- All
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Birstall
- Cranial osteopathy
- Emergency osteopath
- Enderby
- Frozen shoulder
- General FAQs
- Hip and knee pain & Plantar Fasciitis
- Jaw Pain (TMJ)
- Medical acupuncture
- Neck Pain & Posture
- Oadby
- Oakham
- Osteopathy
- Pain from pregnancy
- Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Scraptoft
- Sports injuries
- Thurmaston
- Uppingham
- Wigston
No. Avin is a registered osteopath and medical acupuncturist, not a medical doctor. He is registered with the General Osteopathic Council (registration number 6152) and has over 20 years’ clinical experience. If he thinks you need to see your GP or have tests, he will tell you.
No. You can book directly with Avin, in the same way you would book a dentist or optician. Some private health insurers ask for a GP referral before they will pay for treatment, so check with your insurer first if you are planning to claim.
Osteopathy is only occasionally available on the NHS and waiting lists can be long. Avin’s clinics are private, so you can book an appointment directly, often within a few days, and emergency appointments are available for sudden pain.
By law, anyone calling themselves an osteopath in the UK must be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). You can check the register on the GOsC website. Avin Patel qualified in 2006 from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine and his GOsC registration number is 6152.
Avin will start by asking about your problem, your general health and your medical history. He will then look at how you move and examine the area that is bothering you, as well as other areas that may be contributing. He will explain what he thinks is going on and, if it is appropriate, start treatment in the same session. You will usually leave with advice or simple exercises to do at home.
First appointments usually last around 30 minutes, as they include a full case history and examination. Follow-up appointments usually last around 20 minutes.
Avin usually needs to see and feel the area being treated, so you may be asked to undress down to your underwear. Please wear underwear you feel comfortable in. If you would prefer, you can bring loose shorts or a vest top. You will never be asked to do anything you are not comfortable with.
Yes. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Most people find treatment comfortable. If an area is already sore, you may feel some tenderness whilst it is being treated, but Avin will check in with you and change his approach if anything feels like too much. Many of the techniques he uses are very gentle.
You can pay by card, cash or bank transfer at the end of your appointment.
Please give at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or move your appointment, so the slot can be offered to another patient. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice, and missed appointments, are charged at the full cost of the appointment.
We understand that cancellations sometimes can’t be helped because of illness or an emergency, and we will take genuine circumstances into account.
You can book online through the Appointments page on this website, or call or WhatsApp Avin on 07739 828 664. Not every appointment slot is released online, so if you cannot see a time that suits you, it is worth getting in touch directly. You will receive a confirmation email after booking and a reminder two days before.
Avin runs regular clinics in Oakham (6 Church Street, Oakham, LE15 6AA), Scraptoft (11 Long Close, Scraptoft, LE7 9XS) and Wigston (The Two Steeples Medical Centre, Wigston, LE18 2EW). He sees patients from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and offers emergency home visits.
Oakham: Monday and Thursday, 7am to 5pm.
Scraptoft: Monday 5.40pm to 7pm, Tuesday 8.40am to 7pm, Thursday 5.40pm to 7pm, Friday 8.40am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 11am.
Wigston: Wednesday, 7am to 5.20pm.
Emergency appointments are available on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.
The Scraptoft and Wigston clinics both have plenty of parking, and The Two Steeples Medical Centre in Wigston has full disabled access. There is no parking at the Oakham clinic itself, but you can park on the street nearby or in the council car park on Church Street.
Yes. Avin offers emergency home visits across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for people who are in too much pain to travel. Call 07739 828 664 to arrange one. Fees for home visits are available on request.
Yes. Avin treats patients of all ages, from newborn babies to older adults, and adapts his techniques to suit each person. A parent or guardian must come along to appointments for anyone under 16.
Not necessarily. The ‘click’ some people associate with osteopaths is just one technique, and many patients are treated without it. Avin will only use joint manipulation if he thinks it is suitable for you and you are happy for him to do so.
