This article is one in a series of interviews with expats in Stavanger. Its purpose is to share with everyone what your fellow expats are doing and also to help advertise the businesses/services/events that these expats are involved in. If you would like to or know of a business/enterprise to be interviewed, feel free to contact us!

pete and als wedding italy and random 215 250x187 Interviews with Expats Emma Chiappinelli of EC Physiotherapy Services
Interviews with Expats – Emma Chiappinelli, a well-qualified and experienced physiotherapist who now has her own practice – EC Physiotherapy Services.

Where are you from?
I am from Peterborough in the UK but also Italian descent! I came to Stavanger because my partner got offered a job here in Oil & Gas.

How long have you been in Stavanger and what are your views on this city?
We have been here nearly 3 years now and love Norway and the city, Stavanger, is a quaint, picturesque city, which comes alive in the Spring\Summer months!

Can you tell us more about yourself, your work experience and your qualifications?
I qualified as a Physiotherapist from Northumbria University in 2004 and have worked in the hospital setting for 2 years then specialised in neuro-musculoskeletal physiotherapy for the last 5 years, I have a Bsc (HONS) degree in Physiotherapy, and a Diploma in Orthopaedic medicine soon to progress onto the masters level for steroid injection therapy and lecturing. I have also completed dry needling courses and now use them too in my treatment techniques.

I am a member of:
* the Health Professional Council (HPC) in the UK,
* the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the UK,
* Member of the Society of Orthopaedic Medicine (SOM)
* Also i have my Authorisation for working as a physiotherapist in Norway

What is dry needling all about? That sounds intriguing.
Dry needling is the use of a solid needle for therapy of muscle pain, sometimes also known as intramuscular stimulation.In the treatment of trigger points for persons with myofascial pain syndrome, dry needling is an invasive procedure in which a needle, often an acupuncture needle, is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle.Proper dry needling of a myofascial trigger point will elicit a local twitch response (LTR), which is an involuntary spinal cord reflex in which the muscle fibers in the taut band of muscle contract. The LTR indicates the proper placement of the needle in a trigger point.

It’s mainly used to reduce muscle spasm and therefore reduce pain and symtpoms, also great for chronic pains.

What kind of problems do you treat?
I work mainly “hands on” diagnosing and treating dysfunctions. I work closely with:
Lumbar and cervical discs, joints, nerves and muscles as well as tendons and ligaments. I can treat a wide variety of symptoms from:
*sports injuries to
*neck and back pain,
*disc prolapses, sciatica,
*neural symptoms,
*headaches and tinnitus,
*”growing pains” in children
as well as the usual aches and pains!!

How can you be contacted?
You can contact me on 45677597 for an appointment or to find out more information.

Also the address is: Olav V’s Gate 3, 4002 Stavanger
(It’s just by the SAS Atlantic hotel in the city centre where they have the personal training services too)

Thank you Emma, for your time. All the best with EC Physiotherapy Services!

Interviews with Expats Emma Chiappinelli of EC Physiotherapy Services

About Cynthia Myrnes

Cynthia is a Singaporean who has been living in Stavanger since Feb 2008 with her Norwegian husband. She works as a physiotherapist here and also owns her own petsitting service, Stavanger Petsitter, for the residents of Stavanger. In addition, she manages the Stavanger International Moms group. She loves hanging out with friends, spending time with animals, travelling and watersports such as scuba diving and wake boarding. Most of all, she is enjoying the experience of being a first time mom!