Health

RICHARD BOHANNON – Improvising Physical Therapy Treatment

Published

3 years ago

July 5, 2022

Health is real wealth. One who remains fit aims to live a great life while participating in various activities without facing pain and other physical health issues. Fitness is the secret to a balanced life. No one wants to be dependent on others. Everyone expects to perform day-to-day tasks without any hassle. Those who are physically fit can easily participate in the activities that they need to indulge in regularly. But various physical health issues, such as pain in the knees, back, neck, and weak muscles, prevent individuals from playing sports, taking walks, and doing their other favorite tasks. These individuals often take painkillers to get relief. Unfortunately, these meds are not the permanent solution. One needs to identify the root cause, remove it, and get relief from the pain permanently. Physical therapy treatments are a good choice for such individuals in these instances. The physical therapists educate the patients regarding movement issues, provide them therapy, and suggest the right exercise plan to get rid of pain and help them gain fitness as soon as possible. Such therapists have changed individuals’ lives by improving their lifestyle and physical fitness through physical therapy treatments. Not just them but the researchers who have been putting effort into finding out the right solution for various chronic pain, severe injuries, and weak muscle issues. One prominent example comes from an American physical therapy clinician, scholar, educator, and researcher, Dr. Richard W. Bohannon. He has multiple achievements in terms of improvising physical therapy as a researcher and guiding physical therapy students through his studies.

As a researcher, Richard Bohannon has brought various innovations in the physical therapy management of patients. The industry needs more and more research to improve individuals’ physical health and lifestyle. In addition to producing new treatments, research ensures that certain treatments are utilized in the most appropriate ways. Diverse research helps find answers to the mystery of science, fill information gaps, and change how therapists and other healthcare professionals perform their duties.

An academic research unit in colleges or universities strongly impacts the effectiveness of physical therapy treatments provided in the clinics. The combination of research and the clinic’s work strongly affects how treatments are developed throughout the country. Throughout the years, multiple components of research and innovations have improved the healthcare industry as a whole. Like any other doctor’s field, physical therapy is dependent on clinical research. Despite gaining physiotherapy qualifications, the professional therapist needs to constantly seek new evidence to inform care.

Born on December 29, 1953, Richard Bohannon has contributed research to improve physical therapy for over 30 years. Richard Bohannon presently serves as a Principal of Physical Therapy Consultants in North Carolina. He also has worked as Editor in Chief of various journals, including Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, the Journal of the Geriatric Physical Therapy, and the Journal of Human Muscle Performance. As a scholar, Bohannon has been cited more than 42,000 times.

Bohannon was interested in impacting the physical therapy profession from his college days. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she completed his BS and MS in Physical Therapy. Richard’s strong educational background has made him a reputable scholar and researcher today. He earned his Doctor of Educated from North Carolina State University and also received a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Boston University. For the past few years, he has been enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of Portsmouth.

Being a scholar and educator, Bohannon has worked on multiple publications. In fact, he has authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications. As an educator, Richard Bohannon has served as a physical therapy professor for more than two decades. He served as a full professor at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. During his tenure there, he served as an Acting Director twice. He also served as a full- professor in other institutions, including the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington and Campbell University in North Carolina.

Richard Bohannon has earned multiple awards while contributing to physical therapy literature and research. He won the Helen Hislop Award in 1996 for his results-oriented contributions to Professional Literature. Then in 2005, he received the Marian Williams Award for his research in physical therapy. He also received the Jules Rothstein Golden Pen Award in 2008 for his scientific writing. All the awards were given by the American Physical Therapy Association. Richard Bohannon is also a member of various societies, including the American Society of Neurorehabilitation, American Physical Therapy Association, Stroke Council of the American Heart Association, and Gerontological Society of America.

Health

How a Quiet Fulham Clinic Became London’s Most Coveted Wellness Secret

Published

2 weeks ago

October 2, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Spa & Massage

Byline: Gerome Alvarez

In London’s cutthroat wellness landscape, few businesses manage to capture community attention without fanfare or celebrity endorsements. Yet Spa & Massage Fulham has accomplished exactly this, weaving itself into the cultural fabric of one of London’s most discerning neighborhoods within weeks of its September 2025 opening. The phenomenon began as whispers among friends, colleagues, and neighbors—all independently discovering what would soon become known across social media platforms as “the best massage in London.”