This is a common misunderstanding. Joints rarely ‘pop out’ of place. More often a joint becomes stiff or restricted, along with the muscles around it. Treatment aims to help that area move more freely again, rather than physically putting anything back.
Some people feel a little tired or achy for a day or two afterwards, a bit like after exercise you are not used to. This usually settles quickly. If you are worried about how you feel after treatment, call Avin on 07739 828 664.
It depends on the problem, how long you have had it and your general health. Avin will talk you through a plan at your first appointment. His approach is ‘Find it, Fix it, Leave it’, which means he aims to see you only for as long as you need, rather than booking you in for a long course of treatment by default.
It is Avin’s simple approach to treatment. ‘Find it’ means working out what is really causing your problem, which may not be where it hurts. ‘Fix it’ means treating that cause as directly as possible. ‘Leave it’ means not over-treating, and giving you the advice you need to help prevent the problem coming back.
An initial osteopathy or medical acupuncture appointment costs £75 and follow-up appointments cost £60. Cranial osteopathy costs £80 for an initial appointment and £70 for a follow-up. Emergency and out-of-hours appointments cost £100. Home visit fees are available on request by calling 07739 828 664.
Yes, in most cases. Avin is registered with the major UK health insurers, including AXA, Cigna, Exeter, WPA, HSA and Standard Life. You pay the clinic at your appointment and then claim the cost back from your insurer. Check your policy first, as some insurers need a GP referral or an authorisation code before your appointment.
Not necessarily. Osteopathy may help relieve long-term (chronic) back pain as well as recent problems. Avin will look at what might be keeping your pain going, such as posture, stiffness elsewhere or old injuries, and explain what is realistic for you.
Osteopathy may help with headaches that come from tension or stiffness in the neck. Avin will ask about your headaches in detail first. Sudden, severe or unusual headaches should always be checked by your GP or NHS 111.
Osteopathy may help relieve sciatica, which is pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg. Avin will assess where the pain is coming from and treat the muscles and joints involved. If you have numbness around your bottom or groin, or problems controlling your bladder or bowels, call 999 or go to A&E straight away.
Usually, yes. Avin will show you simple exercises or stretches to help between appointments, along with advice on posture, sitting and lifting. These are an important part of ‘Leave it’, helping you look after yourself once treatment has finished.
For everyday aches and pains, such as a stiff back, a painful neck or a minor sports strain, you can book with an osteopath directly. If you feel generally unwell, have had a serious fall or accident or your pain is getting much worse quickly, see your GP or call NHS 111 first.
Osteopathy may help with a range of muscle and joint problems, including back pain, neck pain, sciatica, joint pain, arthritic pain, muscle spasms, headaches arising from the neck, shoulder pain linked to the neck or upper back and minor sports injuries. If Avin thinks your problem needs a different kind of care, he will tell you and suggest who to see.
Avin will always be honest with you. If your symptoms suggest something that needs medical investigation, or that osteopathy is unlikely to help, he will explain why and advise you to see your GP or another appropriate professional.
Yes, if you have them. Please bring a list of any medication you are currently taking, as well as any recent X-ray, MRI or blood test results related to your problem. This helps Avin build a complete picture of your health.
Cranial osteopathy is a very gentle form of osteopathy. Avin uses light, precise touch on the head, spine and other parts of the body to find and release areas of tension. It is often used for babies and children, but many adults choose it too because it is so gentle.
Please call or WhatsApp Avin on 07739 828 664 as soon as possible. He will do his best to accommodate you, but your appointment may need to be shortened to avoid delaying the next patient.
Yes, that is very common. The pressure is so light that many people are surprised by how little they feel. Some find it very relaxing and a few people fall asleep during treatment.
Osteopathy can be suitable for many people with thinning bones or osteoporosis. Avin takes a full medical history first and uses gentle, low-impact techniques, such as soft tissue massage and gentle joint movement, and avoids strong joint manipulation.
