A woman in her sixties presented with significant balance difficulties and a strong fear of falling. She relied on a walking stick outdoors and used walls and furniture to steady herself when moving around her home. Sleep was poor, with frequent waking throughout the night to use the bathroom, often every two hours. She also limited fluid intake when going out due to concerns around bladder control. Her medical history included peripheral neuropathy, reduced grip strength in her left hand following a brain haemorrhage in 2014, and fractured vertebrae from a fall in 2019.
At the start of treatment, her posture showed clear imbalance, with pelvic tilt, lateral drift and a strong pattern of holding and bracing through the body. She received a course of Spinal Touch sessions at my Plymouth practice, focusing on gentle alignment, pelvic stability and supporting the nervous system.
Following the first session, she reported feeling warmth and movement in her body, along with deeper sleep and increased energy. By the third session, there had been a clear shift. She arrived without her walking stick and reported that she was no longer using walls for support at home. Her walking felt steadier and her confidence had noticeably improved. Grip strength in her left hand had also begun to improve.
As the sessions continued, these changes consolidated. By the fifth session, she was walking independently both at home and without the need for a stick when walking outdoors. Night-time waking had reduced to around twice per night, and her sleep felt deeper and more restorative. She described feeling more confident in herself and her movement, and others had begun to notice changes in her posture and stance.
This case demonstrates how gentle structural alignment and nervous system support can improve balance, walking confidence and overall functional stability, even where symptoms have been longstanding.
Clients feedback
I went to Viv presenting lingering effects of a spinal injury in 2005. I had also had an aneurysm, Subarachnoid Haemorrhage in 2014. Which had affected my ability to walk. I had to learn how to walk and talk again. As a result of both events I had a lot of falls resulting in nasty fractures. I also – despite medication – felt depressed for many reasons.
In 2026 Viv started with Spinal Touch. After two sessions I arrived without my walking stick!
After 3 people were noticing my new posture and balance. I also felt a lot better and happier and slept deeply. Due to the TBI (traumatic brain injury) I was incontinent and quite recently broken my left wrist, which had mended badly.
In truth I had pretty much become a Hermit. Scared to go out & difficulties with mobility, incontinence & use of my hands with numb toes also.
After several Spinal Touch sessions Viv started Bowen. Whilst doing Bowen I was and am transformed to an almost hypnotic state. It’s a strange and very different therapy. Pinches and punches (delicate) and Viv leaves the room a few times to allow those to process. Spinal Touch created a fizzing/fuzzing sensation. Bowen either felt tender or a sense of shifting. Both required me so rest/sleep after treatment.
I began to only wake up to wee twice a night, rather than 5 – 6 times!!!
I started being able to use my left hand for simple tasks like pulling a plug out of the wall (never done with left hand).
Mostly and long may it continue my mood and attitude to life wa lighter and easier in my soul. I was a lot happier despite background problems – which I felt more able to cope with.
Overall my rejuvenating from Bowen and Viv’s healing hands have made my life easier, happier and more confident. I still have a lot of neurological problems – Viv is not a brain surgeon ! Yet!!!
C.W.