Leila Heelas

Full name

Leila Heelas
BSc Physiotherapy, MSc in Pain Management MCSP HPC
Registration Number: PH53068

Job title

Clinical Lead Physiotherapist in Physiotherapy Pain Rehabilitation

Special interests

Long-term management of patients with complex regional pain syndrome and persistent musculoskeletal pain. Particular interest in assessment and rehabilitation of chronic spinal pain and hypermobility syndrome, communicating diagnosis and empowering patients. Leila works across all programmes in the service and leads in management of complex patients.

Year of first medical qualification

1997 (Bristol)

Biography

Leila worked in musculoskeletal outpatients in primary and secondary care for six years following her general rotations. During this period she developed an interest in preventing long-term disability in moderately disabled patients with back pain. She started back fitness and mini-pain management programmes within the community for this patient population.

Her postgraduate training includes musculoskeletal examination and treatment techniques as well as pain management approaches including training with psychologists in the use of in motivational interviewing, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioural approaches and acceptance and commitment therapy.

Leila is an honorary lecturer at Brookes University.

Leila was awarded a Masters Degree in Pain Management in 2011. She also holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and Professional Practice.

Leila is a member of the Physiotherapy Pain Association, British Pain Society and International Association for the Study of Pain. She was a committee member of the British Pain Society's Pain Management Programme Special Interest Group from 2009-2012 and is a current Physiotherapy Pain Association Executive Committee member.

Leila was appointed to her current post in January 2005.