Not Your Typical Physio

Hi, I’m Kai — founder of Obsidian Physiotherapy and the face behind @theptsdphysio.
If you’re new here, welcome. If you’re in pain, you’re not alone.

I started this section — Learn — because most people have never been taught what pain really is.
They’ve been told it’s a “mechanical problem” or a “wear-and-tear” issue.
But here’s the truth: Pain is more than just tissue damage.

It’s a complex output of your nervous system — influenced by your stress, beliefs, sleep, trauma, movement, and even your identity.
That’s why standard treatments often fall short, especially for persistent pain.
They treat the symptom, but not the system.

At Obsidian Physiotherapy, I treat everything from general musculoskeletal injuries (like lower back pain, shoulder issues, or knee niggles), to neurological conditions like stroke recovery or multiple sclerosis.

And unlike some physios, I’m not opposed to manual therapy.
Hands-on work can absolutely help reduce sensitivity and support the nervous system — it just shouldn’t be the only thing we do.
Tools like dry needling, IASTM, and joint mobilisations have their place — especially when used alongside education, movement, and nervous system regulation.

My approach blends physiotherapy with insights from pain science, nervous system regulation, and psychology — especially Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and somatic techniques (that just means body-based tools to reconnect with your body and calm your system).

Whether you’re dealing with persistent pain, burnout, PTSD, or that “I don’t feel like myself anymore” feeling — this space is for you.

In Learn, I’ll share stories, science, and strategies to help you rebuild movement, meaning, and momentum — without ignoring your mental or emotional health.

Let’s change the way we recover.
Let’s start here.

Move always & all ways.
Kai