About PhysioNeeds Cotgrave

About us

PhysioNeeds Cotgrave opened it's doors on the 1st November 2013 as the second practice to open in partnership with Parkwood Leisure at Cotgrave Leisure Centre.

This practice is run by James Tomlinson, Brodie Howatson and Ellie Howatson.

To celebrate the opening of PhysioNeeds Cotgrave we are offering free consultations and free general advice booklets.

Meet the team

Mrs. Helen Tomlinson MCSP

I am the founder of PhysioNeeds and after graduating from Nottingham University in 1979, with a MCSP Grad Dip in Physiotherapy, I specialised in spinal and sporting injuries.

I have years of experience treating a wide variety of injuries and a wide range of patients including famous people like Stephie Graph, Stuart Pearce, Brian Ferry and Jane Torville. I opened my first private physiotherapy practice in 1982. Torville and Dean then opened the Nottingham Sports Injury Clinic in 1995. I am a family person and love my family with all my heart.

I have triplet boys called Mark, Peter and James and a daughter called Abigail. I love to horse ride in my spare time and take my springador called 'Willow' for a walk everyday. I also enjoy reading, listening to music as well as theatre and travel.I would say my specialty is backs and necks as I have graduated in osteopathic manipulative techniques. I believe that hands on physiotherapy is very important and I make sure all my staff are trained and deliver the best quality hands on treatment possible.

James Tomlinson

Ever since a young age I have known the value of Physiotherapy not only in the mechanical sense but also the psychological.

I have always known the value of physiotherapy, not only in the mechanical sense but also the psychological. Having studied Psychology to Degree level I understand the significant impact that reduced function and pain has on day to day lives and psychological wellbeing. This is why I feel good communication with patients is of vital importance. I feel my patient’s need to know what condition they have, why they have it, what they can do to prevent it and what I can do to help. It’s with this that body and mind can come together to achieve recovery.

I have a strong emphasis on hands on techniques as I believe this is the best way to relieve secondary complications. At the same time, I will push my patients to self -manage and communicate clearly on their progression. This is the best way to derive a valid prognosis. I have always had a keen interest in complex musculoskeletal cases, I enjoy the problem-solving aspect and enjoy challenging myself and thinking laterally.

I enjoy new challenges and I’m always looking to improve existing treatment techniques or discovering new ones by going on regular courses. Since qualifying I am now fully trained in manipulation therapy, shockwave therapy and injection therapy. This allows me to treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. I have also developed injury risk screening software called the ‘Fit2go Body Screen’ which looks at your Health, Lifestyle and Body as a collective to truly reflect your wellbeing. My hope one day is to incorporate this screening as a standard service across the country as a means of education and injury prevention

?In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym, going swimming and running, but most of all I love playing the drums. I have been drumming since I was 15 years old and I’m now at Grade 8 level. I have a beautiful wife and little boy at home that greet me after a busy day at work. They make all my hard work worthwhile.

Brodie Howatson

I love all sports, but my number one sport is rugby. I have played locally since 2007 and previously for Saracens U20’s, Herts and Notts Counties and National 3 sides. Since becoming a father in 2016 and again in 2018 I have managed to continue playing albeit with slightly less energy.

I graduated from Nottingham University in 2007 in Physiotherapy (BSc Hons) and have since gained a Masters in Manual Therapy (MSc MMACP) in 2015 including an Advance Practice Module allowing me to deal with more complex cases.

I have practiced acupuncture since 2007 and I am AACP qualified. I am also able to perform shockwave therapy and have had great success with this. I have attended numerous training courses over the years ensuring my clinical knowledge is up to date and as informed as possible.

When it comes to physio, I specialise in differential diagnosis of complex cases and spinal rehabilitation and sports injuries. I used to work in community rehabilitation for the elderly specialising in mobility and have worked in hospital rotations as well as professional sport as a physio for West Ham United for both the senior and academy squads. I started in private practice in 2010 and have loved treating a wide spread of injuries over this time.

Ellie Howatson

I enjoy playing for my local hockey club in the midlands league and previously County. I am a member of Holme Pierrepoint Running club and enjoy social and competitive running anything from 5K to Half Marathon distances. I also play golf socially but have previously played at a county level.

My interest in physio lies within musculoskeletal with a particular interest in the rehabilitation of sports injuries back to a competitive level.

I graduated from Nottingham University with a Bsc in Physiotherapy in 2007 and shortly after I volunteered in Ugandan hospital shortly after graduation and then took a break from physiotherapy to undertake a post-graduate study in Human Resource Management and gain experience of managing a business.

Charlotte Ralfe

I have been training and weight lifting for over five years now and over the last two years I have taken my passion and enthusiasm for fitness and channelled it into my career. In the space of 13 months, I qualified as a Gym Instructor, with a Level 3 in Personal Training and as a Level 3 Sports Massage Therapist at Loughborough College.

My interest and fascination with human anatomy has continued to grow and I am currently studying Human Biology and Psychology as a distance learner with the aspiration to study Physiotherapy at degree level. I also plan to advance my Sports Massage qualification; I will be Level 4 qualified by February next year with a qualification in Acupuncture Techniques for Sports Injuries by the end of June.

Having overcome injuries myself throughout the years, I understand the struggles and frustration that come with having a poorly functional body. I believe that physical wellbeing is incredibly important for quality of life; a fact which many of us can take for granted prior to injuries.
After shadowing James Tomlinson for almost two years, I have gained a greater understanding of musculoskeletal injuries and the value that can be added with a good body of knowledge and the correct diagnosis. This experience has allowed me to help treat patients hands on and has also cemented my passion for musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

I’m also passionate about nutrition and love to cook every day, I enjoy skiing and being outdoors with my dog. I love the face to face interaction that this job allows as I am very much a people person.