Arthritis

Arthritis Support

Helping you move with greater comfort, confidence and ease.

Living with arthritis can affect far more than your joints. Pain, stiffness and reduced mobility can make everyday tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, gardening, opening jars, driving or simply getting out of a chair feel frustrating and exhausting.

Whether you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or another form of arthritis, the aim of treatment is to help you move more comfortably, maintain your independence and improve your quality of life. Complementary therapies may also help reduce muscle tension, improve mobility and support your overall wellbeing alongside your medical care.

At The Haven Health Clinic, we offer a range of experienced practitioners, allowing you to choose the approach that best suits your symptoms, preferences and goals.

Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine & Herbal Therapy

Chinese medicine views arthritis as more than simply "wear and tear." Treatment considers your overall health, circulation, energy, sleep, digestion and the underlying patterns that may be contributing to ongoing pain and stiffness.

Acupuncture is used to encourage the body's natural pain-relieving mechanisms, improve circulation and help reduce muscle tension around affected joints. Individually prescribed Chinese herbal medicine may also be recommended where appropriate to support your overall health.

Gua Sha, Botanical Oils, Moxa & Cupping

Many people with arthritis also develop tight muscles and restricted fascia around painful joints. These secondary changes can contribute to stiffness and reduced movement.

Gua Sha is a specialised form of massage that works gently through the fascia and soft tissues surrounding the affected area. Combined with warming botanical oils, it helps encourage healthy circulation, reduce muscular tension and improve movement.

For some people, gentle moxa (warming therapy using the herb mugwort) can be particularly comforting for joints that feel cold, stiff or achy, while cupping may be used to release muscle tension and improve circulation where appropriate.

Every treatment is tailored to the individual and may combine several Chinese medicine techniques to support comfort and mobility.

Massage Therapy

Our massage therapists offer a variety of techniques, including therapeutic massage and traditional Chinese Tui Na massage.

Massage can help reduce muscle tension, ease stiffness, improve circulation and restore movement around painful joints. Many people find regular massage helps them stay more active and comfortable in everyday life.

Bowen Technique

Bowen Technique is an exceptionally gentle hands-on therapy that encourages the body to release patterns of tension and restore more natural movement.

It is often chosen by people with arthritis who are looking for a gentle treatment to help improve mobility, reduce stiffness and support the body's own healing processes.

A Whole-Person Approach

Living with arthritis isn't only about managing painful joints. Poor sleep, reduced confidence, stress and frustration can all make symptoms feel worse.

Our practitioners take time to understand how arthritis is affecting your daily life and tailor treatment to your individual needs. Many people choose to combine therapies—for example, acupuncture alongside massage or Bowen—to provide broader support.

We Commonly Help People With

Helping You Stay Active

Our goal isn't simply to ease pain for a short time.

We want to help you move more freely, stay active, continue doing the things you enjoy and maintain your independence for as long as possible.

Whether your arthritis is newly diagnosed or you've been living with it for many years, our experienced practitioners are here to support you with compassionate, personalised care.

Book an appointment with the practitioner whose approach feels right for you and take the first step towards moving with greater comfort and confidence.

 

Testimonials

Writing on behalf of my Father who travelled up yesterday from Cornwall to see Rob Long for Acupuncture.  He has been suffering a lot of pain due to Rheumatoid Arthritis style symptoms.  After the initial consultation and treatment he felt much better and could feel his feet again.  Rob is extremely talented, professional and knowledgeable and I am extremely grateful for his help.  He will definitely be back for a course of treatment. Thank you Rob.

Sarah

Bowen for Knees

Anna Walker was recommended to me by a friend as I had a knee issue. After the treatment I felt elated and also the most relaxed I’ve felt since I was a child.

My knee issue, which had been ongoing for months and was so severe that I had to be on crutches and was not able to put any weight on it, was much improved after the first session, and by the third session was completely healed.

I also noticed an overall improvement in my health in general.

Caia - Contemporary Oil Painter - Brighton

Rob has treated me twice monthly for 12 years and is a superb acupuncturist and healer. He has also treated most of my overseas family, helping immeasurably with, amongst other things, their jet lag. I am now 80 years old and feel Rob has played a major part in my overall wellbeing. From general aches and pains to more specific treatments like arthritis and frozen shoulder he has been able to give me great relief. As he now lives in Devon, Cornwall’s loss is Devon’s gain!

Ann B

I found the treatments which I had from Nicola over many years were immensely beneficial in reducing the pain I was experiencing from the arthritis in my joints. This undoubtably helped to delay the time when surgical intervention for both my knee and ankle become imperative. This has greatly increased the chance of these prosthetics lasting me for the rest of my active life! So many thanks.

Peter