Meet The Poole Team

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The Team at Back In Form Chiropractic Clinic in Poole

Steven Oldale

BSc, DC

I’ve been aware of chiropractic since childhood as it helped my grandmother manage her migraine headaches. I’ve now been a chiropractor now for over 30 years, having graduated in 1994.

I worked in Kent for a year. Then joined the highly respected Graham Heale in Hertfordshire where I built on my training for the next 5 years. In 1999 I moved to Poole.

I like to keep updated with developments in Chiropractic treatment, sports injury rehab and general medicine as well. All health professions are constantly evolving and developing and Chiropractic is one of them.

There have been many changes in approach over my career and I have developed into a better physician by adapting my practice to reflect this.

I firmly believe that chiropractic’s potential for Sports performance is under developed. My keen interest has helped many athletes perform at their true potential. Being an amateur Triathlete has helped my knowledge of sports training immensely (read my triathlon story here).

The thing that I like most about Chiropractic is how it can instantly restore strength to functionally weak muscles. It’s a very satisfying feeling when you can often make positive instant changes for patients. Especially if they are a little sceptical and see us as the last resort.

I am also interested in the use of specialist neurological tests and exercises to re-balance the activity of the nervous system following whiplash type injuries or mild traumatic brain injuries.

In my opinion chiropractic and targeted active rehabilitation should be the first port of call when you have back pain or joint and muscle pain. If you correct poor joint movement soon after injury it can help you stay active, flexible and healthier. Then you can stay fit and healthy for longer in your life.

Karen Oldale

BSc, M.Chiro, DC, PG Cert

Karen attended the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where she qualified with a 2:1 Honors degree in Biology. Following this she attended the Health Sciences University (AECC) in Bournemouth in 2001 to complete a 4 year full-time Masters degree to graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic (MChiro, DC). She graduated with distinction winning prizes for ‘best academic performance for the Master of Chiropractic and ‘best clinical performance’. Following a 5th year of post-graduate study, Karen obtained a distinction in her postgraduate certificate in chiropractic practice (PgCert).

Karen is registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) (No. 02640). She is a member of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA). Karen is a Bupa-recognised consultant chiropractor and registered with most private medical insurance companies that cover chiropractic care, such as Axa and Aviva.

Since graduating in 2006, Karen initially joined a well-established clinic in Dorchester, where she gained experience treating hundreds of patients of different ages and with many different complaints. She then went on to take over Blandford Chiropractic Clinic, where she has been practicing since 2007. In 2015, she started working with her husband Steve in the Poole branch of Back in Form and has continued to practice in both clinics with Steve.

Chiropractic Interests

Karen enjoys all aspects of chiropractic healthcare and helping each individual achieve their health goals. Karen has a special interest in functional neurology and has 18 years of experience in busy practice. This has shaped her skills in dealing with people of all ages struggling with conditions such as sports injuries, dizziness, nutrition, pregnancy, and children’s issues.

In her spare time, Karen is a very competitive dinghy sailor sailing her RS200, or if it’s really blowing, kite-surfing & wing foiling. In the winter Karen likes to get away to the mountains to ski, so she can help you with a pre-season skiing program. When she is not looking after their two children, she likes to wind down playing netball!

Competing at a high level in sports, Karen understands the highs, lows, and pressure to perform to your best, even when you may be recovering from injury, returning after surgery, or having babies! As we know this often takes longer than we want it to, but she is there to help you manage and rehabilitate your injury, be it rotator cuff strain or ankle sprain, and get you back to your potential as fast as she can.

Treatment Techniques:

Karen has a range of techniques that she uses for different patients based on the injury/problem, patient’s age, size, medical history, and general lifestyle.

Chiropractic techniques:

Spinal Manipulation (Diversified Adjustments) – may produce an audible click
Extremity Joint Manipulation (Adjustments) – may produce an audible click
Thompson Drop Technique
Activator Method
SOT Blocking
Cranial release

General Musculoskeletal techniques:

Joint Mobilisation
Dry Needling (medical acupuncture)
Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation
Ultrasound
Soft Tissue Techniques (Trigger Point Therapy, Fascial Release, PIR and PNF Stretching)
Nerve Mobilisation

Lucy Payne

Sports Massage Therapist Poole

Lucy is a fully qualified Sports and Remedial Massage Therapist and a member of the Institute of Sport and Remedial Massage (ISRM). She trained at the London School of Sports Massage to the highest level within the sports massage field.

As someone who has always been passionate about sport and fitness, Lucy has experienced first hand the benefits of sports massage to maintain the body and keep any aches and pains at bay.

However, you don’t need to be an athlete to benefit, and she loves helping people of all ages and abilities to combat muscle tension or pain caused by life’s everyday stresses. Suffering from a stiff neck, shoulder, hip or back pain? Lucy’s remedial massage treatment relieves pain caused by postural problems or chronic occupational fatigue, and can help to completely cure these issues over time. It also reduces stress, assists with negative emotions, improves self-awareness, flexibility and helps with relaxation.

For sports people, it can offer the added benefit of speeding up recovery. This allows you to have better quality training, shorter recovery times, as well as a higher quantity of training. It can also help prevent injury or help you spot early problems. And contrary to popular belief, sports massage doesn’t have to be painful! (Unless you want it to be…)

In her spare time Lucy is an experienced marathon runner and iron distance triathlete herself, and has continued to run at a decent level since becoming a mum, completing over 500 parkruns and finishing First Lady in her first ultra marathon (and in second place overall!) You can usually find her swimming, cycling, playing tennis, cricket, football or netball with her family and friends, or just having fun on the beach!