If your joints are unusually flexible (hypermobile), they can sometimes lack stability, leading to muscle fatigue and aching. Osteopathy may help with these aches. Avin focuses on safe, gentle movement and targeted strengthening advice rather than over-stretching your joints.
Treatment is hands-on and tailored to you. It may include soft tissue massage to ease tight muscles, stretching, gentle rhythmic movement of stiff joints and, if suitable, joint manipulation. Avin will explain what he is doing as he goes, and you can ask questions at any point.
No. Massage is one of the techniques an osteopath may use, but osteopathy starts with a proper assessment of how your body is moving and what might be causing your pain. Treatment then combines several hands-on techniques with advice and exercises aimed at the cause, not just the sore area.
No. Cranial osteopathy is not a substitute for medical care. If your baby has a high temperature, is not feeding, is unusually sleepy or floppy, or you are worried about them in any way, contact your GP, health visitor or NHS 111 straight away.
A cranial osteopathy initial appointment costs £80 and a follow-up costs £70.
Medical acupuncture uses very fine, single-use needles placed into muscles and specific points in the body. It is based on modern understanding of anatomy and how the nervous system handles pain. Avin has trained with the British Medical Acupuncture Society and often combines acupuncture with osteopathy in the same appointment.
They use similar needles but the thinking behind them is different. Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based on ideas about energy flowing through the body. Medical acupuncture, which Avin practises, is based on Western anatomy and physiology, and is used alongside other treatment for muscle and joint pain.
Acupuncture needles are much thinner than the needles used for injections or blood tests. Most people feel a small prick as the needle goes in, followed by a dull ache or tingling, which is normal. If anything feels uncomfortable, tell Avin and he can adjust or remove the needle.
Acupuncture may give short-term relief from chronic lower back pain, neck pain, tension headaches, migraine and jaw (TMJ) pain. It may also be used alongside other treatment to give temporary relief from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Avin will talk to you about whether it is likely to suit you.
Yes. Avin only uses sterile, single-use needles, which are disposed of safely straight after use.
Side effects are usually mild. Some people have a little bruising or soreness where the needle went in, or feel tired or light-headed afterwards. Let Avin know if you are pregnant, take blood-thinning medication, have a pacemaker or have ever fainted with needles, so he can decide whether acupuncture is suitable.
Yes. Cranial osteopathy is suitable for adults as well as children. It can be a good option if you prefer a gentler approach, or if you are too sore for firmer techniques.
Yes. Avin sees many newborn babies and has used cranial techniques with babies for many years. Treatment is very gentle, and you stay with your baby throughout.
Avin can see babies from 2 days old.
Avin will ask about the pregnancy, the birth, feeding and how your baby has been since. He will then gently assess and treat your baby, usually whilst they lie on the couch, sit on your lap or feed. Your baby can stay dressed.
Yes. You can WhatsApp Avin on 07739 828 664. This can be easier if you are in pain or cannot talk on the phone. Please include your name, where you are and a short description of the problem.
Yes. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see an osteopath. Osteopathy may help relieve both recent (acute) and long-term (chronic) back pain. Avin will assess your back, hips and posture to work out what is contributing to your pain, then use hands-on treatment and exercise advice to help ease it.
NHS advice for most everyday back pain is to stay as active as you can, as long rest in bed can make it slower to recover. Avin will give you advice that suits your particular problem. If your pain came on after a serious fall or accident, get medical advice first.
Yes, you can book an assessment. Discs do not actually ‘slip’, but they can bulge and irritate nearby nerves, which may cause back pain or pain down the leg. Avin will examine you and, if he thinks you need a scan or a medical opinion, he will refer you to your GP.
Yes. Avin often uses medical acupuncture as part of an osteopathy appointment. The cost is the same: £75 for an initial appointment and £60 for a follow-up.
Many people find acupuncture relaxing and say they feel calm afterwards. You will be lying comfortably whilst the needles are in place, usually for a short time.
Often, yes. Avin offers emergency same-day or next-day appointments for sudden back, neck and joint pain across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Call or WhatsApp 07739 828 664 and he will do his best to see you as soon as possible, either at a clinic or at home.
