Welcome to the Body & Mind Physio website

My name is Matt Kinal, and I started Body & Mind Physio because I felt there was a real need for a different approach to treating pain. Long-term pain, also known as chronic pain, affects between 30–50% of people in the UK and is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. One of the challenges is that many treatments focus only on the area where someone feels pain, rather than on the person as a whole.

Research shows that lifestyle factors—such as sleep, stress, and our patterns of thinking (including dwelling on pain or worrying about the future)—can all influence how much pain we experience. When treatment doesn’t consider these factors, people may not get the best outcomes, and pain can last longer than it needs to

My aim is to treat the whole person, not just the painful area. By helping people understand how lifestyle, thoughts, emotions and physical factors all interact, alongside treating the localised area, I can provide the most effective care possible.

I work to create a relaxed, caring and empathetic environment where people feel safe and comfortable exploring these different influences on their pain. This approach helps speed up recovery, reduces the chances of acute pain becoming chronic, and can also lower the risk of pain recurring.

When we experience pain, one of the first things we try to do is make sense of what’s causing it. Pain can certainly be caused by tissue trauma, such as a broken bone or a ligament or muscle injury. But what’s less well known is that pain can also arise from adaptive changes in the central nervous system, brain and hormone levels. These changes can be influenced by many factors and can occur early on, as well as when pain has persisted for a long time.

I use the knowledge gained from completing a Masters in Pain Science, along with my ongoing research, to help people understand their pain better. This understanding can help reduce anxiety, build confidence in movement, and ultimately speed up recovery.

I have over 20 years of experience working across a range of clinical settings. Alongside my private practice, I also work in the Bath NHS Pain Clinic. 

I’ve previously worked as a Physiotherapist in other NHS services, in professional sport , and in private practices in both Nottingham and Bristol.

I am a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), the Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Pain Society (BPS).

Qualifications include:

• MSc in Pain Science (Keele University)
   
• Certified Stress Illness Practitioner (SIRPA), a mind-body approach similar to Pain Reprocessing Therapy developed by Alan Gordon
   

I’ve worked in Bristol for over 15 years and have strong links with other medical professionals. When additional support is needed for mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, I have excellent connections with experienced Clinical Psychologists, Counsellors and Psychotherapists in the area.