Sophie Vowden

Sophie Vowden BSc (Hons), BSc (Hons)

Director | Chartered Physiotherapist | Lead Sports Therapist

HCPC Registered Physiotherapist | Chartered Member of the CSP

Sophie is the founder and Director of SV Sports Therapy, a Chartered Physiotherapist and an experienced Sports Therapist with over 16 years of clinical experience.

After graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy in 2009, Sophie established her career working with a wide range of clients, from recreational exercisers and young athletes through to elite and Team GB athletes. Over the years, her clinical interests and experience have extended far beyond sport, treating people of all ages and activity levels with musculoskeletal injuries, persistent pain and movement-related problems.

Driven by a desire to continue developing her clinical knowledge and broaden the care she could offer her clients, Sophie returned to university to complete a second BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy. Now a Chartered Physiotherapist, Sophie brings together her extensive Sports Therapy experience with the broader clinical knowledge and scope of physiotherapy.
Sophie takes a thorough, holistic, evidence-informed and individualised approach to treatment. Rather than simply treating where it hurts, she aims to understand why a problem has developed, considering movement, strength, mobility, training demands, lifestyle and any other factors that may be contributing to a client’s symptoms.

Her approach combines hands-on treatment with rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, exercise prescription and education. This gives Sophie’s clients the tools and confidence they need to return to the activities that matter to them.
Sophie has a particular passion for musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation, but her physiotherapy training has also given her experience across neurological, respiratory and orthopaedic healthcare settings. This broader perspective allows her to consider the whole person rather than viewing an injury or condition in isolation.

Having spent many years both treating clients and training herself, Sophie understands how frustrating injury can be — particularly when it stops someone doing something they love. Whether the goal is returning to competitive sport, getting back into the gym, walking comfortably, managing a long-term condition or simply moving with greater confidence, her aim is always the same: to help each person achieve the best possible outcome for them.

Sophie's approach

Why did you become a Physiotherapist and Sports Therapist?

I've always been fascinated by the human body, movement and rehabilitation. Sport was what originally drew me towards Sports Therapy, but after many years in clinical practice I wanted to expand my knowledge even further.

Returning to university to study Physiotherapy was a huge commitment, but it has allowed me to develop a much broader understanding of healthcare and rehabilitation. I now have the privilege of combining two professional backgrounds and more than 16 years of clinical experience when I'm assessing and treating my clients.

What are your specialist interests?

Musculoskeletal injuries (muscle, joint, bone and nerve injuries), sports rehabilitation, persistent pain and helping people return to activity following injury.

I'm also particularly interested in how physiotherapy can support people across different stages of life and with more complex health needs. Continuing to learn and develop as a clinician is something that is incredibly important to me.

What's your treatment philosophy?

“Treat the person, not just the injury.”

I believe great rehabilitation starts with understanding the individual in front of you: what has happened, what matters to them and what they want to get back to doing.

I love working out what may be contributing to someone's problem and then creating a plan that works for them. Anyone who knows me - and any client of mine - knows I love a plan!

My role isn't simply to reduce pain. It's to help people understand their body, rebuild their strength and confidence and wherever possible, leave them better equipped to manage their health and movement in the future.

What do you enjoy most about your career?

The people! No two clients are ever the same.

Seeing somebody regain their confidence, achieve something they thought they couldn’t do or return to an activity they love is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. Being able to make a positive difference to someone's quality of life and healthcare brings me a lot of joy.

No two days are ever the same, and I love it!

Q&A with Sophie

Do you practise what you preach?

Absolutely! Training is a huge part of my life and I love strength training, CrossFit, HYROX, yoga, walking and challenging myself physically.

Being active also gives me a very real appreciation of what I ask my clients to do during rehabilitation — although I promise I don't make everyone do handstand press-ups!

What sports are you interested in?

Running, CrossFit, HYROX, athletics, rugby and F1. Mostly anything!

What sports do you do? I train CrossFit and HYROX every week. I've also started getting back into running after taking a break due to a longstanding knee injury. I love yoga and Pilates for recovery too.

Walking is also a non-negotiable for me. I find it incredibly therapeutic and powerful — it gives my mind a chance to switch off and usually gives me an opportunity to listen to a podcast too!

What is your favourite muscle and why?

The psoas! It's a fascinating deep muscle that originates from the lumbar spine, crosses the hip and forms part of the iliopsoas complex. It plays an important role in hip flexion and contributes to movement and control around the hip and trunk.

I particularly love it because it demonstrates just how interconnected the human body is — and how looking only at the area where someone feels pain doesn't always give you the whole story.

What is your favourite joint and why?

Probably the hip. It's an incredibly strong joint that has to tolerate significant forces during everything from walking and running to jumping and lifting.

I had the honour of dissecting a human body in 2015, and the body I worked on had undergone a hip replacement during their lifetime. Seeing the anatomy first-hand was a real eye-opener for me. On paper, the hip appears relatively simple — a ball-and-socket joint — yet its anatomy, biomechanics and interaction with the rest of the body make it incredibly interesting.

What is your favourite stretch for the body?

I really love the child's pose stretch for the back and lat muscles. It's a great all-round stretch that can be adapted into different variations, making it accessible for lots of different people.

Who is currently inspiring you and why?

Emma Grede. I'm currently reading her book Start With Yourself and it's brilliant. She's a real “doer” — she gets things done, isn't afraid of a challenge and turns her hand to anything. A really inspiring woman.

What are your sporting goals?

Learn how to do a muscle up in crossfit (still!)
Run the London Marathon
Run the Marathon Des Sables (6 days of marathons in the Sahara Dessert)

You are stranded on a desert island and are only allowed to have three things with you - what are they?

A pillow
A lifetime supply of peanut butter
Toothbrush!