Yes. Avin offers emergency appointments on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, as well as evening and out-of-hours appointments when needed. The Scraptoft clinic is also open until 7pm on some weekdays and on Saturday mornings.
Yes. Avin offers emergency home visits across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for people who cannot get to a clinic. Call 07739 828 664 to arrange a visit.
Common reasons people book an emergency appointment include suddenly hurting their back, waking up with a very stiff or painful neck, twisting or spraining a joint or picking up a sports injury and not wanting to wait until next week.
Emergency and out-of-hours appointments cost £100. If you need a home visit, call 07739 828 664 and Avin will tell you the cost before booking.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you have back pain with numbness around your bottom or genitals, problems controlling your bladder or bowels, weakness in both legs, chest pain or pain after a serious fall or accident. If you feel unwell with a high temperature, or are unsure, call NHS 111.
Avin will look at why the injury happened in the first place, such as muscle imbalances, stiffness, footwear or technique. He will give you exercises and advice to help reduce the chance of it happening again.
Osteopathy may help with repetitive strain aches, including tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, particularly where the neck, shoulder or upper back are playing a part. Avin will treat the affected area and assess your wider shoulder and neck mechanics to help your arm move more comfortably.
Yes. Many women see an osteopath during pregnancy. Avin uses gentle techniques adapted for pregnancy and will ask about your health and how your pregnancy is going first. It is a good idea to let your midwife know you are having osteopathy.
Osteopathy may help relieve the back pain, hip and pelvic aches, sciatica, rib discomfort and general muscle tension that often come with pregnancy as your body changes shape and your posture shifts.
Yes, it can. Stiffness in the hips, the way you walk, old injuries or how you sit at work can all put extra strain on your back. This is why Avin looks at the whole body, not just the spot that hurts. It is the ‘Find it’ part of his ‘Find it, Fix it, Leave it’ approach.
Aches from long hours sitting are very common, and osteopathy may help ease them. As well as hands-on treatment, Avin can give you practical advice on your chair and screen set-up, how often to move and simple stretches to do at your desk.
No. Most back pain does not need a scan. Avin will assess you with a physical examination. If he finds anything that needs further investigation, he will explain why and refer you to your GP.
Hours spent working at a desk or looking at screens can cause significant neck and upper back stiffness. Osteopathy may help ease tight muscles and stiff joints, and Avin will give you practical advice on your desk set-up and posture to help stop the ache coming back.
Yes. Osteopathy may help with minor sports injuries such as muscle strains, sprains, tight muscles and aches from training. Avin is a former professional rugby player and has worked with athletes in rugby, football, cricket, golf and motorsport, so he understands the demands sport puts on the body.
Yes. You do not need to be an athlete to get a sports injury. Avin treats people of all activity levels, from runners, walkers and gym-goers to weekend footballers and golfers, and can help you get back to the things you enjoy.
Not always. Avin will advise you on what you can safely keep doing, what to change and what to avoid for now, so you can stay as active as possible whilst your injury settles.
You can book as soon as you feel you need help. Emergency appointments are available for sudden injuries. If you think you may have broken a bone, cannot put weight on the injured leg or have a lot of swelling, go to a minor injuries unit or A&E first.
Avin can see you at any stage of pregnancy, from the early weeks up to your due date.
No. Avin will make sure you are comfortable, usually lying on your side or sitting, with pillows for support. Your position will be adapted as your bump grows.
Many new mums have back, neck, shoulder or pelvic aches from pregnancy, birth, feeding and carrying a baby, and osteopathy may help ease them. Avin will adapt his techniques to suit you and your recovery.
Frozen shoulder is when the shoulder becomes painful and very stiff, making everyday things like getting dressed, reaching up or sleeping on that side difficult. It often comes on gradually and can take many months to settle.
Osteopathy may help ease pain and stiffness in the shoulder, particularly where the neck, upper back and posture are also playing a part. Avin will assess your shoulder alongside your neck and upper back, then use gentle hands-on techniques and exercises to help you move more comfortably.