This organic word-of-mouth growth reveals something deeper than marketing prowess; it signals a genuine transformation in how Londoners approach wellness and self-care. The clinic at 709 Fulham Road represents more than successful business expansion; it embodies a broader cultural shift toward viewing therapeutic massage as essential healthcare rather than occasional luxury.

The Science-Backed Foundation

The surging demand for massage therapy is not merely about relaxation; it is rooted in substantial scientific evidence that validates what clients experience firsthand. Research consistently demonstrates that massage therapy reduces cortisol levels by up to 31% while increasing mood-regulating neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine by 28% and 31% respectively. These physiological changes translate into tangible benefits: improved sleep quality, enhanced focus, reduced chronic pain, and strengthened immune function.

“Massage therapy works in multiple ways to help reduce stress. First and foremost, it helps to lower levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone,” explains recent research on therapeutic massage. For London’s high-pressure lifestyle, this represents more than indulgence; it is preventive healthcare. The integration of scientific expertise sets Spa & Massage apart from typical wellness businesses, with Professor Eyal Lederman, a world-renowned expert in neurophysiology and manual therapy, serving as the company’s medical director.

The Visionary Origins

The story begins in 2007 when entrepreneurs Alykhan and Nicole Thobani, inspired by journeys through Thailand, recognized a fundamental gap in London’s wellness market. Rather than treating massage as an expensive luxury, the couple witnessed how Eastern cultures integrated therapeutic touch as essential to balanced living, as fundamental as diet and exercise. This revelation sparked the mission to bring accessible, high-quality massage therapy to London’s high streets.

“What sets us apart from other massage therapy providers is having Professor Eyal Lederman as part of our team,” Thobani explains. Professor Lederman’s research at King’s College London on the neurophysiology of manual therapy provides the scientific foundation that distinguishes Spa & Massage from competitors. Nearly two decades later, the company now serves over 2,500 clients weekly across seven London locations, with each expansion building upon lessons learned from previous successes.

The Fulham Experience Defined

The newest location deliberately avoids ostentatious luxury, instead creating what insiders describe as “understated sophistication”—an environment that whispers quality rather than shouting opulence. Central to the experience is the signature bespoke tea blend, crafted in-house to begin each client’s journey toward relaxation. This attention to detail extends throughout the treatment, where therapists like Roxanne—with backgrounds in clinical physiotherapy and experience from London’s most prestigious five-star spas—deliver what clients describe as transformative sessions.

The clinic’s approach attracts therapists of exceptional caliber, including professionals like Olga, who draws “many celebrity clients and high-profile athletes” for her transformative skills. Operating seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the clinic makes professional massage therapy accessible to busy Londoners seeking consistent, science-backed wellness solutions. The discrete nature of the clientele, protected by sunglasses and an air of privacy, has only added to the brand’s mystique and appeal.

Building an Extraordinary Following

Since its inception, Spa & Massage Fulham has cultivated what can only be described as a devoted following that transcends typical service provider relationships. “Our team is obsessed with making sure that each client has an expert massage, with a positive health and wellbeing outcome,” Thobani notes. This focus on measurable results rather than superficial relaxation has attracted clients who view regular massage not as an occasional indulgence but as essential maintenance for peak performance.

Client testimonials consistently emphasize transformational outcomes that extend far beyond the treatment room. “I have been coming for my regular massage every week for years now, I just sleep better, I am happier, calmer, and perform at my very best. With massage therapy I live my best life. It is like I feel superhuman during the week,” shares one long-term client. This level of commitment reflects a fundamental shift in how affluent Londoners prioritize health and wellbeing, with weekly bookings becoming the norm rather than the exception among regular clients.

The Future of London Wellness

Perhaps most intriguingly, Spa & Massage has attracted backing from heavyweight private equity professionals and investment banking leaders, not as corporate investments, but as personal commitments from individuals who became clients first. These investors, who Thobani diplomatically describes as preferring discretion, represent a fascinating convergence of professional success and personal wellness priorities. This phenomenon reflects broader trends in the wellness investment landscape, where private equity firms increasingly recognize the substantial returns in premium wellness services.

As Spa & Massage Fulham establishes itself in one of London’s most competitive wellness markets, it represents the evolution of urban healthcare toward proactive, science-backed solutions. The clinic’s success suggests that Londoners are ready to embrace massage therapy as an essential component of modern urban living, challenging traditional notions of luxury and self-care. In this context, the quiet revolution unfolding at 709 Fulham Road points toward a future where wellness is not an afterthought but a cornerstone of how successful professionals maintain an edge in an increasingly demanding world.