Practitioners
Welcome to our Practitioners page. Here you will find information on our Practitioner's special interests and issues they can help with.
Joanna Waterworth
BSc Ost PGCACE FSCCO Dip Paed Ost
Director/Osteopath
Jo graduated from the British School of Osteopathy in 1993 & worked as an associate for one year before establishing her own practice in Northallerton in 1994.
As the practice expanded, she re-located her osteopathic practice to Croft House in 1999 and in doing so introduced other therapies and established Northallertons first multi-disciplinary complementary healthcare clinic. In 2017 Jo and Ross formed a business partnership and moved the practice to Hale House in order to expand the practice further.
In 2003, she enrolled on the Sutherland Cranial College's Pathway for learning, and in 2010, completed the pathway to become a fellow of the college (FSCCO), one of a handful of osteopaths in the North East to hold this qualification. She has a special interest in Paediatric Osteopathy (treatment of babies and children). More recently, she was invited onto the faculty for the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy to develop and deliver their post-graduate Paediatric Osteopathy Diploma. She was awarded the Diploma in 2016
Jo was a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University on the Master of Osteopathy degree course for 9 years. Her academic interests include Osteopathic Management and Diagnosis; Critical Evaluation and Reflective Practice. She has lectured at international conferences. She is currently undergoing a four year tenure as an external examiner for the European School of Osteopathy.
Jo's specialisms include:
- Cranial
- Paediatrics
- Women’s Health
- Migraines
- Pregnancy
- Chronic Fatigue & ME
- Headaches
- Complex Cases
Appointments are available with Jo on Tuesdays and Fridays. Jo also works at our Northallerton clinic on Mondays and Thursdays.
“If it wasn't for the wonderful Jo at Easingwold & Northallerton Osteopaths, I wouldn't be able to function in my day to day life following an accident with my horse. I would recommend Northallerton Osteopaths and not only just Jo but all the staff to anyone, any day. Everyone is wonderful, kind and welcoming and guaranteed to help you when you have them aches and pains.”
Miss S Dodds
Ross Gemmell
MOst
Director/Osteopath
Ross graduated in 2015 from Leeds Beckett University. On graduation, he was awarded the Deans Prize for Osteopathic Excellence.
Ross first discovered Osteopathy at 16 years of age as a result of an incident whilst playing football, which left him suffering from low back pain & sciatica. Over the course of a year he sought advice from various health care professionals with no improvement, before finally visiting his local Osteopath where he finally got some pain relief along with a diagnosis for his condition.
Ross was extremely impressed at his Osteopath's understanding of the body and how he was able to relieve him of his pain just through hands-on manipulation. So much so, that on Ross' first session with his Osteopath he began questioning what you need to do in order to become an Osteopath, and with a little guidance from him Ross went on to apply for his Osteopathy degree at 17 and has never looked back since.
In order to continue his professional development, he has completed further training in Kinesio-Taping, Dry Needling and Cranial Osteopathy. He has a keen interest in Osteopathic Sports Care and Rehabilitation but likes to treat a wide range of conditions and injuries seeing patients of all ages. Early in his career he spent time working with semi-professional football teams, but left to develop his private practice work.
After 2 years at Croft House Clinic, Ross and Jo went into business together in order to move premises to Hale House in 2017 and expand the business. In 2019 Ross was made a partner at Northallerton Osteopaths and in 2022 Ross become a partner at our sister clinic Easingwold Osteopaths. Ross and Jo now manage both clinics together as Directors of Northallerton Osteopaths Limited.
Ross' specialisms include:
- Sports Injuries
- SIJ/ Pelvic Pain
- Hip/Knee Pain
- Pregnancy
- Shoulder Pain
- Headaches
- Neck Pain
- Foot/Ankle Pain
- Exercise Prescription
Appointments are available with Ross on Mondays. Ross also works at our Northallerton clinic on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Darren Chandler
D.O. BSc Hons (Ost ) Dip. Ac.
Darren graduated from the John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy in 2000. In 2002, he moved to the North of England to further his education at the Northern College of Acupuncture, where he graduated in 2006. He then expanded his expertise by completing postgraduate training with the British Medical Acupuncture Society.
With expertise in a range of manual soft tissue and acupuncture techniques, Darren tailors his approach to meet the needs of diverse conditions and age groups. His adaptable, patient-centered care has earned him a reputation for effectively addressing a wide variety of concerns.
In his earlier years, Darren pursued swimming and triathlons and now maintains his fitness with general training. As part of his commitment to continual professional development, he is currently reviewing advanced techniques for treating muscle spindles and the sarcomeres (the fundamental units of muscles that are responsible for muscle function) to further enhance his practice.
