Julia Walton
Specialist Shoulder Physiotherapist
Julia joined the Wrightington Upper Limb Unit in 2012 where she continues her highly specialist shoulder practice. She works closely with her shoulder surgeon and therapy colleagues managing complex shoulder patients from all over the country. As part of this team she is actively involved in clinical research, teaching and regularly hosts national and international visiting clinicians to the unit.
Julia graduated from Nottingham University in 1999 and has worked as a specialist shoulder physiotherapist for 13 years. Julia developed her interest in the shoulder after she joined the Nottingham Shoulder and Elbow unit in 2002. During her time there she gained extensive experience of tertiary referral complex shoulder conditions, treating patients from all over the United Kingdom in the NHS and in private practice.
In 2004 she moved to Bristol and developed a new specialist shoulder physiotherapy service treating patients with complex shoulder conditions and atraumatic shoulder instability. She ran a problem shoulder clinic for local physiotherapists to bring complex patients for joint assessment and treatment planning. She founded the South West Shoulder Group, which was set up to share knowledge and support physiotherapy colleagues managing shoulder patients throughout the region. Julia treats all shoulder conditions from elite athletes to shoulder complaints that trouble patients in their everyday life. She has extensive experience in pre- and post-operative rehabilitation.
Julia believes the key to successful management of shoulder problems is communication and education. She enjoys the opportunity to share her specialist knowledge with patients, colleagues and works closely with coaches and teams. Julia lectures nationally and is published internationally. She is also co-author of the new Shoulder Exercise Book available soon.
Sarah Russell
Specialist Occupational Therapist
Sarah graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 1992. She has had extensive experience in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders specialising in the management of upper limb conditions for the past 15 years. She currently leads the Therapy team at Wrightington Hospital and has been fundamental in the development of the Upper Limb Therapy Service. This has involved working closely with the Consultants to develop and implement progressive patient pathways. The team has expanded in the past five years and includes specialist shoulder and elbow physiotherapists.
She is an honary lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan and Salford University for undergraduate and postgraduate students and is a visiting tutor for physiotherapy students on placement from Manchester Metropolitan University.
In 2014 Sarah completed a Masters in Research and produced a thesis in ‘A Randomised Clinical Trial Investigating The Most Appropriate Conservative Management of Frozen Shoulder.’ She has lectured nationally and internationally on the assessment and rehabilitation of the shoulder and has published in peer-reviewed scientific journals related to the treatment of shoulder conditions.