Most people do not need surgery. Avin will be honest about what osteopathy may be able to help with. If he thinks you would benefit from a medical opinion, such as about pain relief or injections, he will suggest you speak to your GP.
Yes. Avin will show you gentle exercises to keep the shoulder moving within a comfortable range, plus advice on sleeping positions and everyday tasks. Doing these regularly is an important part of recovery.
No. Osteopathy cannot reverse arthritis, but it may help relieve arthritic pain and stiffness and help you stay more mobile. Avin uses gentle joint movement, soft tissue work and exercise advice, alongside the care you already get from your GP.
Yes, for most people. Avin will adapt his techniques to suit your joints and will use gentle approaches for sore or stiff areas. Let him know about any medication you take and any other health conditions.
Acupuncture may give temporary relief from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, when used alongside other treatment such as exercise. Avin can combine it with osteopathy in the same appointment.
No. Osteopathy works alongside the treatment and advice you get from your GP or specialist, not instead of it. Keep taking any medication as prescribed and keep up any exercises you have been given.
No. Avin treats many older patients. Treatment is always adapted to your age, health and comfort, and can be very gentle.
It could be. Knee pain is sometimes linked to how your hips, ankles or feet are working, or to the way you walk. Avin will look at the whole leg and your posture, not just the knee, to find what may be adding strain.
Osteopathy may help ease hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis when used alongside the core treatments, such as exercise, recommended by your GP. Avin will use gentle joint movement and soft tissue work, and give you exercises to help keep you moving.
No. Avin will assess you with a physical examination. If he thinks you need an X-ray, scan or specialist opinion, he will explain why and advise you to see your GP.
Heel pain is often linked to the mechanics of your feet and ankles and the way you walk. Avin can assess what may be adding strain, look at how your feet, legs and hips are working together and give you advice and exercises to help.
Tension in the jaw (temporomandibular joint) is very common and can be linked to headaches or neck pain. Medical acupuncture may give short-term relief from jaw (TMJ) pain, and Avin often combines it with gentle osteopathy for the neck and surrounding muscles.
Avin Patel’s Oakham clinic is at 6 Church Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6AA. It is in the town centre, a short walk from the Market Place, Oakham Castle and the high street shops.
The Oakham clinic runs on Mondays and Thursdays from 7am to 5pm. Emergency evening and weekend appointments and home visits are also available across Rutland by calling 07739 828 664.
Yes. The Oakham clinic opens at 7am on Mondays and Thursdays, so early appointments are available before the working day starts.
Yes. Avin sees patients from across Rutland, including Langham, Barleythorpe, Whissendine, Cottesmore, Edith Weston and Ketton, as well as people travelling in from Uppingham, Stamford and Melton Mowbray.
There is no parking at the clinic itself. You can park on the street nearby or in the council car park on Church Street.
Osteopathy, cranial osteopathy, medical acupuncture and emergency appointments are all available in Oakham. Avin commonly sees people for back pain, sciatica, pain in pregnancy and sports injuries.
Avin Patel sees Uppingham patients at his Oakham clinic, at 6 Church Street, Oakham, LE15 6AA. It is around 6 miles away, usually about a 15-minute drive along the A6003.
The Scraptoft clinic is open Monday 5.40pm to 7pm, Tuesday 8.40am to 7pm, Thursday 5.40pm to 7pm, Friday 8.40am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 11am.
Yes. The Scraptoft clinic has appointments until 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, which suits people who work during the day.
Yes. The Scraptoft clinic is open on Saturday mornings from 7am to 11am, with emergency appointments available after 11am.
Yes, the Scraptoft clinic has plenty of parking.
Often, yes. Avin offers emergency same-day and next-day appointments for sudden pain. Call or WhatsApp 07739 828 664 to check availability.
Thurmaston patients are seen at Avin’s clinic at 11 Long Close, Scraptoft, LE7 9XS. It is around 4 miles from Thurmaston, usually a 10 to 15-minute drive, and has plenty of parking.
