About Us
Specialist foot and ankle physiotherapy, based in Marske-by-the-Sea.
Meet Philippa Dolphin
Specialist Foot & Ankle Physiotherapist | BSc (Hons) HCPC, MCSP
Teesside Ankle Physiotherapy offers specialised foot and ankle rehabilitation led by Philippa Dolphin. Philippa is a highly skilled physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience within the NHS, where she developed a deep expertise in planning and delivering targeted care for complex foot and ankle conditions.
Her primary mission is to help local people get back to the activities they love with clear, expert guidance.
Research & Professional Insights
At Teesside Ankle Physiotherapy, our clinical practice is fundamentally rooted in evidence-based care. Philippa Dolphin actively contributes to peer-reviewed clinical research and professional medical education to ensure our patients receive the most advanced, scientifically backed treatments available.
Published Research & Publications
Achilles Tendon Rupture Recovery
Co-authored a key clinical study evaluating how functional dynamic bracing combined with early targeted rehabilitation improves recovery outcomes for patients experiencing Achilles tendon ruptures.
Reference: Dolphin P, Bainbridge J, Mackenney R, Dixon J. Functional dynamic bracing and functional rehabilitation for Achilles tendon ruptures: A case series. Physiotherapy Practice and Research. 2016;37:119–125.
Young Adult Hip Pain
Contributed as part of a UK-wide multicentre research team to a landmark trial published in The Lancet investigating surgical interventions versus high-quality conservative care [1].
Reference: Griffin DR, Dickenson EJ, Wall PDH, et al. Young adult hip pain (UK FASHIoN): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. 2018;391(10136):2225–2235.
Lower Limb Mechanics
Investigated the relationship between hamstring length and patellofemoral (knee) pain syndrome to help refine targeted therapeutic exercise programming.
Reference: White LC, Dolphin P, Dixon J. Hamstring Length in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Physiotherapy. 2009;95:24–28.
Conference & Guest Presentations
Philippa is frequently invited to share her specialist foot and ankle expertise with national orthopaedic societies, international clinical networks, and regional healthcare groups.
National Practice Surveys & Standards
National Post-Operative Insights: Co-authored and presented a study titled 'Survey of physiotherapists and surgeons regarding physiotherapy after surgery for foot and ankle arthritis' at the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) Annual Congress (Liverpool, 2025). This research helps map out the need for standardisation of recovery protocols across the UK.
Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Total Ankle Replacement Recovery Protocols: Invited expert presenter for the Vilex Study Day, delivering a specialist session titled 'Physiotherapy after ankle replacement' to orthopaedic and rehabilitation professionals (Middlesbrough, 2026).
National Orthopaedic Frameworks: Presented on optimal physiotherapy management pathways for post-operative recovery at the British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Scientific Meeting (Glasgow, 2025).
Achilles Tendon Management & Rehab Innovations
Caring for the Older Adult: Shared clinical insights on managing complex Achilles tendon ruptures in older populations at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Conference (Newport, 2025).
International Expert Panels: Invited as an international clinical expert to present physiotherapy-led strategies for Achilles tendon ruptures at the OPED International Experts Meeting (Munich, Germany, 2015).
Regional Clinical Leadership: Developed and delivered multiple educational presentations across the North East focusing on the evaluation and non-surgical management of foot and ankle pathologies.