About Us | Ashburton Physio

Ashburton Physiotherapists

Leah Mears and Jenny Wigram are global in their approach and will consider all aspects of your life, both at work and in recreation when reaching a diagnosis. Once the source of the pain or problem has been established, a treatment plan is then discussed and agreed with you and a timescale suggested. The simpler problems sometimes need only one session to find out what is wrong and put you on the road to recovery.

At Ashburton Physio, generous time is allocated to listen to you and your story. An accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and is reached by thorough questioning and examination. The examination may involve looking at parts of the body distant from your pain. For example, a knee problem may relate to abnormal foot positioning. Or, foot pain may be caused by a back problem.

Leah Mears and Jenny Wigram are registered with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, The Health and Care Professions Council and the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists. We are highly skilled therapists and regularly update our CPD (Continuous Professional Development).

We have a proven success record and in the last few years, more than half our patients are returners.

Leah Mears BSc(Hons) MCSP

Leah Mears (nee Skedgell) grew up in the South Hams attending KEVIC in Totnes She graduated from St.Mary's Hospital School of Physiotherapy/University of Westminster in 1993, with one of the first BSc(Hons)Physiotherapy degrees.

Her inspiration for becoming a physiotherapist came from her aunt who suffered with Polio during the 1980's, and from watching her treatment and rehabilitation. Leah completed her junior rotations in Taunton before travelling around the world and working in Tasmania. Settling back to Devon she worked in both musculoskeletal and paediatric physiotherapy before moving into private practice in 2000.

Leah took ownership of the Ashburton Physio in July 2016, moving the practice to her home. She also works as an Occupational Health Physiotherapist in a boat building factory with work-related problems as well as sports and other injuries which affect the ability to function fully at work.

Leah has continued to attend regular courses and conferences and is constantly improving her knowledge and skills as a very 'Hands-on' therapist. In 2010 she completed an MSc module in Injection Therapy at the University of Plymouth and is also a member of the Acupuncture Association of Physiotherapists. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an injection service at Ashburton Physio.

Leah Mears attended the LJ Lee and Diane Lee 'Discover Physio Series' and the Thoracic Ring Approach in 2013 and has followed this up by attending Part 4 of the now named 'Connect Therapy' series and assisting LJ Lee on her Sports Thorax course in 2015. Following this training, Leah is now looking at patients in a completely different way and has incorporated her new skills into her treatment of patients.

Leah can often be found wandering the streets of her home town, Ashburton, with her Border Collie, Jed, and driving around Devon, and Europe, with her lovely husband, Simon, in their classic 1974 Triumph Stag.

Leah's caseload has increased to include more ballet dancers, runners, and cricket players.

Jenny Wigram MSc MCSP MMACP

Jenny gained her early experience in physiotherapy in the 70's and 80's at Odstock Hospital, Salisbury and then in Malawi, Central Africa. She returned home to work as Superintendent of Chipping Sodbury Physiotherapy, a branch of Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. During this time, she was one of the first in her profession to gain a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Studies at Southampton University. She achieved membership of the Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists through intensive study and examination in Northern Ireland.

During this time, she was one of the first in her profession to gain a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Studies at Southampton University. She achieved membership of the Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists

through intensive study and examination in Northern Ireland. Jenny also underwent training in acupuncture, both in Southampton with Drs George Lewith and Julian Kenyon, and in China. She helped set up the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in 1984, and was its first Honorary Secretary.

In 1989 she opened her own practice in Devon. It became Ashe Physiotherapy Ltd in 2003. Leah Mears took over the management of the practice in July 2016 and it is now known as "Ashburton Physio". Whilst working at South Dartmoor Community College (SDCC) as College Physiotherapist (1999-2015), Jenny researched and published "Why is low back pain common in adolescents?" and presented the results at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Annual Conference.

She has given presentations and lessons to students at SDCC and South West Music School. She served as a Committee member of PhysioFirst for many years, and in that capacity organised courses locally for colleagues. In the last year, she was recruited, on a voluntary basis, to the Patient Liaison Group at the BMA, London.

An active cellist, her particular interest lies in the arts, nurturing young talent and preventing injuries in musicians. You will find her name on the British Association of Performing Art Medicine (BAPAM) register. She also enjoys sports such as swimming, cycling and exercising with her Jack Russell terrier, Marvin.

"Physiotherapy is a science-based profession and takes a 'whole person' approach to health and well-being, which includes the patient's general lifestyle. Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice."
(Chartered Society of Physiotherapy)