅contact us✅ button and you'll be taken directly to the booking portal.

07/05/2026

04/05/2026

💥HOT OFF THE PRESS - ONLINE BOOKING! 💥

You can now use our handy booking app to book appointments online.

Just click on the CONTACT US button and you will be taken straight to the booking page.

You'll find information including a description of each appointment type, prices and availability.

If you need any more information, check out the website cityosteopathicpractice.co.uk to help you decide which treatment might suit you best.

Or drop us a message or call on 01752 223518.

(A new website is aslo coming soon)!

30/04/2026

Exciting news! We have a new clinic!

From this Saturday, Thrive will be based at 4 The Crescent, PL1 3AB right in the centre of Plymouth.

We are taking over City Osteopathic Clinic and adding some lovely Thrive vibes to the clinic.

Watch this space for the new website and photos of the clinic.

✅ ONLINE BOOKING OPEN THIS WEEKEND ✅

Link to follow in the next few days. 😃

In the meantime, just drop us a message for appointents or enquiries.

20/04/2026

Foot series #3 Flat feet

Have you been told you have flat feet?

It's not unusual to hear that patients have been told they have flat feet. They're given an arch support and are then confused when walking is really uncomfortable.

But if you stick a firm piece of plastic under your arch and try and walk on it, it will probably hurt! And you won't change the strength or mobility of your foot.

Often when it looks like you have decreased foot arches, it's coming from elsewhere in the chain.

We'll check your ankles, knees, hips and lower back to see what's causing you to sink into your arch.

Often hip mobility (or lack of!) plays a key part in how we are able to pronate and supinate our feet (or use our arches).

A proper assessment of the whole chain, some hands-on work to encourage joint mobility and some simple drills can usually give your feet renewed strength and movement.

Photo by Alicia Christin Gerald on Unsplash

13/04/2026

It's one thing looking after your health and your body, but are you enjoying life?

Appreciating some of the simpler things in life can bring us more enjoyment, provide insipration for a fulfilled life and as a consequence, improve our health.

Why not take cues from the things and people around you to bring your attention back to the present?

⭐ Pets⭐ Animals don't ruminate or compare themselves to others or worry about their appearance or performance. They also don't let stress linger. We could learn from the joy animals get from simple things and from using physical activity to de-stress.

⭐ Ancestors⭐ Eating whole foods, moving lots and going to bed earlier because of the dark. These are simple things that help take us back to what we really need.

⭐ The young⭐ Children are spontaneous and creative (and rarely boring). It's easy to forget how much fun it can be to try out new activities and make new friends. Is there something you've wanted to try for a while? Why not gift yourself the time to have fun?

⭐ The elderly⭐ If there's one thing older people say to those younger than them, it's how short life is. Try to find some joy in each day. We're lucky to have those days.

⭐ Heroes⭐ You don't need to meet someone to be inspired by them. Who embodies the values you respect? What qualities would you like to see more of in yourself? Don't be afraid to be honest about your hopes and dreams.

⭐ Nature⭐ Spending time in nature is linked to a greater sense of wellbeing. It's great for movement and for Vitamin D but it can also just help improve your mood.

The longer, lighter days are a good time to reflect on whether your days are bringing you enjoyment. 🌞💐🌿🌸🌿💐🌞

07/04/2026

Foot series #2 To barefoot or not barefoot?

There's a trend towards wearing barefoot (or minimalist) shoes these days.
Why is that and what's the benefit?

Well, shoes have historically been designed to protect our feet. And then they became fashion items. Neither of which has put any emphasis on ensuring the strength and mobility of the feet are maintained.

Feet are incredibly clever pieces of engineering. They have multiple joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments over a small area. This is because feet are the means by which we sense the ground and propel movement. Feet also offer us amazing proprioception - which is the ability to figure out where we are in space.

So if you pack them into tight, thick-soled, inflexible shoes, they can't possibly do their job for you. There's a likelihood that you will lose balance, stability and power more quickly as you age.

Wearing a minimalist shoe will help your feet spread and have contact with the ground and will help you find strength and mobility in your feet.

But if you've been using normal shoes that have a narrow toebox or a firm sole and you switch to minimalist shoes expecting to be pain-free, you might have a rude awakening! I'd liken that to skipping the Couch to 5k and heading out for a half marathon!

And your foot won't necessarily benefit from a minimalist shoe if your feet have issues and don't connect with the ground well.

So be kind to your feet. A change in how we use our feet will take adaptation.
And an osteopath can help you address underlying issues so that you can reap the benefits from minimalist shoes.

There is research that shows that even if you just change to minimalist footwear, you could improve the strength of your feet by over 60% in just a few months. If you thought you could get that improvement in your biceps or glutes in a few months of the gym, you'd probably be all ears, right?

02/04/2026

⚠️Blood in your poo is not normal ⚠️

This week I heard a sad report from a patient whose daughter-in-law has terminal bowel cancer because it seems difficult for some GPs to imagine that women in their 30s and 40s could get bowel cancer. It isn't the first or even the second or third time I have heard this kind of story and while women of this age are not the most likely group to develop bowel cancer, it CAN happen.

It is not normal to have blood in your stool.
If you see any blood in your stool or changes to the colour of your stool, get it checked. Insist.

In addition, be alert for symptoms that aren't going away within 3 weeks:
🔍Persistent diarrhoea or constipation or bloating
🔍Blood in your poo or on the toilet paper
🔍Abdominal pain or cramping
🔍A feeling that you can't empty properly when you poo
🔍Unexplained fatigue or weight loss

If you're told it's hameorrhoids or piles without an examination, insist on a physical examination. It might feel embarrassing but it might be vital.

A GP can also offer a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) which detects hidden blood in the stool and can detect early signs of colorectal cancer, polyps, or gastrointestinal bleeding. The FIT is not perfect but it is highly sensitive to tiny amounts of blood that you can't see yourself.

These are easy and inexpensive ways to have any worries checked out so please don't delay having any concerns checked out.

Photo by Testalize.me on Unsplash

30/03/2026

Vitamin D

Such an important vitamin and absolutely essential for:
✔️Immune health
✔️Mood regulation
✔️Bone health
✔️Calcium absorption
✔️Reducing inflammation
️
By the end of winter, around 87% of the UK population is vitamin D insufficient. When you consider how much vitamin D we naturally produce from sunlight (and how limited our sun exposure has been), it becomes clear why this is so common.

In as little as 30 minutes of sunlight, the body can produce approximately 10,000–20,000 IU of vitamin D. However, sunscreen blocks UVA and UVB rays, which prevents this natural vitamin D synthesis.

Additionally, supplements providing less than 4,000 IU (100 mcg) tend to deliver minimal benefit. For optimal absorption, a sublingual tablet placed between the cheek and gum is most effective, as it is absorbed gradually and enters the bloodstream directly - often outperforming even liquid forms.

If you're looking for a high quality brand, Simon Billings is a chiropractor who has done extensive research to produce supplements that really deliver benefits. He really knows his stuff and is bang up to date with research - hence this nifty infographic.

Check out his range at:

www.inhealthsupplements.co.uk