Yes. The Scraptoft clinic offers appointments until 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as Saturday mornings.
Yes. Avin offers medical acupuncture as well as osteopathy at the Scraptoft clinic, and can combine the two in one appointment.
The Oakham clinic is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 7am to 5pm. Emergency appointments are available outside these times.
Yes. If you are in too much pain to travel, Avin offers emergency home visits in Uppingham and across Rutland. Call 07739 828 664 to arrange a visit.
Yes. Avin is a registered osteopath and medical acupuncturist, and offers both treatments at his Oakham clinic, often in the same appointment.
Avin Patel’s Scraptoft clinic is at 11 Long Close, Scraptoft, Leicester, LE7 9XS, on the east side of Leicester. It is convenient for patients from Thurnby, Bushby, Hamilton, Thurmaston and Birstall.
Yes. The Two Steeples Medical Centre has full disabled access and plenty of parking.
Osteopathy, cranial osteopathy, medical acupuncture and emergency appointments are all available at the Wigston clinic.
Oadby patients see Avin Patel at The Two Steeples Medical Centre, Wigston, LE18 2EW. It is around 2 miles from Oadby, usually less than a 10-minute drive.
The Wigston clinic runs on Wednesdays from 7am to 5.20pm. If Wednesday does not suit you, the Scraptoft clinic is also close by and open on several days, including evenings and Saturday mornings.
Yes. The Two Steeples Medical Centre in Wigston has full disabled access and plenty of parking.
Yes. Emergency home visits are available in Thurmaston for anyone in too much pain to travel. Call 07739 828 664.
Yes. Avin Patel sees many Birstall patients at his clinic at 11 Long Close, Scraptoft, LE7 9XS. It is around 6 miles from Birstall, usually a 15 to 20-minute drive.
Yes. The Scraptoft clinic is open on Saturday mornings from 7am to 11am, with emergency appointments available later in the day and on Sundays.
Yes. Avin offers emergency home visits in Birstall. Call or WhatsApp 07739 828 664 to arrange one.
Avin can assess neck pain and headaches that may be coming from the neck. If you have been in a road accident, get checked by your GP, a minor injuries unit or A&E first, then book in once serious injury has been ruled out.
Avin Patel’s Wigston clinic runs from The Two Steeples Medical Centre, Wigston, Leicester, LE18 2EW, near Wigston College.
No. Many of Avin’s Wigston patients are registered at the surgery, but you do not need to be. Anyone can book an osteopathy or acupuncture appointment there.
The Wigston clinic runs on Wednesdays from 7am to 5.20pm.
Yes. Avin offers cranial osteopathy for babies, children and adults at the Wigston clinic.
Yes. Avin Patel sees many Enderby patients at his clinic at The Two Steeples Medical Centre, Wigston, LE18 2EW. It is around 5 miles from Enderby, usually a 15-minute drive.
Yes. The Wigston clinic opens at 7am on Wednesdays, so you can be seen before work.
Yes. Avin is a former professional rugby player with over 20 years’ experience helping people with minor sports injuries, from runners and gym-goers to rugby, football and golf players.
Yes. If you have suddenly hurt your back or neck and cannot travel, Avin offers emergency home visits in Enderby. Call or WhatsApp 07739 828 664.
An osteopath is a regulated healthcare professional who looks at how your muscles, joints and ligaments are working together. Avin Patel uses his hands to assess and treat, with techniques such as massage, stretching, gentle joint movement and, where appropriate, manipulation. He also gives advice on posture and exercises so you can help yourself between appointments.
All three work with muscle and joint problems, and there is a lot of overlap. Osteopaths tend to look at the whole body rather than just the sore spot, and use a wide range of hands-on techniques alongside exercise advice. Physiotherapists often focus more on exercise-based rehab, and chiropractors often focus more on the spine. The best choice is usually the practitioner you feel comfortable with who is properly registered.
