Karen Thornton-Smith BSc (Hons) Ost, DO
My name is Karen Thornton-Smith and I am the registered osteopath at Long Lane Osteopathy. I moved to Curridge in 2016, and I share my home with my husband, David, one dog, two cats, and a steadily increasing number of hens. I love my work as an osteopath and my aim is to bring the many benefits of affordable osteopathy to the local community.
My own interest in osteopathy grew over many years of receiving osteopathic treatment myself. After a career in advertising, and spending time at home as a full-time mother, I took four years out to train at the European School of Osteopathy in Maidstone, qualifying in 2010. I ran my own local practice in my old village home of Rusthall in Kent as well as working as an associate in a number of other busy practices. I also spent a year at the Horder Centre, an orthopaedic Centre of Excellence in East Sussex, developing osteopathic services to work alongside the existing physiotherapy team.
Treatment is always tailored to the individual requirements of each patient and the techniques I employ are varied. Theymay include gentle joint articulation and manipulation, stretching and soft tissue massage, and I often use my interest in yoga to help patients with stretching and relaxation techniques. I am also trained in the use of Western medical acupuncture which I often suggest as a supplementary treatment for the relief of stiff and painful muscles.
I am fully registered with the General Osteopathic Council and a member of the Institute of Osteopathy.