Darren's specialisms include:
- Low Back Pain
- Sports Injuries
- Shoulder Pain
- Sciatica
- Tennis Elbow
- Hip Pain
- Knee Pain
- Sacroilliac Join Pain
- Trigger point therapy
Appointments are available with Darren on Wednesdays.
“I have suffered from lower back, hip and groin pain and this has been compounded by a rather stressful stage in my life. I was welcomed by Darren Chandler who gave me a very thorough investigation and explained clearly the issues that needed dealing with. He is very positive and explains each process clearly as he works. This was very reassuring and has put my mind at rest from thinking the worst.
I have no hesitation in recommending Darren's work and care.
Thank you”
Mr P Dobson
Karen Eastwood
BSc (Hons) Ost
Women's Health & Paediatric Osteopath
Karen Eastwood is our Women's Health and Paediatric Osteopath specialist. Karen qualified from the British School of Osteopathy in 1998. During her career she has worked in a number of clinics and treated patients from the ages of 3 days to 94 years. Karen enjoys treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including lower back and neck pain, as well as foot, ankle, and hip issues. She also draws on her training in Pilates to support recovery, strength and long-term patient outcomes.
Women's Health & Paediatrics
Karen has a special interest in Women’s Health and Paediatrics. She has trained with Professor Renzo Molinari at the Molinari Institute for Women’s Health and with the Osteopathic Centre for Children. It is here where she gained the highly regarded Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy. Both institutions are recognised as world leaders within the osteopathic profession.
Mummy MOT
Karen is also trained to provide Mummy MOT®, a specialist postnatal assessment designed to support women’s recovery after pregnancy and birth. This comprehensive one-hour check includes a full postural assessment, evaluation of abdominal muscle separation, and a pelvic floor assessment to identify any weakness or dysfunction that may occur following pregnancy.
Following the assessment, Karen provides personalised advice and a tailored rehabilitation programme to help restore strength, stability and confidence. This can support recovery from common postnatal concerns such as back or pelvic pain, core weakness and bladder symptoms, while helping women return safely to exercise and everyday activities such as lifting, bending and caring for their baby.
Karen enjoys working with both structural and cranial techniques and has also trained with the Rollin Beck Institute and the Sutherland Cranial College
Appointments are available with Karen on Thursdays.
“Definitely 5 star! Recently, when I hurt my back, my first thought was to contact Easingwold Osteopaths for help, having previously used their services. They have a wonderfully relaxed attitude to resolving painful problems, they put you at ease and, after discussion, seem able to instantly diagnose the cause of the problem and recommend appropriate remedial treatment. I wouldn't dream of of going anywhere else.”
Mr C Hemmings
Nicola Rawstron
Msc, BSc, MBAcC, MRSPH
Acupuncture and Nutritional Therapy sessions at Easingwold Osteopaths are provided by our dedicated, experienced acupuncturist, Nicola Rawstron. If you are interested in acupuncture or Nutritional Therapy but not sure whether it’s the right choice for you then contact us for a chat or to book a free consultation.
Nicola works on the basis of treating each person as an individual, not a list of conditions, and as such we would prefer to meet you to discuss your specific problems, rather than making general claims as to what acupuncture may or may not be able to help with. If acupuncture is not the right choice, Nicola can help refer you to the relevant therapist or health professional.
In addition to her work at Easingwold Osteopaths Nicola also has a clinic in Bedale. She has also worked in the NHS with cancer patients for a number of years via a social enterprise which she set up to provide acupuncture to patients in hospitals.
Nicola’s previous degrees in pathology and haematology give her a unique insight into both western and eastern medicine. She has developed a particular interest in working with complex or longstanding cases, and likes to keep up to date with current research and developments in acupuncture treatment.
Nicola is a member of the British Acupuncture Council and she is registered with the Teenage Cancer Trust as a volunteer therapist. In 2021, Nicola qualified in Nutrition with the Royal Society for Public Health and is pleased to be able to add Nutritional Therapy to the therapies she offers.
Mark Sherwood
Dip RM, MAAPA
Mark has a an extensive background in the Health and Leisure industry. Formerly a duty manager at Thirsk Leisure Centre, he re-trained as a massage therapist in 2008 and has worked at Easingwold Osteopaths since 2009.
His 'day job' is as a Community Football Coach for York City FC Football Foundation, the charitable arm of the professional club. His football coaching CV includes current manager of Easingwold Town AFC and previous manager of the North Riding ladies team. He has also worked for Manchester United as a coach for their international Soccer Schools. In 2016 he travelled to Ghana with the Learning for Life Ghana charity delivering football coaching sessions for children along with 'coaching the coaches' workshops, including some representatives from the Ghanian FA.
Mark has always had a passion for sport and in his youth he was once a county champion sprinter and hurdler. Now, he enjoys working with patients of all ages, enabling them to feel as well as possible and able to enjoy their preferred level of activity.